Fancy handbag part two
We’ve had a busy couple of weeks here getting organized to go to our friends wedding last weekend. We had to travel a long way, 7hrs drive to the grandparents, chit chat and drop off kids, next day another 3hrs to where we are staying. Keith is the official photographer and wants to go to the rehearsal which we miss, never mind we still get to go over venue for photo opportunities. Wedding day starts off with bad weather and photographer is worried, but clears up in time for ceremony and turns out great. And he got some lovely photos, good job dear!
Next two days are spent traveling home again, its now 4 days later and we’re still not fully unpacked. I have a huge mountain of washing to sort and fold up and the boys are running out of clothes.
Good news, got the bag finished in time to take to the wedding. Well, just, I left off any type of fastening and didn’t have time to pin stitch the flap.
I had to sew the lining twice due to doing it wrong way around with interlining on the inside (the wrong side!) the first time, whoops.
My second go
Had lots of fun with the trimmings on the front flap. Stage one, the net over lay.
Next, the ribbon and cord trimming.
Yo yo’s
Fabric roses
Then beaded loops and we’re done. And the final finished product!
I was careful to get the lining of the flap with the picture up the right way when the bag is open.
Here I am wearing it at the wedding with my matching dress, a birthday gift from Mum.
And a close up of the flap, for those like me who strain their eyes and put their noses to the screen to take in the details,
I love my new little bag, can’t wait to take her out again 
Really big beach bag
Have a look at the really big tote bag for the beach/picnicking in the park that I finished last week.
I was so keen to get sewing it that I forgot to take any photo’s of what the materials used to look like, which I am now kicking myself for.
The apple print fabric was the skirt part of a little girls dress, I just unpicked it from the top bib part and cut of the side seams. For some reason it was made with the print upside down! This was a bonus for me as it meant it was the right shape I wanted for my bag when turned the right way up.
The red corduroy fabric was from a pair of toddlers overalls that have been in my fabric hoard for years, I think my little brother may have worn them at some stage; obviously not for very long though as they were like new.
The pattern I made for this was fairly basic, just two sides joined together and boxed out at the bottom. I also lined it and put in a little patch pocket, taken straight off the overalls.
Now I’m off to the beach, the weather is lovely here in Auckland…well actually today it’s a bit cloudy but it’s still very hot.
Fancy handbag – a work in progress
I am currently in the process of making a handbag to take to a wedding this month. The fabric I’m using is from my Nana’s stash, and just happens to be the exact shade of turquoise as the dress I want to wear (a birthday present from my mum, thanks Mum!). For the lining I am using a lovely vintage cotton print that was also in my Nana’s stash (thanks Nana!). Some of it was already cut out into a shape that looked like a little girls dress, with button up straps. I had often wondered who Nana was making the dress for, and why it was never finished. When I asked Mum about this and she said she thought it may have been for me. I’m going to smile and think of my Nana every time I open this bag.
So far I have cut all the pieces out and sewed the main pieces together, boxing out the bottom.
During the school holidays I also spent a bit of time making all these little fabric flowers and yo yo’s that are going to be stitched on the front flap.
