Excited for a New Week!

Granny D here.  It's Make It Monday and I thought I'd share what I have going on in my head this morning.  Of course, it'll take me all week to get these all completed but, oh, the fun of creating.  Right.

I finished this cute little patcwork bag Saturday.  It can be made out of a 10" square so that gives you an idea of the size.

And last night I cut out the little Flower Power bag you see in the picture next to it.  I like that funky little flower and all of the different colors together

Even though the possibilities are endless, I get tired of making the same old boxy totes sometimes.  So I found another bag that I like.  It's softer and rounder.  Instead of the corners, it has darts to shape the bottom corners.









And I think I'm going to try something different by using interfacing in the top part and batting in the bottom part just to add to that soft, feminine, curvy look.  The fabric you see here is curtain fabric from that earlier fabric haul I spoke about.  Once I get this perfected, I'll probably use a pretty floral or something a little more dramatic to make it look a bit dressier.







Since purses and bags are mostly rectangles, I like to make my own patterns.  I have a big roll of paper.  Not sure if it's butcher paper or not but it's flexible enough to pin to fabric.  Here's a messenger bag pattern I cut out last night.
As you can see, it's not complicated at all and I did a little something with the strap.  It's 4" wide but I went ahead and cut the pattern 36" long.  Then I marked off like 22" and 29", you know, different lengths you'd use for different projects so I don't have to keep cutting out strap patterns.  Same goes for pockets.


That about does it for today.  Do you have any tips or tricks for cutting out your own patterns?  We'd love to know.

A Snapping Good Time!

Granny D here.  In keeping with our daily themes (Today is 'Sew and Tell Sunday) I thought I'd put together a little tutorial on how to install magnetic snaps.  When making purses and bags, they are the BEST!  They're easy to install, not expensive and these little guys are strong!  Keep in mind, I'm no expert but this is such a simple addition that adds a special touch to your bags and purses.

You'll need 4 pieces for each installation.  Two flat washers, or back pieces, to stabilize the snap (I add fusible interfacing, too) and two outside pieces as shown here.  One has a little bump and one has a corresponding slot for it to fit in.









So, first, I prepare my fabric (in this case, the lining) by putting a square of fusible interfacing on the inside right in the center of the bag.  Then, I use the washer to mark my positioning and mark where the prongs should go through with a pen.   I usually drop it down about an inch from the top to allow for seams. 









Then I snip those open.  I try to make this hole as small as possible so that I almost have to force the prongs through.  Just to be on the safe side.











After that, I push the prongs through the holes I just made.  The snap will be on the outside of your project.












The washer goes in place next.














And then, I spread the prongs open to hold the snap in place.  Once I get them positioned, I try to push them completely flat on a hard surface.

Oh, and then you do the same thing for the other side, using the other half of the snap. 

It takes only a little practice, and you'll be a pro at this in no time.


And that's it.   I learned my lesson about putting them in first, even before I put the pockets on the lining.  Everything sticks to them, pins, scissors, etc. and they are constantly sticking to each other.  Well, they are magnets!  So I waited till the last minute this time and it worked so much better.

Next week, I'll share my thoughts on shaping your bags.  There are square bottoms and softer ones, each requiring a different technique.  Still, very simple, very doable, even for beginners.

Let us know if this was helpful or if there's some other fastener you've found that you just can't live without.

Slow Sewing Week

Granny D here.  It's been a slow sewing week for me.  To much real world stuff to do and I don't like it one bit.

If you'll remember, Monday, I had a beautiful blue and yellow bag prepared to sew.  Remember, I was trying to decide whether to make the back blue or yellow.  I ended up going with blue.








Well, I did manage to get this one completed.  And it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.  And I love the little daisy button I found.

But take a look at what I put together just yesterday.  I'm calling this a picnic purse and the body can be made out of a 10" square, well two 10" squares.  I've got some great ideas for that.  It's just big enough for car keys, lipstick and your cell phone.  Maybe some tissues and breath mints.  You know, those essentials you'd take on a picnic.  There are pockets inside and a magnetic closure just inside the top to keep everything safe.  (I learned a lesson about those little guys I'll share with you later.) The strap is long so it can be worn across your body.  Or tuck it down inside if you like and use it as a little clutch.

I think, the first time I saw a picture of this purse, was in a magazine around Christmas time.  They were calling it a party purse.  And, with the right fabric and glittery embellishments this would be the perfect little purse to take to a party.  Of course, I set about making my own pattern but this is the first time I've played with it at all.

So, tell me.  Do you prefer big bags to carry everywhere?  Or do you think, every once in a while, it's nice to just take the bare necessities in a small bag whether it's a picnic or a party?

Rainy Days and Mondays...

Granny D here.  It's a dreary, rainy Monday here in Virginia.  Maybe that's why I focused in on this beautiful blue and sunny yellow combination.  As you can see, the front of the bag is already pieced.  The straps have been cut from the navy.  The back is going to be that navy Majestic fabric we have in the eBay store...I think...

As you can see, after a little contemplation, I'm still having an argument with myself.  Should I make the lining out of the navy and the back of the bag out of that yellow?  I'm thinking practical here.

 The yellow will show dirt quicker (these can be washed, by the way) but who wants to wash their bag every day or every week for that matter.  However, the interior might be even worse.  Lipstick comes open, pens leak.
Sigh.
As Jimelle posted earlier today, oh, the possibilities.  Well, at least between blue and yellow.
What do you think?
 

Finished Product

Granny D here.  Remember all those piece parts I showed you on Monday?  We're calling that Make It Monday, by the way.  Well, all of those parts finally became something special today.

Since these will soon be showing up in our eBay store, I thought you might like to see how one is made.  I'm going to take you kind of step by step as to how I put it together.  As you see each step, feel free to let me know if you think something can be done quicker or easier.  I'm no expert, believe me.
First things first. 
I make the straps, the button flap and the pockets first.

Then I sew the pockets to the lining and put the lining together.  And this time I remembered to leave the 3" to 4" hole in the bottom so I can turn it later.  Sheesh!  I always forget that.  Thank goodness for seam rippers.

After that I start working on the outside of the bag.  I use fusible batting to make it soft and then quilt it just a little.  Then I sew on the straps and the flap.  You'll notice I changed the flap.  When I got ready to sew it on, it was just too wide.  So I just made another one.







Now comes the fun part.  I turn the lining inside out and tuck the bag, right side out into the lining.  Got it.  I just have to keep telling myself right sides together, right sides together...  You get the picture









Then, it's just a matter of sewing around the top of the bag, making sure everything is straight and even and those straps stay out of the way.  I turn it through that little hole I left in the bottom of the lining.  And then, whew, remembered to sew the hole up once I'm sure everything is cool.  Lastly, sew a button on the front to secure the bag somewhat.

And, there you have it.  A patriotic tote, that's roomy enough for just about whatever you might need.  Plus, it has plenty of pockets to help keep things organized.  What do you think?

The Lowly Thimble

Granny D here.  Thimble is such a funny word.  It's origin is thought to come from the old English word thymel, meaning thumbstall. The official term for one who collects thimbles is “digitabulist.”



I have to admit that I have never used a thimble.  They always feel so heavy and awkward.  And they make my finger sweat.  But my grandmother used one while piecing her quilts or hemming a dress.  It always seemed to me to be on the wrong finger to me, not the middle one I use to push the needle through but the one beside it, next to her pinkie.  Yet, she never sat down to sew without her thimble, the working end pock marked and pitted.

While thinking about that today, I began to wonder about thimbles.  I know they've been around for centuries and have been made of many, many different materials like mother of pearl, sterling and plated silver, brass, bone, and even gold. There are porcelain thimbles, wooden thimbles, and thimbles made from carved stone. Among the most legendary are Fabergé thimbles from the 19th century. Some of these had polished agates or other types of semi-precious stones set in their tops. The sides of others were decorated with colorful enamel patterns or bands.

Here are a few interesting facts about thimbles that may surprise you.

• Nearly 30 lots of Meissen porcelain thimbles fetched a total of $189,813 during the Ann Blakeslee Black Collection of Thimbles, Needlework Tools and Vertu auction presented by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers on May 21, 2014. A Meissen porcelain thimble, circa 1730, with a landscape scene painted on the band, sold for five times its low estimate, finishing at $20,000.
• The Thimble Collectors International (TCI) group formed in 1978, and lists more than 35 regional clubs in the U.S., Australia and Europe.
• Examples of the precursor to the thimble date back 10,000 years, with metal thimbles coming into use outside of the U.S. as early as 1150. The first American thimble factories opened in the 1830s with Ketcham and McDougall of New York paving the way, followed closely behind by Simons Bros. in Philadelphia in 1839 — a company still manufacturing thimbles today.
• In the past, thimbles were popular advertising vehicles, especially in American culture.
• The Fingerhut Thimble Museum in Creglingen, Germany, is reportedly the world’s only museum devoted entirely to thimbles. It opened in 1982 with some 800 exhibits. Today the museum showcases more than 4,000 exhibits from around the world.

To read more about interesting thimble facts, go to http://www.antiquetrader.com/antiques/antiques-americana/ten-things-didnt-know-thimbles/

For more information on thimbles and to see some truly beautiful works of art, check out http://www.thimbleselect.com/learn.

I'm sad to say that I don't have even one of my grandmother's thimbles but I wish I did. Do you use a thimble? t would be interesting to know just how many people still use thimbles.

Make It Monday - Patriotic Tote Bag

Granny D here.  I love, love, love making tote bags and purses.  You'll see some that I made in our eBay store soon.  But I thought it would be fun to show all of the piece parts that go into making one of these totes.  They're really simple, and I can't tell you about the pattern except that it's just ideas I've pulled from here and there and perfected after trial and error.  You know, I'd make one and then decide the straps were too short.  So, I'd adjust.  Then I'd decide it needed more pockets so I'd add those to the next one.  Sometimes I'll sew a piece of ribbon on the inside with a D ring attached so your keys will be available and not get buried in the bottom of the bag.  I use interfacing and batting to make them sturdy and yet soft.

So, here goes.

This first picture is the pieces of the outside of the bag, the pretty stuff everyone sees.  I love patriotic themes and colors, especially for summer and thought this would be fun.  So the front is pieced from a jolly bar (5"X10") pieces and 5" squares.  The back is just solid denim (Remember those curtains I posted about a little while back.  Yeah, it's a curtain but the denim is just heavy enough without being too much.)  The straps are from the same denim and that red dotted piece will be the flap that comes over the top to button the bag closed.  I'll probably use a silver button.

 The second picture is the lining.  It's a nice cotton fabric we found at a really good price.  It's a pretty navy (the pics don't do it justice) that pairs well with the denim and the outside of the bag.  The smaller rectangle near the top and to the right is a small pocket.  The piece to the left is another larger pocket that will run the full width of the bag, sewn in about 3 4" sections.  I think with this one, I'll sew a smaller section in the smaller pocket to hold a pen.  That would be handy.

And here are all the parts together, ready to sew.  You can see that it's really just rectangles of different sizes, doing different jobs to make this patriotic tote.  I've already filled a bobbin and threaded the machine with navy thread.  I can't wait to get started on this one.

What is your favorite thing to sew?  If you haven't tried making a tote like this, do it.  It's not really difficult at all and I like that they are practical and pretty at the same time.

My Mother's Sewing Box

Granny D here.  Know what this is?  It's a sewing box and everyone had one.  Or at least everyone in my family had one and I suspect, if someone in your family sewed, they had one, too.  I have my mother's right here beside me.  She's been gone since 1986 and, believe it or not, some of her things are still in the little drawers and cubbies.  And I just noticed that there's a red circle embedded in the lid that says "Product of Norway".
The pictures below are the inside of the box.  Those reddish colored disks you see in the bottom went into her sewing machine when she wanted to use a fancy stitch.  Those bobbins feel like cardboard and even though she had a buttonhole foot, I always remember her making her buttonholes by hand.  She hemmed all of our dresses by hand as well.  I remember that she kept her embroidery hoops, thread and needles in there and we were FORBIDDEN to touch them.      
The other day my daughter and I were talking about it and I began to wonder about the history of the sewing box.  I won't bore you with all of the details but here's what I found out from Collector's Weekly.
The earliest sewing containers were simple bags made of fabric or leather. However, by the 18th century in Europe, metalworkers, jewelers, and other craftspeople were tasked with making fine sewing tools for aristocrats and ladies of the court. This led to the production of handsome boxes to hold these tools. Artisans used rare woods, leather, ivory, or precious metals inlaid with gems and mother of pearl on the outsides of their boxes, while the interiors were lined with rich silk or velvet. Larger boxes had two or even three levels or sections.
In the 19th century, industrialization and the rise of the middle class created a market for less expensive and more practical sewing boxes that were both attractive and durable. A typical Victorian sewing box would be just big enough to keep all of a woman’s sewing tools, as well as a little bit of her handiwork. Inside, you’d find a needle book with a large range of sizes, along with an assortment of thread made of cotton, linen, and silk, plus buttons formed from shells, acorns, wood, and metal. Sewing implements included different types of shears and scissors, a pin cushion and needle emery, a jar of beeswax, and a folding measure or measuring tape. Some boxes even housed tools to make lace or square cords. By the 1950s they were more and more 'space age' looking.

What I found the most interesting though was that the interior of woman’s sewing box was considered an intimate space, much the way the inside of a purse is now. Many of them were made to be locked, and a lady might keep some sort of love token inside it, like a romantic letter, a book of poetry, or an image of her beloved. Hmmm, maybe 'd better look a little closer at what's inside this box. If I find any secret love letters, I'll let you know.
I love having her sewing box here with me as I sew, sort of like a reminder of not just my sewing roots but my creative roots.  Do you have something special like this that takes you back to when you were learning to sew?
Learn more at https://www.collectorsweekly.com/sewing/boxes-baskets.

A Table Fable

Granny D here.  Next to my fabric stash (and it is a STASH as you'll see in the pics below) is my beloved sewing table.  I used the dining room table for a while with my sewing machine sitting on one end.  You can get away with that when you live alone.  I've even cut out things on the bed which is dangerous.
 But, oh, let me tell you the story of my table.
I came home from work one evening only to find this...well, this monstrosity sitting in my back yard.  It was a table, at least that's what it appeared to be, probably 8 feet long, about 40 inches wide.  It looked like it weighed a ton and I found out later it felt like it did, too.  The top was covered in old curling, peeling linoleum with rusting metal trim around the edges.  Some of the pieces looked dangerously sharp.  The wooden legs were peeling and the drawer handles were all rusty.
I stood there on that late summer evening and thought, "Why does everyone bring me their junk?"
About that time, the friend that 'donated' the table drove up, held up both hands in surrender and said, "Wait, let me tell you about this table."
Against my better judgement, I waited.
The table currently gracing my yard was built in 1953 specifically for the ladies at Verona United Methodist Church (Verona, VA) to use to make their famous apple dumplings.  It was made a little short just to fit these busy little ladies and it was in use up until about 1980 which was when my friend's father bought it from the church to use in his workshop.  It was so short, he had to put bricks underneath the legs to bring it up to the right height. In 2008 he decided he didn't want it any longer and it ended up in my friend's barn.  It got in the way there and they just moved it outside where it sat out in the weather for two years prior to being given to me. 

While he talked, I walked around the table, this time really looking at it.  And I saw something...something beautiful. 

 Instead of an old table, I saw what a beautiful lady she could be.  She had 6 nicely sized drawers, 6 outlets which were still wired and three pull out cutting boards.  And a full shelf underneath.  Whoever engineered that table, knew that when a woman's working, either making apple dumplings or sewing, she needs everything right at her fingertips.
"So why did you bring it to me?" I asked.
He shrugged, "You like to sew.  I thought it would be a great sewing table."

Turns out, he was right.  I peeled off the ugly linoleum.  The top was trashed but I could fix that.  The rest of the table was sturdy and just needed a lot of TLC.  And paint.  I scraped and cleaned and scrubbed and then realized, it was too long to fit down my basement steps.  Another friend came up with a plan for that.  We cut that table into two pieces, created an L-shaped table and he removed a drawer and made a place for my sewing machine to fit right in.  We covered the top with really good plywood and trimmed it out neatly..  I painted and painted and painted. And now, it is the most beautiful table in the world.  Since I'm short, it fits me just like the apple dumpling ladies back in 1953. 
Ah, but it's not just a sewing table.  It's more of a magical place that sparks my creative fire.
I've neglected my sewing and my table for the past few years. But now that retirement is right around the corner, I can slow down and think about sewing again.  Do you have  a special place where you can just let your creativity run wild?  We'd love to hear about it.

My First Fabric Haul

Diana here (aka GrannyD)

For about a dozen years, I worked at Lowe's Home Improvement Center here in town.  I managed the Paint and Home Decor Departments (paint, blinds, wallpaper, curtains, you get the picture).  So, one day I came around the corner and saw several vendors pushing two carts full of, well, sample curtains.  Turns out the Spring line was being put up and these were no longer needed.  I stopped dead in my tracks and, I swear to you, the spirit of my grandmother took over.
"Where are you going with all that?" I asked, trying to act like it really didn't matter.
"The trash," one of the vendor's answered.
I stood there for a moment and then shook my head.  "Um, no.  No, I don't think so."
"What would you like for us to do with them, then?" he asked.
"Why not just leave them here and let me take care of it?" I responded, still trying to keep my distance.
They looked at each other and shrugged.  "Whatever you say."

I hid those carts full of curtains (fabric) as well as I could until my shift was over all the time wondering what had possessed me.  I hadn't sewn a stitch since my girls were little.  And I certainly didn't have time to sew now.  But I knew I could not let that fabric (curtains) go to waste.
When my shift was over, I found as many boxes as I could, folded the curtains into them and took them home.  Where they sat.
For a couple of weeks.
Maybe a month.
Then,  one night, I was closing with one of my employees and saw her purse.  It was one someone had given her and the name on it was Vera Bradley.  I looked at it closely, just to see how it was made and that's when I knew what all of that fabric (curtains) I'd drug home was going to become.  It turns out curtains are made from really, really good fabric.
After that, every time the curtains changed out, I brought all of the samples home.  My daughter, you've already met her), helped me organize them in the closet but it's gone way, way beyond that.  Shhhh, don't tell her.  It got to the point that when the discontinued curtains were marked down, I was sometimes given the option, "If you take all of these, you can have them for .10 each."  What do you think I said?
This just goes to prove that will a little imagination and 'out of the box' thinking, you can find 'fabric' anywhere.