New book purse

Found this great looking book at the thrift store and knew it would make a fantastic book purse.
I reclaimed the handles off a super ugly purse from the same thrift store and dug through my fabric stash for the lining.

I went ahead and listed it in my Etsy store a little earlier today.

Scrap bag

I started this project over a year ago. But for most of that time, it's been in a drawer..out of sight and out of mind. I had to clean out my sewing table (aka small desk I refurbished years ago) because it is now our aquarium stand.

Anyway....I had intended on making a tiny little string purse for going to garage sales and festival type things. Since then I've discovered that I really need to carry more stuff all the time...so a bigger bag was born.

An old piece of table cloth was used as the base for the random scraps. I used different colors of thread and stitches for a fun crazy quilt look.

I decided on a jagged edge on the flap for interest. 

The lining is a re-purposed pillowcase. I wish I had the forethought to sew a pocket or two on the inside but when you're winging it...those things don't always come to mind.

I did learn a couple things while putting this together that I'll *hopefully* remember to apply to my next purse project.

The only purchased item on this purse is the magnetic closer. I bought 3 of these a while back when I was making more purses

Otherwise everything used to create this purse is re-purposed or scrap.

A girl can NEVER have to many purses! Maybe I'll sell a few when I actually stock my etsy store... It's just an empty storefront right now.

Book purse

In my spare time today...yeah right... let's try that line again.

In the time I took neglecting other projects around the house, I made this book purse. I recently picked up the book at a library sale in town. I liked that it was square. I believe it's a French author. 

I used some white with tiny black polka dot fabric for the lining. There is just something about red, white and black that is such classic beauty to me.

Silk tie bucket purse

I checked out this book from the library last week and knew I had to make a tie bag.

I had these ties stashed away knowing someday I'd use them.

It took me a couple of hours to put together. I broke a needle on my machine as well in the process. First time I've ever done that!

I learned that I had to manually "walk" the stitching forward by turning it by hand through the thick areas. Such technically accurate terms huh?! I am a trial and error girl. I don't follow directions well. This may be an issue in my quest to learn to knit...

Super cute purse!

Check out this purse I found in my mom's closet!

She was keeping her hair rollers in it!!! What a waste. I asked her if I could have it and she let me..yeah!

I think I'm going to change it a bit because I'm not completely sold on the stuff on the lid.

Skirt purse

I fixed up this cute little purse yesterday as well. The skirt had attatched shorts under it for modesty. All I had to do was sew the leg holes shut. I threw in a little cotton lace trim for the unexpected.

New Pants Purse

I finished up a new pants purse today. I've been working on it for the last couple days. I fell in love with the red corduroy and remembered the fun retro print fabric I had stashed away. Perfect match. The L.L. Bean corduroy pants I got on $3 a bag day at a local church rummage sale. They were like brand new. The other pants I got all showed much more wear...or maybe that's just more "character".

I have a custom handbag that has a drawstring closure that I love. I wanted to emulate that in this bag.

I'm very happy with the way it turned out...of course with every thing a person makes, it's easy to "knit-pick" it apart with the things that could have/should have/would have done differently.

Pink Pants Purse

Say that 10 times fast!!

I'm pretty excited about this one. The first pants purse I made never got lined and I just tied the straps to the belt loops. This one is completely finished off. Still may have a couple stray threads here and there but I think it looks pretty darn good...thanks to Mrs. Wilwerding...my 8th grade Home Economics teacher who taught me how to sew.