Triple ZIp Swap- Recieved

During Sew Mama Sew's giveaway day in May, I happened across Stephanie of Quarter Incher. She won one of my giveaways and I became a follower. She is incredibly creative and amazingly talented, you should follow her too!

Last year, there was an explosion of triple zips on my reader and flickr feed. Such a fun project to use up your scraps and practice putting in zippers. I wanted to make one, but never seemed to fit it in. So when Stephanie announced she was hosting a triple zip swap, I had to join. I don't want to share mine til my partner gets hers, but here's the AMAZING triple zip that ended up in my mailbox....I'm a very lucky girl!!

Mara at SimonSaysSew had me and sent me this gorgeous triple zip with some incredible goodies to boot! I'm seriously in love with her version and all the awesome fabrics she included!!

Peas and Carrots lunch bag

My sewing machine has decided it hates me. I managed to get it to get it to cooperate long enough to do a pattern test for Sara of SewSweetness for her new lunch bag pattern.

In defense of my machine, I did ask it to go through a layer of fabric, interfacing, headliner fabric, insulbrite AND PUL. All without a walking or Teflon foot. It was a battle of wills, one that I ALMOST lost, but after setting the tension to +3...(isn't that nuts?!) I was able to wrangle this through my little Singer.

Clearly, the fact that I can't get a decent stitch without the tension jacked all the way up should be a good indication that my machine is currently in protest. 

Aside from the difficulties with my machine, this pattern is so super straightforward and adorable! I opted for the rounded version of the bag, but there is another boxy version of the bag included with the pattern. I didn't want to deal with hand binding (as Sara recommends) for the other version of the bag, so I went with the rounded one. I think the longest part of the construction is the basting of all the layers together... as there are several layers to this bag. 

The only difficult part is getting all the layers through smoothly. I'm sure those with nicer machines and/ or walking foots will have a much easier time. I think if I had sacrificed the use of the headliner fabric it would have been easier, but it really does add a crisp structure to the bag.  

So, it's clear my machine is in need of some TLC before attempting another one, but I certainly will be, it's a wonderful sized lunch bag and with the appropriately functioning machine/ feet it would be a breeze. Even with the challenges my machine posed, I finished the whole thing in just a few hours (not including cutting). There are also some super cute zippered snack bag pattern included. I didn't get a chance to make any but they are the perfect sizes! 

My machine will be heading to the doctor ASAP! Ugh :(

Petrillo Bag

When I had another opportunity to test a new pattern by Sara of Sew Sweetness, I couldn't say no. I tested the paper pieced sunset clutch last month and it was a lot of fun. This time I had the chance to test out Sara's new Petrillo Bag and I finally found the perfect match for some Salt Water fabrics that I have been itching to use!

This bag is a very roomy bag and features both a zippered and a padded interior pocket that fits a tablet or IPad, which it does so perfectly. It is such a great pattern and I am in love with it! The pattern upon first glance seems a bit daunting because there IS a lot of cutting involved but really it is not complicated to put together. The parts that may seem a bit nmore complicated, Sara explains so well that it makes it seems like cake! I would highly recommend this pattern, and this is now my new work bag. It's really roomy and The pockets help keep everything together. I can fit soooo much in it and I LOVE that.

And I got to use my new zipper pulls...how cute are these?!

Tulip Totes

Getting ready for my first craft show has me sewing like crazy.  I'm trying to make up for my lack of sewing in June.  I wanted to make a couple more handbags to take with me but I wanted one that was a quick sew without looking like a quick sew.  Enter the Tulip Tote.

I think I've made 5 or six of these bags since buying the book Sew Serendipity Bags by Kay Whitt. I'm so in love with this book, and this by far is one of my favorite patterns ever. It involves one pattern piece. ONE PATTERN PIECE. Seriously, you cut your main panels, lining panels, straps and pockets. Easy peasy.

I finished one today in a few hours. One of which I spent wasted on Facebook. One I spent sewing with the assistance of a soon to be 4 year old. So that leaves me with one uninterrupted hour of sewing...so I'm going to say it's maybe a two hour project. Maybe less if you an get your fusible fleece to fuse in a more reasonable amount of time than me. I swear I spend more time fighting with interfacing than sewing.

Even though it's such a quick project, I think the grommets and bias tape add a little more interest to the bag. The simplicity of the bag makes it an easy one to modify (it would be cute to add an exterior zippered pocket).  It also uses so little fabrics, it's a great way to use up some half yard cuts in your stash. I know I've been disappointed when I have a fabric in mind for a bag and I realize I don't have enough to use it as I want to.

Now to figure out what to work on next :)

Fabric covered buttons = magic

Last winter, I discovered fabric covered buttons and we've had a love affair since.  Sadly, I haven't had as much of a use for buttons as I'd like. 

Now I can get my fabric covered button fix!!! Earrings... This is a hopelessly unoriginal project and I think I've seen it pinned a gazillion times so I can't even give the proper credit but that doesn't make me love them any less!!!

I saw the buttons on clearance at a local sewing warehouse store for 3.00 per ziplock BAGFUL!! I'm now kicking myself for not buying the hell out of them. 

I've made about 10 more pair of these, and I seriously can't believe how easy they are!!

Necessary Clutch

I purchased the Neccessary Clutch pattern by Emmaline Bags as soon as it was released a couple of months ago. I immediately fell in love with the look of it but it recommends the use of a twist lock, which I did not have and kept forgetting to order. This pattern just sat in wait :(

As fate would have it, I went to JoAnn's a couple days ago to get some magnetic snaps and sitting right next to the snaps...twist locks!!! Eek...a magical new discovery, (when did they start carrying these?!). I was so stoked to get these home and start this wallet. I mean it was a complete sign right?!

Fabric choices were surprisingly easy, I had just finished the Lapin Noir Bag, and I had some of the fabrics from this bag left over. For the second clutches, I had some Amy Butler fat quarters that had been sitting around waiting for a purpose.

This pattern is so well put together, and the way it's laid out with the photo tutorials, I'm confident a beginner could do it. The most difficult part was cutting away the Peltex reinforced piece to put in the twist lock, I'm convinced that requires no skill, just luck and LOTS of patience (and cursing helps a LOT, well it does me anyways). Thank God that's like step 4. The super nice thing about the twist locks JoAnn's had was that the pieces were screwed together, so it required zero fabric glue or time to get them in once I got that annoying little hole cut!

I seriously LOVE this wallet....LOVE LOVE it. I want to keep BOTH of them but my hubby made me promise I would only keep the stuff I was making if it didn't sell. Since I'm doing my inaugural craft show this weekend, I have to wait to see.

Look at all the goodies you can stuff into this baby!!! It also doubles as a clutch and I know Emmaline has a tutorial on her blog that show you how to had a wrist strap if that's your thing but for me it's the perfect sized wallet.

I would have made more of them but JoAnn's only had 2 twist locks when I went in...how bad is it that I want to start calling around to other JoAnn's to see if they have them? That's how much I love this wallet!!!

Lapin Noir Bag

Have I said how much I ADORE Sara of SewSweetness' bags?

They are seriously amazing.

Every. Single. One.

When Sara asked for testers for her newest pattern, the Lapin Noir Bag, I of course volunteered. This bag, like her others, is very unique and practical. I love that her bags are just as functional as they are adorable! This bag was no different.

Sara's patterns are seriously so easy to follow and walks you through every step clearly enough that you can finish any of her bags, even if one of the techniques is totally new to you. I think the most time consuming part of any of her patterns is the cutting, interfacing and organizing of all the pieces. I think that took me just as long as the sewing did....but I HATE those steps.

This was easily an afternoon project for an intermediate sewer. I cut and interfaced the bags on a Friday evening and started sewing the bag Saturday afternoon and was done in just a few hours. It has so many pockets!! The exterior has a HUGE zippered pocket nd a small cell pocket to keep your phone handy. The interior has both a zippered pocket and a large divided slip pocket. It's a really versatile bag and can be worn as a shoulder bag with the bag folded (so, so cute) or you can use the handles if you prefer.

This bag is so awesome, I love it!!! I want to keep it for me, I need to make another one ASAP!