Teesha Moore Inspired bag - my first!

[sheepBlue]

I fell in love with Teesha Moore and her whimsical, fearless style and decided to make a bag for a recent swap partner. It should have taken a lot less time than it did, but with school work in the way it took me about a month and a halfish to get it done. Each panel was sewn separately by hand (though a quarter were partially machine sewed initially) and embroidered with beads, buttons, and whimsies. There is one panel I stenciled myself, and a few favorite tshirts I cut up to include fun graphics. I even did a lining (to hide all the thread ends and knots mostly) which is very basic but works. I will miss this bag forever, but that just means I have to make another one for myself   I'd love to hear any comments or suggestions for improvement on my next one, because, oh yes, there will be a next one  

[evilpixie]

i love it so much.. so inspiring and colorful.

[audio]

Wow! Very nice!! I love it! So many pretty pieces! Wisting!

[gleangenie]

It's a gorgeous, one-of-a-kind creation. Absolutely fantastic!

[wewilltaketothesea]

That is so beautiful! Your swap partner is super lucky!

Really, really amazing job. 

[phoenixfiredesigns]

Wow, it's so complex and detailed. Very neat!

[ScrappySue]

Brilliant bag!
and we all know, thats a hell of a lot of work.
S

[alteredmommy]

Love it sheepBlue!  This one has been on my project to do list for months too.... I really like how you did the handles, it goes great with the rest of the bag.  It must have been really hard to mail off, lucky partner

[lindyv321]

It is so fabulous!  I especially love the handles!  Wisted!!!

[sheepBlue]

Thanks so much everyone! I'm really happy with how I decided to approach making the handles - I originally thought to crochet the handle but the scrappy braid fits in perfectly.

[ccmak]

Do you have any direction you could pass along to me?
I love the way you can put your own personality into this purse

GREAT JOB!

Thanks

[sheepBlue]

Well for anyone wanting to try this definitely check out this youtube video that Teesha Moore shows how to do it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cm4RoEsgl0&feature=related

Also there's an awesome craftalong thread for others making their own awesome patchwork bags, notebook covers, etc here

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=353386.0

Otherwise, what questions do you have? I'd be more than happy to answer 

[CraftyDiem]

Awesome!  I hope this inspires me to get back to my little basket of pillows!  So - um - I have been following the other thread but didn't see the directions for the scrappy handles?  I love that idea!  Did you sew the fabric first or finish it in some way before braiding it?  I love the additional graphic images.  Nicely done - I don't know how you managed to give it away!

[sheepBlue]

the scrappy braided handles were my own creation. I wasn't motivated enough to do a bunch of long skinny pillows so I did it that way. I just sewed a couple of long strips of cloth together on one end, braided it semi-loose (so you can still see some of the patterning) and then sewed it together on the other side. Then I hand stitched it to the bag when I was sewing in the lining so it's hidden between the lining and the inside of the bag.

[psyche]

This is amazing! I'm not surprised how long it took to get done. I think I see your stencilled section too. This may be a new bag inspiration for me to try something equally cool (I think I also need to check out Teesha Moore!)

[rackycoo]

Woo, gawgeous! What a fun and funky bag. You have one lucky partner!

[alwaysinmyroom]

Beautiful...and so much detail, just like your awesome altered puzzles!

The braided handles turned out great!

[claire313]

GORGEOUS!!! And quite inspiring ... good project to start during the narsty winter months haha

sheepBlue, what WILL you think of next

<3,
your biggest fan

[Clarachk]

HOLY FREAKING EYE CANDY!!!!! Maaaaaaaaaaaaan, if I were in your shoes, I may have needed stronger hands. They'd NEED to be stronger in order for me to stop the giftee from being able to pry it out of them. This is just gorgeous. I love all the colours and the texture. The add-ons make it that much more gorgeous... hard not to oogle at! Good job! Now get your *** an Etsy store and put these up. They'd go like HOTCAKES!

[sheepBlue]

When I have time to figure out how etsy works I'll finally create a store for myself. As for selling them, I don't know if I could. They are so labor intensive it would take all the fun out of it if I had to mass produce them for buyers....maybe as a once or twice a year special or something 

[DarkStarBurning]

Wow... I signed up for this site just so I can tell you how outstanding and truly inspirational this is!!!

In fact... I'm off to have a go, and if I achieve something even half as brilliant I'll be a very happy bunny! Thanks for sharing

[85%confusion]

That is soooo beautiful!

[Bewara]

Love, LOVE it!! Favorite'd, This Rocks'd and drooled over. You really did an amazing job on it.

[Riechan]

oh my! I LOVE it!
How did you attach the panels to each other? 'cause I'm seeing a border on every panel and am wondering what that's doing there
I'm so planning on making a bag for myself like this! Great way to use little fabric scraps ^^ thanks!

[DawnsTrees]

Beautiful! I love the handles. Add me on to the long line that is wisting this!

[Smmarrt]

craftylittlemonkey posted this tutorial during the summer:
http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=356111.0

I bookmarked it so I could make one - maybe over Xmas vacation. But I love the tee-shirt panels in yours, sheepb. I will totally use this idea in my bag. A Bruce/Iggy/Clash bag? Ooooh, I like.

[sheepBlue]

How did you attach the panels to each other? 'cause I'm seeing a border on every

I followed the Teesha Moore tute on how to make the panels; essentially to create the borders you fold over each "pillow" and whip stitch it shut. I sewed each panel to each other by laying them back to back, pretty sides out and then whip stitching each side. It gets a little tricky when you have a bunch of panels but it's not that hard.

[spicytaco]

That's fantabulous. I love it.

[Nesse]

you never fail to amaze me

[sheepBlue]

I bookmarked it so I could make one - maybe over Xmas vacation. But I love the tee-shirt panels in yours, sheepb. I will totally use this idea in my bag. A Bruce/Iggy/Clash bag? Ooooh, I like.

I will say that working with tshirt material is not as easy as regular quilters cotton,etc. since the fabric kind of stretches it's harder to get an even overall shape when embroidering; it gets kind of lumpy. But still, it turned out alright - I'd probably just suggest either staying away from doing large pieces with tshirt material, or if you want to go large, double layer it with some plain cotton fabric (or other sturdy material) behind it to stablize it so it doesn't stretch as much.

[spazgirl1981]

This is absolutely amazing!! Wow!! Wisting.

[Aquila]

wowing, wisting, rocking!

[Stars_Fire_17]

awesome   I love how scrappy it is and with all the extra bits

[SonjaBoo]

Gorgeous!  I keep trying to pick a favorite patch, but I think I like them all.

[loves2experiment]

sheepBlue, this is amazing!!  I love everything about it!  Wisted! 

P/S  You're a generous soul for sending it to your swap partner!!

[TheSapphireMoon]

I wisted this so hard I broke a nail off on my mouse button   SOOOOO fantabulous!!  I LOVE this kind of bohoemian style and the stitching and patchwork and button-y goodness of it all is just *drool*

[Angelicus]

This is so beautiful. I will definitely be trying this one myself

[McAnaraks]

fantastic! A work of art.

[Craftlete]

Your bag is so beautiful . I am extremely inspired! I love your color and pattern choices and the overall impression is just MAH-velous!!!! Nice job

[Robinpich]

OH MY! THAT IS PROBABLY THE MOST FABULOUS BAG I'VE EVER SEEN!  Can I please, please pretty please be your partner in ANY swap and you make me one 

I love the tshirt parts you added!  This is wonderful!!!

[Algol]

Amazingly great job! I'd love to have one. You have a great crafting future ahead if you ever go into design!!

[craftewoman]

Beautiful! I am no longer surprised to pull up a post that I like and find out that you're the artist who create it. You're very talented and I love your work. You're definitely one to stalk!

[sheepBlue]

Thank you so much guys!!! This was a total labor of love and I'm starting my next one tomorrow  This time I plan to keep it 

[Icekibby]

I'm also a fan of this technique, but I make the journal covers with the patches.

Great work! I know just how long something like this takes. Whew!

[MegHall]

Wow, so creative and different. I'm off to check out Teesha Moore. Thanks for the inspiration!

[helmetwearer]

Wonderful work!  Teesha Moore is an excellent artist...great idea to use her style to create this bag.  I like the rainbow buttons - nice addition.  Excellente!   

[akbev]

What an amazingly wonderful bag! Excellent job!!~ Giving me a few new ideas now!!

[AllQuartz]

This is great! Funky and fearless art. I can imagine how many ideas and techniques you have flooding in your brain after doing this. Truly awesome.

[inmywindow]

Gosh, this is beautiful! Such a gorgeous blend of colours and textures.