compass bag

I'm not normally a bag maker, but I do love carrying a handmade bag, so once in awhile I make an exception. :) This pattern is called the Compass Bag, by the amazing and talented Anna of Noodlehead. It's a very detailed and well written pattern--I was impressed! I started the bag on Saturday, took Sunday off, and finished it on Monday.

There was a lot of cutting right off the bat, and there are a lot of steps involved in the construction, but it's broken down into bite sized pieces, which makes it much less intimidating.  It was my first time using rivets, which add a nice finish to the exterior pockets. I pulled out a lot of tools for this one! It was fun!

I love the finished details on this bag. All the hardware (not to mention the zippered pocket) make it look so polished!

The pattern has a lot of room for customization: two size options, two strap options and two exterior pocket options. This is the large size with an adjustable strap and slip pockets.

The exterior print is a Japanese fabric I picked up on clearance at Bear Patch Quilting about a year ago. The accent and interior fabric is Sketch Screen by Timeless Treasures. Hardware was purchased at Hobby Lobby.

I can see this bag getting a LOT of use!

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!

a messenger bag

I'm not a big fan of making hand made bags, but I do love carrying them. Every once in awhile I make one anyway, even if the process isn't my favorite. The results are totally worth it!

Over the past several days I sewed up this messenger bag. I didn't follow a pattern at all, but I did consult my friend Tara on a few parts of the construction. (Thanks Tara!) The outside is made from denim, the flap is scrappy, of course! I used a linen strap that I found in the epic bag of scraps that I received from Mary. It was so nice to have that part done!

There are multiple layers and various materials in this baby, including: lightweight denim, canvas, interfacing, batting, linen and quilting cotton. (Oh my!)

The lining fabric is red and white polka dot, which is probably no surprise at all. I love that it's so happy! I added 4 simple slide pockets on the inside....

...and I even added a zipper pocket to the back of the bag. I watched the instructions on how to make a zippered pocket in Tara's Quilt as You Go Patchwork Bags Craftsy class, which completely demystified the process. I felt so smart and accomplished! It's not perfectly straight, but not bad at all for a first try.

The bag measures about 13" wide x 14" tall x 3" deep. I LOVE how it turned out! I can't wait to fill it up and start carrying it around. It's going to hold lots and lots of stuff....but not the kitchen sink! :)

I haven't said it in awhile, but...hurray for scraps!!!


On an unrelated note...I apologize to those of you who follow my blog via email who received a weird email message linking to me last week. My blog got hacked (what a mess) and I apologize for the trouble. Please delete the email message and move on. Hopefully it's all taken care of now. Thank you to those of you who gave me a heads up. I appreciate it!

scrap happy again

Welcome to finish it up Friday!

I have two quilts that I'm working on hand binding at the moment, so hopefully next week is a BIG finish week. In the meantime....

I managed to finish yet another scrap happy purse! I believe that this is my 4th one. My son said that they all look the same. Now, I don't think he necessarily meant it as a compliment, but I took it as one! :)  I forgot to add the magnetic snap to this one (doh!) but I think it will work anyway.

This is scrap project # 83/101. It's been almost a month since I finished a scrap project. Boy, I'm slipping! Thank goodness for finish it up Friday once again.

Now it's your turn! Please link up your finishes for the week. THANKS, as always, for joining me for finish it up Friday! It wouldn't be the same without you!

by request

My son requested a rice bag warmer, so I made one for each of my kids. Two minutes in the microwave and they are nice and toasty. My kids love them! I used up scraps AND an orphan block. Sweet! These are scrap projects #20, #21 and #22.

I was asked to make my Scrap Happy Purse for Quilt Market using Denyse Schmidt's upcoming line Ansonia. I really enjoyed playing with brand spankin' new fabric! I did NOT enjoy hand stitching on those handles. It's worth it in the end, but I always manage to stab myself with a needle way too many times. Ouch.

I had requests to make this sweet and sassy quilt into a pattern. I'm calling it Little Connections. (My husband named it, actually. I may like naming quilts even less than I like sewing on purse handles!) The pattern is available here. I made the first block for a boy version this weekend. If only I had more time to work on that today....

 

Happy Monday to you!

scrap happy purse pattern

I'm pleased to announce that my Scrap Happy Purse pattern is officially finished! Woo-hoo! (And boy, do I have the headache to prove it!)

I've been carrying the original purse since May and I have gotten such great feedback on it. I absolutely love the size. It's perfect for everyday use, but it also works well for traveling. An I-pad and a small knitting project fit inside it quite nicely, even with my everyday purse contents.

The original bag uses pre-made handles (which I purchased at my local quilt shop) but there are also instructions in the pattern for making your own. I chose to make sassy pink handles for this version. :)

Have I mentioned that it's a great way to use up scraps? The more, the better!

By the way, this is scrap project #19/101. (Yay!)

 

The purse finishes at 9" wide x 11" tall x 5" deep.

The PDF pattern is available for purchase here.

 

If you would like to win a copy of the pattern, please leave me a comment on this post. In your comment I'd love to hear where your dream vacation destination is. I'll pick a winner on Saturday.