A new bag...

Small purses are great!  I mean, really...do I need all the stuff one can fit into a large purse?

I've been finding, though, that my small purses were just a wee bit too small to comfortably hold my phone.
So...I took my favorite clutch pattern, and enlarged it by 1 inch all the way around to come up with my new, just a bit bigger bag!

Everything fits perfect -- a wallet, phone, glasses, keys and tissue!

A Bunny Challenge

A creative challenge is always fun, and one that includes a cute bunny is even better!  Jennifer Jangles offered such a challenge ... and this is my creative result.

...just in time for some Easter fun!

February sewing

A few snow days this month gave some extra time for sewing.  My first project was a tote bag with vinyl trim, using the same pattern as the one featured on this post. 

I used upholstery fabric and vinyl purchased at my local fabric shop.

This particular bag has gone to my school auction, scheduled for March 21.  So, for any of you local friends, get your bidding ready! ;)   I have been using my brown bag, and love it.  It opens wide to fit lots of work to take home from school.  Oh goody! :)

Project #2 for February was a table runner.  I had picked up a set of fat quarters from Tuesday Morning some time ago, and finally got to making something with it.  I've been seeing string quilt blocks on line and decided to experiment with that.  Here is the result...

Runner front

 After piecing the front, I still had fabric left so decided to create a back with a different look.  I've tried them both on the table and like them equally.  This fabric is from a line called Holiday Bouquet, featuring Christmas balls, but I think the holiday theme is subtle enough to work at any time.

Runner back

That's it for this month.  Up next month ... Cindy Apron time!

Working with leather...

Today's post is the second installment of 2014 Christmas gift sewing.  A Christmas idea came my way for a handmade tool holder/bag.  Girls are easy to sew for, but for guys it gets a bit tricky.  When this idea came, I jumped on it right away.  My local fabric store has a great selection of leather remnants.  The piece I wanted was huge (uh... yes, cows are big!) and they kindly cut it down to the size I needed.  Here is the finished project...

My first all-leather project was a tool holder.  Leather takes a bit of practice to work with.  I used my regular sewing machine and a needle designed for sewing with leather, but it can be tough going!    

There is something great about leather, though!  The smell, the feel -- I just love it.

The pattern for this is a "one of a kind."  I had some outer dimensions to work with and just went from there.

Snow Day posting... The City Slicker bag

It has been two months since my last posting on this blog!  2014 sewing for me was definitely on a slower pace.  In 2013 I completed 70 projects and posted about most of them, whereas in 2014 only 42 projects were completed.  I say "only," but really, 42 sewing projects while teaching full-time is nothing to sneeze at! So -- on to some of those projects that never made it to a blog post.  My sewing goal for this year (...just so I remember!) is to sew at least 52 projects, use fabric from my stash and stockpile a few small items for ready gifts.

The City Slicker bag has been my most challenging bag project ever.  It really was not super difficult, but more time consuming than I anticipated.  Of course, the fact that I gave myself about 2 weeks to work on it before Christmas (yep, it was a Christmas gift) didn't help.  It was, however, a challenge well worthwhile!  I love how the bag turned out, and the recipient -- a horse lover for many years -- was delighted!

Project Resources:
Pattern:  The City Slicker - Intermediate
Fabric:
 Band of Horses Collage
 Kauffman Essex Wide Line linen
Zippers, lining, hardware, foam, interfacing were all bought at local quilt shops

Roomy front pocket has a magnet snap closure.

Back slip pocket -- I love using Kauffman Essex linen.  I would be completely happy with a bolt of this on hand to work with! :)

A harp comes in handy for purse photography! 

My first time to use a purse zipper with double pulls.  I added a bit of leather strips to pulls.

Inside slip pockets on both sides.  One of them was supposed to be a zipper pocket, but in the interest of time I opted for the easier method.