Skip to main content

A craft post

I'm always a little shy about showing what I sew because I have two characteristics that make the resulting objects imperfect -and therefore probably a little laughable. I am impatient and not painstaking enough. Maybe that's the same. Because of my lack of training I just jump right in and draw the patterns without using weights or rulers, and usually just eyeball the allowances. That often results in wonky seams, unsightly little folds and unmatching edges. I often blame the designs but deep down I know it's my fault, I should be more concentrated and apply attention where it's needed.

So that's just my way of saying I haven't stopped sewing or attempting to craft with the kids, I just keep quiet about it, but fear not, I may go on and unburden myself here in the future.

Today I wanted to show you my newest bag. Bags are rewarding projects -usually, there is of course the odd exception- they're quick, useful and allow a variety of funky fabrics to be used that would be too garish for a garment. I have come across the tutorial via my new obsession, Pinterest.

I thought Meg's bag looked cool, and immediately started thinking about fabrics. Plus the tutorial is very clear and pleasant. Meg sounds very friendly -she also has lots of rad Pinterest boards.
This bag, the awesome bag, is so called because it can be used as a shoulder bag or as a messenger bag and is reversible. The idea is just awesome.
From 

I used black cord for one side and a light quilting cotton in cream with a floral grid pattern that I bought in Purl in New York last year, that was part of their gorgeous fabric bundles. I then had to venture out in a local notions shop for buttons.Why are buttons so expensive?

I'm really pleased with my bag and that light fabric makes me smile every time I see it.

Comments

Very Shannon said…
You did a great job! I love the fabric choices too. I do the same thing with sewing too sometimes. I just cut out a dress for my daughter and realized after that the seam allowances weren't included in the pattern...oops :P Thanks so much for sharing!
julie said…
Thank you! and thanks for hosting the turorial :)
meg said…
why are buttons so expensive? I've started cutting them off of old clothes--wow I'm turning into my Nana! Thanks for all the nice things you said about me. I think you're pretty rad too.
julie said…
turning into Nana is a good thing!

Thank you for the kind comments :-)

Popular posts from this blog

Nigella's summer crumble

How has your summer been? Has everyone around you been complaining of the weather? Summer' s so much more than just sun and heat though... fruit,  farniente , ice-cream,  apéros  and walks...reading long books, so many little pleasures. Tossa de Mar And lest we forget to turn the oven on, to warm us up... Nigella's summer crumble (from Forever Summer ) is a fantastic way to use up those less-than satisfying apricots that everyone leaves in the fruit bowl, the ones a little less red, the mushy ones, and transform them into deep orange compote under the layer of almondy crumble. Or any other stone fruit for that matter. Parc Guell, Barcelona Summer crumble, adapted from Nigella Lawson in  Forever Summer 750g apricots, stoned and quartered 75g butter 100g self-raising flour or flour with 1/2 tsp baking powder a pinch of salt 25g ground almonds 75g caster sugar 50g flaked or chopped almonds Preheat the oven at 200C. Butter a gratin dish. Layer the fruit

La Réunion en recettes : cari de lotte et son riz au lait de coco

Enfin, je réalise d'autres recettes réunionnaises . La cuisine de la Réunion, au carrefour des continents, à l'image de sa population, associe des saveurs européennes, asiatiques, indiennes et africaines. Je vous propose le cari de lotte, tout simplement parce que je cherchais du poisson ce samedi-là, et que les queues de lotte m'ont tapé dans l'oeil. Pauvres lottes décapitées sur l'étal du rayon poissonnerie, eh oui, la lotte est moche, tellement moche qu'on l'appelle poisson-diable en allemand et en anglais (mais aussi poisson-moine/monkfish), aussi, on la propose souvent débarassée de son faciès. Oui, mais une fois rentrés à la maison, que faire de ces deux beaux filets? Ni une, ni deux, j'ouvre mes tomes de Nigella et Jamie et compulse les index, mais les recettes ne m'emballant pas trop, je pense soudain à en faire un cari et j'ouvre alors Cuisine des Iles de l'Océan Indien (Edisud), ramené lors de mon dernier voyage à la Réunion il y a

Vacances siciliennes (III).....le marché de Cefalù

Le marché s'étendait sur deux voies, l'une réservée à l'alimentation, l'autre aux vêtements et à la quincaillerie. Les photos sont dûes à la témérité du Papa, beaucoup moins gêné que moi par le fait de prendre en photo des inconnus et leurs marchandises. L'abondance des fruits et légumes à prix bas s'explique non seulement par le climat généreux dont bénéficie la Sicile, mais aussi par le fait que tout autour de la ville se trouvaient des parcelles de cultures maraîchères. Pas de mythe : les citrons ressemblent parfois à des pamplemousses tellement ils sont gros et juteux, vendus, comme les autres agrumes, encore un peu verts. Ce qui leur confère d'ailleurs un léger parfum de citron vert; les aubergines sont de plusieurs types : grosses et gonflées, la peau violettes et plus claire par endroits, ou encore comme on les trouve ici, ou encore toutes petites et bien foncées. Le basilic est vendu en grands bouquets à prix modique. On trouve des stands d'oli