First time for everything...

Today I sewed with Glitter Vinyl for the first time!  And man oh man...am I ready to add this stuff to everything!  Today's bag is the Lola domed handbag by Swoon Patterns.  This bag would have been a very quick sew...if I had read the directions instead of just glossing over them.  Oh well!  Live and learn!  This morning I was excited to actually stitch with the vinyl for the first time:

and then before too long I had this:

the bottom of the bag is even vinyl:

The only real issue I had was when I was sewing the handles, and had two vinyl against both the sewing foot and the feed dogs...it got a bit sticky.  But it all worked out!  I also used Flex Foam for the first time on this bag, and wow...love it!  And now I'm off to either sew another Lola...or move onto a different bag...decisions decisions!

Another finish!

Another finished bag that is...not so much on the quilting front right now.  Here is my finished Sheena (pattern by Swoon Patterns).

Now to figure out what to do with it.  I made this one just to get an idea of the pattern and overall bag size.  Might keep it...might give it away...it's not really my style of bag, but it is cute...so who knows! I'm on to other things...well other bags that is...

In Progress...

Had a little bit of time to work on my Sheena bag yesterday.  Got all the fabric cut out and interfaced:

and then started working on the zipper pockets:

and now I might be able to squeeze in a little more time to work on the other zipper pocket.  I'm waiting on my zipper order to arrive to have the main zipper I need, so after the pocket, not sure I'll be able to get much assembled.  Might be able to work on prepping the strap and connectors and such.  Off to sew I go!

Keeping busy...

March seemed to be Bag Month in these parts, well...now April might turn into Bag Month.  It's getting all official and stuff...I really like making bags!!!

First one up is another Ramona (Swoon Patterns) using Rhoda Ruth fabric by Elizabeth Hartman (and a touch of Tula Pink for the lining):

this one is for one of my nieces who specifically requested I make her a bag.  (It's always nice to have your family ask for something handmade).

I also put together a Laney bag (Again Swoon Patterns) using some fabric out of my stash:

This pattern is great, and a very quick sew.

I'm working on a Sheena (dare I say it...Swoon Patterns)

just waiting on my order of zippers to arrive.  Yep...the girl not so comfortable with zippers...specifically went out and ordered herself some zippers (handbag zippers too).  I feel this is a huge step for my zipper-phobia.  But what can I say...Alicia Miller's patterns are amazing and so easy to work with and have really made me feel comfortable sewing with zippers.  (For the record...all of the opinions stated here are, in fact, my own, and I have been provided zero compensation for these opinions/reviews.  I paid for every pattern and all fabric out of my own pocket.)

And then I went and did the unthinkable...I purchased some Glitter Mirror Canvas Vinyl by Mikri World (so many beautiful bags made with the glitter stuff, had to try it!).  First planned bag is another Ramona...this time for my baby girl!

Happy sewing!

Closing out the month of March

Ok...so we are a bit into April already...but I have a good excuse to be finally posting the rest of my March sewing...I spent the last week of March at Disney World!  (and then spent last week recovering).  Before we got on the road though, I did manage to get my third Dallas duffel completed:

This one really tried my patience.  The fabric I chose was an outdoor fabric that frayed like crazy.  The fraying wasn't too terrible until i went to put the piping in...and let's just say no one needs to look to close at that portion of the bag.  All three duffels went on the trip and worked fabulously.  Since we were gone for a week, we asked a friend of ours to look after the fur babies at the house instead of kenneling them.  As a thank you I made this Swoon Bonnie for her:

I had a lot of fun making Bonnie, she's a quick and fun sew.  I plan on many more in the future.  In addition to the two bags above, I also managed to finish up 6 laundry bags (no pics of those).  So I can honestly say, March was definitely the month of the bag!