Patchwork Messenger Bag

When I started sewing, one my first projects was the Patchwork Messenger Bag by Ali Foster. My sister (MC) loves messenger bags and I thought I'd make her one for her birthday! She helped me pick out the fabric and away we went. At the time, it was hard! Deffinitly the toughest thing I'd ever made. There were so many layers and things to think about. It was also my introduction to quilting techniques. In the end, I made it twice b/c I sewed the flap on backwards and the fabric we chose for the flap outside was her favorite (it wouldn't do to have it on the inside!). There were lots of mistakes and I decided to just chuck it and start over. The second attempt went much more smoothly, but it was still diffucult.

MC is a professional flute player and she's worked with the same teacher for years. Her teacher loved MC's bag and often commented on how she's love to have one. MC asked me to make one for her so we chose the fabrics and away I went. A year later, I sailed through this pattern! It was really awesome to see how much I've grown and how much more skill I have now. I remember telling MC when I gave her the first purse "if I can make this, I can make anything!". And it really was true-- that project was the confidence booster I needed to get out there and try it. I mean, what was the worst that could happen? I'd already failed and survived.

I really hope MC's teacher likes her new bag. It was a great collaboration with MC!

I love the purples and patterns MC chose! I especially love how the diamonds tie the purples and greens together!

The green from the strap goes all the way around the edges and bottom of the bag, giving it a really pulled together look.
The back is so pretty! I can't choose a favorite fabric in this bag!

I added a zippered pocket to the bag for little things that could get lost in the bottom of the bag (don't you hate it when that happens!?)

What was the hardest thing you've ever tried? Did it get easier with time?

W.i.P #5

What a week! I had a nice weekend surprise when my sister came into town for a job interview. She's an elementary ed. music teacher and I would love for her to move to Atlanta and become a Georgia peach! I taught her to sew, so now she's my sewing buddy too! Think of all the hours we can spend slinking around fabric stores together! bliss!!

I spent some time making the denim skirt that's been in the queue for a while (what is it about the ones that are in progress that makes you not want to work on them!?) and more time looking around at parts of town with MC that she might want to move to if this works out. I told her, as we were apartment shopping, "you're going to have the apartment I always wanted!". Haha-- good thing she knows I'm kidding (mostly)-- but I'm really looking forward to helping her get settled, make the most of her hand-me-down furniture and purchase some new stuff for herself (and by help, I mean give advice-- I don't have money for that!).

This weekend, I'm really excited about the Indie Craft Experience Summer Market this weekend in Atlanta! I can't wait to go check out all the craftiness and creativity of the artists who will be there. So many fun ones! Check back after the weekend for pics!

Here's the stats for this week:

Completed:
-denim skirt

In progress:
-Yellow Frill Jacket
-Sleep shorts

In the queue:
-Herringbone skirt
-Pique dress
-baby quilt
-Jamie Tunic
-Marlo Bloom bag
-Sweet dreams pajama pants

Stats:
completed: 1
started: 2
in the queue: 6

Now head on over to Freshly Pieced and see what everyone else is up to! (I'm blown away by the creativity every week!)

W.i.P. #4

So it's been a month since I posted my last W.i.P so there's a bit of catching up to do. Here's the run down:

Completed:
- Floral Skirt: check it out here

- mom's tote bag (Mother's day present). Of course I forgot to take pictures of the finished tote before I gave it to my mom so you'll have to wait for a post on that until I go back to NC again.

The tote is based on the Scrappy Linen Tote Tutorial by Michelle over at I Like Orange Too. It was so fun to do and I'm pretty proud of my first attempt at quilting (even if my strips ended up a bit wonky-- but we'll call it "artsy"). Mom wanted something to carry her iPad and travel mugs to church (she's very modern like that-- reads the Bible and takes notes from her iPad and sips coffee in the pews-- love her!). Here's a picture of us on my wedding day:
Isn't she beautiful!? She's the one that first taught me how to sew. The lady is super-talented-- she used to teach English smocking when I was young and I was always styling in grade school with my cute smocked dresses and patent leather shoes. The hours she must have put into those dresses! I love you mom!

Anyway, I used Michelle's design for the tote bag exterior, but made up the rest of the pattern to create a box-shaped tote with padding for the iPad and room for his and hers travel mugs. I promise to post about it one day.

In progress:
-Yellow Frill Jacket
-Sleep shorts

In the queue:

-Herringbone skirt
-Denim skirt
-Pique dress
-baby quilt
-Jamie Tunic
-Marlo Bloom bag
-Sweet dreams pajama pants

Stats:
completed: 2
started: 2
in the queue: 7

Now head on over to Freshly Pieced and see what everyone else has been up to!