The Evolution of a bag

Posted on January 20, 2010 by Trish

First, one last reminder, TODAY JANUARY 20th – is the last day to enter the wonderful giveaway from Honeyrun Farms.

So, don’t forget to go HERE to enter!

I have to tell ya – I’m really, really tired. I’ve had sick kids. Not sick all at once. Just nice and evenly spaced so that somebody seems to be sick every week for going on 6 weeks or so now. And I just am not getting things done.

And no where near enough sleep.

If you’ve emailed me and I haven’t responded yet, I’m sorry. I will.

If you called me, (my sister – mostly) and I haven’t called you back, I love ya and I will, soon. I’m either running around or…too tired to talk. Sorry.

If you left a comment here on the blog and I didn’t respond, I’m sorry. I will try to go back and visit everyone.

If you’ve asked me to do something and you are waiting, ask me again (Julia – I haven’t forgotten you, I swear! I just reordered some fabric for your bag – I have an idea!). It may still be on “my schedule” but delayed because everyday, it seems like my entire days’ plan gets tossed out the window for one reason or another. Mostly one tiny one – who I decided I would now refer to as “Sprout”. (The “two peas” = twins, “sprout” – the baby).

Seems like my free time to “work” on the blog and sewing and all has become non-existent or only after 9pm. Bummer.

I don’t like being behind or keeping people waiting or letting things fall. As I told my husband the other night – “I’m just trying to keep all the plates spinning” and I don’t always make that happen. A few eventually fall. My apologies if your plate was one I’ve let drop.

Enough of that. Let’s talk bags.

Let me re-introduce you to an old friend.

This…is “Madison”

Madison has been around for quite awhile. All of my bags are “original” patterns. I use that term loosely because “original” and purses – is there really anything “new” you can do in bags anymore? It’s all been done. But you get inspired, you twist and turn and create it into something unique to you. And it keeps evolving. Like Madison.

Up above, all decked out in Heather Bailey prints – she sports a little a pleat in the middle.

From there, a customer asked if I could add some front pockets just like a bag she saw from a famous maker whose initials are “VB” and whose bags adorn the shoulder of every college girl in america.

Well, here’s Madison with that pocket request…minus her center pleat. (And I free hand draw all of my patterns – mostly on gift wrap. The kind with the grids on the back – helps me get things straight)

Love these Joel Dewberry prints…I still have some stashed away. They have since retired this design

Well, from there, I decided I would make my Mom this bag. Only, I liked the little dart that my neighbor Barb found on a bag pattern which gives some depth to the bag. So, I tried it on Madison. And made my Mom this for Christmas.

Madison with no pleat, added dart and an applique bird and flower pin

Well, I was thinking. I’d like to try that bag but I like to have a flap or a zipper on mine. I’ve done lots of flaps – on my “Olivia” bags.

I’ve been making split face flap bags for – years. 4 years actually – since 2006. I just like the subtle patchwork feel of it.

So I thought – Madison plus Olivia – a Madison bag with a flap. And I found a bunch of pins on sale after Christmas. I made little clutches for my family for the holidays and had used these pins. I have more left over and added one to this bag. Here’s where the evolution of the Madison has landed at the moment…

Here she is…Madison with darts and a flap…

I think I like her. The first “new” bag of 2010. I’m going to carry her around for a few days and see how she does before I offer her for sale at my trunk shows.

Before I bore you with all of this and leave YOU falling asleep…have you visited Craft Hope for Haiti yet over on etsy? They have been collecting all kinds of crafty donations and selling them with the proceeds to benefit Doctors without Borders.

I have one of these over there…soon.

Hope you’ll take a moment to stop over there and shop. And if you must…come over to my shop and grab an owl clutch for yourself. (I’m loading a few this evening – morning now I guess. Sheezzz! This is why I’m tired. It’s 2am!).

See you Friday for the Honeyrun Farms giveaway winner announcement AND a little something special for YOU!

xoxo,

Trish

make it monday {patchwork wristlet}

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Trish

Make it Monday – Trish Preston – Two Peas in a Pod Homegrown Designs

The Patchwork Wristlet – January 2010

Are you ready? Here we go…

New for 2010, I will be hosting “make it monday” “sew it up sunday” (I’ll explain the change later!) at the top of every month. Make it Monday Sew it Up Sunday is your opportunity to make something with me. I’ll have the complete instructions for you here on my blog.

In addition, if you’re feeling pressed for time and want to sew along with us but don’t have the time to put it all together, I’ll have a limited number of kits prepared for you. HERE in my etsy shop, you will find a handful of these projects all cut and ready to be sewn for you under the make it monday sew it sunday category. Neatly packaged and ready to ship but only available for a very limited time.

Let’s sew!

To start off the new year, a patchwork wristlet. You can adorn the front with a brooch, a buckle, a button, a yo-yo – be creative! Read through all of the instructions first before beginning.

Here’s what you’ll need fabric wise besides all the typical sewing do-dads:

5 strips of fabric cut 2″ x 6.5″
a piece of fabric cut roughly 8.25″ x 6.5″ for the rear exterior. I usually wait to cut this – using my top panel as my pattern.
2 pieces of heavy fusible fleece interfacing cut 7.5″ x 5.25″ give or take. You just want this to be about 1/2″ smaller than the piece you are fusing it to.
a strap cut 2″ x 14″ in length
a piece of ribbon for the front of the wristlet
prequilted cotton, corduroy or heavy home dec fabric for the interior OR you can choose a quilting cotton. Cut 2 approximately 8.25″ x 6.5″ (I usually do not cut my interior until I get my top pieced – then I use that top as my pattern to cut the exterior back and the interior pieces. If you use a heavy fabric, you don’t need to interface it. If you choose to use a quilting cotton, you will want to interface it.
your embellishment for the front
7″ or 9″ zipper
Lay out your strips until you get them arranged in a pleasing colorway

Using 1/4″ seams, sew your 5 strips of fabric together to construct the front.
2. Press on wrong side, pressing seams all to one side

3. Use the top you have just assembled as your pattern. Lay it on the fabric you chose for the rear exterior and cut out the rear panel. Then cut out your interior pieces as well.

4. Fuse the interfacing to the front and rear exterior panels following manufacturers instructions.

Step 5

strap stitched down both edges

5. Press your strap. Press the fabric in half. Open up. Then press each half in half to the center. Press in half again. Stitch down both side of strap.

6. Topstitch the front panel 1/8″ from the edge of each seam / patch. You can skip this if you want but it looks nice to topstitch.

7. Stitch on your ribbon to the front panel.

Step 7 - grograin, velvet - or even a strip of fabric could be used

8. Make a loop with your strip and lay your wrist strap about an inch or so down from the top along the side – matching up raw edges and stitch.

Step 8

9. Sewing on your zipper. I used a 7″ zipper however, it is exactly the same size and can be a bit tricky to work with. If you want a little wiggle room, use a 9″ zipper.

10. With right side up, lay your front panel down on your table. Take your zipper and lay it right side down. Take one of your lining pieces and line it up with the front panel and zipper and pin all 3 layers together – making sure everything is even. Refer to the photo here for this step.

careful to keep all your layers lined up - once you are all pinned, you will mostly likely want to open your zipper up some to avoid the pull. Once you get started sewing, with your needle down in the fabric to hold it in place, go ahead and pull the zipper pull back closed to again, get it out of the way so you can finish stitching the zipper on.

11. Now flip these out so that your wrong sides are facing together and give it a little press. Topstitch.

Pressing is super important throughout. If you don't press, stuff looks bulky and homemade. Be careful not your zipper so you don't melt anything especially a nylon zipper.

12. Repeat for the rear panel. If you’re not sure if you have it correct – pin in place and then flip around while pinned so you can check before you sew. Oh, you knew that!

13. Don’t forget to topstitch again! When you are all done attaching your zipper it will look like…

...like this!

14. NOW…put your right sides together for the exterior panels, pin, and sew all 3 sides using a 1/2″ seam allowance. You’ll need to fidget with it a bit, line up your seams along the zipper, push the zipper up a bit…you’ll get it. You want it to come together all nice and neat.

15. Once you’ve sewn around those 3 edges, open up your zipper almost all the way. Now pin the lining panels together, right sides together. Stitch around all 3 sides and leave an opening in the bottom. Clip the corners.

16. Turn your bag. You’ll be pulling it all through the lining opening. Sew the lining closed and tuck it inside the bag.

You’re done. How’s it look? I added a little ribbon to my zipper for a pull.

I added a big fancy button to the front of this one. I found this button...at Walmart. Pretty huh?

Everytime I do something new – it never turns out that great the first go ’round so practice and in a time or two of making these – you’ll be a pro!

Do you have any suggestions? Did you like it? Did I screw anything up? (I wouldn’t be surprised :>) ) I’d love to hear from you so please – leave me a comment and let me hear from you.

Of course, post your make it monday projects on my Flickr page so we can all take a look at the gems you are creating.

Next months Make it Monday Sew it up Sunday project is full of Valentine sweetness – a doll blanket OR table topper. I’ll be posting the kits for this project in about a week give or take a few days so you can have them shipped in time for the project post when it comes up (I’m actually posting the Make it Monday Sew it up Sunday February project on January 25th) and you can whip it out straight away for the holiday.

{and just an extra note…I hope you enjoy the ideas and photos on my blog but please note that the content here including photos and text are the property of Trish Preston and may not be used, copied or transmitted without the express consent of Trish Preston. For any inquiries, please email me at twopeasinapoddesigns@gmail.com. Thanks!}

xoxo,

Trish

Etsy schmetsy!

Posted on December 28, 2009 by Trish

Spent the better part of um, all day, loading new stuff in to the etsy shop. Wanna sneak peek?

Hmmm…and did I happen to mention that if you find something you can’t live without over in my etsy shop and you just happen to be a blog subscriber (it’s easy to do – just look over in the sidebar =>) that you’ll get a little something extra in your package? What is it you say? That’s a “new year’s surprise” but I promise – you’ll love it! ok…I’ll give you a little hint…Gotta get back to making dinner – the hubs has already started without me and the baby is crying because she wants more “cawk-late” – chocolate milk. I gave her Ovaltine yesterday – wow! I’ve created a monster! She comes in, pointing at the cabinets – “cawk-late! cawk-late!”. What have I done!?

Next post – a zip top wristlet tutorial!

xoxo,

Trish