Simple purses

These purses mix denim and scraps of curtain fabric - some of which came from Mombasa.  They were simple to make and look really effective.  Even better, the money raised from selling one of these will feed a child in Utange for two weeks.

I'll be putting this post on the following link parties:

TA Da Tuesday	Too Cute Tuesday	Crafty Tuesday
Sew Cute Tuesday	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday	Ladybug Blessings

Puffy purses

I only realised recently that I had sold out of many of my purses.  Hence the restock.  These little ones are quick to make.  They remind me of Chinese Fortune Cookies.  I used some scraps of fabric here and cleared my stash.  Some of the scraps are from fabric Debbie brought me back from Mombasa - extra special!

This post will be shared at these link parties:

Catch a glimpse	Things I've Done Thursday	Link it Up Thursday
Hookin up with HoH	It's Stinkin Cute	Make it Wear it Thursday
I gotta create

Card Trick bag

I believe this pattern is called Card Trick.  It is a bag I have made before.  The piecing is quite time consuming, but this time I cut out five sets of bags at once, and chain pieced them.  This really speeded up the process.

I am really pleased with the resulting bags.  The panels are all made from recycled material, mostly curtains, and I had great fun picking out combinations of three fabrics.  The linings are all made from one fabric which is in the bag.

I'm sharing this post at the following link parties:

Catch a glimpse	Things I've Done Thursday	Link it Up Thursday
Hookin up with HoH	It's Stinkin Cute	Make it Wear it Thursday
I gotta create

Feature fabric bag

This was a beautifully easy bag to make. The feature fabric is from some left-over curtain material I was given; I "fussy cut" it and am really pleased with how it turned out.  The pattern is the same as the one I used in this post.

I'm sharing this post at the following link parties:

TA Da Tuesday	Too Cute Tuesday	Tutorial Tuesday
Sew Cute Tuesday	Nifty Thrifty Tuesday	Ladybug Blessings

Shopping totes

Just finished these yesterday and I'm pleased with how they came out.  They were very simple to make.  Sizes varied, but the basic construction was the same: two strips of the contrast fabric (these determined the size as all were made from curtain fabric samples), two strips of denim for the top, and two slightly wider strips of denim for the bottom. I cut strips of denim 4" wide for the handles.  The strips were sewn together, and then I boxed the corners by cutting out a 2" square from each bottom corner, pressing open and sewing across the diagonal.  I measured each bag to cut and then make the lining, leaving a gap for turning in the bottom seam.
The handles were made by pressing each strip in half lengthwise and then pressing the sides to the middle, then top stitching both sides. Denim makes great handles as it is so strong.
After that I pinned the handles in place and then the lining and sewed all round the top, turned, sewed up the turning gap and top stitched round the top of the bag.

I'll be sharing this post at the following lovely link parties:

Sew Darn Crafty	Sunday Funday	What I wore Sunday
Craft school Sunday	Sundae Scoop	Creative Bloggers

Baby owl bags

I have made these before, but not posted them here.  These are smaller versions of my first owl bag, the tutorial for which can be found here.
Last night I finished these four sweeties.

I have one more which is at the final stages. I had the pieces all cut out (which is quite a lengthy task) and the sewing was relatively speedy - it took me two and a half hours to complete the bags, with probably another 10 minutes to do on the last one.  So, by my reckoning, I can now do each of these bags in about half an hour.  It is, of course, faster as I am effectively chain or production line piecing, but these are still manageable projects.
I had fun with the eyes this time, having learnt from my experiences with the little phone cases and purses.

My family insist I need to cut out more of these and make them; they are sure that these first ones will sell quickly.  So I suspect scissors and jeans will be combined while I watch my new Les Miserables DVD - what a lovely thought!

I'm sharing this post at these link parties:

Serenity Saturday	Polkadot pretties	Saturday Sew and Tell
Sew Crafty Saturday	Strut your stuff Saturday	Once upon a weekend
Weekend wrap up party	Sew Darn Crafty	Craftastic Monday