Springtime at the Flea

Springtime weather has finally arrived in the midwest and with warmer weather comes the flea markets. I thought I'd share a few of this past weekend sites.

Mother Nature & Father Time always create the best distressed finishes.

I feel like I should know exactly what she is, but I don't.

There's always nice framed art there.

Then there were these creepy babies.

Cool old store display pieces.

Old lamps that have seen better days.

I can't pass up the opportunity to take a photo of a neat old purse.

Pretty painted glass shades.

Play kitchen appliances.

What a sharp looking old piece of luggage.

Julia was there.

  And Mel too.

  A crude little Gypsy fellow.

 Someday I'd like to restore an old trunk.

 I bet some fun times have been had on this bike!

 What regal chairs!

 A clever sign, but I didn't see any ladies flocking there to buy the new models.

 A floral dog :)

 Old glassware and an old fan with super shiny brass blades.

I told myself last year if I lost enough weight I'd buy one of these pretty dresses. Hmmm... 15 pounds to go. It seems achievable. Wish me luck!

Please keep the good folks in Boston in your thoughts and prayers tonight and in the coming days and weeks, as another city tries to heal from a senseless tragedy.

Thanks for stopping by :)

A New Bag - Because I have expensive taste!

I made a new bag a few weeks ago. As it turned out, I think it's more of a fall/winter bag, so I probably won't carry it for a few more months. I was inspired by one I saw on the web that retails for over $1,000. Who would pay that for a bag? Here's my version.

I made it using fabrics that I picked up at thrift stores, and I'm rather pleased with how the pretty paisley lining peaks out along the edge.

Here's my inspiration. It's the Joplin bag by Thakoon. I've never heard of that maker, I just liked the look of the bag when I saw a picture of it and then was really shocked when I saw the price.

I buy purse handles at JoAnns when they have sales and had this chunky chain handle in my stash. 

I really love the way the lining fabric looks. It doesn't photograph very well, but it's a really pretty paisley of browns and coppery metalics.

The handle clips on with oversized lobster claw clasps, so I can take it off too and carry it as a clutch.

I think I might make a second one from a more summery fabric. I could use the same handle and just switch it from one to the other. It might be cute with bright floral, or maybe with some of that Amy Butler fabric that I won.... hmmm, the sewing to-do list just never really gets any shorter, does it? Does yours?

Thanks for stopping by!

Anthro Inspired Tote

I'm trying to teach myself how to mix prints together. I see pictures on the web where it's been done and it always looks so good. I tend to stick with the safe pairings, like a print with a solid. This is my first sort of over the top mix of prints. What do you think?

I'm not sure I have a "natural eye" for it, but I'm convinced I can learn how to do it. I think this first attempt isn't too bad. I was inspired by the Yunga tote at Anthropologie. Isn't it pretty?

Here's a few more shots of my version.  

  

I was first going to pad it well to use as a lap top bag, but during the course of making it, I decided I'd rather use it as a flea market bag. Do you ever change your mind half way through a project, or it that just me? 

It's really big and will be a great bag for carrying my purchases around. I put wall to wall open pockets on the inside to give me a place to toss my keys, camera, phone, billfold...you know, the usual "purse" stuff. And best of all, it's mostly all made from reclaimed or recycled fabric. The lining is a table cloth I picked up at the thrift store. The interior pockets are fabric dinner napkins. The daffodil print is remnants of the fabric I used for my kitchen curtains and bar stool recovers. I think the only piece of fabric that was purchased new was the animal print that I bought from the clearance area at JoAnns. Even the leather straps that I riveted on for handles came from the thrift store, (and by "I riveted" I mean Mr. ShowMe-while I watched), and the rings that the handles hang from are reclaimed drapery rings.

Do you mix patterns in your projects? If you have any tips or want to share your own projects I'd love to hear about them.

Thanks for stopping by!

I Won Amy Butler Fabric!

I've told you how I never win drawings. I know it's too early to think my luck is changing, but first it was the Cardinal baseball tickets that I won at work in April, and now I've won a fabulous fabric giveaway from Flamingo Toes!

Do you know Beverly's blog? Surely you do! If not, you need to rush there as soon as you're done here. She has great tutorials, a weekly link party, and tons of fun feature posts. She even has a Flickr group for you to post pictures of things you make from her tutorials. 


And this isn't just fat quarters. I won 2 yards of each of the six pieces of Amy Butler fabric! 12 yards of Amy Butler fabric! I know!!!


So now.. what to do with it? I've been perusing the web and have so many ideas. The nice thing about having 12 yards is that I don't have to pick just one project. Here are a few that have caught my eye. What do you think?


I just adore this Zip Organizer from the Zakka Style book. This fun mermaid version was made by Sara at Sew Sweetness. I think I might add a wrist strap if I make it. I love the mermaids, but I think the Amy Butler fabric would look great too.

 

I like this Butterick tote pattern. It would be a great flea market bag for the weekend.

I keep thinking I need to make a cover for my sewing machine. I like this one with the pocket on the front. I found it at Sew 4 Home.

I found this cute skirt at Pinterest. It's a McCall's pattern. Wouldn't it be darling with the Amy Butler fabric?

I like this notebook cover that I found at The Cottage Home. She has a great tutorial for it. I love all the slotted pockets on the one side. This would a be a great project to mix some of the prints together.  

Here's another Pinterest find. It's a repin from someone else's board. The link seem dead, but I think I could wing this easily enough without having a pattern. Wouldn't the Amy Butler fabric be cute where this floral print is against a coordinating solid?

                                                        

One of the ladies in the purse sewing group I belong to posted this cute tote bag tutorial. Isn't it darling? It's from All People Quilt, and while I don't quilt I really like this bag. I think the fabric I won would be great for this. Maybe use two that coordinate, just using a band of the second fabric around the bottom where they pieced a strip in their version. I really like the grommets and little bows on the sides.

Here's a couple more apparel patterns I found at the Simplicity site. Wouldn't that fabric make up the cutest summer tops with these patterns?

 So to say I'm inspired by the fabric prize would be an understatement. I just have to decide what to make first. What would be your first project?

Thanks for stopping by!

Purses Galore!

I've always loved old purses. From my earliest trips to antique stores and flea markets, I've always been drawn to them. 

It's so much fun imagining about the person who bought them new. Was it for a special event? Something to complete a special outfit? Was it carried with a tailored suit, or a flowing skirt?

As you can see, I have a eclectic mix in my collection.

  

Here's a close up of my little 1904 St Louis Worlds Fair purse. I wonder if someone made it to carry to the fair, or if they were sold as souvenirs there? Can't you just imagine a lady wearing a long skirt and ruffled blouse, perhaps a fitted jacket, wearing gloves, and this little bag hanging from her wrist as she perused the exhibits at the fair?

Do you see the frog? Yes, it's a taxidermied (is that a word?) frog coin purse I found while in the Philippines last year. I decided since I collected purses, I needed that one!

Not all of the purses in my collection are old, some are sentimental, like the grey poodle purse that was crocheted by my sister. Some aren't purses at all, like the art glass "purse" in the back of this photo.

 Look at the length of this one!

I think I've mentioned that I collect vintage Florida souvenir items too. Here's a couple that cross over into my purse collection. A small mirrored compact from Bok Tower Florida and a small metal photo keeper with a sweet declaration printed inside.

 Acrylic purses from the 50's just make me smile. 

And can a purse collection be complete without a few Enid Collins in the mix?
I display them in my "purse room".. It's also my "sewing room".. You could say it's my Happy Place :o)

Do you have any special collections? I'd love to hear about them, if you do!


Thanks for stopping by and letting me share my collection with you. Have a wonderful week! :)