Month O’ Bags

Well, I’m back after taking some time off from Ye Olde Blog. Things were a little upside down around here towards the end of June. On the heals of celebrating my 31st birthday at the beach I was faced with the news that my father had passed away. Disbelief. Sadness. Acceptance? Perhaps. Either way it took a while for me to feel like crawling back into my tiny little craft room and getting back behind my machine. But, alas…I finally did.

And I made a bag.

I followed this very simple tutorial and used some 25cent upholstery-type fabric I had picked up at a thrift store at the beach. And I was so lazy I didn’t even bother to add a snap or pocket or anything useful. But, it was my first time back on the horse in about a month so I’m going to cut myself some slack already. :)

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Then, I made another bag. I followed Noodlehead’s very popular gathered clutch tutorial.

The Kaffe Fasset fabric was an excellent score from the Sew Mama Sew FQ Swap. I really love the design of this clutch, but I think the gathers would be much more becoming on a solid fabric. Maybe I’ll give her another go. If I do sew up another one of these cuties, I’ll also use a bigger seam allowance around the lining, do away with the end tabs on the zippers, and add a little wristlet hangy thingy. What are those things called?

But, at least I didn’t skimp on the add-ons this time. I included the divided pockets and compartment separator (not shown)!

I also currently have a buttercup bag in the works. The pieces are all cut up and waiting to be stitched back together!  Since bags are currently my, um, bag, I am hereby declaring the rest of July “Bag Month” for myself. I’m going to see how many totes, purses, clutches, handbags, etc. I can turn out in the next couple of weeks and hopefully be a bag expert by the time all is said and done.

But not tonight. Tonight I am watching reruns of Glee and knitting up washcloth #3 out of 10 for the latest Craft Hope Project. There’s still time to participate, so please go check it out.

See you soon!