Brown Daisy Wristlet Duo

I took my sewing machine in for a tune up and to fix some minor concerns last Friday. Firstly - the shop I took it to rocks! It was done that same day. Now I know that it was part luck, but he also did a fab job. So, many thanks to Dan at Clawson Vacuum & Sew!
Now onto the goods...

I wanted to make something before I took the machine in. The last time I had a tune up (at some other place) it took over 2 weeks. Ugh. So I finished off more some grocery totes for myself and a wristlet I had sitting around. I didn't forget about it. Really. It was just under some other things. It never left my mind. Honest. *cough* What? You don't believe me? Me neither :P But I did finish it. Rather quickly too.I decided to have some fun and embellish the front with some brown duck cloth I used for the lining. There were a couple strips cut & sitting with the rest of the material. It had been so long that I am not sure what it was supposed to be. But it worked like this :)


It even has a little buddy to match.

Maybe I need to take my machine in more. Gets my rear in gear.

Custom Clutches 8 Pack

I just completed a bridal party set of clutches in a variety of prints. Amy Butler did dominate the bride's choices. But there are a couple non-Amy prints in there. The green hippie batik has these wonderful rivers of metallic silver running through it. I am so glad I ordered some extra fabric for myself. Actually, I ordered extra of a few, they just looked so yummy! She who dies with the most fabric wins...right?!? :P

Anyway - on to the bags. I love this style. Simple, clean and cute. There was one point I looked over at the pile mid-stage of sewing and noticed how they looked like a bunch of skirts.

Do you see it? The handle portion is like the waist & the exterior pleated part looks skirty. The lining, well, pretend it's not there. Now I want to make some clothes!

And this is the whole set...more pics here...

I am also doing my first blog party with this post over on Everything Etsy.
I think I'll do this with all my "me" things I make...which I hope to do more often! Now crossing my fingers that I am linking up correctly :P update...the linky isn't working for me to add mine :( Maybe next week. Okay - now it worked! woo hoo!

Last Purse and Custom Clutch

In my last post I showed you 3 of the 4 mid sized purses I have been working on...here's the 4th:


I have made another zip pouch, I guess you could call it "detachable". I think I may make matching ones for as many of my bags as I can, well, those where there is still enough fabric left.


I have also completed a custom clutch. The print of this fabric is so great. The pictures don't show off the red as well as I would like, but they were just quickie pics I took tonight.

The fabric itself, well, not so much fun to work with. It reminds me of barkcloth, only stretchier & with a lower cotton content. But a little interfacing & viola! The fabric holds up much nicer now - not droopy. The fabric was supplied by the customer & I am so tickled because she is letting me keep the remainder! Now... what to make with it....

New Purses and a Happy Customer

I am actually going to start with the second half of that title. The other week I had someone buy my new Sushi clutch. It traveled all the way to Singapore. How cool. The other day I received an email from her. I was blown away with what she had to say. I decided to share some of it with you.

"I got your package today! It was a lovely surprise (I'd thought shipping would take longer).
I love the way you wrap each bag and I love the way you send out the package. It's so personalised, clearly done with lots of love and care... I know that I have bought something very special! Thank you for the handmade card, too, and for remembering my sister! Your sincerity and personalised touches make it a dream to shop with you. Thank you!
I decided to look for you on facebook and became a fan of your page. :) I am also writing to let you know that you have inspired me...
...Your package made me happy in so many ways. First, just getting anything in the mail -- even if it's a present from myself -- always makes me happy; second, new things are exciting; third, your bags are so gorgeous they really surpassed my expectations (and I had high expectations as I did not want to underestimate you!); fourth, like I said, the personalised touches made it so heartfelt and warm. And then, besides just receiving the parcel, reading your facebook page and your blog made me think that there is hope for me yet. "

I just love hearing that :)

Now onto my new purses. They are a hybrid, size wise, of my Rachelle and Theresa bags. They have one strap and a zippered closure under the flap. The flaps get decorated to mimic the exterior fabric. And I of course have a little fun with the fabric lining. After the first bag I made I changed up one thing though...the interior zippered pocket. They are a pain and I am not always so sure I prefer them. So I decided to make a pouch out of the pocket instead. They have a small loop so you can attach them to the clip inside or just use freestyle, leaving the clip open for keys & such. These pics show 3 of the 4 in this batch.


Now I just need to name this style. I usually name the bags after the first person I make it for or buys it. But this one has not been bought yet. I suppose I could just refer to it as Mid Size Purse until one sells....

September Challenge: Days 26 and 27

Day 26 was a biggie. The parts for these clutches were already cut out, which is the only reason I was able to complete them in one day. Actually, there was another reason. I wanted to have a nice line up of clutches for the show Sunday. Ready? There are 5 of them :)




...But that is not all :) I was feeling ambitious and cut out some more mini backpacks...and I got one completed before I called it a night.

Day 27...nothing. Nada. Zilch. I was at the Artisan Market for MICE (Michigan Indie Crafters of Etsy) and was too tuckered out when I got home to make anything.

September Challenge Days 16, 17 & 18

Ugh - I am so far behind in posting. If there was a way I could craft a new, faster, computer...I'd be so so happy right now. But alas, I am stuck with one that is slow enough that I can go into the other room & refill my coffee while I wait for a picture to open. Grr.

Anyway, onto the craftiness. I have a show coming up on the 27th, so I am back to bags. Big Surprise, I know. I think I may do this again in like January when nothing much needs to be done biz-wise.

The clutches I made (and I have 5 more ready to go - cross your fingers for me that I get them done by the end of the weekend) are just like those in my shop, only larger. It is actually what I originally designed for this bag. The smaller version came about when I had a custom order. I may add an optional skinny strap to some of these...they are almost too big for a clutch, but not quite.




This last one was my original clutch. I was so happy with it because it sold at a craft show before I could ever even list it. Such a great feeling.

More New Stuff

I may not have done much in the way of crafting since I got back from my vacation, but I did have some pics of new stuff I made just before I left...

This red one was fun. The ribbon was very randomly placed. I was not sure what to do where they crossed, so I made my first ribbon bloom type thingy. And the handle...it's from the ribbon section, but quite sturdy.

This clutch was made from a fabric that was originally a choice for one of my bridesmaids...it didn't go with the others though - too "shiny". It was almost a test of sorts for me because I have not used this silky type of material for a bag yet, at least not this large. I do have a leopard bag that is the same material, but much tinier.

4th of July Special

Okay - I think the graphics speak for themselves...now on to some stuff I have done recently.

Well, the first is the graphics above, along with my new Tilt Too banner:


Sewn stuff:

This first one is listed on my Carried Away Bags team shop on Etsy...
all proceeds will be going to the Herobox charity

And last...my ad for the Artisan Directory. It took lots of image size tweaking
- and thanks to Huck, I finally got it right! Thanks Huck!

I'm in a Treasury!!!

Woo Hoo! This always makes my day. Thanks Peacox!



And from a lady who makes great stuff like this...

What I Have Been Doing

Well, it does not feel like much. And yet I seem to have all my time full. I think it will be more difficult than I thought to get sewing completed while the boys are home for the summer.

I have gotten some bags done, like my clutches, pink skull handbag, a couple Venus handbags and of course the bridal order. Then there was the picture taking - which led to much ibuprofen taking. The pics always have a yellow glow, even with the full spectrum lights. I really, really, need to make a giant light box. Giant because of the size of many of the bags.

update: listed the pink bag too here

And then I listed these...



..plus some of the clutches from Clutchapalooza...



So, I guess that is pretty full. But my Not Mandatory embroidery is still half done, my paperwork is not caught up, and I still need to finish rearranging my fabric & possibly where it will be stored. Let's see how far I get this week with the little guy in summer day camp 2 times a week.

Lots on the To Do

I'll start with the easiest, well, to show anyway. I have another Whedonverse embroidery project all hooped up & started. Anyone know where this one comes from? I think I may do a contest involving guessing where my stuff originates - could be fun.

Reminds me - I have a question for you. Aside from the bags I am putting the embroidery stuff on - what else do you like? Framed, hanging art like pieces, towels, pillows, your uncle Sal, clothes, journal covers, ...anything? I want to do more than just bags with the embroidery, and custom ones too.



My To-Do just got bigger early this week. My inbox had a request for a batch of clutches for a bridal party. And it is a bit of a rush job...like by next weekend. This should be fun...they have been so far.
The bridesmaids are wearing a deep purple and she is looking for coordinating fabrics - each clutch will be a different print. I looked through my stash and realized I have no purple. Zero. Nada. None. I decided that when I run to the store for her fabrics, I'll pick up some for myself too.
These fabrics are a mix of those she picked & some alternate ideas I gave her. I decided to make pretty much all of them into clutches. I'll show you the bridal party bags once they are complete.