Girly Fairytale Messenger Bag

The bright pink stitching really sets this one off. 

I don't know how I ever lived without this scalloped stitch.

This bag came together quickly after cutting, but I really took my time placing and cutting the pieces to make the most of this pattern. 

I'm not sure how I ever overlooked this pattern - I guess I wasn't in a girly state of mind. 

Look! A pink squirrel!!!  Eating apples, or something apple-like.  Well, not eating so much as reaching and picking. But there will be eating of these apple-like tree fruit. Oh yes!

There's a scene with two albino bunnies with a bright red eye running across a field with a wooden fence - so adorable.

I couldn't fit all of these elements of adorableness on this particular bag.  Thank jeebus I got three metres of this fabric!



But what I DID get on this back - on the back - is the foxy red fox with the birthday cap. Or toque.  I haven't decided. 

He's got his tongue sticking out, like he's licking his bright red chops.  On the pattern he's actually staring at the running bunnies.  So I'm happy to have saved the bunnies from the lecherous stare of the birthday fox.


I think of this fabric pattern as telling a fairytale.  There's the cartoony hungry red fox, the running bunnies, and the pink squirrel climbing a tree for his meal. 

There's a poem in there somewhere.  I'll tell it to myself when I go to sleep.

Bonsoir!

Yellow Purse of Joy (and Birds)

Your first time is never easy.  There's lots of fumbling around, second guessing, and self-doubt.  Lots of wondering, am I doing this correctly? This doesn't feel right. 

I'm talking about your first time with a new pattern. 

I achieved happy results after all - and I'm going to keep it! 

I couldn't help showing it around at work today - I'm so proud and it's so cute!!!  It's not every day you can overcome a big challenge and come out with a sweet looking prize like this!



This is a very sturdy and attractive purse!

FUN FACT:  It holds twice the volume of my current purse.  I checked. 

I work directly with three engineers - they like measuring things. A lot. Their strange brain patterns could be rubbing off... just a little bit. 

And here's best part - the handles go over my shoulder.  The perfect Mom purse!  The magnetic closure and cellphone pocket are the crowning details.

I'm quite tempted to make more! Any takers?

Almost called it "The Bag Lady"

My business. I was encouraged by two separate people (men, does it have to be said) to call my business The Bag Lady.  It's catchy, but seriously? Who wants their adorable creations to be associated with rusty shopping carts and matted hair? Pas moi.

I enjoy making fabric tote bags. They're easy, and the best part is you don't have to stick to a pattern!

These bags here were some of the first bags I made with my new sewing machine.  The printed fabric was picked up at the Midland Fabricland's big closing sale for super cheap.  I got way too much of it!

I've named it Pink Avocado.

These bags are all different and special in their own way - they're variations of each other with unique stitch patterns.

Not only are they the perfect bag to go clothes shopping with, they work very well for packing a lunch for work.  They're a medium-weight cotton, so they fold up nicely and fit in your purse*.

(*as long as it's a Mom-sized purse).

Here are a few more bags:

Pink paisley and a delicious watery blue lined bags.  I gave one of these pink ones to a coworker as a gift of appreciation - she's been giving so much of herself to help a family member with breast cancer... it felt very nice to help lift her spirits.

Here are my happy/ mating/ fighting/ debating mountain goats again. 

There's something about this fabric that makes me feel sad when I cut it.  I feel like I need to apologize for breaking up the beautiful late-winter early-spring scenes... "Don't worry guys, you're going to turn into something useful and adorable! Please don't scream when I cut you!!"

This is another set of larger tote bags, all with the wildly psychedelic stained glass fabric. 

These are really sturdy bags with doubled-up handles.  The handles are wide, so they don't dig

into your hands if you've got a heavy load going.  You could probably carry a whole whackload of butternut squash home from the farmer's market in these and not worry about anything bottoming out or your hands being cut into.

I'm not sure why this happened, but when I became Mrs. Bird I got into collecting things with birds. Big Time!

I just about fell over when I saw this fabric for the first time.  How I managed to leave the store without the entire bolt of fabric over my shoulder is a mystery (and a testament to my ever-improving sense of self-control).

These are various birds all over this large bold print...  in cages, in flight and perched on rooftops. 

Put this bag over your shoulder, there will likely be a bird perched there, looking out at the world.

This is another of the larger bags, the fabric is super sturdy - great for a teacher or student carrying books - groceries of all shapes and weights - miscellaneous toys for a daytrip to Grandmaman's - or your indoor shoes when it's snowy and slushy out.