Another purse and someone needs to stop me now!!!

So here's my latest. It's the Phoebe Bag (a free download) from Artsy Crafty Babe. I made it from the Amy Butler remnants of a bag I made for one of my daughters. I'd originally picked this pattern out for her and I was a bit disappointed when she vetoed it. However, after I finished the Phoebe I can honestly say it was a good decision on her part.

First of all, let me say, The Phoebe is a really nice pattern, and I love it!

For me.

However, it's not nearly as roomy as the Ava Rose that I ended up making for her.

And that's a good thing to know.


I guess it must be that whole 'make-the-most-of-what-you have-I-lived-through-the-depression' attitude that my mother passed down to me that made me make this bag reversible.

I do this to a lot of the purses I make.

Note to self: apply some Scotch-Guard to the button I covered in light covered fabric. I can see the possibility of it becoming grimy very quickly.













And the flip side.

I added a double pocket just below the button.

I actually think I may like this side better than the other.

But honestly!! I really don't need any more purses but I just can't stop!! And today I found a free market bag download and before I knew it I was off and running (more on that to follow).













Check out the tired pitty. Today was a particularly wild day at the off leash dog park where Wilbur reigns supreme.

He is such a special pooch and I get a huge kick out of watching him have major zoomies as he alternately chases all kinds of dogs and then lets them chase him. It also thrills me to watch people go out of their way to pet him.

He's truly a Good Will Ambassador for Pit Bulls.

Needless to say I was very thankful tonight that Wilbur was so stinking worn out, and I was finally able to spread my very first quilt top out on the dining room floor and baste some quilt batting to it without him doing his cat impersonation!

He snored through the whole procedure.

This crazy thing called life!

But first a bit about sewing.

I loved the Amy Butler fabric I used for my daughter's Ava Rose bag so much, I was thrilled to have enough left over to cut out a Phoebe for myself.



The main body will once again be the brick color.
The lining will be the yellow/green with a pocket.

The handle will be brick on one side and yellow/green on the other, and since it will also be reversible, each has a matching tab closure with a contrasting button.

I only bought two acrylic buttons for my daughter's bag but luckily I had some big button thingies that you cover with your own fabric and I think they look just fine.











Still not sewn and lying on my ironing board .

I want this purse to have some body to it so I will be adding fusible fleece to the main piece and interfacing to the lining.

I would have finished this today except Hans and I went for our first bike ride of the year. Yes, June is almost over and we had yet to go for a ride. I'm glad to report that this year our Big City completed its bike trail into our neighborhood but I fear Hans misses the good old days of fence jumping.

The temperature was perfect and after I took Wilbur to the dog park in an attempt to wear him out so we could leave him at home and not feel guilty, we were gone for over three hours. It was a great ride but soon after we got home I realized I had a huge rip in the seat of my capris! Like seam to seam! Thank God I was wearing panties but Hans swears that they must have torn after we got home as he didn't notice it during our ride.

So on to the crazy stuff.

It would appear that we are going to move to Florida sometime in August to live on our boat.

Florida in August!!

On a boat that has no air conditioning!

Hans received a job offer down there and at this stage of the game we really need to take advantage of it. Our recent foray into the let's try to live on the boat ended up eating deeply into our savings, and just try to find affordable health care at our age (it doesn't exist)! So we're going to give up our apartment, move the boat to a marina (it's currently on the hard) and live on it there.

After all, we bought the boat with the intention of someday living on it and now we will. We'll just be in a marina and I'm okay with that.
Luckily the marina we're looking at is very affordable, has Wi-Fi (free!), showers, laundry, a swimming pool, parking next to the slip, shopping, restaurants, and theaters within walking distance, and free ice and water.
And (drum roll here) the most important thing, they allow dogs!!!!!!

I'm hoping if I tell my family that they now have a free place to vacation during the winter, they'll be okay with it too.

Somehow I doubt it.






Poor Wilbur. "We're moving where? Are you guys nuts??!!"

Sew, what's up now?

It's been a long time since I've taken on more than one sewing (crafting) project at a time but for some reason I've bitten off a bit more than I normally do.

For starters, I finally bought (at 40% off) some batting for my quilt top and as soon as I have some 'Wilbur free' time, I'll get it put together. Unfortunately for me, as soon as I lay anything on the floor, Wilbur (our vicious pit bull) gives me his best cat impersonation, and lies all over it!

I opened up the package of batting and it's so stinking soft I almost hate to hide it between the quilt and its backing.

Almost.

And what's this? OMG, it's yarn! My middle daughter is having a very difficult time with depression and anxiety, and she thought that maybe if she took up a hobby like crocheting it might help to calm her nerves. Yesterday she brought her supplies to my apartment and made a small stab at it.

After she left I did a bit of googling and found some fabulous sites and YouTube videos that show people crocheting the most unbelievable things; rugs made out of thrifted sheets, sandals and dog leashes from recycled plastic bags... and in my attempt to understand and help, I ended up getting myself worked into a lather and bought a skein of yarn (I already own a crochet hook). However, most of my enthusiasm went by the wayside when I actually attempted to 'crochet'. Way back in the day I crocheted an afghan so I know I can do it, it'll just take a bit of time.

I'm just not so sure this is going to be a calming activity.

Today I took her to the market district which just happens to have an incredible fabric store. I mean a store with 'real' silk, designer quilt fabrics, and notions to die for!

I asked her if she'd like me to make her a bag and when she replied in the affirmative I expansively told her to pick anything she wanted. We ended up with these two (very expensive although she didn't have a clue) Amy Butler prints and matching acrylic buttons. The fabric colors are brick and gold but to me they are brick and green (my dad is completely color blind and my sister and I are color shy! Not a good thing when it comes to picking out fabrics!).

Anyway, she likes slouchy bags and I think I have a good idea of what I want to do and I also plan on making it reversible. And I think I'll have enough fabric for a matching wallet and maybe even a small purse for me!

Wish me luck!

Here's Wilbur, the vicious pit bull, I mentioned earlier.

He's my boyfriend!

A finished Amy Butler Bag and a new sewing machine

Long time no blog, but things have been heating up here a bit. Hans left this morning for Annapolis where our Knotty Cat has been anxiously awaiting our return in order to sail her to Florida. I was supposed to go with him but Baby Girl neglected to inform me that her college soccer team is celebrating Senior Day tomorrow, and since she's a senior....

Anyway, I'll fly down on Monday and at that point Hans and I will sail south. But this is a delivery trip only. We'll return home so we can be here for the holidays and then in early January the Knotty Cat is going to sail us to the Bahamas.

At least that's the plan.


I downloaded Amy Butler's Blossom Bag from Freebies for Crafters. Here's my bag made from Sunbrella fabric. Am I happy with it?

It's okay.

I looked everywhere to see if I was supposed to add seam allowances to the pattern. It didn't appear that I was supposed to so I didn't. However, her finished dimensions say that the purse is supposed to be 16" wide. I don't know how that's possible since the pattern is only 14" wide. Not a big deal but I have to wonder where I (or they) went wrong.



I know everyone loves Amy Butler but when it comes to purse drafting I still feel that Nicole Mallalieu is#1!!

Here are the inside pouches. I'm trying to get rid of some of my stash and this fabric appeared to be a close enough match.

I found the instructions for the pouches to be a bit convoluted and not to be mean, but I know that Nicole has directions for some of her coin purses that I could have used. I just realized it a bit too late.

I tried to match the flap print as closely as I could to the main bag.

The magnetic snaps.

And you can see the Bahamas over there on the far right side.

My twenty year old Janome New Home (one of the first embroidery machines made and very expensive) died on me all of a sudden, and all the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put her back together again.

I still remember buying her just in time to make all my kids' Halloween costumes. That year they were Power Rangers and while Butterick has the best costume patterns, each one had like a thousand pieces!

So I now have a Janome Magnolia. Fewer bells and whistles but I don't need all that anymore!

Our poor Wilbur had a rough time last night. But I guess I did too since at some very odd hours I had to clean up some pretty smelly messes!

I am now forever swearing off cheap doggy biscuits!

Anyway, this is what a pitty with a tummy ache looks like.


Wilbur will be boarded during our two week sail and it just kills me! But if he sailed down with us, he'd have to fly back on an airplane and I won't do that. However, he will be in Doggy Day Care during the day and I'm hoping he's worn out enough at night to not wonder where his mommy is!

I found some nice fluffy fabric to make a couple of pillow covers and a blanket for his doggy bed while we're away.
You can see he felt the need to supervise.

Enjoying his new pillows and blanket.

I just love this dog to pieces!

Some Sewing in my Future!

After leaving Wilbur at Doggy Day Care the other day I went shopping and ended up with two pieces of fabric (a big no no since I'm supposed to be thinning out what I already have!). But I couldn't resist a one yard piece of Sunbrella that was on clearance for $5.00!! It's normally $30.00 a yard. I had yet one more big bag kind of thing in my head but then I stumbled across this at Freebies for Crafters. It's an Amy Butler bag and even though I'm not a huge fan of some of her purse patterns (I realize everyone goes GaGa over her so you can just shoot me now!), for some reason I like the look of this one. I can also see a couple of potential problems with it ie, a flap that could be too stiff, and matching up the print where the flap meets the front, but I think I can work around my concerns.

The colors look pretty accurate in this picture. It's a kind of yellowish gold with orange accents.

A close up.

A silk charmeuse print, and I do love brown and gold. I want to make a nice dress that can go to the Bahamas with us. January through March is supposed to be nice and not nearly as hot as this summer was!

I interrupt this post for a special report!! A rampaging pit bull has taken over an apartment in the Big City....

After fooling a local couple into believing he was a sweetheart, Wilbur the Wonderdog, a vicious pit bull, has finally shown his true colors!

"I would never dream of killing a stuffy," Wilbur was often heard to say. "Stuffies are our friends."

"Just you wait! That dog will turn on you." Several friends of the couple had warned.

But they refused to listen and now it's too late.

The first victim of the vicious lying pit bull was a small defenseless peep.

After a frantic search by the concerned couple, it was found deep under their king size bed where the pit bull had built its lair.

Here, the peep describes to his cronies his escape from the jaws of death. "His mouth was thiiiiiiis wide!" He demonstrated.

The next victim was Crabby Cake. Crabby Cake had been a favorite of Wilbur's (or so everyone thought) ever since the couple took him to visit Tangier Island where Crab is King!

Here is Crabby Cake in happier times, yet we have to wonder--did he have a premonition?

And then Crabby Cake lost an appendage. It was quickly sutured back into place but that didn't make a bit of difference to the marauding pit bull. He simply ripped out the rest of the stuffing and Crabby Cake now swims with the fishies.

Lamby-kin was one of the first stuffies Wilbur ever had. He loved his Lamby-kin. And then that love turned deadly.

After surgery, everyone hoped Lamby-kin would survive.

However, it just wasn't to be.

Wilbur claims the sutures must have been of the disolving kind, but witnesses swear they saw him nip at them with his tiny yet deadly front teeth.

"I was only loving my Lamby-kin!" Wilbur cried. "Our love will never die!"

It will now be up to a jury to decide.

But how could anyone miss the menace in Wilbur's crazed filled eyes?

As everyone knows, Wilbur has received a full scholarship to Harvard and apparently he decided to get a head start in 'frog disecting'.

That little guy in front (who was holding a water safety seminar that day) is now missing his eyes, and our censors won't allow an 'after' picture.

A pin cushion is also missing so maybe Wilbur decided to make amends and put those eyes back by himself.

Somehow we doubt it!

A completed Amy Butler Bag

I've had this Amy Butler, Velma Bag pattern, for about two years and had yet to sew it.

Until today.

For some reason it seemed to be a bit daunting and I just wasn't sure what to expect.

My main sewing pleasure is bags, and believe me I've made quite a few of them in the past couple of years.

I've learned one heck of a lot in those two years too, let me tell you.

So I decided that it was time to drag this pattern out and give it a go. Unfortunately a lot of the reviews of this bag, on pattern review, no longer have pictures attached to them. I guess people dump there flikr accounts etc.. and the pictures are then lost forever. But at least the comments remain.

Here is Sally Stitch showing everyone the general proportions of the bag. And since we have no sun today my colors aren't very true.








This is the front view.


It's hanging off of Hans' mother's grandfather clock. There is no good place to hang a purse in this apartment!















Here it is on the ironing board. I used a magnetic snap closure (as opposed to Velcro. DO NOT USE VELCRO!) and then I added a covered button (with some ugly, hanging fabric fringe) on the front flap for decorative purposes.





The back view, hanging yet once again from the grandfather clock.


















Instead of a fabric handle I decided to add a matching cord attached by tabs.



I also used fusible batting on the fashion fabric instead of canvas as I always use batting. I did interface the lining. This bag needs (screams for) stability!!!

















An inside view of the very tiny pocket.












Can you see what I did to the sides? I pinched them in and then I hand tacked them into a permanent pleat.


Hang in there and I'll tell you why,

Okay, I'm sure I won't be popular after I rate this pattern because everyone is in love with Amy Butler.

I wasn't impressed with this purse but I was prepared ala pattern review.



If you use a Velcro closure, be prepared to lose everything in this bag if it pops' open. That's because the handle is anchored between the flap and the back of the bag and creates an unfriendly imbalance. Put it this way, if the bag opens unexpectedly it flops forward very heavily and very suddenly.

Like a hippo's mouth.

Period.

That's why I tacked the sides in place permanently. It becomes just a bit more secure. I also fused boning in the front and back panel, horizontilly side to side, about 1 inch down from the raw edge and 1 inch in from the side raw edge (leaving room for seam allowances and top stitching). This just makes it stiffer.

I have no idea what you're supposed to be able to store in the inside pocket. Maybe one credit card.

At most.

It's a cute enough looking bag but I won't make it again.



I like my fabric and almost wish that I hadn't wasted it on this purse and I will not make it for anyone else. It's simply not practical.



I'll be sure to add my opinion to pattern review.

Remember, I did make two of Amy's messenger bags (even though I'm working on my own back pack/computer bag pattern) so don't hate me for having problems with this pattern.


That's about it for now. We did get back safe and sound from our trip down to Annapolis to visit our sail boat. The only casualties, besides bruised shins and broken nails, were the Strip Steak that got dropped into the bay before it reached the grill and one of our window screens that fell out and immediately sank.

For that we consider ourselves to be very lucky.

A finished Messenger Bag

Look at the bag and not me, please. I didn't have time to pick a nice pose or background. Sorry.

This is my latest Amy Butler Messenger Bag.
I actually posted a review at Pattern Review! It's been almost a year since I've done that. I need to go through my stuff and do some updates.

I modified it so that it can also be used as a back pack.










Here is the front tab. I used a D ring and swivel hook instead of velcro.













I added a gromett to the top edge of the strap and a D ring with yet another swivel hook to the bottom of the bag. When you clip the hook to the grommet, the bag becomes a back pack.












The grommet at the edge of the strap.

















The strap is attached to the bag with 'surprise' D Rings etc...












The inner hanging zippered pocket. I made it the same length as the bag. The pattern has this pocket being about 2 inches shorter which makes the bag pull to the inside if you put anything in it.

That's about it for now.

I have more things I would really like to get started on but things are kicking into gear at the inn so I'm going to be in waitress mode until Christmas.

Bah Humbug!!!

tiny little update

Here are a few pieces of the Amy Butler Messenger Bag that I cut out this weekend. Just a few. Some pieces are stuck under others, and there are more on the ironing board that you can't see.

I'll work on this tomorrow night.

I had to work at the Inn tonight, and Inn nights translate into 'no sewing nights.'

Hans and I went out to breakfast this weekend and this is one of the signs displayed at the diner where we ate.


Of course I had to take a picture of it.


I forgot to mention that Hans and I went to see The Changeling this weekend. We each went into the theater with different ideas of what we thought may have happened to Christine Collin's son. What did happen was very disturbing and while not really that surprising to me, it made Hans absolutely sick and he said it's a movie he doesn't intend to see again. My heart started pounding about one third of the way into the movie and didn't stop until it ended. Not that it was some kind of action packed thriller but because it really was very well done. Now I realize that as a movie, there had to be a lot of 'creative license' taking place but none the less I would recommend it.
It appears to me that Clint Eastwood just can't make a bad movie and it doesn't hurt that John Malkovich appears in it also.

Wadda Weekend!!!

A slow spell at the inn resulted in my going to the Big City this weekend.

Which is ok with me.

I knew Hans had a poker game to go to on Saturday and I didn't want to just sit around watching TV so I brought this fabric, my Amy Butler Messenger Bag pattern, some fusible batting, and my iron.

After a 4 mile run I got down to business. I mentioned in a previous post that this pattern's pieces are used for multiple parts of the bag. For example one piece may be needed for 2 exterior pieces and 1 lining piece BUT then you need to fold it thus creating a new pattern piece and then you may need it for 2 lining pieces, 1 exterior piece, and a fusible batting piece. Keep in mind that you need to label the already cut pieces as you don't want to go "OH MY GOD, WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE ANYWAY??!!!!

You must be sober during this process.

I told myself the first time I made this that I would make individual pattern pieces for any future endeavors and now I'm sorry that I didn't. It took about 4 hours to cut this out but I'm sure it didn't help that I kept looking at the TV and watching the Donald Sutherland version of Invasions of the Body Snatchers.

I love that movie.

But I did get the bag cut out and fused the batting to the proper pieces and I'll start sewing it next week.

Today my daughter Vet Tech Girl granted me a visit with my Granddog Duncan. I could hear her coming up the stairs and suddenly I found myself on my back and feet in the air as I fought off a huge bundle of slobbering muscle named Duncan. My goodness that little boy has grown but his manners leave a little to be desired.


So here's the Big Boy with his Grandpa Hans.

As you can see, the tongue never stops. I only wish I could figure out how to take pictures without the red-eye issue!

I guess when all else fails you can just ask your subject to "close your eyes!"