I just ran across this Craft-Along, and hope it's not too late to join in, and I also realized today is the cut off for a January Rainbow craft. I made this bag last month, and posted it in purses, so I hope it's still alright to post in here!



I have so many ideas for the rest of the year, wish I could start them all at once!

[mpaandaa]

You guys are so great!! I love putting things up for everyone to offer their opinion, it's always so encouraging   I'm gonna try to hit everyone's comments at the same time, hope you don't mind!

I love love love it! My sister just got to bring home her beautiful bundle of joy - her first baby, a girl, who spent the first three months in the NICU because she was born at 29 weeks and was only 2 oz. - But it has a happy ending because she's now home with mom and dad doing just fine

I've just gotten into sewing with the addition of a new sewing machine for christmas (though I've been lurking here for awhile) - I have been saving all the diaper bags to my favorites...trying to get the courage to try it out! the zippers and elastic are all new to me, but she says she'd be happy with whatever it looked like

Congrats to the new auntie!! I'm glad the family is all well. Sewing for a niece is great, she's small so you don't go through fabric as quickly, and she'll grow out of everything within 3 months, so you'll get lots of practice on your new machine! Don't be afraid to try new things, we'll all be here to admire your work when you are ready!!

I really like this bag!  What a great idea to keep it for when she does overnights.  I never heard of iron on vinyl, I guess I'm out of the loop. lol. Would you mind posting pics of your pattern pieces for this?, I really like the shape.  I now have the urge to make one for my 4yr old daughter, and the all around straps are such a good idea, especially when you just can't seem to find that extra bear in the bag lol.

Thanks so much, I do too!  I resized the original pieces for another project, so I don't have them to photograph, I do however have the paint program, so I drew out what they should have looked like...



Of course, the inside is left to the imagination, as far as pockets and things go. This is the basic shell, oh, and I used a 24" zipper, and all the dimensions shown are in inches. Looking forward to seeing yours!

mpaandaa - for the straps, what I meant was that instead of attatching them to the bag at the bottom seam, I made one continuous strap along the outside, including wrapping under the base. Make sense?

I thought about a quick tutorial for the construction, but I don't have a great amount of time online, so doing a tutorial was a little out of the question. After a little search though, I found one that was perfect for this shape that you can follow if you need some guidance:

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=121593.msg1168316#msg1168316 (thanks to AriadnesThread for taking the time to do this!)

Wow, congratulations on the birth of your little girl. I am the only female in my house too, even the dog is male.

That bag is perfect, I really love it soooo much! I would bet that she will take it to grandma's house. So cute and roomy it will make a wonderful overnight bag. The fabric is very pretty. Did you use a pattern, or is it your own creation? Great job, thanks for sharing.

You're welcome! I loved this fabric the instant I saw it, it's one that makes my heart smile everytime I see it!  I did make up the whole thing myself, although it's not the most original design...just something basic that works perfect.  If you're interested in making one, there's a little info right up there ^

I agree with the rest. It's great. I don't know what's more amazing,this bag or the fact you found time to plan and make it. It takes me weeks to plan and sew a bag  and my youngest is almost 4. I tried the iron on vinyl once but had trouble with it wrinkling. Maybe I didn't buy good quility. Did you have any trouble with it?
Nancy

I usually plan my bags in the evenings when hubby and I are watching tv or movies, like making mini blueprints, and then when it comes time to make the pattern, I know exactly what to draw out.

About the vinyl- When I tried it on the first, I followed the instructions, and I was not pleased with how it came out, it had a weak bond with the fabric which seemed to defeat the purpose of putting it on there. I ignored the instructions with the next piece, used the same process, but just left it on the higher heat setting the whole time... That was my experience with it, I didn't see wrinkling, but the fabric I'm using is a thick, sturdy  cotton, almost like a twill. Don't give up, maybe it was just the fabric type and not necessarily the vinyl. The brand I used was the Thermo web, that's the only brand I've found...

OMGosh, this is THE BEST diaper bag I have EVER seen!!  I am totally in love!  If I didn't make bags, I'd buy this in a second!  Oh, I SO love it!  What fabulous colors and the construction is just divine (I don't usually say "divine" but this bag deserves that word!) 

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter...isn't it just a whole different world?  When my middle 16yo son complains about the "drama" of my 8yo daughter, I tell him welcome to "girl world"!!
This is just the beginning of your girly-girl craftiness/sewing adventures...next come the dresses!! 

(Oh, and PS: I TOO am in awe of your sleep-deprived, crafty-sewing abilities!)

My baby girl is only 9 weeks, but already there is a galaxy of differences that I've noticed! I have three sisters so I know what to expect of girls, but having my own puts a whole new twist on things   Good twists of course!
I'm already starting the dresses, I have a niece only 3 months older than mine, so I'll get to make them in twos!! I've been sewing so long that it's just about second nature for me, making clothes. I don't know why I waited so long to try bags      I'm having such a blast!

When do I find the time? I usually sew during our quiet time after lunch and school time. (not all the kids nap at once). This gives me about 1-2 hours a day to work, which adds up to only about 1/2 of a project a day.
I hope I answered everyone's questions' to your satisfaction, if not, please just send another note...

Thanks to everyone for such encouraging words, you all help me stay motivated to tackle those small moments when I feel bland! I don't post everything I make, just what I think would be interesting to everyone, so you don't get tired of seeing my name!

So I'm walking out of the house to run errands, and I realized I never posted this bag. Out comes my camera and I snap a couple pictures on my porch

I have a sentimental attatchment to this fabric...When I was pregnant with my first child, we were told we were having a girl, so we prepared for a daughter with all the gusto of new parents, including buying fabric to use when "she" was born. Lo and behold, to my complete suprise, the midwife announces we have a beautiful baby boy. (Gasp!) Needless to say, this fabric slowly dropped to the bottom of my fabric stash, forgotten and neglected through the birth of yet another boy (this one expected). 

Well, 9 weeks ago today, I delivered my third child, this time a baby girl    As soon as I was no longer cross-eyed from the lack of sleep, I dug out my shovel and pulled this fabric from the depths of my fabric closet, and here sits a dream I didn't ever think I'd have for myself - a beautiful bag with lots and lots of pink and flowers, and....

Now about the bag. It measures 16x12x6, has one zipper in front and a wide open pocket in the back, the straps wrap all around, for those days when I really do need the kitchen sink, and it's made with the much talked about iron-on vinyl. Inside, the lining is a peach color that matches one of the colors on the squares, with elasticized pockets.

Construction of the bag was fairly simple. Drew up the pattern on the great paper grocery bags I get at the commisary. But I'm not sure about the vinyl, it was easy enough to use, but I'll only really know if it was worth the extra steps if in ten years she's using it to go to Gramma's house.



Have a happy day!

This is a purse I made for my sister-in-law's birthday. She likes plain, ordinary things, so I made the outside pretty boring, and then inside, I snuck in a vivid paisley print that I love! There is two zippered pockets, one inside and one outside. The pull on the outer pocket is a southwestern kokopelli dancer. The bag is about 10x12x3. I was a little distracted by my boys while I was putting on the label, so it looks kinda funny, but when I tell her it was her nephew's fault, all will be forgiven 



My husband was handy to take a picture of the bag and lime-y model (me) so y'all could see the size and such.

Think she'll like it? At the very least she'll think of me everytime she opens it!

Well, I intended to try and make this secret a lot more secret than it turned out.  It's possible the bright pink zipper gives it away! Anyway, I had fun making it, and thought I'd share my laugh of the day.

Hi Everyone! To whet your creative appetite...

I got the idea for this one from a post that Kaka did
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=80121.msg752196#msg752196

(she added a tutorial later for anyone who's interested in trying her pattern):
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=88223.0

and absolutely loved the striped one. So, I made one up myself, and it goes with me everywhere!




Forgive the junk inside, I couldn't wait to fill it up It's about 10 in x 7 in, and 6 inches deep. It has two pockets inside for tiny things, and  I added a slash pocket outside the zipper, for things I grab often: keys, phone, chapstick...The only thing I left out of this one (unintentionally) is my label, but I know who made it!!

I made a weekend run to the fabric and thrift stores around here for fabric, so I'm up to my ears in ideas. Stay tuned!

Well, I've been around for a while enjoying the creative-ness of you all, and I suppose it would only be fair to share some of my work as well    I've been sewing for about 18 years, clothing and quilts mostly, and I've recently started making bags. It's hard to believe that the purses & handbags take just as much time if not longer than some of the more complicated outfits I've made! I'll get the hang of it eventually Time for pictures!

These are a few bags I made for family members this Christmas. The first two bags are identical in construction. They have slash pockets inside and smooth outsides. The Silver/Purple is lined with silver satin, and the paisley lined with olive green lame.




The backpacks are made from BDUs, for my nephews, for their "boy stuff." Since I know these will be washed frequently I didn't use any form of stabilizer.


This was my first bag, a quilted tote for my mom. Boy have I learned quite a few tricks since this one! This is lined in the same olive lame (it's one of my favorite fabrics, so I used it as ofted as I could!). I used plasic canvas on the bottom of the bag to provide support for heavier items, as I imagined her using it for church, bible and notebook etc...


Thanks for taking the time to look at my post, please leave your honest opinions. I love hearing what other creative dreamers have to say!