No More Wristlets

 ...for a while.

I've turned my handbag crafting and sewing to cross body bags. I'm going for a "boho" style or another way of saying Bohemian.

Here are 5 of the eight purses I prepared for a craft show that took place this month.
 In the world of small purses when carrying the merest of essentials, cross body purses seem to be the preference. If I plan to make any sales, I've got to give the people what they want.

Here in Alabama, football is a MAJOR focus. You must declare a team once you step across the state line.  Alabama and Auburn are the main teams.
I've never been a sports fan of any type but, numerous  friends suggested that I make a few cross body bags for the football fans out there. I took their advice.  Here's the first one I did featuring  The University of Alabama.

I didn't use everything below but, some or none.

                                                                 NEXT UP

 BLUE and GRAY and Beige tapestry with beige cording cross body strap, silver button closure, decorative button and stitching on the back
                                                    ***

 ORANGE, GREEN and DUSTY ROSE cross body bag with silver chain strap.
                                                 ***

Another Alabama bag with cream faux leather, hand stitiching on the side, Alabama "A" cheerleader on the back with rhinestone and ruby pom poms, tulle skirt, button and tie footwear. Black chain strap. Black, silver and while beads and trinkets.
                                                ***

GREEN BROCADE with raised gold threading throughout. Gold cord and chain cross over strap. Velcro closing

I have to admit, the green one is my favorite.

Below is my first attempt at posting my own video.  I'm only showing my table of crafts. You'll notice that I also have door/knob pillows left over from Christmas.  I wrote about that in a previous post.

That's it***

Seeing and Being Can Be Different

Things don't always turn out the way you want.

Take for instance this lovely crochet doily that was given to me by my friend CM.  She and her husband came across a stack of these that had been stored away. They'd belonged to her husband's grandmother.She'd donated numerous ones but saved this one for me in the event I could use it for a crafting project. I'm unsure if this is hand made or machine made. Either way it's pretty and I wanted to make something special from it.

Having been on a purse binge I decided to make another wristlet. If you remember, I like those.


 

I don't have artistic skills but I sketched out a few ideas as to how I could turn this doily into a wristlet.

I had this fabric remnant on hand.

I'd seen a unique leather and doily crossbody bag on Pinterest  
  and thought I'd try something similar.

  Needless to say, you can't always run with the big dogs. I could tell I'd come to a problem when I began trying to decide how things would "lay" after I put it together. I wanted boxed corners and that wouldn't work with those crocheted pieces . I also didn't want the crocheted part to be the bottom. Overall, I tried to change things differently from how I'd first imagined.

Before I throw it away, I'll put it away, date it and if I haven't thought of anything in 6 months, out it goes.

???????Hmmmmm????

That's it ???
P.S. I couldn't wait six months. Find out what happens @ Seeing and Being...The Finale

A Vintage Postcard Becomes a Wristlet Purse

I prefer a wristlet or cross body to an over the shoulder purse, although I do carry shoulder bags from time to time. I feel unrestricted  with a wristlet.  I have made others which I thought I'd blogged about but I don't seem to be able to find them . ???????????

They not only meet my needs but I enjoy making them. Here is the latest .

Prewashed  white canvas fabric.

Reverse laser printed enlarged postcard on copy paper from Staples.

thread, scissors, ruler etc.

 Plaid product Picture This  is  brushed onto front side of each picture and then pressed face down onto fabric making sure to smooth out any bubbles. 

Wait 24 hours before removing the paper from the fabric. Many times I'll wait longer just so I'll get a sharply printed image. Don't rub too hard or it will pull some of your image off.

NOTE: To enhance the photo I used a spray varnish on the pictures after they were dry and before I began to sew. Since the item is going to be used I felt this would stabilize wear and tear.

I wanted a curved bottom. Later I found out that it wasn't working for me so I had to revert to a square bottom in the end.

I lined up everything to measure equally and cut out the top (picture) to fit the bottom(vinyl) and sewed the two together.

It needs a lining, although the very first post card wristlet I made wasn’t lined, had no varnish and it was more of an experiment. It is still in great shape.

Since I already had a pink zipper in my stash and there was pink in the picture, I did pink.

Now for the wrist strap (There is no 11-17. Move on. )

 

                                                                                         

 

Now to make a purse charm.      (Process not pictured. Use your imagination)                          

Went through my stash of beads and baubles-
 Made selections-used head pins and jump rings -Voila-purse charm.                                                                                                 

FINISHED
pic 1 close up of purse charm.
 pic 2 front of wristlet.
 pic3 back of wristlet.

THAT'S IT ***