Puppet Theatre from Bend the Rules

I made the Puppet Theatre from Bend the Rules Sewing as a Christmas gift for my daughter. I also gave her an animal puppet-making kit (picked up at Michaels a year or so ago). The colorful puppets paired well with the Puppet Theatre and led to a hilarious puppet show on Christmas day with my sister, mom, daughter and me as the puppetmasters. It was one of those priceless moments that only happen with a little one around! I deviated from the book instructions slightly, because I didn't use cuts of fabric. The main fabric with large circles is a nursery curtain panel and the white fabric with small dots is a coordinating crib sheet. Both are from Dwell Studio for Target. I lucked out and found these on a clearance endcap for $5 each because they were an internet return. I love the colors and happy dots! As a side note, if you are in the market for nursery linens, these are great quality - soft, smooth cottons. The curtains are fully lined, too.

The pattern and instructions for this project are straightforward. I suggest planning to make this over a few days. Sewing all of those long straight seams gets tedious :) To make the project go a bit faster, you could leave off the ball trim and even skip the valances. I don't know if using the curtain panel was a shortcut or not. It did save me from hemming the bottom, making a casing for the tension rod and hemming one side. On the other hand, it added a few steps adding pieces to create the window.

All of the white there in the middle section is feeling a little boring to me, so I may cut out some of the large dots and applique on the bottom valance.

Since my 63"x44 curtain panel was wider and shorter than the main fabric piece that the instructions call for, I had to make a few adjustments:

• I cut about 1o inches off the side and hemmed to the book measurements (give or take). (the ten inches I cut off should work well to make the storage case.)
• Then I cut the curtain into two separate pieces, across the width about 14 inches down from the top edge. I hemmed the top piece. I left the edges raw on the bottom piece.
• From the crib sheet, I cutoff the elastic/casing off to create a flat piece of the white dot fabric. (I saved the elastic/casing...I'm sure I can use it later at some point.)
• From the white dot fabric, I then cut two rectangles measuring 8"x16"and hemmed the long sides of each rectangle. I also cut my valances from this fabric.
• I attached the bottom valance to the bottom piece of the main panel (and enclosed the raw edges) using double fold bias tape in blue.
• Next, I sewed the short sides of each 8"x16" rectangle to the far ends of the two main panel pieces to create a "window".
• From this point I just followed the book directions for finishing.

That lengthy explanation may make a straightforward process seem more complicated than it really is, but it might help someone!
Note that in these photos, the dowels are not inserted (they still need to be cut down to size), so the opening appears droopy. When the dowels are in place, the panel and window are nicely squared up.

Charming Handbag Received

I received my Charming Handbag from my BTRS Swap partner...and it's perfect! My partner also made a coordinating zip pouch. You can view it here also.

I was touched that my partner considered my "likes and favorites" information she received at the beginning of the swap. In her blog she mentioned cutting the bag in a different fabric, then scrapping that idea and buying a different fabric at IKEA (which I mentioned as a favorite). The lining is orange (also mentioned as a favorite color). I've actually had my eye on the print she chose at IKEA - it is so fun and perfect for summer. A few weeks ago, I bought a navy spring jacket and was just thinking that I need to make a bag with some blue touches. Now I don't have to, because my partner made me the perfect bag :)

Swap handbag finished!

I mailed a Charming Handbag and some extra goodies to my BTRS Swap partner today. It was fun and I'm sure I'll do more swaps in the future! This one I made true to pattern size rather than enlarged and I actually like this smaller version better. My partner mentioned that a favorite color combination is teal and brown, and I noticed from her blog that she likes small patterns. The trim adds a little fancy element. The bag is dainty and will be perfect for a night out to dinner.

My First Swap

I signed up for the latest Bend the Rules Sewings Swap.
This is my first swap and I love the concept. If you are not familiar with sewing swaps - I was paired with another swapper and received an email describing her likes, dislikes, favorite colors and patterns, etc. I was also able to link to her blog to view her past projects, which gives some great insight to choose her fabrics. Over the next three weeks, I will make her a Charming Handbag. while she does the same for me. Then we swap, mailing the finished handbags to each other! How fun is that?

Pleated Beauty Handbag, finally finished

This project, the Pleated Beauty Hanbag from Bend the Rules Sewing, has been in process for what seems like a couple of months now. I have been busy with life in general and have completed bits and pieces of this bag when I could. This was my first try at embroidery and I like the interest it adds to the bag. I echoed the leaf pattern on the pleating fabric with a basic running stitch.

I altered the straps from the book directions. To make them more sturdy, I added rigid interfacing (Pellon 70) and made them 1.5 wide. I like the outcome.

With each project, I find that I learn a few lessons. The main fabric is a linen suiting which was difficult to work with - stretchy and drapey, not ideal for such a structured bag. I added fusible interfacing which made the bag less floppy but the linen puckered a little after multiple pressings. Toward the end, there was just too much bulk in the finished seams. My little sewing machine struggled sewing the seam around the top due to the bulk from the pleats and handles. There should be an edgestitch around the top, but I can't even get the finished edge under my pressure foot. I'll settle for a good press at the top.

My first handbag!

Here is my completed Charming Handbook from Bend the Rules Sewing (BTRS). This was my first try at a handbag and I am happy with the outcome. The print is a Robert Kaufman fabric found at the local Hancock Fabric and it is paired with a corduroy. I may redo the handles to make them longer and wider; they don't quite feel right in hand. I added an interior pocket on each side; the one shown is divided to hold my blackberry and ipod. Even though I increased the pattern dimensions by 10%, the bag is fairly small. Sewing the curved seam was harder to sew than expected, thus my new relationship with the seam ripper!

I have another half-yard of the print fabric and am anxious to use it!

Another Simple Tote

Today I made another Simple Tote (from BTRS). This one was made slightly larger - the beginning pieces were 12.5" x 11". The tote was made to compliment the zip pouch and tissue holder from the previous post which were christmas gifts for my mother. I had only two small scraps of the yellow print fabric, so I used it to make an interior pocket and the panel for the front of the bag. I fused the yellow print to the khaki cotton with some Wonder Under interfacing and the fabric puckered a bit, so I probably won't try that again. After the tote was finished I realized I could have easily made the yellow panel an exterior pocket to add some function. The dark brown fabric is a rayon blend I found as a remnant. It made a nice soft finish for the bag but was impossible to use for the straps, as it would not press well before stitching.

Right now I am making my first attempt at making a handbag and can't wait to post the results!

Handmade Holidays

Fortunately, my burst of craftiness coincided with the Holidays, so I was able to make some handmade gifts for my family.

This is my favorite creation so far, probably since it was for my daughter. This follows the Simple Tote design from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing. I love the dot fabric which I found at the local Hancocks. I will definitely make some more of these, but will adjust the dimensions to "adult" size.

This Vintage Apron (also from Bend the Rules) was for my stepmother, an accomplished sewer. Sewing this was a nice way to refresh my long-ago-learned sewing skills and was my first crack at gathering. The possibilities are endless with this design by adding different shaped/sized pockets, ruffles and embellishments.

I made a few of these sets. The zip pouch is from Bend the Rules. The little tissue cozy, perfect for purse packs of tissues, is made from this tutorial. These were fun to make and are a great way to use fabric scraps. The zip pouch was my first try at sewing in zippers and handsewing in a lining.

For my niece, I made this handmade Memory Game using family photos, favorite characters and familiar symbols, all gifted in a sewn drawstring bag. To make the cards, I set up a template in Powerpoint and inserted the pictures along with overlayed cutting lines. I then printed the Powerpoint slides on matte brochure cardstock. To give the cards some thickness and rigidness before cutting, I fused the printed cardstock along with three other pieces of colored cardstock together with mounting spray. Then I cut out the cards with a cutting mat and craft knife. Next time, I might just use two pieces of cardstock to make the cards easier to cut.

Call me old-fashioned with a modern twist

My initial sewing skills were gained by observing my mother, grandmothers and step-mother. Vivid memories include cute little corduroy ensembles sewn for me by my grandmother, sweet doll clothes created together with my mother and beautiful bridesmaid dresses created by my mother and step-mother for my wedding.

Those skills (and my sewing machine) were gaining dust until recently when I discovered the world of modern craftiness. Inspired by other family members of my generation getting bit by the creativity bug, I started poking around on the web and was amazed by the number of women eager to share their beautiful creations and tutorials. I also found inspiration from Amy Karol's Bend the Rules Sewing book which inspired me to think outside conventional patterns and traditional fabrics.

I never considered myself crafty, but always felt the urge to be creative. Now suddenly I feel like I pulled out the stopper and the ideas are flooding my mind.

Creating things in the spirit of the women in my family is a time-honored tradition that I want to continue and allow my daughter to observe (and absorb). In our current world of materialism and consumption, where we feel like we are working just to make it to each weekend, it is comforting to slow-down and create beautiful things to share with others.