In The Bag

Hi Everyone,
I've been a busy little bee over the last two weeks and have some big things to share and some fun things coming up for a big personal milestone, so stay tuned!

Today I thought I'd go back a little ways to show you something I made for Christmas for a friend. I had big plans to make several of these for other friends, and I still still hope to, but time has a sneaky way of getting away from me and I get distracted by new ideas. I can't be the only one, right?
**crickets**
Right, guys?

Ok, moving right along...

This handy, dandy tote is not earth shattering , but I claim it all my own. I didn't have a pattern, I just knew wanted to make a big (bigger than average) sturdy, lined tote with a matching pocket and a wide gusset. My aim was for my friends to be able to carry a weekends worth of clothes & stuff in this bag, it's definitely big enough. Without much more than a few measurements sketched out in my notebook, I kind of eyeballed the whole thing and it turned out great!

I bought a big, canvas painters tarp from Home Depot to use for the exterior of the bag. Do you know how much yardage you can get out of those? Lots! I bought a 12' x 10' and I believe it was about $13. I could not buy heavy canvas for that price at the fabric store, no way, no how. It pays to think outside the box.

I stitched a little tag for the inside pocket, actually, it's kind of a big tag, and it's the only thing I wish now that I'd done differently...  I made the lining, handles and pocket out of some pretty remnant yardage I picked up at JoAnn's. I love this fabric, I have a lot of it too, I think I'd like to try to make a blouse. We'll see.

And here's the bag all finished! My friend really liked it (yaaay!) and now, not only do I want to make the rest for my other friends like I'd planned to, I want to make one for myself! The last one I made for myself was plenty big, but I didn't do something right with the handles and they keep coming apart at the top. 

Here was the bag just before I delivered it (way back at Cristmas, sheesh, did I take my time posting this or what?), filled with goodies. I'm very pleased with it. I'm having pretty good luck winging sewing projects lately. Whew! Maybe I'm finally gaining enough experience to do that with some success. I've certainly paid my dues with flops, that's for sure!

I can't wait to show you what I've been working on so feverishly the last few weeks, come back soon, m'kay!

What have you been up to, m'dearies? Do tell!

oxo,

Lisa