I've had this idea simmering for a while and this challenge gave me the push I needed to actually do it!
One thing I think I'm good at is trying new things so, for this bag, I tried several.





On this side I tried flower lattice/North American/Canadian/whatever-you-want-to-call-it smocking, using fabric glue to position trim...


lattice or braid pattern whatever-smocking and using fabric glue to hold lace in place. I also beaded "sunshine" in morse code (1 bead for a dot, 3 together for a dash) and paid homage to this pillow I made for a swap a while back.

And on this side I tried...

honeycomb or pleat smocking and machine embroidery (it says "pumpkin" in Russian )


I also added some cut-out-and-ironed-on stars (they're cut out of the gray linen and the linen is ironed onto the off-white underneath).

The pieced parts with all the things I tried are pockets hiding pockets!



It holds it's shape well, even when I put in all the stuff I carry around!


Inside are 2 pockets on each side. I like pockets


And up top is a zipper! I love zippers!

I made the pattern myself. The sides angle in smaller at the top, or widen at the bottom, however you want to think of it. It's about 10.5" by 9.75" by about 2" at the base and 1" at the top.


Thanks so much for looking! And thanks for the incentive to get this done! Now I have a purse for the summer!

Not really a party, but there's no board for spring crafts that I could see...Here's what I was up to at 3:30am today, April 1 







I got the idea on pinterest. For anyone else who wants to try this out, guess what? Sticky-back googley eyes do stick to items in a cold fridge! No fooling! Cool, huh?
Have an awesome day! 

I received! I received a wonderful pair of items from mama24boyz:




The light's going but I had to get pics to show off my 2 adorable amigurumi!


Don't they look fitting on my flamingo shelf?

Thank you so much, mama24boyz!

Normally I get bored after making something 2 or 3 times, but macaroon coin purses are definitely an exception! Here's my sixth!


I love old mail stuff so was excited to try out the theme on a coin purse for a swap partner. The red and blue are added with a fabric marker. I wanted the blue back to match the blue airmail stripes so that's colored too!


Over the brown the blue looked more slate blue so I tried to pick that up with the zipper- plus I didn't want it to look too new! The top and bottom of the macaroon are covered 1.5" buttons so the interior isn't very big, but I keep finding uses for the pumpkin one I made for myself. It's surprisingly handy!


I embroidered on my swap partner's birthdate and a destination she said she liked for the postmark.
Ones I made previously are posted here and here if you're interested. Of course, they're posted there if you're not interested too .

I can't wait to make more!

Made for my wonderful partner in the recent IYP swap from my own pattern.



The green (from a sheet) is heavier and thicker than the floral fabric (a shirting swiss dot) which caused some little hiccups but not too bad.


The reinforced bottom is to help the bag keep its shape more than for strength- it's not that big! Finished size was 6"x8" and the sides taper from 1.5" to about 3/4" if I remember right. The outside is all interfaced and the lining's sides and bottom are backed with fusible fleece for that purpose as well (and for looks, etc. )


Pocket on the outside...


...and 2 on the inside.


For security there's a zipper under the flap! I think this was only my 3rd purse zipper which I found really odd considering how much fun I have with zippers. Need to remedy that. The loops that the strap clips to are made by 4-strand braiding scrap fabric strips with embroidery floss woven in for strength. The strap has a length of twill tape adhered with heat-and-bond tape between the layers so it's nice and sturdy. I didn't like the fusible tape at first but now I'd be sad without it!

I hope someone can use this info or, better yet, be inspired! C&C always welcome.

My partner in the most recent (and the previous 4) IYP swaps said she liked Robin Hood so I finally got it in my head to make her something along that line. I've experimented with paper cutting before but this was my biggest project so far (I know, not nearly as big as some of you amazing crafters out there get up to! But I was pretty proud of myself for continuing my education )


It's 5"x5" edge-to-edge. The picture part is about 3"x4" if I remember right. I found the silhouette online and made a few changes and additions, including putting in the words at the bottom.


I was happy (and relieved and surprised) to find a 5"x5" wood frame. My camera wasn't too happy about photographing the glass, though.

The paper is cardstock. I used a regular exacto knife to cut out the picture part and a small blade for the words. I've read there are blades better suited for this but I was having a hard time finding a base to put them on. There were lots of blade options at the craft stores but not a whole lot of handles. It worked out, though, I think?

More cool stuff!

My partner, mama24boyz, received several days ago so I thought I'd go ahead and post pics of what I sent her:


She said on her Pinterest that she loved the movie Up, so I made her this pillow cover.

The balloons are done by painting each bubble on a piece of bubble wrap a different color then pressing the paint to the sky fabric. The included 12"x12" pillow form is removable thanks to a zipper closure in the back.
I don't know what to call the method of insertion I used. It's a lapped zipper, secured with a blind hem but the zipper's sides are enclosed in the lining which doesn't fold with the lap for sturdiness.

I made it its own post here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=420414.0 My partner said she liked it so I'm happy.

I love the movie Up and so did my partner in a swap.


I didn't think I could (and still think I can't) pull off the lettering and balloons from the movie poster so I had to go with an interpretation .
After some mulling, I decided to try bubble wrap printing for the balloons. It worked! I chopped out a partial ballon-bunch shape and painted each bubble a different color with fabric paint (I'm glad it was only a 12"x12" pillow cover!) then flopped it down on the sky square. Peeling the bubbles off slowly I repainted spots that hadn't transferred entirely, repressed, then continued peeling.

I stitched the lettering with embroidery floss after adding the white frame and backing it all with more white (so the seam allowances were covered and the pillow form wouldn't show through.)



The back- which is the same blue as the front -is also backed in white and closes with a zipper. Its hiding place is given away by white stitching . I don't know what to call the method I inserted it with. It's a lapped zipper, secured with a blind hem, but is fully tucked in the lining (which doesn't fold with the lap for more stability.)




Both sides are topstitched for ease of opening and closing.


Looking forward to more adventures in crafting!

My partner in a swap was a Big Bang Theory fan so I decided to sketch out and stitch up this:




The pink and gray stripes are appliquéd using this method, more or less. Since they're such small pieces I didn't cut out the backs. I really like the clean-edge finish and especially the no slipping while sewing! The eyes and mouth are painted on with a fabric pen.


The pockets, edges covered with bias tape. All the dark gray is bias tape; the waist is well interfaced for stability (and sewn over the doubled light gray.) 


The skirt is a fraction of a circle so I cut a facing for the hem (no gathering to fit! And it can be kinda deep! Yay!) Kitty's face is fully lined.



I haven't gotten into the show so apologies if I did anything horribly wrong with my apron interpretation of soft kitty- like, I don't know, if the lack of whiskers means it isn't soft kitty but evil kitty or something. I think I did okay, though!
C&C always welcome. 

I received first and what amazing things they are! StickerChic87 sent me...


Gorgeous golden yellow mitts and scarf! I love this color! She said these are the 2nd and 3rd things she ever crocheted. I can't quite wrap my head around that fact. They're beautiful! And just as beautiful is ...


This. This lovely, lovely purse with a dresden plate flap! It's incredible, really. The shape is awesome. The gray and blue colors match two coats I wear all the time. The strap length is great. I love it! I also love...


The pouch and shrinky-dink postcard bracelet she sent! She even included a few extra postcards in case they were needed as replacements. The length is just right. The images are so clear and clean! The pouch is going to be so handy. It's just the right size to carry or store some necessary little items. And you know what else is just right?


These fat quarters, pizza server from her workplace and old foreign coins! I'm always picking up and using fat quarters, I've asked for her expertise on pizza a lot and I love old coins. She chose some great ones for me! Especially...


this one from the USSR! It's dated 1988, right before the fall! I find Soviet-era history very interesting- sad, but interesting and important.


Thank you so, so much for everything, Sticker! I love it all. You are the best!