Hobo Bag - Part 2

It is done. I have finally completed the Hobo Bag from Hell.

For the past few weekends, I struggled with the instructions, ripped out the majority of the stitches, thought about putting it away, doubted my abilities and because I am crazy, changed sewing machines mid stream. It is lined, has a zippered pocket, a snap closure and is finished with a cute tie off strap. If I had to do again, I would have used foam between the exterior and interior layers as called for, I would have used stronger Pellon interfacing and made the straps longer. In the end persistence was key and now I can finally begin Bag #3...


A Preview....

In Search of Purse Handle Supplies

In my last post, I shared my bordering on obsession with Handbag Patterns. While collecting all the pieces for my next bag, I noticed that some (the majority, maybe all) of the handbag handles are a bit on the cheap side. I started searching online and these are the ones I have added to my Favorites:

CreateforLess
ejoyce
Yarnsupply
UMEI
MJTrim

As it turns out, during my search MJTrim was having a Sale - 50% off all Handbag Handles. Well my order arrived...now if I could just finished that HOBO Bag.

Handbag Pattern Madness

A few weeks ago I started perusing EBay and Etsy for handbag patterns after several unsuccessful visits to JoAnn Fabrics. I ended up winning/buying a few - some of the patterns are out of print; some are newer from this season, and some are from the new indie pattern makers. As each one has arrived, I have held the pattern in my hands and dreamt of different fabrics and trims. Last week I went to JoAnn's with one of the pattern envelops by my side, so now I have fabric and trim waiting in the wings...

This morning, I glanced at that Hobo Bag that has been tormenting me and remembered how last night I ripped out the zipper. I thought to myself, it's Saturday morning, the weekend is upon us and I didn't want to be brought down, so I decided to focus on my handbag patterns again. When I gathered them together, (I had a few in different rooms), I discovered I had 12 of them. This does not include the tutorials I previously downloaded from some of my favorite sewing blogs. Before you judge me I must add, that I purchased the majority of them for a price lower (price + shipping) than JoAnn's, but still, 12* may be pushing it. So now I am going to return to my Hobo Bag and dream of future handbags.


*Please note, later this month, JoAnn's is having another one of their Pattern Sales - McCall's Pattern will be $1.99/each and Vogue Patterns will be priced at $3.99/each, so there is a possibility of the pattern stash increasing...

Winter in Florida - Wordless Wednesday

It's My Birthday

It's my Birthday...

I stopped by a Jo-Ann's Fabric yesterday during lunch to pick up a zipper for my Hobo Bag from Hell (the drama is another post) and noticed all the Vikings Sewing Machines sitting in the middle of the store. As my coworker and I looked at the very expensive models...one machine was priced at $6,000 and that wasn't even the "Diamond" model that was also on display (we were afraid to ask the salesperson for its price). After I commented that all I needed was a simple heavy duty machine that could sew through several layers, the salesperson demonstrated on the Emerald 183, by sewing through denim fabric folded for a total of six layers. As I watched the foot climb and the needle puncture the mountain of fabric, the salesperson went on and on about the different features, I started thinking about my poor White sitting at home waiting for me with its 6 stitch capability. Suddenly I felt as if I had been sewing in a cave...using fish bones as needles and beating a zipper into place with a rock.

I left the store thinking that it may be time to buy a new machine as I remembered the funky sound my White made as I tried to sewing through the handle of my last bag. I sent a text to DH to pull some data and pricing for me but as I drove home last night, I decided that I wasn't going to purchase it. Once I got home, I rattled on and on about the machine and my DH guided me to my office and there was a box with a red bow sitting on my work bench...DH did some research and picked one up on the way home...Sweet