Big City Bags: Review and Giveaway!

I was over-the-moon excited when I was chosen to pattern test a bag pattern from Sara Lawson's new book, Big City Bags: Sew Handbags with Style, Sass and Sophistication (Martingale).

Photo from Big-City Bags by Sara Lawson, Martingale, 2013; used by permission. Photos by Brent Kane. All rights reserved.

 If you have ever googled bag patterns online, you've probably stumbled upon one or two of Sara's amazing bags...

Photo used courtesy of sewsweetness.com

Photo used courtesy of sewsweetness.com

Photo used courtesy of sewsweetness.com

You can order Sara's book TODAY!  And really, you should.  Each of the 12 bags in this book are incredible.  Unique and different styles that you haven't seen before.  New techniques, and lots of detailed, easy to follow pictures with clear instructions for each bag.

Photo from Big-City Bags by Sara Lawson, Martingale, 2013; used by permission. Photos by Brent Kane. All rights reserved.

The book begins with some fabulous information about interfacing.  Sara is detailed in her explanations about which interfacings she uses in these bags from the book, and really describes why and how each works, the amount of stability it will provide, and how it will affect your bag.

Photo from Big-City Bags by Sara Lawson, Martingale, 2013; used by permission. Photos by Brent Kane. All rights reserved.

Then she explains bag making techniques like zippers, pockets, magnetic snaps, purse feet, rings, locks, handles... you name it, it's in there.  

Photo from Big-City Bags by Sara Lawson, Martingale, 2013; used by permission. Photos by Brent Kane. All rights reserved.

I had the opportunity to make the Miss Independent bag.  

This is a large, awesome bag with leather handles  I had never used leather handles before, and I have to admit, I was a bit nervous.  I was unsure how they would look, since they are hand-sewn onto the outside of the bag.  But Sara's instructions were fail-proof.  Easy to understand and follow, with great diagrams/pictures.  I was so proud of myself.

It has some great outer pockets with magnetic snaps, and a nice zippered interior pocket.  Sara gives two methods of doing this interior pocket.  Options.  This is what we like.

I loved making this bag!  There were a few thick parts that took lots of concentration and slow sewing, but with Sara's tips and tricks, it was totally do-able.  (No needles were broken while sewing this bag!)

So, do you want to win an e-book of Big-City Bags? Martingale has offered one of you the chance to win a digital copy of Sara’s book!

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on this blog post telling me your favorite bag pattern you've ever made.

Giveaway is open worldwide, and I’ll choose a random winner on Friday, 22 November, 2013. Good luck!

Bag It!

Back before Christmas, I mean like quite a while before Christmas, my sister Michelle and I decided that I should make us each a new purse.... with diaper bag function.  So... after months of looking and deciding what we wanted for shape/size/color/pattern/lining, we finally figured it out.  Here's what we ended up with...

We decided on the Emmaline Bag pattern by Emmaline Bags.  Such a great pattern  Isn't it such a cute shape?!

The pattern explains how to do a regular flat, patch pocket...

as well as a zipper pocket.  Great explanation, and looks so professional.  Magnetic snap closure.

We decided to add two bottle/sippy cup pockets, one on either end of the bag.  These have actually ended up being probably my favorite pockets in the bag.  I think I'll add at least one of these to every future bag I make.

And of course I had to add a cute little tag on the outside.  My sister's had the yellow lining.

Mine has a bright green.  LOVE!

back...

I'm back! It's been a really long time. I have no excuses except LIFE and LAZINESS, or lack of desire to blog. So, moving on...

When my sister Lynette and husband, Anthony moved to Corpus Christi last summer, she got a job at The Quilt Cottage, a cute little shop with REALLY cute quilting fabric. Needless to say, I was a bit jealous of the discount Lynette would receive, and just the plain fun of working with all that fabric. But I was really excited when she called me one day and asked me to try out a bag pattern for the owner of the quilt shop. When finished, the owner would display the bag, so others could touch, feel and really see what the bag would end up looking like. Of course I said yes! So she mailed me the supplies and pattern, I made the bag (which was not a bag I would ever carry around, but it was fun to make just the same), and mailed it back. (Sorry, no picture). So, for Thanksgiving we went to Corpus, and Lynette and I got two more bag patterns and fabric. We weresupposed to sew up these bags during their visit for Christmas/New Years. But, due to complications with Lynette's pregnancy, they didn't make it, so that left me to make the two bags.

The patterns are by Pink Sand Beach Designs:

This is the Manhattan Handbag #102. It's fun with all the different fabrics. This turned out really bright and would be a fun one to carry for Spring, I think. It's a lot bigger than I thought it would be. It has two pockets inside, and a magnetic snap closure. It feels pretty sturdy, even though it's made with quilter's cotton and not a home decor fabric. If I were to make this for me, I think I'd interface the handles better. The pattern was easy to follow, with step by step instructions and pictures. Oh, it would be nice if the pictures were in color, but they're still really helpful.

And here's the second one: the Tahoe Tote #109. This was a great pattern too. The 3 different fabrics on the outside of the bag is really fun, and it's also fairly sturdy. This bag has a flap closure, with a magnetic snap closure too. It would also be a really fun bag to carry around.

So, off in the mail tomorrow. Thanks for letting me try out these patterns, Lynette. I'm bummed that you can't work at The Cottage (hey, that would be a good horror film title), anymore... but maybe you can mention to the owner that I'd still love to sew up bags for her!

gifts

Before leaving for Palmyra, NY on 9 May, I had some gifts to finish up and take along with us. Since Arlo and Kara were going to be at my parents' for a bit during our visit, it turned out to be a perfect savings of postage. I made myself a needle case, for knitting/crochet needles, a while back, and made a couple more at the same time. One was for Kara, who is an amazing knitter, and the other is for Michelle, who is also a fantastic knitter, and who actually taught me to knit. I still haven't mailed Michelle's yet... so if you're reading this, the secret is out!

Anyway, wouldn't you know it - I waited too long to mail Kara's, she had just recently made herself one - so, now she can gift the one I made to another knitting friend, or just have more spaces that she needs to fill with needles. (I hope I haven't waited too long for Michelle.)

Arlo had also mentioned that Kara had liked the Buttercup Bag I posted a while ago, so I decided it would be fun to surprise her with one. Here's her bag in a cute green fabric, with brown ric-a-rac, and cute striped pink/green lining. Turned out really cute, and she loved it.

Our trip was perfect, since we arrived in Palmyra on Mother's Day. So here's the bag I made for my mom...

Mom's is a blue toile, with a dark blue lining with roses on it. This one is actually 30% bigger than the original pattern. I thought mom might appreciate it just a little larger.

Then, the week after we got back my sister Lynette and her husband, Anthony were stopping by on their way to Corpus Christi, (yeah! Someone closer... a meger 11 hours away!) Lynette was one of the people from my pay it forward post, so for her handmade gift, I made her a buttercup bag as well. Here's was also green (kind-of an apple green), with brown ric-a-rac, but her's had a blue inside.

What can I say... I LOVE making bags!!! So who knows, myabe if you leave a comment, requesting a buttercup bag - I may just make one for you!

teacher appreciation 2009

Last year for teacher appreciation we did this. It was a big hit, with a few teachers asking to purchase some as gifts for daughters, etc... but since we had a repeat in one teacher this year, I couldn't do the same thing. So here's what we ended up with this year...
Slice of paper cake, filled with chocolate.

"You take the CAKE, Teach!"

Too cute, and so easy! You can find the pattern here. And you just print the largest size cake slice (bottom slice) onto the back of your pattern paper, and then cut and score and fill. The flowers on top I embossed and sanded - they really add something. The possibilities are endless. Wouldn't these be cute as party favors from a baby or wedding shower? So cute!

And then each teacher got a bag... Sadie's teacher got this one.

This one was for Phebe's teacher. It ended up a little smaller than the one for Sadie's teacher, but the same basic pattern.

And here's the one that Isaac's teacher got. This one was a little different, a little deeper - she has little kids, so we thought she might appreciate this one.

We have really loved all of these teachers, they've all done so well with our kids. It's been a really good year!

buttercup bag

A couple of weeks ago I found this FREE pattern for this cute bag. Here's where you can find the pattern. I've used the purse a couple of times already, and it's just right for my wallet and a few other small things. I think it turned out really great.

Check out that cute pleat detail.

I used an Amy Butler fabric, can't remember the name of it off-hand. And the lining is just a solid brown. There is a pocket inside, and a magnetic snap closure, which is so fun. And... it can be made with two fat quarters - one for the outside and one for the lining.

What I changed: The pattern didn't call for interfacing, (well except for a small piece if you add the button flap thingy - see pattern and you'll understand). I was afraid that it would be too flimsy, so I interfaced the outside fabric and the handle. But, the next one I make I think I'll try using canvas as the lining instead and see how I like that. Overall I really liked that pattern. It was a lot of fun and the bag is really cute and was easy and quick to sew up. Can't wait to make another one. In fact, I may send this as my "handmade something" to my 3 "pay-it-forward" people... well except of course to Daniel - I'm not sure how great he would look with one of these on his arm. Course, Sara would love it I'm sure... hmmmmm.

we love our teachers!!!

Last week was teacher appreciation week at school, so we sent a little something to each of the kids teachers. Cute little zippered bags.






And of course we had to put something yummy inside... chocolate-chocolate chip cookies, and snickerdoodles with toffee chips and chocolate chips, mmm!





The finished product. Didn't they turn out cute!






We do love our teachers!

BTRS swap

This post should probably have come before the one of me receiving my bag from the swap, but oh well. Here's the bag that I sent to my swap partner...




She commented on her blog that the colors and especially the stripes in the pleats reminded her of Good n' Plenty candy - I hadn't thought of that, but she's right! There's the pocket.



I used Timetex in the bottom for good support, but used the flannel for the inner support like the patter suggested. To make it again, I would use canvas or flusible fleece, something a little more stiff, to provide more shape to the bag - it's such a large one. it was a fun pattern to make though. Can't wait for our next swap!

gloria!

I got a package today...

Don't you just love getting mail, especially when in the package form?! Lets see, who is this from?

This is the part where I totally started freaking out, jumping up and down, screaming like a banshee.

Before even opening the box I knew what was inside. You see, I frequently read her blog, and a few days ago she had posted pictures of the bag she had finished for the BTRSswap. I knew that whoever got that bag was so lucky, but also realized with all the ladies that entered the swap, my chances were slim to none for getting THAT bag... but a girl can dream! Anyway, seeing this return address label, I knew that I had won, and won big! But enough rambling, I'll let you see for yourself...

Isn't this exciting!

And there she is, in all glory... which is fitting by the way since her name is Gloria. Be sure to notice the cute key fob attached to the key ring. It's all so lovely!

As part of the swap we were supposed to send one of our favorite summertime desert recipes. So she sent me a recipe for Cheesecake Supreme, with a note that this is the absolute best recipe for cheesecake that she's ever had. Can't wait to try it. I'll post the recipe after I've given it a whirl. So, this recipe couldn't be more perfect either, I LOVE cheesecake!!!

Thanks for all of this Kris... you're my new best friend!