Aside from interfacing, what do you guys use to keep a clutch from being floppy?  I've tried the stiffest interfacing I can find, and it works for a while but it tends to get a bit floppy after using the clutch a few times.  I normally put a thin piece of MDF in the bottoms of my totes to keep the bottom from sagging, but MDF is too much for a little clutch.

Any other suggestions?

I would really like to cut upholstery fabric and wool felt into circles (of different sizes), but I'm trying to think of an easier way than to trace onto the material and cut with scissors.  I've seen round punches at the craft store and wondered if anyone has tried cutting fabric with them.

Have any of you tried this?  Think it would work?  I'm concerned that the blade would dull rather quickly.

Tis the season for seed and gardening catalogs.  I don't know about you folks, but browsing through them and making my lists for the 2006 growing season really helps me through the winter blahs.

Anyone have any experience with ordering through the Jung catalog?  I've never ordered anything with them and I'm curious about what I'm in for.

Anyone else getting ready for spring already?  Wishful thinking???

[CRAVING]

I can't believe that I was actually CRAVING  bag making after struggling through so many Christmas gifts in a VERY short period of time.  Anyway, I wanted to make something medium-size for my many, many trips to the farmers market.

The outside material is a faux suede in an olive green shade.  I lined it with Amy Butler fabric that I absolutely adore!  There's a hard plastic insert in between the lining and the bottom of the bag to keep it completely flat when the bag is full of stuff.  Yay for reusing plexi glass from an old poster frame!  Oh, and of course, a magnetic snap closure.







Sorry for the blurry lining picture. 

The suede-like fabric is sooooo soft!  Wish I had more of it!!!  It was really hard to work with though. 

I dont know, you guys, do you think the outside needs something?  A pin or a brooch or something to jazz it up a bit?

Okay, this bag was given out yesterday so it's safe for me to post it here now.  I had a really hard time getting a few good photos of this fabric, so please pardon the blurry shots and awkward angles...

This is actually copper colored material with a gold floral print, but my flash just made everything day-glo.  Ugh.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc07b3127cce967121682c1200000016108EZtXLVw3aG

Sorry about the blurry shot:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc07b3127cce967121522c2800000016108EZtXLVw3aG

Top view:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc07b3127cce96712145ad0f00000016108EZtXLVw3aG

The bag is lined with a charcoal grey wool and I used carved wooden chopsticks for the handles.  The bag has a flat bottom so it sits up on its own.

Comments?  Suggestions?

[laurasaurus's]

Now that I've given out all of my Christmas gifts, it's safe to post them here.

Just wanted to share a few pictures of the apron I made for a friend of mine.  It was my first one.  What do you think???

My husband modeling it for me:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc07b3127cce967121cbad8100000015108EZtXLVw3aG

I followed laurasaurus's tutorial here (http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=38097.0) for the pockets:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc07b3127cce967126ff6c1e00000016108EZtXLVw3aG

Glimpse of the apron backing...it's reversible:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc07b3127cce967126d0ed0100000016108EZtXLVw3aG

Just two more gifts for Christmas.

The bag is for my sister who LOVES little girly bags.  Don't mind my mannish sausage hands modeling it.  They're obviously meant for things like carpentry, etc.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc38b3127cce965ece481baa00000016108EZtXLVw3aG

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc38b3127cce965ece159ac700000016108EZtXLVw3aG

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc38b3127cce965ece3d9aef00000016108EZtXLVw3aG

This little paint brush roll/tote thing is a gift for my mom who takes more watercolor classes than you or I could ever imagine.  And, I have to give credit where credit is due...I used Stefanie532's tute (find it here: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=39903.0)

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc38b3127cce965ec9815bf800000015108EZtXLVw3aG

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc38b3127cce965ec98cdac500000016108EZtXLVw3aG

You likey???

Sorry for the poor grammar, but I'm tired and I need some advice.

I have a friend who has been begging me to make him a man-purse (read: messenger bag) for a long, LONG time now.  I figured I'd give in and make him one for Christmas.  I've been putting this off for what seems like forever and I finally finished this tonight.

My question, however, is whether this bag is masculine enough for a big, burly (and quite gay) German man to carry around?

Take a look:

The bag itself
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc38b3127cce965ec980dac900000016108EZtXLVw3aG

A peek at the inside
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc38b3127cce965ece3c1bde00000015108EZtXLVw3aG

Detail of the outer fabric
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc38b3127cce965ecd4cda0700000016108EZtXLVw3aG

He wanted corduroy but I couldn't find any that looked nice and I found this ribbed corduroy-like material to use instead.  The strap is extendable/adjustable to fit him.  Black ribbon detail on the flap.  Two magnetic snaps to keep the sucker closed.  The bag sits flat as there is a heavy plastic insert to keep the bottom from sagging when there's lots of stuff in it.  I'm just too beat to take the appropriate pictures tonight.

Whatcha think???  Will I offend him with this?  Too feminine???  Should I just keep it to give to a female friend of mine and start all over for this guy?

HELP!!!

I'm scrambling to finish up some bags for Christmas presents, and I just about finished this bag tonight.  I need opinions though...

Which way do you think the handles look better?  Vertically or horizontally?

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc34b3127cce95a2ef884df600000015108EZtXLVw3aG

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc34b3127cce95a2ec788caf00000015108EZtXLVw3aG

Closeup of the exterior fabric:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc34b3127cce95a2ec668cb100000016108EZtXLVw3aG

Lining:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cc34b3127cce95a2ec790d9e00000016108EZtXLVw3aG

This is a really simple bag.  No pockets or gizmos.  Faux snake skin vinyl in a dark olive green.  Lining is an aubergine color.  Magnetic snap closure, wooden handles.

I need to throw a few stitches in the handles to keep them from flopping around all over the place.  Which way do you kids prefer???

Thanks!

So, I managed to score this really cool book from 1971 on tote bags.  There are lots of great ideas and pattern suggestions in it, but they just need some updating.  

Here's one of the bags I made from the book...I wish this one could have been lined, but at the time I didn't feel like figuring it out.  It can be worn around the neck and over the shoulder like a messenger bag, or slung just over the shoulder like a tote.  Textured pink cotton with wide red ribbon trim.

My hubby modeling it:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ed806285600000015108EZtXLVw3aG

inside:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ed80c285c00000016108EZtXLVw3aG

flat on the table:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ed801a96100000015108EZtXLVw3aG


Here's a simple little tote bag I made just for carring my crap back and forth to/from work.  Nothing special.  No pockets, no closure.  Charcoal grey outer, ribbon trim, ribbon handles.

Outside:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ed803a96300000015108EZtXLVw3aG

ribbon detail:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ed8ba28ea00000016108EZtXLVw3aG

another shot:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ed8a028f000000015108EZtXLVw3aG

lining detail:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ed8a3a9c300000016108EZtXLVw3aG


And one other little bag I came up with...

Green upholstery fabric for the exterior:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ed8ada9cd00000016108EZtXLVw3aG

Cute button and ribbon closure:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ed971e98900000015108EZtXLVw3aG

Lining:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ed967e99f00000016108EZtXLVw3aG

pocket fabric with contrasting thread:
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b5cf36b3127cce950ede6b283800000016108EZtXLVw3aG


So, what do you think???