Striped Hobo I designed

I saw a bag on HSN that I fell in love with, so I printed it out and tried to draw it on newspaper. I made a pattern and this is what I came up with.

I eventually ordered the pruse and this one does NOT look like it, however I like this striped purse and love the way the stripes turned out.

Pumpkins Gone Wild Fabric by Moda

This is a hobo pattern which was given as a free tutorial on the internet.

I made 2 bags using this pattern and love the size. It has a magnetic closure and an inside big zippered compartment, and I put slip in pockets on the other side. I used all 3 of the fabrics in this line I have.

New bags for Susan's Christmas Bazaar

I made 3 pieced and quilted smaller totes out of Peace on earth by Moda and they turned out nice.

Every year, Susan has a sale at her house with different people bringing things to sell. Last year, I was invited to participate with about 1 month's notice. I made and took my usual tote bags and sold about 15. She suggested this year I make a few smaller purses and bags and I decided to try to make them more Fallish and Winterish.

New Pieced and quilted Tote

I ordered a pattern and dvd from Justine Foster called the bag lady carrying bag. I love the pattern and loved even more the dvd. It is awesome to watch her make the bag with such ease and such talent. I learned so much from her it was like taking a class.

I made the small size and it is approximately 15 inches wide and 11 inches tall and 6 inches deep. It has side pieces and also a bottom piece and everything is quilted. She even demonstrated stipple quilting on the dvd and hand stitching. It is awesome.


I wanted to show a side view so you could see the side panel. On the inside there are pockets on the sides also. I like that.
The inside has a document pocket and then pockets on both sides and the ends.


There is a loop and button closure and also one on the document pocket.

I love this pattern and am going to to try again and see if I can make one similar to hers.

Her logo is Love & Stitches
Desigsn.

http://www.loveandstitchesdesigns.com/index.html

Check out her website.

Since Fall is my favorite season, I used Moda fall fabrics and a few o thers and think it will be freat to carry in the fall, and I love the document pocket. It is awesome.

Simplicity

I finally finished a new tote purse I have been working on for myself.
I used the Moda Simplicity charm squares and faux leather handles.
I pieced the fabric and quuilted it and used a stripe for the lining with flowered pockets.

I made another one like this with fabric handles for my niece Susan for her Easter gift.

I have not been posting much because I have had health problems with my arms. First I had a stress test because the doctor that it might be heart related and the test turned out negative, so I had a catherization. That, however, was fine. Praise the Lord.

Then, when I was barely over that ordeal, my left arm went numb from my pinkie up to my elbow. The worse was the pain in my elbow. I went to the doctor and he had me to take muscle relaxers and pain pills and I slept for a week. Then I had to go for a nerve conduction test, so I quit the pills. Then I went to my doctor for the follow up and he said I need prednisone, so now I am taking it and back on the pain pills and it is getting a little better.
If this doesn't work he says I need surgery on my nerve in the elbow.....

Back to the purse, I have decided to put rick rack around the top of my next tote and I am excited to try it. I am afraid it might be a little tricky for me though.
I wish some of you reading this would write me.

New purse and small accessories

Wallet
Someone posted a wallet pattern and I thought I would try to make one and see what it looked like. I think the next time I try this I will attach a small change purse to the outside zip a tiny zipper. I like for all my things to be in the same place. I made this out of Michael Miller fabric the bandana line. I love Michael Miller fabric.






Earlier last week, I made a small bag which I would use for change or something like that, and I put one of my favorite zippers in it. I did quilt this Michael Miller paisley aqua fabric and love the way it turned out too.
The zipper I like is a ykk vison which is really almost impossible to find. I think this could be used as a cell phone holder too. I love this size bag too.



























I made a purse today for a lady who ordered it from my ebay store, and I am very pleased with the way it turned out, It is made with quilted L'esprit Provence fabric inside and out with inside pockets and a magnetic closure. I love it, and I hope she will too.
This bag is 12" wide by 8 1/2" tall with about 4" depth. The handles are 19 1/2" long.

new pouch

Yesterday I made a new Christmas design pouch and it has a zipper and a cute little loop handle with an inside small pocket. I boxed the corners and it stands alone. I would use it for a make up bag, but it could be used as a small clutch type instead of a purse if you didn't want to take so much stuff to an event over the holidays. I didn't use a pattern but just started cutting the fabric and then I used iron on interfacing from Pellon and sewed in the zipper.Then I made the pocket and sewed it and my name label in the lining pieces. Then I sewed up the outside pieces and then the inside pieces leaving an opening to turn. Once I had it turned, I sewed up the opening and stuffed the lining inside of the bag and it was finished. So cute.

Fabric Store

I forgot to mention that after I had made so many quilts and had no place to store them or the fabrics and was running out of money to buy more... I decided to clean out my closet and sell stuff on ebay. I had such a great time doing it and made more money than I thought I could for used purses and shoes etc., that I decided to sell fabric. I contacted the Moda people and met this wonderful man named Mark and he invited me to their fabric show last summer. I obtained a tax number and started my business. I bought several bolts of fabric and notions, etc, and started selling on ebay again. In October of 06 we went to Houston to the International Quilt Market and bought more and more. Being with others retail sellers and quilters and seeing all the products and vendors was fabulous. I came home with a huge stack of catalogs and order blanks and a trunk full of fabrics. It was an awesome experience. Besides that, I attended seminars and talks and sewing classes. What an education for me.
At some point, last year, I started making tote bags and purses and less quilts.
As you might guess, I had a large stash of purses and totes and George, my husband, said," Honaey, why don't you sell your purses on ebay?" So, I did and have continued to. Now I have a store on ebay and lots of fabrics, purse patterns and notions.
http://stores.ebay.com/Fabric-for-quilts-and-more

Tote Bag Purse Tutorial

I got started making purses and tote bags last year and let up on the quilts.Seems like my real passion so far is in making purses, bags and totes. I love to make pouches, wallets and make up bags too.I have sold quite a few on ebay and through people who saw others with my bags.
It seems that I spend the biggest part of my time reading on the internet, sewing books, magazines about sewing and experimenting. When I started on the bags I had no one to help me and everything was trial and error- lots of errors. LOL
I bought a lot of patterns and read them over and over and tried several and finally ended up making one tote bag ( my own pattern) most of the time. I do vary some and enjoy making different ones.
I joined 1 purses Yahoo group and started another one myself and find it wonderful to talk with others who are doing the same things I am.
In my ebay business, I sell mainly fabric and purses notions and needs. I have had sesveral customers ask me how to do different things in sewing and how to use some of the itemsI sell. So lately I have had several people ask me how I make the bags.
I decided to make a tutorial from start to finish. Since I am a teacher and used to going into a lot of detail, it turned out quite long and I had about 30 pictures.
If you want to see it here is the link
http://users.zoominternet.net/~bbcarter/totebag.doc