Friday, May 15, 2015

good neighbors scrap happy purse

Welcome to finish it up Friday!
Quilt market is in Minneapolis this weekend, and since it's so close to home, it was an easy decision to attend. I needed a new bag, of course, so I sewed up a scrap happy purse using my good neighbors fabric! (Thanks for the wonderful suggestion, Susan Holman!) At first I thought it was going to be difficult to chop up the fabric, but actually, it was pretty fun! Hurray for that!
Sewing on the handles is a pain (literally and figuratively), but totally worth it! I sewed these on while I was visiting my sister, which made the task so much better. The pre-made handles are Inazuma 40 cm handles in black. I buy them at my local quilt shop, but I'm sure that you can find them on-line. I like the semi-professional look that the handles give to the purse--they hold up pretty well, too. I carried my last purse 1 1/2 years before the handles cracked. That's pretty good, if you ask me!
It's been awhile since I added to my pin cushion collection. I finished 3 this week--I love them all! The pin cushion on the right was made from the trimmings from making the gusset in my purse. The other two are just scraps that I pieced and quilted. Each of the pin cushions are filled with crushed walnut shells, which are sold at pet stores as lizard litter. (Weird, but it works!)
My bowl is looking pretty happy! They remind me of teeny tiny pillows. No wonder I'm obsessed!

Now it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week. Thank for joining me for finish it up Friday!

26 comments:

Julie Bagamary said...

Great purse and handles. I especially like the fabric that appears to be hand stitched. Nice job.

Svetlana said...

So much eye candy here. Love the happy bright purse and all those pincushions. Adorable.

SarahZ said...

It is really too good to see your fabrics in your wonderful scrap happy bag!! They are just darling, and the bag is a beauty!

Jayne said...

Love those little 'pillows'!! They just make me smile!

Patricia said...

LOVE the scrappy purse -- just went and ordered your pattern! Hoping to get started on it this weekend. Thanks for sharing your talents!

Bernie Kringel said...

Gorgeous bag Amanda. So pretty.

Rachel said...

Beautiful bag. You re so inspiring. I love all of your scrappy projects.

beth s said...

You make such pretty things. ;)

Rene' said...

So happy to see your new fabric line in a project!! It's so YOU, and I love it! The red stitching of the purse handles is a great choice. Enjoy Quilt Market!

Julie Bagamary said...

What do you do with all your cute pin cushions?

Carie @ Space for the Butterflies said...

Oh I just love the collection of pin cushions! What is the collective nouns for pincushions do you think? A pricking?!///

Tracybug Creative said...

Amanda,

I adore this purse! I want to make one even own the pattern! Just feel a little lost on the handle part! Would you share any tips or tricks you learned? Basically I'm asking to hold my hand through it! 😂. I adore this fabric and all of it has your name and style written all over it!

Lorna McMahon said...

Lovely new purse... The mix of brights and lights is simply perfect! Gotta love that hot pink stitching in the handles, too. Have a great time at Quilt Market!!!!

Little Black Cat Quilting said...

Such a pretty purse, it shows off your fabric nicely. And your bowl of pincushions is too cute!

skrawek tęczy said...

Piękna torba i poduszeczki!
Pozdrawiam serdecznie:)

Teje Karjalainen said...

Hi! I love your gorgeus scrappy bag and the cute pincushions! x Teje

✄ Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy ✄ said...

Love the new purse!!

grapes and hearts said...

Great purse! I never used leather handles so I can only guess how hard they must be to attach. But I do love the collections of pincussions. Love seeing it grow! Thanks for having us again!

hydeeannsews said...

Have fun at Market! Love your little candy dish of pincushions. I've always wondered if you wrap the walnut shells in batting or just fill the cushion with only the shells?

Anja @ Anja Quilts said...

Love your bag! Have fun at Quilt Market.

Susan Holman said...

Yay! I LOVE the scrap happy purse in your fabrics! But I've got a question for you....is your name on the selvages of the fabric? If so then you should have used some of them mixed in with the little strips of color. I made your scrap happy purse using Valorie Well's Ashton Road collection and I used some of the selvages. Wouldn't it be great to have your own name on your purse?? Awesome. Now you've gotta make another one!

magistra said...

That's a fun, happy, and great bag! I also love your little pin pillows! I don't suppose you would want to write a short little how-to for your cute pin cushions, would you? I guess it should be obvious and I should just do a little trial and error. I already have my walnut shells. Do you make an inner sack for the shells, or do I just leave a little space open on my "pillow" and directly fill it? Am I just too silly to be asking these questions? Oh well. Thanks for the inspiration! And have a ton of fun at Quilt Market!

margaret said...

bag just right for a quilt show and handles look good, must look out for some, cute pin cushions, I use sawdust have had my big cushion over 20 years and never a rusty pin, must cheaper than walnut shells but like the shells difficult to get hold of.

Leanne said...

That bag looks even better in person, I love your new fabric range. It was lovely to have a chance to talk with you at market.

Poppyprint said...

Amanda Jean!! Sorry we didn't have a chance for a proper visit - Market seems to be a tough time to carve out those moments. I certainly hope we'll have another chance one day. At least we got in a hug. I do love your fabric, and Anna's, so much!!! Your bag is gorgeous and you are so lovely. Hope your cold is short-lived and that you'll have your sewing room tidy and ready to work in no time!

Donna said...

I'm loving your upcoming Good Neighbors fabric line and am counting the months till it's available. Lovely bag, too!