Friday, December 07, 2012

finish it up Friday, 12/7/12

Welcome to finish it up Friday!
I'm excited to share my new purse with you today. I started making this before my trip to Colorado last month but I ran out of time to finish it. (That always happens to me!) Yesterday I picked up where I left off and finished it up....because I needed a finish for today.
After piecing a bazillion little pieces together, I quilted the panels, then assembled them into a simple purse. (I didn't use a pattern, just designed it on the fly.) I could sit and look at this thing for hours.
I used pre-made handles bought at my LQS. I LOVE how they add a different texture to the purse.
For the lining I used some fabric that my sister bought for me from her trip to Sweden a few years ago. I was hoarding it (of course), so it's fun to finally have the PERFECT project to use it for. I also had inspiration strike for what to do with the rest of it. (SO excited about that!)
I had a friend tell me that all my scrappiness tends to look the same. She wasn't stating it as an insult or anything, just an observation. I gathered up a few things and put them all together and by golly, I think she's right!
(I hope that this photo didn't make you sick. :) )
(We could play where's Waldo...can you find a pincushion? a pillow? a purse? a quilt?)
 
Ok, enough silliness for today. Now it's your turn to link up your finishes. Happy Friday to you!

75 comments:

Michelle said...

I've had the same thought about my own quilts -- when you're making a lot of different quilts from the same stash of scraps, they all go together!

My two year old niece was at my mom's house a couple of weeks ago and announced that one of Mom's quilts was "hers"...then she got closer to it, shook her head and said "no", and moved on. I'm guessing she recognized the same fabrics from the quilt I'd made her.

giddy99 said...

The purse is AWESOME! And I didn't even SEE that there was a pincushion, until you mentioned it (I then had to squint at the photo to see it). We could call it "Quilter's Camouflage" - LOL! :)

Geta Grama said...

Now that you mentioned the pincushion, I see it!:)
Beautiful bag, with all the different pieces and the straight quilting.

Svetlana said...

ha, ha!!! Love the picture. the pincushion was completely lost on me until I read your last sentence. Gorgeous scrappy makes, love them all.

Michele said...

I think that means you have style. Or swagger! Great bag.

Beth said...

Ha - that picture is awesome!

tara said...

What! That purse is amazing! So scrappy, so cute. Fantastic finish.

Melissa Corry said...

Love the purse!!! So cute!!

Anna said...

awesome! I didn't even spy the pin cushion. :) love the bag. :)

Tessa @ TheSewingChick said...

I love your purse!! The purchased handles add a great touch. If all your scrappy quilts look the same it is because they are all beautiful!!!

beth said...

Love your bag! I have handles waiting here for ME to make a bag with some old levis! You've inspired me to "get going"!

The Calico Cat said...

Just to analyze it a bit...
Your scrppiness look all alike because 1. you made them all & 2. you use tiny pieces.

If I actually sewed instead of just cutting... Mine would all look the same too - just that mine would be all squares - or those flippy triangles that started out life as squares.

Just an observation.

Terri said...

Didn't notice the pincushion until you said it should be there...
All the same, how many times are you going to have those elements together? Love the way you put scraps together!
Hugs

Little Island Quilting said...

Fabulous last picture...who knew scrappy could coordinate!

Kris from Duke Says Sew What said...

Great purse! Did you stitch the handles on with that big stitch by hand? It looks perfect! I didn't even see the pin cushion until I read you Waldo comment! Lol I do love the candy coated pattern. :-D

Courtney said...

I love your scrappy purse! Beautiful!

Di~ said...

I LOVE the purse! wow, you really shine here! (what's new?) Can I buy it?

Live a Colorful Life said...

Where's Waldo--haha! I LOVE all your scrappiness. It's so YOU--and I mean that in the best possible way.

car54 said...

That's what makes you an artist--that your work is distinctively "you". It's like telling you your kids look like you! Your quilty kids all resemble each other! It's a good thing!

I like those handles on the bag you made--I would never have thought to use them but they really add something to it!

Annalia said...

If you hadn't mentioned it, I NEVER would have seen the pincushion! Well, you are working with the same scraps for all of them...
Love the bag!

Kat said...

I didn't see the pincushion either :-)

Your purse is beautiful. Inspired by you, I have started saving (for a few months) all my little scraps and strings, I just wasn't sure they'd ever become a quilt. I think a bag is a great idea! I'll have to look for handles like that. I have a few bamboo sets (too short) and I like what you selected better than the fabric ones I usually make.

Rebecca said...

I too did not see the pin cushion!

I think every artist, big or small, has a distinct style.

Thanks for hosting!

Anonymous said...

Cute purse.
I was recently wondering whether or not you liked that fabric, so it's nice to see it in use. I'm interested to see the other project you have in mind.

Emily said...

Haha! That is funny! I would've never thought they were the same looking until you put them together. :)

jlk said...

I love it. Monet had a distinct style too, you know ;)

Becky said...

Such a pretty purse! I can see why you could sit and admire it, because there is so much fun color going on there!

Mina said...

Oh my goodness, I did not even notice the pin cushion.

very cute tote!

Carolyn J. said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your purse....so stinking cute!!!

Farm Road Quilts said...

LoVe the purse! Maybe a tutorial?? Anyway, thanks for letting me link up. And I didn't see that pincushion until you mentioned it. : )

SarahZ said...

SO Cute!

Mary on Lake Pulaski said...

I located them all (after you asked for the pincushion) and they are all smashing!

Jan said...

What a great use of scraps.

eva said...

Oh that's a compliment - when someone starts to recognize your work!!
excellent - as always!!!!
xo
eva

Chase said...

Oh..What a lovely bag! I can see myself make another scrappy tote soon! I do the same thing that have similar color schemes in my scrappy projects, but that's so good! It is almost knowing who made it from the photo. This week, I made a bag and three needle books for holiday gifts and am getting closed finish up holiday sewing.. Have a great weekend~

Scrap 4 Fun said...

I love all your scrapiness....it makes me happy!! Lot's of bright colours.Gayle

Janice @ Better off Thread said...

The purse is fantastic and I LOVE all your scrappiness! Why mess with perfection!

charlotte said...

Love the purse. Great handles. And You are the scrap master! I grovel at your feet.

Lucy | Charm About You said...

Gorgeous bag and the similarity of the scrappiness did make me laugh!

Becky said...

That's hysterical! Love the picture! Great purse too!

Amy Jo said...

That purse is GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!

Love, love the handles! Makes me want to make one!

Pam said...

I totally love your purse and all your "coordinated" work! I, too, could sit and look at them for hours.

Blessings!

Kuazue Mohamad said...

love it.. even though almost same...

Kate said...

Love that bag, you have inspired me to try something similar!

Allison said...

haha, that last picture is so funny! I didn't even see the pincushion! :) your new tote is fabulous, using those handles was brilliant. have a great weekend!

Renea said...

I love your scrapyness!! I love anything scrappy and yours are sew pretty. Love all the bright colors. Thanks for the sharing.

Mama Pea said...

What an awesome purse! It is gorgeous! This is what I mean about all your scraps going together. See, mine just don't coordinate that well!

lov2quilt said...

The pieces may look similar but they are singularly wonderful! Very inspirational, thank you.

Rachel said...

You like what you like...that works! I am a little bit in love with that bag!

Schulz Family said...

I absolutely love the bag. I took one look at it and thought that I had to make one!! Thanks for showing your fantastic projects

Contented Caroline said...

Love the bag ... and picture - but you're right - i didn't see the pin cushion at all until you pointed it out!! I love the scrappiness and actually a very similar taste to myself in terms of fabric ... think i'll just have to start playing with my scraps to see what I can come up with.

Gunilla said...

I love your bag. And the lining too :-)

Gunilla in Sweden

Annie said...

Oh how I love the scrappies always so inspiring Amanda Jean!

Michele said...

Your purse is so adorable. I might have to try something like that myself.

Wilma said...

Happy Christmas Days*** Beautiful¡¡¡

Unknown said...

Love the bag! I was thinking about making one for Mom for Christmas and you've lit the fire under me to get going!

elizabeth said...

The bag is fantastic. I have pre made handles and haven't been quite sure what to do with them-but this is perfect. I did see the pincushion and i think I must copy and make a scrappy one for myself!!:) lovely work. And as another reader asked but I didn't see an answer, did you stitch the handles on by hand or machine?

Barbara said...

I love it! They're all so colorful (: This makes me want to use all the scraps I can find.

Bea said...

I love your bag! I agree with your friend, scrappiness tends to look the same: FABULOUS!
Where do you buy your bag handles?

Franziska said...

like your purse. I can imagine making one for myself.

-girl from the bush said...

Hi Amanda, love your purse, so vibrant and a great way to use all those scraps that would normally be in the bin! I tend to keep scraps that are small for applique as you only need small bits often...my sister chucks it out! Think I might try and start to make something with them now. If you just join up a few every time you do a spot of sewing they would be joined up in no time...sue~nz

Anna said...

Lol, I didn't even see the pincushion until after I read that there was supposed to be one in the picture. Love the scrappiness though.

Betsy said...

Love the purse and every other bit of scrappy-wonder.

Sarah said...

Hey, they do look similar. Isn't that funny? I guess you have a certain style. We all do. I like the spot what game!

Rachel said...

I absolutely love the bag. So cheerful.

Aliceart said...

I love, love this purse. I think your scrappiness is reflective of your own personal style. My often comes out the same even though I am trying for an effect like yours. I guess we are who we are!

Thimbleanna said...

OhMyGosh CrazyMom -- I LOVE this purse -- it's awesome. And you're too funny -- I totally didn't see that pincushion until you mentioned it. Thanks for the heads up LOL!

Anonymous said...

I have bag envy! I work in a knitting shop, and I have noticed that people do tend to gravitate toward the same colors in their projects, again and again. I don't see anything wrong with that---if something works for you, stick with it.

Sew Shabby Designs said...

Great job!!! I love ANY patch work. Love it!

Quilter Mom of 3 said...

I could see the pincushion until you mentioned it!! LOL, As always, thank you SO much for sharing!

Annemieke said...

a very lovely bag! Ithink i have those same handles waiting in my closet....time to use them!
Groetjes
Annemieke

Dianne said...

Very sweet bag! I love the look of scrappy. not sure you can have too much.

Faye Nettles said...

I love this scrappy bag! Everything you make is so adorable.

Ellie Q said...

What a great bag! I like the non-fabric handles too. Had to laugh about your scrappy comment--I didn't even notice the pincushion in the photo until you pointed it out. :)

Carol E. said...

Love your bag. And OF COURSE all your scrappy things look the same. We each develop a style, and that's the way our designs look. Sometimes I have to really struggle to break out of my style, and I don't know if I ever succeed. I look longingly at other people's stuff and wonder why i couldn't come up with it... but, they don't come up with MY stuff. So it all evens out. I am working on a baby quilt based on one in your book...High Five. There's an in progress picture somewhere at my blog, in the last few days. If you are curious to see it, you would only have to scroll down a day or two.

Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...

Awesome scrappiness! And I didn't even see the pincushion!!! ;)