Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Well, not really a chicken dinner...but a winner yes!

I can't believe...3 posts in 3 days.  This has got to be a new record for me.  I know, you're just as excited as me!

So, back to the giveaway!
Remember the winner is getting this little modified bag I bought as a market tote last year at Target...

I cut the bottom off, and made it shorter, and then added pockets inside and a removable flower pin on the front.

Because some of you follow me through email link, and some of you commented on my facebook page since your comments won't post here for some reason, and then some of you commented on the actual post, I just put everyone's name into the cute little pewter cup my grandma gave me when I was a little girl,

and had Grace draw a name out.

And the winner of the above purse is....Da Da Da DA!   Chris at Red Gate Farm!  I love you Chris, you know I do.  I follow you right back.

So, email me your address to blyoder@bnin.net and I'll send you your little goodie.

What should I give away next?  Are there any projects I've made in the past that would be small enough to ship that you like especially well?  Check out the project/craft labels on the side of the blog, and let me know...and maybe I'll get one made and have another giveaway.

But for now...Congrats Chris, and everyone else...have a great week!

What I keep on me and a GIVEAWAY!!!!!

I'm a bit of a purse snob.
That's right...I like storage and "cute-ability" in a purse.
 It doesn't have to cost alot, just be completely useful. 

I have alot of purses in my closet.  I don't necessarily switch them with every outfit I wear...that's too time consuming...but I do switch them with my moods.  I switch them when I'm feeling the one I currently carry doesn't have enough storage for what I'm carrying at the time.

I buy a lot of purses at Goodwill.  But, I buy only name brand ones.  I have a SAK purse in the closet, a GAP, and several Vera Bradley ones (some I bought on clearance on the website.)  I used to have a Kate Spade one, but it wasn't big enough. 

I recently saw on a website a lady who revealed what was in her purse...so that's what I'm going to do today, and I have a GIVEAWAY too.

This is the purse I currently carry.

 It's a Vera Bradley.  I bought it on clearance.  It's not necessarily my favorite pattern, but I can't get over the storage!  It has two pockets on the front, one huge zippered one on the back, 3 on the inside, and another huge zippered one inside too.  Unbelievable!  And I love the shape of the purse.

Inside, this is what I'm carrying...

I've got a big calendar to control our crazy schedule, matching wallet, library cards, pens, nail file, phone, extra gap mini purse for lipsticks, hair clips and hair bands for whenever Grace or I need some.  Hairspray, mentos, and ibuprofen.

Now, for the GIVEAWAY...I'm giving away a purse I made last year.

I converted a market tote that I got from Target last spring.  It's a light denim color with a very cute lining.

It's got a magnetic clasp,

a zippered pocket inside, along with 5 other pockets I added.

Remember, pockets are a girl's best friend!
I did add a customized flower pin that is removable so you can wear it on the purse, or on you!

So, to enter you can do up to 3 things, and be entered 1 or 3 times, it's up to you:

1.  leave a comment telling me what is in your purse, right now!
2.  Become a follower and leave me a comment telling me so.
and lastly,
3. Write your own post, tweet, or facebook your friends about the giveaway.
Leave me a comment telling me what you've done, and I'll announce the winner on Sunday, Feb. 5.

Good luck and empty your purses!

Sewing Fettish

I'm in love with my sewing machine. Really.

I got it way back at Christmas time, but I've used it a gazillion times since then. One of the best gifts I've ever gotten.

I'm also in love with Pinterest.com, which gives me plenty of ideas for me to sew.

So, awhile back I came across this pic (and now I can't find it, so I don't have a source for you...)

I loved this purse on the spot, and knew I could sew one myself. I already had the fabric in mind that I would use.

It was some I got at Goodwill awhile ago. I also had an old curtain to use for the lining.
I bought these belts at Goodwill for $1/piece (to use inside my handle to make it stronger.)
Because I couldn't find grommets big enough for what I had in mind, I found these in the curtain department at Hobby Lobby. They snap together. Perfect.

I started by cutting strips for the ruffles...
and sewing pockets (LOTS of pockets) onto the liner.
I figured the ruffles would take a little bit of time to make, but when I started hemming one side of the material, it started gathering all by itself. What a great surprise, and much easier in the long run.

Then I dropped the finished liner into the outside of the purse, which was already sewn together on the sides, and sewed the two together.
I added the grommets last because I had to make holes in the sides of the purse. They were pretty easy to install.
The ALMOST finished product.
Every purse needs a flower, so I added a pin I already had. Much better.

The easiest purse I've made so far....and I've made a lot. I just can't get one perfected...this is close. I'll use it and see how it works.

Linking up to DIY by Design today.

Transformations

Two blogs, Fun to craft, and The Shabby Chic Cottage have linky parties going on, showcasing crafty stuff, so I'm linking up to both, and maybe some more!

After Grace and I knocked out most of the rest of my Spring Break to-do list today, I sat down at my sewing machine and got to work.

I wanted to make some pillow covers for my pillows in the living room. Something that looked a little more spring/summerish. I also wanted to try my hand at another purse. What, you're rolling your eyes....another purse...give me a break! But I just wanted to perfect some of the ideas rolling around in my head.

Since I got my new sewing machine at Christmas, I've cranked out 5 purses.

They've all been a little different, and each time, I improved something just a little. Today I started with this. Some of my favorite material that just happens to be from a drape I found at an antique store 2 years ago. It's soft beyond belief and I love the pattern on it. I also got out 5 yards of some burlap/canvas material. First I made some straps with red thread detail. Then I got to work on the interior pockets. You CAN'T have enough pockets. I made 7 in all.

I've been using my zig zag stitch option A LOT lately. I 'm not sure why. On my 60 year old machine, it wasn't an option. I think it makes me feel like things are held a little more securely.

See, the material really is great.

Once the interior was done, I sewed it all together, and made a squared off bottom (my new favorite thing) and added the straps to the top.

And what is becoming my signature rose I'm afraid.

So, here's the final product.

I absolutely love it. The straps don't slide off my shoulders, and the fabric was just what I was looking for, and it has plenty of pockets. I will be using this one for awhile. (I hope.)

So, after the purse was out of the way, I started in on my pillow covers. I used the same burlap/canvas material. I made all of them with a folded over back so all I have to do is slip it off and wash it if the pillow gets dirty.

I know pillows don't mean diddly to my husband or kids, but when I see pillows in the store for $25+ it makes me sick. Especially since I know I can try to make something similar.

I'm trying to lighten up my living room in small doses, so I wanted all these to be the same light material, but slightly different.

First I hemmed the edges of the folded over back.

Turned the material wrong side out, and sewed them together. I added little bits of scraps from my other projects, and they came out like this.

The pillows by far were the less time-consuming, but I had fun with the purse too.

I'm glad I sat down to tackle this today.

I'm linking up to Fun to Craft

the Shabby Chic Cottage. and Paisley Passions

Have a great weekend everyone!

Chipmunk Love

A Chipmunk.

That's what my adoring husband said I resemble when I get a new purse. I don't know how to take that comment.

I guess he means that since I am NORMALLY a talkative person, whenever I get a new purse, I hole up like a chipmunk and retreat to a corner, and fill my new purse with stuff from my old one.

Did I get that right, honey? (smile, smile, wink wink)

I guess he's a little right.

There is nothing as exciting to me as getting a new purse, and I've been wanting a new one for awhile.

I was tired of my old one, and tired of ones that have a closed top, that when my cell phone rings, I have to scramble to get open in enough time that my phone doesn't STOP ringing. UGH! Anyone else have this problem, or is it just me?

So, last week I was in Target. Not for a purse mind you, but I DID walk past the purse aisle. I didn't see anything that made my heart go pitter patter, except for this really cute, but plain bag. I think what I liked most about it wasn't the one pocket inside (that is SO not enough pockets for me) but the COLOR of the bag.

It was a greyish denimish color. Clear as mud?

Here. This is what it looked like.

Oh, and did I mention, it had a really cute liner? Well, it did.

I walked away from it and didn't buy it that night. When I had saved up my whole $13.00, I decided to purchase it this week. I knew I wanted to change it. Knew it NEEDED to be changed. I thought I could do it. I HOPED I could do it.

So, last night I decided to take the bag apart. I have never done this kinda thing before, and I was a little scared.

I started from the bottom. I used my trusty seam ripper, and removed the stitches from the bottom and the bottom of the liner.

Now, I didn't take pictures as I went. I don't know how tired you all are of my step by step tutorials, so this step by step will be a mystery.

Once the bag was open on the bottom, I cut off about 6 inches from the bottom of the whole bag. I didn't want a LONG bag. I planned on using that extra to make some ruffles for the front, as well as some more pockets for the inside.

Since the bag was also a bit on the thinnish side, I decided when I added pockets, to reinforce it a little too.

Here's how it turned out.

4 more pockets, plus a pen holder, and here is the outside.

Since I'm addicted to these fabric rosettes lately, I decided to add some. I made them, and just pinned them on the front, so I could use them on something else later.

I'm happy with the outcome. I guess we'll see how it holds up. I like the size of it. It fits my small notebook, wallet, camera, phone, etc. and it isn't too tight.

Thanks Target! Another thing off my to-do list.