Considering that this will be the third consecutive post on my swap bag, I am sure everyone will be happy to hear that it is finally complete (photos are posted, just continue reading)!

So, just to break it up a bit, I wanted to point out that Liana at Fashioned has posted a number of fall 2006 runway pics this week. A great place to visit for some sewing inspiration - not to mention the fact that I am in love with this All Milly dress.

And now for some completed swap bag photos!

The Front:

The Back:

I have to say, I really like the shape of this bag and was really suprised at how easy it was to put together. I may make one for myself sometime in the future. Now to make my way to the post office and mail it off!

I'm starting to make some real progress on my swap bag! (Photos are in the continued section of this entry, so don't proceede if you are my swap partner)

I've got the outer shell of the bag finished. I really didn't like the feel that the interfacing gave the fabric, so I added some additional softer interfacing to the large panels. It did improve the fabric a bit and gave it some more stability. I'm also planning on adding some plastic to the bag bottom. I can already tell that it's going to get droopy if you put too much weight in it.

I also made the flap (that weird triangular shape) and the lining. You can't see it, but the lining has an inside pocket.

After Taylor's softball game yesterday - in 108 degree temperatures (they won, by the way, apparently they can tolerate heat better than the other team), I started working on my swap partner's bag.

I've cut out all the pieces to the bag and lining and have fused all the interfacings on. I don't reacall what interfacing I picked up (something fusible), but after ironing it on, it gives a papery feel to the fabric, it's weird. The pieces seem to hold their shape well, but it makes an odd crinkle noise when you rub it. I also realized that I'm out of covered buttons, so that means another trip to Joanns.

Here's what I have so far:

Taylor has another game tonight (it's tournament time). Hopefully, I'll be as motivated as I was last night to work on this bag!

Well, finally, my bag swap fabric arrived! It's great (see below for a posted photo and no peeking andreamarie!) and well worth the wait! After studying it, I've definately decided to use the Rebecca Bag style from the Carry With Style book. I can't wait to get this project started!

I also recieved my Jalie 2320, jean jacket pattern that I had purched from a classified on Pattern Review. I know that it's going to be 105 outside today, but I can't wait to start sewing for fall!

And now, a picture of the long awaited fabric:

As for the lining of the bag, I chose a print that looks like ocean waves - it's a bit darker in color (more dark navys) than the muscle man fabric, but I think that it ties it all together. I hope my partner likes it when I'm finished.

Depending on what television station you watched or what bank you passed by, our temperatures yesterday ranged from 107-101 degrees. UGH. Needless to say, we retreated to the basement for much of the day.

Taylor decided that she wanted to start another sewing project. She had sifted through my patterns and books and settled on the Tulip Purse (with feather trim) from the Carry With Style book. She traced the pattern pieces (there were 3) and I helped her pin and cut the fabirc (fortunately, I had enough remnant fabric from my Bon Appetit apron to squeeze out a front and back) - I even had some purse handles in my stash that are going to work perfectly.

The only thing I didn't have enough of was interfacing. I have some Peltex, but I think that may be too much for Taylor to work with - it's just too stiff and bulky. So, I made my way to Joanns. While I was there, I picked up more Built by Wendy patterns. I believe I now have the entire collection!

I was hoping to create a post today saying, "Hurray, my fabric for my bag swap arrived". Unfortunately, I can't. Now I understand that my postal service is a day behind Wichita's - we are considered "rural". We don't have postal trucks (weird, hu?), and, at times, I swear that we still must use the pony express to have our mail delivered. But, I seriously thought that if they shipped it when the said they did, it would be here by now.

In the meantime, I am hoping to work on a side project, my In K jacket a bit more, and maybe do some alterations. Oh, how I hate to do those. Both my mother and I picked up some pants last week and found them to be tremendously long (I think that I have to take off 6+ inches on my pants if they tells you anything).

Since I won't be working on my bag, what is everyone else working on over the weekend?

Lots of little things to report today.

First, (and like I need to remind anyone), the new season of Project Runway starts tonight! Be sure to drop by Blogging Project Runway for detailed reports!

My jacket is sloooowwwwwllllllyyyy moving along. I've now added the front pockets - I'm feeling kind of 'meh' about them too. I spent forever trying to shape them just right (they are rounded on the bottom and instead of using a basting stitch and pulled in the fullness, I just followed their directions) and make both sides even. When I make more progress, I'll post a picture.

I am happy to report that I finally made my way to Needle Nook Fabrics! I picked up several items that I needed for a side project (more information on that in the future). I talked to Anne for awhile - she doesn't have any classes at the moment for me to take (which is fine right now since it would be fall before I could anything anyway). But, she's writting a book (on, of course, bra making)! I got to glance through it and it's going to be wonderful. She's got lots and lots of photos (she had told me the number and I want to say it's aournd 175) to complement her text. I should have asked when it was going to be out, but I have a feeling that in the next few weeks I'll be going back (I saw some great fabric that I may just have to go back and get).

Yesterday, I also added a new pattern to my collection - Jalie 2320, the jeans jacket. I saw this pattern in the ad section of Pattern Review and I just had to snag it! I had thought about getting this when I was in the process of making a cropped jean jacked last fall, but decided on Burda 8185 instead. Considering how much denim I have left over from my Fabric Mart denim bundle, I should have plenty enough stashed to make a few!

Lastly, there's the issue of the fabric that I purchased off of ebay (for the bag swap). I am happy to report that I got an email back from the vendor yesterday and they immediately shipped out the correct fabric (well, let's hope it's the right stuff). As far as the tea cups go, I keep that as well (I'm just wondering what the person who ordered the teacup fabric thought when they got my order?). I am guessing that it should be here by the end of the week, hopefully before Saturday so I can get started on my bag while Taylor is at her fishing tourny that morning.

I've been so busy lately that I had completely forgotten about my Burda World of Fashion magazine.... so, I was completely thrilled when I saw it in my mailbox. I also got a package from the ebay seller that I purchased fabric from for the bag swap.

I excitedly opened the package - thrilled at the prospect I could start my bag tonight, only to be COMPLETELY dissapointed in what I saw. Instead of my fabric that I purchased, I got teacups! ARRRRRR. I've contacted the seller, but this really puts me way behind on starting this bag, even if I get the fabric soon. I'm thinking this isn't going to go well and I'm eventually going to have to settle on something else.

Well, one day later, my bag for Pattern Review's "Pick your Season" Handbag Contest is complete!

So, let's talk about what all's going on with this bag.

First off, the image you saw posted the other day was a June Tailor printable (colorfast) fabric sheet. I chose the colorfast option because I was afraid that rain, pool water, etc. would destroy any image that I would otherwise print out. It cost a bit more, but I think it will be worth it in the end. I also chose the printable fabric because I find the transfer papers tend to look like plastic when you're done with it and I was afraid that I would ruin the image if I applied hot fix rhinestones to it. Making the image colorfast was much easier than I expected too. The final product still feels stiffer than what I would like, but hey, I made it into a pocket, not a shirt so I guess it doesn't matter in the long run.

After attaching the pocket to the bag, I set out on embelishing it - I felt like I needed a summer bag with some bling! So, I used my trusty hot fix rhinestones that I had purchased off of Ebay and went to work. This was the most time consuming part. The "Surf's Up" easily took an hour to do (I had to quit for awhile to give my eyes, neck and back a rest so I have no idea the exact amount of time it too). After finishing that, it still looked a little 'blah' so I added some teeny tiny rhinestones to her bikini (which already had polka dots) and some to the car fender (each fender consists of a slightly smaller rhinestone size that the previous one above it) until I got this:

The construction of the bag was very easy and went together extremely fast. I decided on putting in an inner pocket using the hibiscus fabric for some contrast. I also made a label from the colorfast pocket fabric, just for fun.

The last thing I did was add extra large grommets to the bag. I really dreaded this part of the the process because I find grommets (eyelets, tack buttons, basically anything you have to hammer into your fabric) very frustrating. Normally, at least one gets bent out of shape so badly that you have to use pliers to rip it out. I was, however, pleasantly suprised at how nice they all turned out. The kit I had purchased not only had the shaft that you hammer but an anvil in the shape of the outer grommet face which kept it from bending and contorting out of shape when hammering. Instead of using a purchased ribbon (or tulle as suggested by the pattern), I made a tie from some satin that I found at Walmart (for 50 cents, you can't beat that)!

After Taylor's swimming lessons yesterday, we had the chance to visit various fabric stores around town to look for andreamarie's swap bag fabric. I have to say, I was very dissapointed. So, I scoured the internet (and found lots that I even liked for myself, but I'm trying not to shop for me!) and have place a few bids on ebay for some great pieces! Let's just hope I win (and get them in time to make her bag)!

Today is July 1 which also means:

1. Today is my husband's, Bret, birthday! He is now older than me and I can hold this over his head for 3 months until I catch up.

2. It's Canada Day! Happy Canada Day to everyone up north!

3. It's time to start Pattern Review's "Pick your Season" Handbag Contest! So far, this is all I have done:

The Summer Bag Swap partners have been posted and I now have my partner...............andreamarie (she's also coordinating this swap and runs a Crafty Handbags site on Live Journal) ! I'm very excited and have a ton of ideas swimming in my head. So, if you're Andrea Marie - no peeking at this entry! Everyone else, read on.

Since we had to fill out a questionaire prior to entering, I have some ideas as to what kind of bag she's looking for. Basically, a larger bag, like a tote, and anything with shoulder straps so she doesn't have to carry it around (and inside pockets). I've spent some time looking at bag styles and am thinking about making the Amy Butler Messenger Bag (it's a nice size bag, has a long shoulder strap, and outside flap pocket, and she had noted that a messenger bag is a style that she doesn't make well). I've also thought about the Rebecca Bag from the Carry With Style book. This view (suprisingly) has similar dimentions to the messenger bag (the Rebecca bag is 11 3/4"h X 15 3/4"w and the Messenger Bag is 12 1/2"w X 15 1/2"h), is a unique shape, has a button closure, and shoulder strap. There's also a hobo bag which looks cute, but I think that I would have to find just the right fabric to use with that.

Speaking of fabric, since it's a summer theme, I'm on the lookout for ocean & beach fabric (this is something she likes) in yellow, green, pink, and\or ocean shades. I think I'll stop by a local quilt shop tomorrow (as long as we get time) and see what they've got there. Hancock's is another possibility, but the last time I stopped in there, the selection of novelty fabrics was a lot smaller than what it used to be.

Since we're on the subject of bags, stop by HotPatterns.com and download your free En Vacance Waistpack pattern (and be sure to sign up for the newsletter, if you haven't already. They'll let you know about their free patterns and their upcoming pattern collection that's being released next month).. It's perfect timing for release of this pattern!

Alright, so enough rambling (yup, I'm excited, I can go on and on and on...) and time to get sewing!

All this planning for the Pattern Review Bag contest has made me do lots of surfing..... That's when I came across this, Bagaholics Anonymous, a fun site dedicated to those who love to make bags.

I'm also fallen in love with patchwork quilted bags from the Japanese craft book, Machine Made Patchworks I Retro Style Qulits Pattern Book. Since I don't read a lick of Japanese, I was happy to see that Creative Little Daisy posted a tutorial on her site. I've decided I need to make one of these for myself. I think that Taylor might even get into this project, herself - after all it uses the rotary cutter and sewing machine!

I had high hopes of getting more done yesterday (while everyone was gone) than what I actually accomplished.

I did pick up a lining for the bag that I'll be creating for Pattern Review's Handbag Contest. I also traced off the pattern pieces from the Carry With Style book (alright, so it's one piece, but I still traced it). I believe that I now have all my supplies ready so I can start in July. I put a link on the sidebar for the bag and was suprised to see that the total cost of my bag is at $32.49, even without the pattern, it's at $20.91! Sorry, no pictures yet of the fabrics I'm using, the family has taken off with the digital camera, but if you can't tell, my theme is 'Summer'.

I also did a lot of surfing last night and decided to purchase Patterns From Finished Clothes: Re-Creating the Clothes You Love from Amazon. Maybe there will be more inspired knock-off's in the future if I read this book! It's gotten some good reviews and I know some Pattern Review members have recomended this book so I thought that I would give it a try.

I also (sort of) got started on the Sew Subversive jeans skirt. I picked out a pair of Levis that I haven't touched in ages. I put them on and, well, they are 'mom jeans'. Ick. They come up too high on the waist, are dumpy in the butt, and are just plain unflattering on me. I figure they are perfect to reconstruct, except I still won't like the waistband. I'm going to have to figure out what to do with it (if anything).

So, this morning, I'm sitting (leisurely) drinking coffee and preparing to go to Joann's "Get Up And Sew Saturday." Last week, when I had gone in for their Firefly Frenzy sale, the cashier handed me a coupon (50% off for sewing items only) and said their store was having a special promotion (apparently not all Joann's are doing this) and will have some demonstrations (or at least that's what I thought she said, I was just excited about another coupon), etc. I also got a $20 gift card (as a reward for using my Joann's credit card which they are no longer doing) the other day and plan on using that while I'm there.