It happened this week...

Although there was a brave effort in searching fabric stores both online and off as well as fabric warehouses - it happened this week - I  used the last of my favorite dark gray hemp/cotton fabric when a customer purchase the last Hemp/Cotton Messenger Bag in Gray.


I knew it was coming months ago,  my fabric supplier inform me they had discontinued carrying the hemp/cotton in gray earlier in the year.
As the months went by, my bolt of gray hemp dwindled until I was down enough fabric for one messenger bag and one market bag. The market bag sold a few weeks ago and now as I am sewing the last messenger bag - I keep glancing over the sad small pile of fabric scraps. 

The last remains of my favorite gray hemp/cotton fabric.

:(

Last Summer Clutch

...well for this year anyway... 

I think it's the Tapestry Clutch is the perfect summer clutch as it's the perfect accessory for that summer dress and a palette of beige, orange, gold and brown make it easy to carry into Fall.


Small enough to carry it under your arm or as a wristlet, but this clutch is large enough to carry all your essentials!
Made from a lovely cotton print from Valori Wells Cinnamon Tapestry Collection in beige, orange and brown. The exterior is pleated on one side and flat on the other. The interior is lined with a 10oz canvas cotton fabric in natural and contains a slip pocket and zippered pocket. The clutch is finished with recessed zipper to keep all your valuables safe.

This little pretty can be found here: 

Another Summer Handbag

I am still enjoying the last order of hemp cotton that I received a few weeks ago. The new day job has me so busy that I was finally able to do some sewing and finally posted another one of my Hemp Bucket bags in my Etsy Shop using the light beige or Flax (as it is official labeled) fabric.  I am still experimenting with interfacing and after my last bag I have fallen love with SF101 and the mix of 10oz canvas.  The combination of the two makes for a nice sturdy Big bag.

 
The Pleated Market Bag is a handbag constructed in a wonderful soft flax cotton/hemp fabric and lined with a sturdy 10oz canvas in natural (off white). On the inside you will find three pockets, two slip pockets to carry to carry your cell phone or I-pod and a zippered pocket to keep your valuables. The bag is finished with a magnetic snap closure. All hardware is in a nickel finish.

It's a very large bag, great for carrying books, a laptop or an I pad. Use it as a market bag or a diaper bag.

The adjustable strap is great in that you can wear it messenger style or over your shoulder, ever changing to fit your mood or need.

Approximate bag measurements:

Top opening: 15"
Bottom length: 15 1/2"
Body height: 17"
Strap width: 1 1/4"
Strap length: 23 3/4" - 48 1/2"
Gusset: 6"

This lovely can be found here.

A Name, a name...

I have been debating on a name for this bag.

I wanted something different than along the line of a  "Pleated Bag" so I debate....Shoulder Sac, Shoulder Sack, Pleated Sack, Pleated Bucket....well I guess regardless of a name, I have been dying to cut into my recent purchase of hemp/cotton fabric.  I pickup a few shades, but by far, the gray is my favorite.   My other favorite is the recent addition of a  roll of 10oz Cotton Canvas that I will be using for the lining.  I like the contrast between the dark exterior and light interior and the canvas makes the lining extra durable.   

I spent another day cutting lining for several bags and then adding the interior pockets, a 2-slip pocket on one side and a zipper pocket on the other. The next day, after cutting the exterior for just this bag, I spent the whole day experimenting with the pattern.  I ended up with a 6" gusset which rounded the sharp corners which made for a large bag. 

I just love the look and feel of this bag.  It's extra large and with an adjustable strap you can wear it over the shoulder or messenger style. I have placed the bag in my Etsy shop and can be found here.

Spring Clutch

Well, it's suppose to be in the high 80s today in lovely Sunny Florida, which means that Spring must be here for most of the rest of the country.   The change in the weather has me thinking about Spring Accessories and hence the Lantern Bloom Clutch.  (This girl can be found  here.)

I have been playing around with this pattern and now that I have completed a second one of this clutch, I already have plans for some improvements. Look for a rounded gussets to add some depth and I since I am craving to start working with eco-friendly fabrics, I will start using a heavy canvas in natural to add some rigidity to the bag.

As you can see from below, I spent last  weekend cutting lining and attaching the interior slip and zippered pockets.

Sewing Again

With all the cleaning and vacationing I have been doing I have not been sewing that much.  I did however finally add two new bags to the shop:

 Large Pleated Handbag - Chestnut Branches in Eggplant

A pleated handbag constructed in a brown-burgundyish and light blue Joel Dewberry's cotton print, "Chestnut Branches - Eggplant" from his Chestnut Hill collection. A color palette of brown and blues, this handbag is lined in a coordinating light blue broadcloth cotton. Constructed with two interior pockets (a zippered pocket and an open pocket) and stiff interfacing to help maintain its shape. 

Pleated Shoulder Bag in Black 

A great everyday bag, large enough to carry more than your essentials. A heavy weight black cotton canvas that has a subtle pebbled texture fabric, this single pleated shoulder bag is fully lined with a coordinating floral cotton fabric. The rich color palette consists of black, blues, oranges, white and reds. The interior has a large split deep pocket, a great place to keep your blackberry, cellphone, keys and a zippered pocket to hold other important items. The Shoulder bag is then finished with a magnetic snap to keep your items safe and constructed with a stiff interfacing to help maintain its shape.

Forget Spring, I Am Ready for Summer

I know that it was snowing in NYC as the first day of Spring arrived, however the weather has been quite perfect (almost Spring like) here in South Florida. The crazy rains of last week finally stopped, the sun has been out and the humidity has been low. Ducky, (my pool thermometer) says that the pool's temperature is currently at 73 degrees and that means that in another 5-7 degrees this girl will be lounging pool side and that Summer will have arrived in South Florida.

Speaking of Summer, I finished bag number three: Flip Flop Beach Bag which will find it's way to my Etsy Shop.
Just a few more weeks until Pina Colada time...