Crafty Post - Vivian handbag in Glitter Vinyl

I've had so much palaver with this bag for various reasons, but its finally completed and I'm pretty happy with it. I really hope the recipient is too. Vinyl is a b*gger to work with but I love the finished product.

Once I got my vinyl (managed to find a UK supplier - YAY) I cut everything out. I do quilt the vinyl as I think it gives a more professional finish. I have this marvellous contraption that came with my sewing machine that means I can do even lines without having to mark the vinyl (the first line is marked with masking or washi tape) I also use a teflon foot. These are about 17 quid but well worth the outlay if you're going to be using vinyl/leatherette etc.

I had a big old problem with dodgy rivets and had to wait till some new ones came. See the one on the left. That happened with every single one of the faulty batch. I can't charge what I charge with rivets like that. The one on the right is from the new batch.

So the big job after creating the gusset (used two zips for this one so they meet in the middle) with piping and pockets, and the lining also with pockets, is sewing the vinyl to the gusset. This requires gritted teeth, and many passes in order to get the piping positioned correctly.

At this point the outer bag is complete, but there is no lining in it, and no handles.

I sewed the lining in by hand. Its easier, and neater and makes me feel like 'handmade' is more appropriate somehow LOL

Then I riveted the straps on, and ta-da. (There is also a shoulder strap which is removable)

I make these on a commission basis. They are £95 and you have a choice of vinyl colour, gusset fabric (the fabric you see on the outside), lining fabric, and if you wish to you can choose the piping colour and zip colour too or just let me find something that works. I am fully booked until July though!

handmade tags from http://www.bobbingirl.co.uk/

Cosmetic Purses and a Handbag handbag. Plus Christmas plays and carol concerts.

Its a busy time at the mo. There are parties to be had (by children) concerts to be done (by children) and things to be made (by children and me!)

I'll cover crafts first.
I made a large purchase over the weekend. Four bolts of Amy Butler fabric.

 

 

I didn't mean to go so nuts, but they are end of line and a super bargain at £5 a metre. My mum gave me some money for christmas. This took a large chunk of it!

I had already bought a metre of two of these fabrics a couple of weeks ago, and used them to make some cosmetics purses for family. I didn't use a pattern, and I used some lovely bright 8" zips I got on ebay. I think I just did 3.5" x 10" for the patterned fabric, 4.5" for the red fabric, and 7" x 10" for the lining. Sewed on some zip ends. Sewed in the zip. Sewed across the base to make the corners at about 3.5" width. Bobs your uncle. Not as quick as a basic pencil case, but not much more work and looks pretty nice.

  

I also finished my Cate (swoon patterns) handbag last night. I'm cross with myself for not making the pleather higher up the bag. I miscalculated so you can hardly see it as its on the base, but still quite happy with the bag in general. I love this melody miller ruby star linen-cotton fabric. Its my handbags handbag!

  

 

Also this week - Noah had his first christmas play at school (they don't do traditional nativities) He was a chicken. He didn't do much but pull faces at me but the whole thing is quite cute. I'm not allowed to post pics of that.

 (Noah at the carol concert - in the middle - elf hat on)

They also put on an out of school club carol concert. All the Y3s boycotted it (including Joey) because they refused to sing 'Let it go'. (I know full well Joey secretly enjoys Frozen) so he sat with me, and Noah pulled faced and rolled his jumper up and down :)

Tuesday evening I went out for a 'quick drink' with some of the reception mums. I can't really hold my drink any more, so 3 glasses of red and a sambuca later, I was pretty sozzled. I did of course have to work on Wednesday morning, but fortunately the boys were on a play date after school so I got a rest.

Voodoo Vixen have a new plus size model, so that's me out I guess. A quick fb message to say 'nice to work with you but we have a new face' would have been good, but hey ho that's business. She is gorgeous (the new model) but has been sl*gging of the MUA on fb so I'm not sure VV will use her again. Like me she isn't a professional model, but she has a fashion and lifestyle blog (which clearly I don't have - I just have a bit of everything blog!)

On Saturday we visited Wimpole Hall, which is about half an hour away from us. We have a national trust membership so its free for us. They have a lot of Christmas activities on at the mo (although Noah managed to convince this stall holder to let him and Joey make dried arrangements - this wasn't actually an activity - they were just being very kind!)

Inside the hall was decked out beautifully. The boys found some tiddlywinks sets to play with – very grand setting to do so – I’ve bought them some for Christmas as they had lots of fun.

Convertible-Reversible 4-in-1 Bag Tour and Giveaway (and 25% discount code)

The Convertible Reversible 4 in 1 Bag 

This was my first ever pattern test. I was really thrilled to be included, especially as this is my year of doing new things. I had no idea what to expect, but it definately wasn't this. In for a penny, in for a pound though, and so glad I did.

Sarah has designed something very ingenious. It is put simply one bag, which can be converted into three entirely different looking bags.

I made up mine with the idea of taking it on my hols next month. Sarah suggests either laminated or quilting cotton. I am trying to use only my stash at the moment, and I didn't have any laminated cotton (actually I'd never heard of it until then - I was only aware of oilcloth which is TOO heavy weight to use for this. I have since bought some -> UK folks try Prints to Polka Dots for laminated cotton as they have some on offer right now)

As I said, I wanted to use this as a holiday bag because it means taking only one bag that I can convert for use on different days. As you may know, I am a big fan of quirky and colourful fabrics. After much chopping and changing I decided on the following 4 fabrics:

Bag 1 I used the trailer travel fabric by Michael Miller and it has a generic red polka contrast. I think of this as the Day bag.

Bag 2 I used the remainder of some Matryoshka doll Kokka fabric I had left, and scraps of one of my favourite ever fabrics, the Alexander Henry Viva Frida in Teal. I think of this as the Night bag.

Bag 1 (My Day Bag) : Shows flap down, flap up, and in crossbody style and matching strap.

I think this is my favourite 'mode'

Bag 2 (Night bag) - I made two straps, one for each colourway as they are quite different, but you can just make one to match both to save time (and avoid losing the extra strap which I may be in danger of!).

 In the latest version of the pattern I believe there are tips on fastening the flap for Bag 2 upwards instead of having it hanging down like this.

If you swing your eyes over to the right there in the 'Things I've made' section ->>>>> you will see a link to the photos I took whilst making it. Its not a tutorial - I haven't recreated Sarahs instructions, but it may be useful to reference whilst you are making up your bag. 

I won't lie and say this bag isn't challenging - if you are a beginner to bagmaking it might well be too much for you to cope with. However I will say I have never been so satisfied as when I completed this sucessfully.
I found that slow and steady is definately the way to go.

• Make sure you use the labels Sarah has provided as there are a LOT of pattern pieces. These are invaluable - if you can print them on sticky paper even better (I just pinned mine on)
• Don't worry too much about zip lengths - as long as they are wider than the bag you can cut them down to fit. Just don't cut off the zipper pull when you are trimming *yes - I went and did that the first time!
• If you can find cotton thread that matches both bags/all four fabrics, thats the way to go (I had to re-thread as I went back and forth from Bag 1 to Bag 2 and back)
• You need to concentrate that little bit harder with directional fabric (which I used for Bag 1) to make sure its the right way up. If this panics you - don't use directional!
• Stick to lightweight fabric - there are a lot of layers and it won't work with anything thicker.
• Enjoy it - as it comes together its fantastic.

DISCOUNT CODE:

http://www.cozynestdesign.com/?p=2119

25% off until 2nd August 2014 use 'bagtour'

GIVEAWAY:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Participants

Monday, July 28th

Maria of Mia's Creations 

Niki Stringer of Roonie Ranching 

Alyssa Carrion at Keep Calm & Carrion

Tuesday, July 29th 

Lynn Potts of PottsCrafty 

Marilyn Brandt at Shades of Bold

Wednesday, July 30th 

Vicky Myers of Vicky Myers Creations

Liz Schaffner at MOMENTS

Sarah at Cozy Nest Design

Thursday, July 31st

Amy Macdonald with Friends Stitched Together 

Kathy from Handmade Dress Haven

Judith Clauss of Judith Stitches and More

Friday, August 1st 

Jonie Brooks with Knot Sew Normal 

Lorena Rey of my way of... 

Bethany Rapp with Sweet Bee Buzzings

The Jolie Pomme (pom pom can can) handbag

This is my latest make, which I am really rather pleased with. I did a bit of embellishment on here, with the pom pom trim, and a little bow on the front. 

 

I think the puppy tooth is quite a good match with the Joli Pomme fabric. 

 

Pattern used was the Swoon Rosie Bag, which is perfect for carrying the essentials around. There are two zipped pockets, one on the back, and one on the inside.

 

I'm not going to say this was an easy sew, because it was time consuming, but I really enjoyed how it came together and I think its probably my favourite bag so far :)

The Convertible/Reversible Bag

So here we have the reveal of the bag I made most recently. I have been pattern testing for Sarah of https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cozy-Nest-Design. This pattern will be available for sale on 30th July on www.Craftsy.com. 

Have a look at the Cozy Nest facebook page for other pattern tester creations and also here http://www.cozynestdesign.com/

Its the most amazing piece of construction. As you can see, it can be worn 4 ways which means only one bag required for my hols! 

I made this up in cotton as that's what I have in my stash, but it has also been made up in laminates by a number of people and looks fab that way too. 

I'm happy to take commissions for this bag via my fb page. Contact me for details x