WIP Wednesday - Back to the Grind Stone!

Now that the Sew Along is complete and I'm not trying to squeeze a Serendipity Hip into the mix, it's time to get caught up on everything else!!  At least I have some stuff to mark off from last week...that's my favorite part of list making - crossing stuff out!

WIP: (Stuff sitting out on my work area and taking up space)

Sewing: 

Serendipity Hip - Fabric needs ironed and cut, catch up to the SAL - or bust it out in a weekend! No longer going to worry about this, the fabric and pattern pieces will join the other planned purses in my 'eventually' bucket.  ;)

Swap Tote Bag - Totes Ma Tote Done, Shipped, and she loves it!

Brandt's Boulevard in skulls (x2 - different fabrics, another one in "Girly" fabric - need the first one by May1) Moving up on the list, because, hey, next week is May!!

Star Wars Tote Purse - fabrics picked out Also moving up because this is needed by June 1!

My new challenge purse may jump to the top of the line because it seems like so much fun!!

Challenge fabric #1 - counted in 622 fabrics to end up on the princesses...I might have a fabric addiction.  ;)

Serendipity Hip Sew Along Complete!

That's another sew along to cross off my list...and while I somehow ran out of time to make my own, there were some AMAZING ones finished during the event!  Be sure to stop in to the ChrisW FaceBook group to look at all the fun and awesome bags finished!  Here's a little taste of what you can see...

Karrie's Bird bag is so cute and cheerful!

Totes Ma Tote by Emmaline Bags

I recently participated in a tote bag swap.  Actually the swap was crochet, but I knew right away I wouldn't finish a crochet bag in 3 weeks (I'm not a speed hooker!) and I cleared it with the people involved so I could just do a sewn bag instead.  As it was, I pushed it past the deadline because I always underestimate how long things will take.  And always overestimate how much free time I'll actually have where I'm motivated to do stuff.  (Library books need to be read!  You can only renew them like 6 times before they start charging you...and sometimes I do need sleep!)

Eden Moth (butterfly?) ended up perfectly centered on one side without me really trying...but not on the other side.

WIP Wednesday - The End is Near!

The end of the Serendipity Hip Sew Along is zooming up on us!  Next Monday you should be finished and have pictures in the album by Tuesday evening if you want to be entered in the drawing!

Anyone up for some last minute sewing?  I'm going to start one Friday afternoon and see how far I can get!  It's like a race, where everyone that enters will win an awesome little purse!  I found the first Serendipity Hip I made, and I did kind of goof up the zippers on the top.  Hopefully this time I can get them a little nicer!  I wonder how many times Jack the Seam Ripper will make an appearance...

My 'tester' Serendipity hip.  Covered in buttons by the new owner.

Serendipity Hip Sew Along - Inside Time!

Somehow the weekend flew by, but for those following along, you should be doing steps 8 and 9 by today!  This is the inside of the bag, which includes the card slots.  If you don't feel like you'll use them, you can of course leave them off!  They are pretty secure with the main zipper, but I always stick my cards into my wallet, so I rarely use the built in ones.

The first one I made - A Frozen one for my youngest.

WIP Wednesday - Help, I lost my table!

The Serendipity Hip Sew along is in full swing this week, lots of great purses coming together and being shared in the FaceBook group!  I, on the other hand, somehow lost my sewing area...I'm not sure what happened, but I suspect there was a craft explosion of some sort, probably the crafting gnomes that like to steal my zippers and matching thread...  Nothing to do with my crazy fast purse making last weekend.  Nothing at all.  :D

See, crazy craft gnomes have been digging through my stuff again.  No wonder I'm not getting anything done...

Serendipity Hip Sew Along - Steps 6 and 7

Now we're getting to the good parts!  By now you should have your straps and tabs done and set aside, and are ready to see it start looking like a purse!  We'll be working on the outside this week, getting the front zipper pocket made, the cell phone pocket attached, and the outsides attached to the bottom bands!

Remember, if you have a larger cell phone, in step 7 you might want to put the pocket in sideways.  If you do, then you'll topstitch along one long edge, instead of the short edge.  You still may want to tuck it against the bottom panel, for a little more security.  Or if you are like me and somehow seem to always have your phone in your back pocket (I'm amazed I haven't bent or broken it since I sit on it so often!) that pocket could be handy for sticking your car keys in while shopping, or other little things!  My phone pockets seem to hold lip balm and packs of gum most often now...

Several people in the group are already finished and giving the rest of us inspiration to get it done!  I got distracted this weekend with the Bag of the Month Club April purse and instead of getting caught up, I decided to sneak in another purse...  But now I'm contemplating doing another Serendipity Hip in the awesome Alison Glass fabrics!  I need to stay on target and finish one first...but oooh, pretty fabric!  Anyone else get distracted thinking of the next one they are going to make before they finish the first one?

Bag of the Month Club - Gabby by Emmaline Bags

I have to admit, Janelle from Emmaline Bags is one of my favorite designers.  Not only do I love her 'bag bling' but she has great patterns that I can make over and over without getting bored!  She is the mastermind behind the NCW (Necessary Clutch Wallet) that I've made nine (is that all?) of already, and now with this new pattern, I can see this one being added to my 'go to' list.  The construction looks a lot more difficult than it is, so you end up with a nice sized bag that is very stylish!

WIP Wednesday - Serendipity Hip Sew Along Week 1

I'm going to try to keep on track with this sew along...I may even try to cut 2 out at once, to see if I can stream line anything.  It may end up that I just have twice the number of pieces to lose...BUT I think I have a new method for keeping track of my pieces!

I recently purchased some numbered pins (for quilting according to the package) but I think I can use them to mark my pieces instead of using chalk that is impossible to write with (it's a giant triangle...) or pens that the ink disappears when you iron (but they come back in the freezer).  To keep track, I printed out the cutting list and put numbers next to each piece.  Now I just have to make sure I don't lose that piece of paper...  I could also try sticky notes, but those end up not sticking if I have to move them, and I usually pin them on anyway.  I won't pin the vinyl (avoid extra holes!) but those pieces should be obvious!

At least they are nice looking pins!

Serendipity Hip Sew Along - Let's go!

It's time to get started on your Serendipity Hip!  If you can't start right away, don't fret, this is a small purse and while there are a lot of pieces, they come together very nicely!  We have 3 weeks to finish, and if you get to the end and just need another day or 2, we might be able to smudge the deadline a tiny bit so everyone can enter their pics in the album.  The hardest part (in my opinion) is cutting out ALL the pieces and the interfacing, and then ironing them together.  Pop in a movie you've seen a million times or put on some good music, and go to town!

I'm going to attempt glitter vinyl.  Wish me luck!

Window Shopper Tote - February Bag of the Month Pattern

I love the Bag of the Month club, but for some reason I never seem to get to make the patterns right when they release.  Maybe I have too much on my plate?  Nah...I must still sleep too much.  Who really needs a whole 6 hours of sleep? Coffee is AMAZING.  Back on track...

This fabric is just so fun and PINK!