Template Fitting and Dilemma

   At only 1 week old my blog is giving baby steps. I'm still playing with the look, because I want it to fit with the content and to have cohesion. So that's why I'm constantly changing the order of the stuff in the columns and the overall look . Don't worry, if you come here and see a mess; that's probably me playing behind the scenes.

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   It really bothers me when I have to squeeze my brain to be able to come up with something. A few weeks ago I purchased a kiss-lock frame (always wanted to write that) like this one:

   I find it gorgeous, but the thing is that I can't think of the right project to do with it. I've given it a lot of thought. I have it close to me every time I'm working, blogging etc. but NOTHING. :( I've searched for frame purse tutorials but I can't find something that I really like. Are you going through something like this? If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them from you.

Shopping Spree

   You have no idea how happy I am tonight. It's been a while since the last time I ordered fabric from Etsy. I just had an enormous shopping spree and want to show you what I'm waiting for in the mail.

   These are vintage reproductions from Michael Miller and I fell in love at first sight. They look like the drawings on vintage children books that my grandma would read for me when I was a little girl; such warm memories. :D <3

   I purchased some of this Kokka fabric to make a super gigantic purse for someone. ;) There is something about big purses that tires me along the way. I think I've never finished a really big purse. This time I have to do it or else...

  I bought some Kona solid cotton for Lola's skin in Pale Flesh and Caramel to try out different skin tones.

   I got some of the Gnomeville Fabric from Michael Miller. I noticed very recently that I have something for Michael Miller prints; I pick them even without noticing. I promise it's not on purpose. The moment I saw this print I knew I wanted to purchase some. I'm a gnome freak.

   I got some of this super cute pets print from Moda called Max Whiskers Collection by Basicgrey in the brown colorway. It's just too cute to be true. I can't wait to have it.

   And last but not least I purchased some 100% wool felt for my dollies hair. I want them to be made with the best materials I can afford. I purchased some to try out before I make a bigger investment.

  Also, I want to let you know that I'm working on the pattern for a new purse that I hope I can share soon. ;)

   Is there anything that you purchased recently that you would like to share? I'd love to see.

Mother's Day Ditty Bags

   I've been thinking of what I could give to my mother and grandmother for Mother's Day. It occurred to me that I could make Ditty Bags for them.

   It's a very practical little pouch (designed by Keyka Lou) in which they can keep their make-up and ladies stuff. I already have the pattern and love it, so its a good excuse to make a couple more. I'll make the large size, so they can fit a lot of stuff.

   I was thinking on a pink and blue combination for my mother who love those colors. I want to try something like this:

   Isn't that pretty? The flower's fabric is super soft corduroy.

   Now for my grandma I'd like to use something different. I'd like to line that Carolyn Gavin print with lilac cotton. I'm sure she will like it.

   Are you planning anything to become your mom's favorite? If you are, feel free to share it, I wont tell anyone. ;-)

Lola Dollie

This is my first Lola

And this is the story of her birth

   In the past few weeks I've dedicated my time to learn everything I can about fabric doll making. I found SO MANY pretties that I'm still recovering from the cuteness. Among all, I found out about Waldorf Dolls which I think are very interesting and really cute, but making them is out of my budget for the time being. I just started wandering into the doll making world and I don't know if it will work for me but for now I'm just enjoying it. It's so rewarding.

   Everything started with this doll by Amy from Lots of Pink Here, which she blogged about here:

Go see her awesome Blog!

   I saw it and couldn't stop myself from going to the pattern shop and drooling over all those pretties; after a little thought I finally bought a pattern . I researched Etsy and found so many cute patterns that I couldn't decide, but I loved Beth's super cute glasses and braids.

   I must say I have mixed feelings about my first doll making experience. I had real issues with the skin fabric, it frayed like crazy and the doll basically came apart when I was stuffing it so i had to handstitch it back together. I guess it was not so bad because I tried my best to make very small stitches and used matching thread. The other issue I had was with the face embroidery. I couldn't figure out how to transfer the face template to the fabric so I winged it (it was also the first time I ever embroidered). I think the outcome was very cute in spite of all the trouble. The bad news is that I can't show you the pictures because of the changes I made to the original pattern, I would be infringing the terms of use policy. :*(

   That was my first doll and I love it so I had to get more. I decided to give it a try and make my own dollie pattern. So I did and I must say that it was a draft. I wanted big head, big button eyes, small mouth, felt hair, and a small body. I printed the pattern and made the doll. It turned out her head was TOO big for her neck so it was wobbly, her arms were too long, her button eyes were not safe enough and her body too skinny for my taste. So I redrafted it and came up with Lola's pattern, smaller head with embroidered eyes, thicker neck than the previous doll and chubbier body. I'm still thinking of designing her feet again so they're chubbier. But this is the result, I hope you like it and sorry for the babbling.

   I made her this pillowcase dress but I'm not happy yet, I want to trim it with bias tape. The shoes are made from handstitched purple felt.

My Woodlands Clutch

   Remember when I told you that I wanted to make a fold over clutch for myself? Well, I did. I combined a few of my favorite fabrics from my stash and came up with a woodlands concept. I l<3ve combinations that remind of the forest and this woodgrain fabric was just perfect for the mushroom fabric. I couldn't be any happier with the results. I must say that I'm in love with it and I can't wait to carry it around. What do you think?

   I changed the front flap for a leaf so it suited better the fabric combination. It was a risky change because I didn't know how well it would work. I wasn't sure if I wanted to use the button closure with the leaf and gave it a little thought. I remembered that I had some of those sew-on snaps (which I'd never used before), so I grabbed a set and used it instead of the button. I loved the change because I really like the look of the leaf by itself in front of the clutch.

   I like how they work and it was easy to sew them on the purse. Another new thing I added to the clutch was a zippered pocket on the back, the first of this kind I make. It wasn't exactly difficult, but I think I needed something that would help me get closer to the zipper. I sewed it with my normal presser foot and hand-stitched another row very close to the fabric opening with brown thread to make it very secure.

   I completely forgot to add a tab with a d-ring to be able to attach the wrist strap. I added a lobster clasp to the zipper to still be able to use the clutch with the strap. I also added a charm that I was using as zipper pull before I noticed VERY LATE that I missed the fabric tab with the d-ring.

   Don't you Love it? I sure do. As I told you previously, this purse is very me and I like almost everything on it. Look at the inside fabric combination, I really like those mushrooms and it is a little brighter than the outside so it makes me happy every time I open it.

   The only part I don't like about it, is that when I was making the wrist strap I added way too much fleece and ended up with the fleece showing on a corner; it was impossible to hide it and almost impossible to sew even with a jean needle. I just didn't want to waste the fabric, so I tried to do what I could.

   This is the result. Don't you think it looks awful? The good news is no one has to see it because it's all mine.

<3<3<3

Am I Crazy?

   When I started sewing I had no idea of what a quality product should look like. Along the way I found a few blogs of sewers that were very picky about their seams, and I started to understand the reasons behind everything. A handmade product doesn't have to look less "perfect" than a mass made one. In fact it should look better. So all this newly learned tips and tricks started to show on everything I make; I hate to see exposed raw seams and a sloppy work (even in my "not sewn" accesories). I do know that I'm not perfect but at least I try.

   So when I found out that I have crooked topstitching in my "new"car it is like I'm paying some kind of karma and I have to live with it everyday, in front of me.

   I say "new" because even when I just bought this car, it is a '94 Chevrolet Cavalier. So it is new to me but very old to the rest of the world. I must say that it was a bargain and I had to travel almost coast to coast in public transportation to find it but it was SO worth it. I <3 it.

More of the ugly topstitching:

Fold Over Clutches (The genesis of my digital purse designing)

   I just wanted to make clear that I'm posting about things I made in the past few months for 3 reasons: 1) I just started this blog, so anything I post will be new to you. 2) I really like (or really hate) the outcome of these projects and 3) They mark important moments of my crafty life and I want to share them.

   For example, these clutches were the first thing which pattern I designed digitally, and I really like how they turned out. Previously, I was designing my things directly on paper but I didn't feel that was accurate enough.

   I also wanted to share with you that I normally print my patterns on paper and reinforce them with stiff cardboard. It is easier to trace the pattern that way (time saving), I can keep using the same pattern forever (less waste) and make as many pieces of the same purses as I want (production). I don't know if anyone else does that, but it makes my life much easier.

   This one was the first one I made and I loved it so much I didn't want to let it go (that happens to me quite often). If I'm not mistaken it was the first to find its way into a loving home.

   I really liked the fabric combination on this one. It's not something I would personally use but I find it so cool.

   I think I still have this one available; its been tough to not to keep it for myself. The only thing that stops me is that there is a fabric combination that I would like to use to make the purse very ME and it involves Woodgrain in Bark from Joel Dewberry's Aviary 2.

   Stay tuned so you can see how it turns out! I think I might make it today because I'm so in need of a new purse. ;)