New Bag & Wallet, Flowers & Fuzzbutt

Can you tell who keeps me company in my sewing room? Sophie has fabric clippings on her bottom. She did have more, but they fell off. She can move pretty fast when she wants to, but somehow, moving out of my way when I’m trying to walk is SO hard. She loves to look at me like I’m causing her great inconvenience. 

This gives my favorite nickname for my corgis, Fuzzbutt, a whole new meaning. 

And speaking of my sewing room, I’ve completed two more wallets and a bag with another bag on the machine. 

Yet another Necessary Clutch Wallet in a farmyard fabric with two complementary plaids.  

 

This (above) is the Marichel Hobo by RLR Creations.

I love to make bag linings with light fabrics to make it easier to find your keys. This one is especially bright. I’ve said before, I’m not a “pink” person. I had this left over from my granddaughter’s quilt (which I’ve put aside for awhile) and it matched the flowers on the outer fabric so well I had to use it. 

And my newest creation is a Rozy Wallet by Serial Bagmakers.

 

The outer fabric is cork. I had my doubts about how strong it would be, but the cork is super thin and is backed by a supple, but thick and sturdy knit. It has a wonderful hand. It seems to be very durable and is undoubtedly beautiful.

I also had some doubts about the hardware. I’ve never used a bag frame before, but it went on great. I had to finagle a bit with an awl to get the wallet into it to suit me, but it wasn’t hard, really. I stitched two lines of stitching close to the edges and it held the wallet down making it thin enough to slip in easily. A little glue and eight tiny screws later I had my first cork-and-bag-frame-hardware wallet. 

One day I will take the time and have the lights to set up a good photography area so I can get better pictures. Until then, I’m sorry about the dark photos. I’m doing the best I can right now. 

I’ll leave you today with a few pictures of my flowers. It’s been raining so much lately that I can’t get out very often. I didn’t even get ONE raspberry this year. There were a lot of them, but the critters and birds got most of them, and the rain beat off the rest. Oh, well, maybe next year.

Toad Stool?

It has been SO hot here in Tennessee. Already in the 90s and 100s in June and early July. Usually, it’s mid-July and August when it gets that hot. I’ve been inside most of the time enjoying our central air, but I have ventured out a little. Two of my grandsons have birthdays in Summer so I have been to one early birthday, a joint birthday and the later birthday will be tonight when the youngest turns three. We also enjoyed a cookout and the city fireworks at my son’s on the Fourth of July. Good food, good company, and good entertainment.  

The animals have been slower to come around too. The birds are busy with nests and babies, the frogs are busy catching bugs, and the turtles have finished laying their eggs and gone back to the river. 

We have seen a mid-size toad who lives under the porch ramp and one, a bit smaller, in the garage. Isn’t he/she cute? 

Garage Toad

Husband has spent some time hiking in the mountains. He got pictures of some nice mushrooms. No toads sitting on them when he got the photos, but you never know, there might be one hiding nearby.

I have also managed to make two Necessary Clutch Wallets and two purses. 

This is the Glennwillow Saddlebag by HolditRightThereBags

The bag below is The Raleigh Bag by me! 

I used repurposed upholstery fabric for the body and a piece from an upholstery sample book for the center panel. Both fabrics were given to me by my friend, Jo Ann. I used quilting cotton for the lining. The ribbon on the back accents the top of the large pocket.

 

The wallet below is the Necessary Clutch Wallet by Emmaline Bags & Sewing Patterns.  The Necessary Clutch Wallet by Emmaline Bags & Sewing Patterns with shoulder and wrist straps and a trio of owls to keep you company.

The feathery inside.

hats, Hats, HATS!!! Whew! They’re in the Bag

The hats and one bag are all finished for Eiko’s show this weekend. I hope the hurricanes and lesser showers stay away from Aiken, South Carolina, and Aiken’s Makin.  Good luck, Eiko! 

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I have to say I really like some of these. I will have to use these patterns again. I love the berets with the refashioned knit bands. The brown band on this latest beret is SOOOOO soft! I cut it from a ladies’ t-shirt that I found at a thrift store and it’s almost buttery soft. 

Broad-brimmed Sunhat turned-up brim

The broad-brimmed sun hat is light and airy in the crown, but the brim is interlined with a foam that’s used to pad and stiffen purses without too much stiffness or weight. It holds its shape well and turns up nicely all the way around or just half-way.  I will be using more of this for stiffening. 

Front of cap

The adult and child caps are cut on the bias and it gives them a great shape. It was a little fidgety to get sewn, but by serging the edges before sewing them it helped hold them in shape better. 

I think I invented the pleated brim, but, who knows? There is nothing new under the sun, after all. I like it. Hope someone else does. 

Hat with pleated brim.
Detail of pleat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These pictures don’t do it justice. I was in a hurry. The pleats make the brim looks a little like the edges of a morning glory flower. 

The bag was just a whimsy. Eiko had woven some wide stripes and I couldn’t bear to cut into them, so I used the full width and made a tote from them. 

If you’re in the Aiken, South Carolina, area this weekend try to take in the festival. It looks like a lot of fun and Eiko is very cute and friendly!