A little known tid bit about me is that I actually know how to sew. I know odd. lol But I really dislike it. Well actually I usually HATE it. Mainly due to the fact that I hate using patterns. But to make my own clothes without a pattern requires a dress form. Since I do not have one, I just avoid the whole thing.
Until my beloved Betsy Johnson Purse went to the ghost (the straps lasted only 3 short months before ripping.)
So I went shopping on Etsy.com I absolutely adore being able to find anything and everything on there. For the most part, everyone is very nice to work with. I replaced my Betseyville bag with an Alexander Henry print handmade tote. Unfortunately it looked a little too "homemade" when I received it. Too quilted looking and it just didn't stand up to my abuse.
I throw bubble mailers in my purse/tote, I use it for shopping. I love just having a bag that I can throw everything in, tote (no pun intended!) around and sort through when I get home. But alas, the bag I purchased took about a month to arrive and I was very disappointed. I immediately started looking for its replacement.
So here is my purchased bag that I spent $40 on that sits neglected in my my closet. There is a hot pink cheap quilting type looking fabric in the inside, and a wide black band at the bottom of the bag. Did I mention it has fluffy batting on and looks like a walmart craft project?
Sigh...so of course I decided, if you want anything done right, then you must do it yourself. So I went to the fabric store, spent WAY too much money and have decided to make some unusual Toile totes. I will make them in 3 different colors and keep one for myself, then sell the rest.
Here is my tote:
Abigail: $26 (she has some minor imperfections because she was my first) ;)
The main fabric is apple green and chocolate brown. The accent fabric is a matching brown linen fabric with matching handles.
The side seams have hand sewn hydrangeas with crystal beading. The flowers are offset so that you do not crush them when your arm is down. As well as they are still visible when you walking towards or away from someone.
There are a few rhinestone scattered around the flowers. The seam between the toile and the brown fabric is adorned with cream lace. I have interwoven coordinating brown velvet ribbon into the lace. Then hand sewed it down to hide the stitching.
The inside has some cotton fabric with french script lettering and flowers. It looks almost like scrapbook paper. So pretty!
The interfacing is stuff they normally use to make fabric bowls or boxes. I wanted this tote to stand up on its own. I also wanted a more professional look than cotton batting. Eek!
But once I finished the whole thing, I tried to straighten out the darn handle. But I sewed it with a slight twist. DANG IT! So instead of taking apart the seam and redoing it. I decided to sell it at a deeply discounted price. All the others will be at a price that reflects the time and materials that went into making them.
So stay tuned for pink and brown toile and aqua blue and brown toile fabrics. They will be up in the coming weeks!
PosturingandPretense's shop this is my bohemian whimsical shop. All things frilly and ultra feminine. Its very Paris Apartment-esque. I will have a Hodge podge of items to include hair ties, trinket boxes, flower jewelry, purses, maybe some clothing, home decor. I am still listing things and between my three shops, its taking longer than I would like. But all good things come in time.
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