Birthday Bags

Howdy!

Thought I would show you a couple of the projects I worked on this week!

Last week I was going stir crazy since I didn't have a sewing machine to sew on. All these grand ideas and projects swirling around in my mind - and could I get any machine to work??!! agurrr!! But you can't keep a good woman down! LOL! Or a good and faithful Bernina down! :D

More on that in a minute!

I just recently had a birthday, and my mom's birthday was coming up. So I decided we both needed a new bag to start our "new year" off with positive notes! :)

I've been itching to use this fabric I picked a while ago. And although I envisioned making a grocery type carry all out of it, I changed my mind at the last minute. It's SPECIAL fabric. Special because I absolutely ADORE it! LOL! And I can only bring myself to use it in projects that have meaning to me. Go figure, huh? :)

It's not too often that a whole line appeals to me, or speaks to me. But Sweetwater's "Authentic" did... and does still! And I happened to score some of this in a wide width canvas - I just love it! Sooo... for my birthday bag, I decided it was time to pull out this much loved fabric and turn it into something that would make me smile every day!

What started out as a carpenter bag, kind of evolved into a taller version because of the way the fabric was printed and the idea that had taken hold. Oh.. and the 4 3 you see? That's how old I am now. LOL Not thrilled about the number. But completely happy and confident in who I am at this point in my life. So why not shout it out?! Authentic 43. Seems appropriate, right? :D I'm also not usually a matchy match kind of girl - meaning I don't usually use things from the same line together. Somtimes. But not often! In this case.. it was a must! :) So the inside lining was the black authentic with words

And I made the long strap handle scrap pieced together from three of the other pieces in the line. I love my bold numbers, and bold words! I padded the strap with warm and natural, and just ran three quilting lines through it. Man... it is soooo comfy!! After using it for two days, I know I do need to put some kind of closure on that top flap, like I had originally planned. Thinking maybe a magnetic snap button. But all in all, I love it! It's totally NOT my norm for a purse, and yet so totally me! :)

I also made a little bag for my Mom. She's a para educator at an elementary school, and starts back to work when the kids go to school. She's always loved red and black together, and takes her lunch to school with her. Sooo I thought it might be fun for her to have a little lunch tote for the new school year!

I think this chicken fabric is from Alexander Henry... I had already cut off the selvedge - so not sure. And the inside is fun black material with quilting words on it from Barnatex (called Wordplay). If you like word fabrics as much as I do, and would like to score a few, come back tomorrow - I'll be giving some away!

Also made her this little pouch to keep other goodies in.

My Mom is an amazing seamstress, but doesn't sew much anymore. And she's always so appreciative of anything I make for her!!! So it's always soooo much fun to make goodies for her! And for the woman who taught me to cross stitch at age 8, and how to sew at age 9, and started a life long passion in me - she deserves no less than LOTS OF GOODIES made just for her! :D

Wow... I didn't realize I had so much to say today! I think I will make a separate post with the rest!

Hope you have a wonderful creative day today!!

Blessings, Bren :)