Pockets

Aside from the Stanley Cut Hockey Playoffs : ) it's been quiet around the studio.  I've been working on a few orders and snapped a few photos as I was pocket production mode.  These are the slip pockets I use for my Messenger Bags. 

For some reason, I enjoy making slip pockets, not sure why...Perhaps it's the texture of the undyed canvas, or perhaps I just look forward to stamping my logo on them?

So Busy....

It’s been a busy past few days.  I have been trying to catch up on some orders for various messenger bags that came through my “Back to School” marketing efforts and being ill for two weeks did not help the HMMills cause.  Oh well such is life, yes?   

Once these orders are completed, I have a new bag that I want to try out so perhaps I will have photos of the finished product after Labor Day.   

Okay, now back to work. 

Studio Extension

I have been ill for the pass few days and will be in bed bed for at least another week..sigh...And in that time I have watched a bunch of movies, hours of tv and way too many infomercials. Every now and then, I call the day job to see how things are going and stress a little more.

So, since I have a lot of time on my hands, I thought I would start catching up on my blogging since it doesn't appear that I will sewing any time soon, (thanks DH for getting me a laptop for Christmas). Speaking of sewing, last week I spent the whole weekend cutting fabric to make a bunch of messenger bags. I should have known that something was wrong as I was so fatigue while I was cutting.

A few weeks ago I took advantage of a deal offered by my fabric supplier and ended up with a large bolt of 10oz canvas. This large bolt presents a problem whenever I pull it out, which is that it is too large for my cutting table. So what's a girl to do, why use that large island in the kitchen of course!

It makes for a perfect cutting table, (probably to DH's dismal), it's smooth large surface can accommodate a large bolt of fabric. So I guess I have found my new studio extension.

Lonely Pattern

It's been busy here...with the latest House Project underway, I have had no time for sewing.  I started cutting out a pattern about two weeks ago, but between the preparations for the bedroom construction and working too many late nights, work has been interfering with my quiet time. At present this pattern has laid on my cutting table silently and alone.  The pattern is a mix between a swing and a pleated handbag, so if I ever do get to work on it again, I hope that it turns out to be a lovely handbag.

The two fabrics I decided to use for the handbag are from Joel Dewberry's lovey Ginseng collection.  Since it's been so long, I am not sure, but I think the Tossed Flowers Rust will be the top panel and handles and the Orchid Petal Rust will be the exterior of the bag.  I still need to out the lining which will be a light brown broadcloth.

  


Someday. 

Don't Drink & Sew

My husband makes the best Pina Coladas. The problem is that I love them too much. On the weekends, I will drink them in the pool, I will drink them in my room, I will drink them when I sew, I will drink them...(well you get the idea).

So now that Hockey Season is over (for the Panthers that is, I still have the Playoffs on Center Ice to distract me) and my traveling for work has gone back to a day trip schedule I can start to focus on finishing Bag #4 - Flower Power Handbag

I had just finished attaching the lining to the external side of the handbag...

I turned the bag right side out and started pulling out the tabs that would hold the bamboo ring handles...
...when disaster...

What's wrong with this picture?


I don't know if you can make it out, but I am missing one of the tabs, there are only seven and there should eight.

DUH!

I had to go back three steps, it took me about an hour to tear out all the stitches with my very dull seam ripper... I am ready to pull my hair out.

hmmm...perhaps too many Mexican Beers and Pina Coladas. :)

Hobo Bag - Part 1

Last weekend after finishing my first bag, I decided it was time to start another bag. I settled on the Hobo Bag pattern provided by JCaroline Creative . It is a great looking bag and when you have time you should stop by her site to take a look around as she has a great store, tutorials and blog. I decided to use the Black/White/Gray Leaves fabric that I purchased from Ikea a few weeks ago.

My Progress So Far:

Here is a pic of the bag after cutting the pattern out (I think this is the interior of the bag)...

This is a picture of the exterior of the bag with the interfacing sewn to the fabric and after attaching the front and back pieces... messy, messy, I know... And finally, this is the right side view of the bag's exterior after pinning the loops and hardware together and basting the top hem...I decided to use a bright silver finish for the rings because of the white in the fabric. I figured this was better than the gold or the antique finish.

14 Year Sewing Hiatus

As I am feeling more and more like a recluse these days, I have taken to activities to occupy and quiet my mind which has been festering with other thoughts. Lately the thought of sewing and fabric stashing have calm me and provided some satisfaction as well. There is something soothing about browsing through rows and rows of fabric and flipping through the pattern catalog books.

My sewing machine, which has been occupying a corner of my workbench for several weeks has been waiting quietly and patiently. I thought that after a 14 year hiatus from sewing I should ease back into sewing with something simple such as a handbag instead of a piece of clothing which would require too many adjustments for my body type.

Several weeks ago (months ago?) I purchased a pattern for what I call a messenger bag Vogue 7862, but the three invisible zippers and the gorgeous baroque fabric I purchased for the pattern, freaked me out. So for my first attempt I chose an easy pattern - Burda 8560 with a heavy upholstery cotton fabric I purchased from Jo-Ann's that I found among the clearance pile (don't forget the 40% off coupon). I started the bag about two weeks ago but wasn't happy with the overall design, so I went back to Jo-Ann's during lunch and by eye balling it, purchased an accent fabric for the top inside half of the bag, (a perfect match). I also ended up making two modification, one was to insert a lining (how can a bag not be lined you ask, so did I) and the second was to include a pocket for my cellphone, keys or whatever. Look at me, I have mad skills, but....

I was happy with my progress until it came to joining the two straps in the middle. The combinations of too many layers was just too much for my poor sewing machine (which I purchased in my teens or early 20s). What can I say...it looks like crap and I guess I will have to redo. Maybe I can fix this with a quick slip stitch by hand?
Oh well, I guess I have not finished my first bag after all.