A very exciting start to the new year!

I haven't shared the exciting news yet, as I shared before, two of my bags making the top 15 in the Sew Mama Sew Sew Sweetness bag contest. I'm still in complete shock over the outcome... My Lapin Noir won second place and my Piccadilly Circus bag was also a runner up!

I was so excited that not one, but two of my bags made the top fifteen but I really never expected to win anything...there were so, so many gorgeous bags in the contest. 

Thank you to everyone that voted and for all the kind words, I'm really honored that my bags made it! It also means that I will have lots of happy mail soon. 

Considering this god awful weather...below ZERO, coming this week it will give me something to look forward to :)

 

January Bag of the month -- Bye Bye Love Bag

Have you heard about the bag of the month club? It's a fantastic pattern package that releases one new pattern per month by six of the best bag designers out there! It's a great deal for anyone who loves to make bags!

This was the January bag of the month: the Bye Bye Love Bag by Sew Sweetness. It's a crazy roomy tote, that is perfect for toting books or your gym gear. It has two front pockets perfect for your cell phone and lip gloss, an exterior zip pocket on the back and two huge divided slip pockets in the interior. 

I was lucky enough to test the pattern and get it early enough to make a Christmas gift with it. The pattern is fantastic, and as all Sara's patterns it was a breeze to follow and the construction was cake. The only modification I made was leaving the straps flat. The pattern calls for rolled straps but as this is such a big tote and I knew the reciepient carts around as much as she can stuff in a bag, I thought it might be more comfortable to leave them flat.

However, as easy as the pattern is, my machine and I did not get along so well during the making of this bag. I had tension issues and lets just say that I think I'd rather gouge out my eye balls with a seam ripper than pick out double stitched seams from chambray (the accent pieces of the bag) again.

Luckily, despite the protests from my machine I got this one finished in time for Christmas and kept the cursing to a minimum ( just barely).  

Thankfully, my tension issues have resolved magically. They only ever seem to happen when I have a strict timeframe to work with ( like gift giving occasions ). Let's hope she behaves herself for the rest of the year ! 

Happy New Year!!

Good bye 2013!

Doesn't it seem that as we get older the years go by faster and faster? I can't believe we are ringing in 2014 already!!! I spent a lot of time sewing this year, and I do feel that I have learned a lot (thank you internet!) and my confidence with tackling challenges has certainly improved. I no longer dread zippers and button holes and I have come to a mutual tolerance for each other.


A few of my faves from this year:

My first (and only) attempt at paper piecing

241 tote

Bow Tote

My love affair with the Lapin Noir Pattern:

Silver Cinemas Bag

Kennedy bag

Park West Bag

      Necessary Clutch wallets









A few of the clothing items I made:

A variation of the Pier 49 Pants

NoWhere Man Pants

Olivia & Oliver Peacoat

I'm looking forward to what 2014 holds!

A Christmas Bag

I'm glad to finally get to share this guy, as it was a present I had to keep it quiet til after Christmas.

My uncle asked me to make a bag for my cousin and the only instruction was "lots of pockets". With that, I knew immediately the bag I wanted to make. 

I've said this before but it totally bears repeating. The Lapin Noir pattern by Sew Sweetness is THE best bag pattern ever. This is the bag I use every day and when it dies I'll make another, it is by far the most functional bag I've ever carried. 

I had just made a bag in the red poppies from Joel Dewberry's Notting Hill line, and although I usually don't like repeatedly using the same fabrics, it seemed absolutely perfect for one last bag. The colors and florals are spectacular and both modern and vintage at the same time and I knew my cousin would love it! 

After finishing it, I seriously fell in love with this guy. I adore aqua and red, throw in the polka dots and I couldn't ask for more! I seriously had a bit of a moment when shipping this bag off to Chattanooga. However, it is now in the hands of someone who loves it as well and I'm glad :) 

This bag is also in the top fifteen over at the Sew Mama Sew Sew Sweetness bag contest. If you haven't voted yet, please take a minute to pick your top three bags. There are seriously some amazing bags in it!!!! 

SMS Sew Sweetness Bag Contest

Merry Christmas to me!!! I'm super stoked that not only one but TWO of my bags made it to the final fifteen in the Sew Mama Sew Sew Sweetness Bag contest. I am truly flattered to have made it to the public voting, as there were so many absolutely stunning bags entered!! 

Please go check out all the lovely bags that made the top fifteen and vote for your top three, they are all awesome and are deserving of a win (not just mine, but I'd be ok with you voting for me too ;)

Go vote for your faves today!

SMS Giveaway Winner

The winner of the Kennedy Bag is....

Thrift Store Crafter! If this is you, go check your email :)

Thanks so much to everyone that entered! I'm honored that so many of you wanted my bag.

This is such a great event and I'm glad that I found some new blogs to follow, I loved reading each and every comment about your holiday faves!!  I hope y'all have an absolutely wonderful Holiday Season!!!

Beatnik Waist Bag

I was lucky enough to test the Beatnik Waist Bag pattern for Sara of Sew Sweetness. I've been looking for a waist bag pattern for a while, so when Sara emailed me I was ecstatic to be able to test it! 

I went back and forth with my fabric choices and even after I did settle on the text print, I went back and forth about if I wanted to have the pockets contrasting. I seriously need to work on my indecisiveness lol.

In addition to the front pockets, there is a zip pocket on the back and a divided slip pocket inside.

I also used this bag as my excuse to buy a real snap setting tool, good-bye cheap plastic doodad and hammer (which I only had about a 50 percent success rate with)!! Now I'll be adding snaps a whole lot more :)

In the end, I'm happy with how this turned out. I know most of us gals don't use waist bags on the regular but there are times they are so, so perfect...craft shows, sporting events, for runners and when you need your hands free! now you can make your own and not have to buy those hideous ones that are hard to come by in stores!!! Head over to the Sew Sweetness pattern shop and get yours !!!