Bagmaking: Mermaid Maisie - Swoon Patterns

So this is my Maisie. She was one of the 'blood, sweat, tears' variety.

I had the 'Drift Away' fabric at the ready for this bag. I'd been hoping to get the mermaids with the blue background, but some things are just impossible to get hold of when you want them in the UK, so I settled for this beigey background.

I used linen for the contrast. The piping and zips actually looked like they matched when I did this. They clearly don't in the picture. You'll have to ovelook that. My dining room is very dark and in hindsight I should have double checked the match in daylight.

I started cutting this bag out at bag camp. After a few too many. This was a gross mistake. When I got home I realised I hadn't cut out the contrasting linen panels for the back, and I'd run out of this particular linen - and so had every shop in the UK apparently.

I tried to get hold of some similar, but it didn't cut the mustard, so I worked with what I had. I'd already cut out a strap, so I used part of that to make those panels. They aren't cut on the grainline, and they didn't exactly have the correct amount of seam allowance, but honestly I don't think anyone will notice unless I point it out.

See how different those greens are - how could I ever have thought they were similar?!!

I love the bright lining. Its like when you open the bag - the sun comes out!

So the hardest bit could have been anticipated - this bag uses foam on both sides and stabiliser on the bottom. Trying to sew smallish curves with those factors - well lets just say it took a lot of passes. 

I'm pretty happy with the result though. Love a Swoon :)

Hardware from Emmaline Bags

Zips from Jaycotts

Drift Away fabrics and Kaufman Brussels washer linen in Charcoal from Billow Fabrics

Piping from Sew Hot

Outer Fabric

Pocket Fabric

Lining fabric

Strap and contrast fabric

Bagmaking - Ramona bag

A couple of weeks back I made a bag for the eldest daughter of a friend of mine as it was her 8th birthday (see bottom photo)

Well its her little sisters birthday coming up, so she's also getting one.  

This time its mermaids and whales and fishes.

Plus Size Modelling, Fish Tails and driving big trucks...

So,the first news I have is that I was chosen as one of Voodoo Vixens  new plus size models (they needed a 2XL, a 3XL (Helen) and a 4XL (Sarah) This was kind of a surprise but great news! I headed into London to do some fittings on the last Wednesday of January. The day when it peed down constantly for the entire day. 

 I was half an hour late because I went to Commerical Street instead of Commerical Road (the lovely policeman pointed me in that particular wrong direction) but I got there in the end. We spent some time chatting to the staff and trying on the sample dresses. This is the only picture of me doing fittings, which is a lovely back view!

 

When they've had the samples modified, the collection will be created, and we'll go back for a photoshoot. Exciting no?!

This is Noah in his mermaid tailed. He nagged and nagged me to make one, but refused feet holes, so he shuffles about the house in it and has to be carried up for a bath!

  

I got a new phone - finally - one that works and everything, so made me a little case for it, which I promptly botched and had to cover up with lace ribbon to hide the mess...

And I finally finished the peacock fan dress (Vogue 2903), and matching (reversible) bag just in time for the Neon Moon Ball! My plan was to wear the corset, but I actually prefer the dress without and the corset was so uncomfortable I ditched it in the hotel room.

 

Noah would have loved Neon Moon. There were mermaids and everything.  Bit young though!

 

Finally, I have signed up for the ladies driving challenge in May. I'm trying to raise sponsorhip for the firefighters charity. Should be lots of fun!