Bohemian Fringe Cross-Body Bag

November 2, 2015December 26, 2015

If you haven’t noticed already, I’ve been really getting into bag-making. I’ve used leather (both faux and real) and now I get to add some suede into the repertoire. Ever since I got to play with Bound Fabrics for Spring Quilt Market, I’ve had my eye on this Macrame print. I’ve been meaning to make a bag with it ever since the line came out, but you know how selfish projects just get pushed to the side for others… When Art Gallery Fabrics announced a Bound Fabric Bag Challenge, I knew it was my time to finally make my purse!

I was inspired by a bag I saw in Banana Republic. It had the fun fringe on the side and was a generous size for a mama-on-the-go. The only thing it lacked was an interesting print to make it really pop. April Rhodes‘ Bound Fabrics were the perfect options for this style of bag. She creates optimal Bohemian Chic designs.

Initially, I wanted a lighter camel colored leather for the fringe and strap. I stopped by Tandy Leather here in Columbus to see if they could help. It turned out large pieces of suede were on sale that day and how could I beat $20 for the skin? I could have easily spent way more on the idea I had in my head. It’s good to be flexible and I am SO happy with the results!

For the construction of the bag, I use Pellon Thermolam and SF-101 to give some structure, but still allow for that slouchy-relaxed look that comes with Boho style. For the interior, I used Diamond Cloth Cereus and added a nice big pocket with a brass zipper. Although they are not as smooth as plastic zippers, I just cannot pass the opportunity of using a beautiful brass one.

On the other side of the interior, I added a small pocket for my smart phone and an extra pocket for all the other small knick-knacks I bury in my purses. I’ve learned that I need the phone pocket most of all in bags….especially since I like these over-sized styles. ‘Having this one tiny feature alleviates a lot of headaches trying to find my “life-line!”

All of the hardware is from Emmaline Bags and adding the rivets were not as difficult as I thought they would be. It’s important to have a good leather punch and the right anvils for the job. The guys at Tandy Leather helped me get set with the right supplies.

Like with my Cargo Duffle, I used Gutterman Top-Stitch thread to make my straps. I just love that professional look of the thicker thread. It takes time to work out the tension, but worth it in the end!

If you get the chance, can you please help me with the Bound Challenge? You can head over to Art Gallery’s Pinterest board here. If you “heart” my post, I will earn a point and then if you “re-pin” it, I will earn an additional point. Please make sure you do so through Art Gallery’s board so the “hearts” and “re-pins” are recorded. ***Update: Contest is over*** Thank you so much to all who voted!!!!

The prizes will help me keep a stock of fabric and notions so my projects and posts can keep coming to you 🙂 And you know I like to giveaway too…..

Crossing my fingers (and zippers!)

Cristy

***This post may contain affiliate links for which I may receive a small compensation upon your completed purchase. These help keep the site up and running.

Upcycle That Leather Jacket

October 21, 2015December 26, 20156 Comments

Are you like me…stowing away your 15 year old leather jackets? ‘Not because they’ll ever come back into style or because they hold some kind of sentimental memories…but because you spent your hard-earned waitressing money on a coat that was way over priced…and you HAD to have it? Yup, this was one of them.

I bought this cinnamon colored jacket around 1999/2000 and just swooned over the buttery leather. This shapeless car coat style was “all the rage” and I wore it all.the.time. It was my go-to jacket when heading out to “the clubs.” Oh the memories….

I made it through college, 5 apartments, my first condo, two homes, and this jacket has come with me. It has survived countless closet cleanings. Why? Because it still had value to me…not to some random person at goodwill or craigslist could ever appreciate.

But now I’m in my mid 30’s…a wife…a mom…but I sew! And I sew bags…… I finally found the perfect use for my beloved car coat. It would be re-incarnated into a beautiful Cargo Duffle. You can see it live and in living color over on Sew Sweetness‘ blog for Pursepalooza.

To get the leather ready for transformation, there are a few tips I recommend (Please keep in mind, I am by NO means an expert..just love me some good leather.)

Clean and condition the leather while the coat is whole – You want to do this periodically over the life of the jacket…But if you are like me, it didn’t happen for over 10 years.
Start to cut through and remove the lining – This will reveal any glue or interfacing. You know what to cut around and what to remove this way, rather than having to hacksaw your way through.
Remove any buttons, zippers, and pockets
Cut away any dry areas or where the leather has been stretched to a point where it does not lay flat (just like the top of the sleeve shown above.)
If you have a pattern earmarked for the leather…cut it out in muslin or paper. Use the templates to lay against the jacket – Unlike fabric, it’s gonna be hard to find a duplicate piece of leather that matches what you have.
Now you’re ready to cut up the jacket
Before sewing, condition the leather again if it was neglected for years like mine.
Save the scraps!!! You’ll need them for tension testing (which I had to do quite a bit…) and for making fun tassels later 😉

Do you have any additional tips? I’d love to hear them all!

Scissor Happy,

Cristy

Fall Fabric Pumpkin Decor

October 12, 20151 Comment

I know I’m a little late…but it’s still before Halloween….so Happy Fall, friends! From lattes to lights, you can find everything in pumpkin form this time of year. So, how about some fun Fall Fabric Pumpkin decor?

Last year, I found this great tutorial from Fiskars to make a Pumpkin Pincushion on Pinterest. I had a bunch of random JoAnn’s fabric scraps and wanted to have some new autumnal accessories for my home without having to buy them. (Nice when that can actually happen, right???)

Instead of using the 6″ circle pattern (4″ diameter,) I enlarged the circle to a 9″ diameter and then to a 12″ diameter. This was a simple adjustment with a compass to draw up the circles. TIP: You can use some household bowls that are roughly around the same size as templates.

Instead of embroidery thread (which I didn’t have on-hand,) I used good old fishing line with a large-eye needle to make the ribs. TIP: Start sewing from the top of the pumpkin. There will be large knots from the fishing line which can be secured and hidden by the stem later.

For the stem, I hot-glued a 2″ x 4″ piece of craft felt into a tight rolled cigar and then set aside to cool. With two different colors of 1/2″ ribbon, I created the “leaves” with loops; securing them with hot-glue in the center of the pumpkin. The “tendrils” are just wound ribbon with small dots of hot-glue securing them directly on the fabric. Lastly, the stem is glued in the center to hide the fishing line knots and the ends of the ribbon.

I have several of these pumpkins that adorn my mantle and dining room table. They are so festive and it brings me so much joy that they are hand-made. What decor do you love in the fall for your home?

Happy Stitching!

Cristy

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Craft Shows {Why to Partner Up}

October 8, 2015October 8, 20158 Comments

Last week, I had my first craft show/market/fair/event of the season. I’ve been doing them for a few years now and I wanted to share my experiences. Before even getting to the show, there is quite a bit to consider and one of them is why I always have a partner…or three!

When I first started out selling my sewn goods, there were four of us that partnered in all of our shows. We all offered a different kind of craft…crochet, paper-crafting, and sewing. Collectively, we were all stay-at-home-moms who wanted to earn a little extra money to fund our hobbies. Our crafts were complementary and we figured we’d draw in a similar buyer…..so we thought, why not start doing shows together?

The Pros:

Shared Costs – There is always the thought, “What if I don’t sell anything?” By having a partner, you are still able to get involved in the community without have to spend as much money for it. We could always get the largest booth offered (typically a 10x10ft). By splitting the costs, the risk of loss was greatly decreased.
Able to do More Events – With the split in costs, there is also the opportunity to try out a few shows and see what crowds are drawn. Each event is different and it’s nice to test out what works with your products.
Split Responsibilities – Life gets crazy…especially with stay-at-home-moms of young children! We would divide who fills out the application and letting the rest of the group know the logistics (set-up time, actual time of the event, etc.) This made the shows more manageable for everyone
Built in relief – Some shows will have people who will help watch your booth if you need to step away, but that’s time that you cannot make a sale. By having partners, I have been able to use the restroom, eat, check out the show itself and even take care of things at home, if needed. This can happen all while still having someone around to sell for me.
Pulled Resources – As we started out, we were playing with show displays quite a bit. It was nice to borrow and share what we already had without having to make significant investments. We shared signs, decor, tablecloths and tables.
Help with Set-Up and Tear-Down – Having additional hands is always nice! It makes lighter work and you are able to get this all done more quickly. With the shows last 5-7hrs, saving any amount of time is precious.
It’s Fun – Selling at shows takes a lot of work, but it’s a nice day to spend with someone who shares the event with you.

THE Cons:

Life Happens – There is the risk of partners pulling out of events for illness (especially during the winter season) or other family obligations. But if you have a great group like me, they will still want to help sell your goods! Between the group of four, each of us had missed at least one show, but we still sold everyone’s products.
It Gets Crowded – The booth would be full with all of us just vending. So, we really had to coordinate schedules to not all be there at once and be mindful of the customers coming in. The booth itself fills up quickly with so much product, so it’s important to also share the space fairly.
Set-up and Tear-down – These are always the most labor intensive parts of selling. Most of our shows start set-up at around 7am and with my partners having babies, not everyone could make it to assist. There needed to be extra coordination to drop off or pick up product the night before…but it all evened out. If one person couldn’t make it for set-up, then she had to make it for tear-down and vice-versa.

Luckily, we never had any major issues and everyone was considerate of each other. It makes a big difference to choose the RIGHT partners! Have you sold at any craft shows or are thinking about it??? Do you work alone or with a partner?

<< You can find out where I will be selling for the rest of year, here. >>

Happy Fall,

Cristy

Dwelling Quilt {Pattern Testing}

September 28, 20154 Comments

I was holding onto my Hello Bear fabric for awhile, waiting for the right quilt pattern (and baby) to come along. Well, both happened to coincide recently! A dear childhood friend recently had a baby boy and Holly Gets Quilty was getting ready to release this Dwelling Quilt Pattern. You can find this Mug Rug I made using the smaller block from the same pattern.

I just love the modern whimsical palette of this collection. The teal and mint play so wells with the grays and browns. This is just a beautiful collection for babies and children. I mean, who can resist these woodland creatures???

For this quilt, I used the larger of the Dwelling Quilt paper-piecing templates. It creates a 8″ x 9 3/4″ unfinished block. I went for a scrappy house look with some fussy cutting for this baby quilt. Who knows what kind of mess this will be exposed to…so the various colors and patterns works to camouflage any potential incidents 😉

This was a 5 x 5 block design which created a 35″ x 43 3/4″ finished baby quilt.

As you can see, I added embroidery to the blocks with Valdani Perle Cotton Size #8 Thread in 171 Rich Brown . It was fun to add some extra texture and of course, that personal touch. Hopefully, Baby Axel will love this quilt and appreciate the extra love put into it 😉

To get the embroidery lines, I printed the letters on paper in the Return to Sender font. I like this font because it was masculine and wide enough to work with this quilt. The letters were traced onto the fabric using a water-soluble fabric pen along with a bright light source so I could see the letters from underneath the fabric.

The quilting was straight-line in a diamond configuration with Aurifil 2310 Light Beige for the top and 2615 Aluminum in the bobbin. Timberland Green was used for the binding with some fun Adventure Springs accented in to keep with the scrappy feel.

Buck Forest Mist was the perfect backing. It’s a very masculine print and the gray lends to easy baby management…er….laundry 😉

I can’t wait to see Baby Axel wrapped up and enjoying this quilt 🙂

Happy Stitching,

Cristy

***This post may contain affiliate links for which I do receive a very small commission. They help keep this site up and running 🙂

Love You Sew

Handcrafted from the Heart

Bohemian Fringe Cross-Body Bag

Upcycle That Leather Jacket

Fall Fabric Pumpkin Decor

Craft Shows {Why to Partner Up}

The Pros:

THE Cons:

Dwelling Quilt {Pattern Testing}