Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Leather Carpetbag!

So about 20 years ago I bought a really cool rawhide carpetbag in Hilton Head on vacation.  I love this bag.  I rarely use it to travel anymore now that they invented suitcases with wheels but I still love it.  I bought a giant leather hide at Tandy some time back and have gotten so much mileage out of it.  It's that beautiful rich deep caramel color.  The entire hide cost $80.  I have made several handbags, bracelets and purse handles from this hide.  So economical!  I have a really gorgeous natural hide that I've been making bracelets out of that I've been dying to make a bag out of but too scared to risk it on a new pattern so I used what's left of the caramel hide as a prototype.

I carefully measured the old original carpetbag and cut out all the pieces.  I had to try to come up with an order of sewing them by myself.  To some this might be easy but I am unable to visualize what happens in a logical order so I had to wing it and undo a couple of things but I didn't do too badly.  The bag is gorgeous!  The only thing I didn't do was put a zipper and a pocket in it.  I may try to add these on the next one.  I will also reduce the size a bit so I can use it everyday.  I took a lot of pictures but of course not of every step.  I'm going to try to fill it in as I make the other bag.

Working with leather is daunting.  If you try to sew too many layers on a regular machine you can really mess it up.  The trick is to use a leather needle and a longer stitch.  The next best tip is to use Dritz Wonder Tape.  This is a double sided tape that is sewable through.  It keeps the leather from slipping and makes it all possible.  Forget trying to sew leather without it on a standard machine.  Although I've made quite a few things out of leather I have yet to get some of the gadgets that true leather crafters use like a skive, v gage, strap end cutter and wing divider.  I'm sure one of these days I'll add these to my repertoire but for now all I have is my rotary cutter and board, rivet and snap setter set, rivets and snaps and mallet.  I've just made sure I don't use a real thick leather so I haven't had too much of a problem going through layers.  Pictures to come!


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Stairway to heaven!

I have been longing after the ombre stairs I saw on Pinterest.  Then I saw some rainbow ones.  My hubby won't let me buy any art for the hallway so the stairway was just a barren bore.  Although I loved the ombre stairs, teal to aqua, I just wasn't brave enough to do it.  So I did the next best thing.  I cut contact paper to fit each stair, painted it and stuck it up.  This way if I tire of it it won't be hard to get rid of.   Also I decided to do some weathering and stenciling which was much easier on the contact paper placed on a table than doing it vertically on the stairway.  Originally I went with the whole rainbow effect but decided to tone it down a bit. 

PS.  I don't have mice!  My daughter had a mouse themed 5th birthday so I found these great little mouse decals on Etsy.  Aren't they cute?  Again, not committed to them as they are stuck on the contact paper not my stairs!

Give it a try!  Good luck!


Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Leather Kelly style bag

Phew!  That was a project!  I made the bag that was so beautifully done on www.iammomma-hearmeroar.  It was a big job.  The hard part was that essentially you have to make your own pattern with your own measurements.  Then there's punching all those dadgum holes.  Then there's all that lacing!  And then there is the biggest problem, my inability to follow closely the directions.  If only I could slow down and pay attention but alas I cannot.

A few things I did in addition to the instructions:

     I made the bag 11 x 13 1/2 (tapered).
     The gusset was 6 x 37 tapered.
     The flap is 3 x 7.
     Straps 18" long with thick rope inserted in the middle 13".
     I measured and marked all the holes on the wrong side of the leather before punching.
     I did attach handles and flap before lacing the bag up.
     I neglected to keep the extra gusset inches that fold down.  Instead I sewed the lining all the way
     around and left the lining stick out the top. (This whole step was improvised because I effed it up).
     I also added a pocket to the inside lining.

Overall I'm pleased with the look of the bag.  I used pink lacing to give it a more Anthropolgie look.  I was afraid it might end up looking to western.   I will make this again but lower and wider. I have some natural color leather that is just beautiful I want to make  a bag out of that I have been searching for the right pattern for.

FYI.  I got the leather at Tandy. You can get some awesome deals there.  I got a huge hide that will easily make 6 handbags for $60.  I used a good quality hole punch also purchased at Tandy.  The lacing I got at Joann Fabrics.  I used less than one package, about 75" to go around each sides and around 25" for the flap. 

I also used some rivets to hold the bag together while I punched the holes.  I put these in randomly just to keep it from slipping (I did not hammer them, just inserted and removed when ready). 

I  put rope in the middle of the handles.  To do this I cut the strap to about 18" x 3" wide.  I use Wonder double sided tape anytime I sew leather.  It is the best way.  I put a strip the middle 13" and on the edge.  I folded it over and used my zipper foot.  Best to try it out first before you do it.

That brings me to sewing leather.  I use a leather needle and a fairly long stitch.  As I said before the Wonder tape is key to keeping the leather from slipping and sliding as you sew. Always make sure your bobbin is full too.  You could be sewing along just making holes if your bobbin runs out and the holes don't go away.  Your leather will be ruined.

Here's a pic of the finished product.  I like the lining sticking out a bit.  The key here is to use snappy colors.  It's a happy bag!  Have fun!



Monday, May 20, 2013

Back Again!

So I have to be honest.  I had no idea what a pain in the neck writing a blog is!  It is not as easy as all the other bloggers make it look.  The reason I'm going to try to pick it back up is because I am a bit of a chronic crafter and I have been able to hit on some super cool ideas, tutorials and patterns through my endless internet investigating.  I also like tweeking other people's ideas. 

I feel I have a really good sense of color and pattern.  Though I love crazy mixes I also love simplicity. 

I have been on a bit of a creative hiatus.  A little over a year ago, my family suffered a terrible tragedy with the death of my in-laws.  Now my mother has advanced cancer.  I now find myself using my crafts for a rescue from the stress of these circumstances.

I love to sew.  Plain and simple.  Unfortunately it has completed ruined the whole shopping experience for me.  Can't buy something I can make.  Fortunately, I have not taught myself how to make shoes!

Right now I am making a leather handbag from the www.iammomma-hearmeroar.  This is kind of a kelly bag done with a lot of hole punching and lacing.  I am always on the lookout for tips and tutorials for working with leather.  I like to make my own bags but I like to make them look store bought. I am drafting the pattern with exact measurements.  I am a follow the recipe kind of person.  I need specific details in order to make something.  I do not do well flying by the seat of my pants.  Remember those tests in jr. high where they tried to figure out what you have an aptitude for?  Undo this box or put this box together was not my forte.  I need pictures and tutorials if possible to make something.  I cannot visualize.  A standard tissue pattern is my downfall.  Ergo I love the PDF patterns available online.

Computers today can turn anyone into a creator!  Although I had a mom who sewed, I didn't actually pay enough attention to her to learn the craft from her.  I did, however, learn that I could make most anything I set my mind to.  Thanks to YouTube there is pretty much a tutorial to show you how to do everything.  That's where I learned to sew.  I ruined A LOT of fabric!  I'm on my 3rd sewing machine starting originally with a craft machine from QVC.  Now I sew on a Babylock Quest Plus.  It's a real workhorse of a machine.

I had a baby late in my life.  I retired from the jewelry business and apply all my energy to my family.  I started sewing because living in a warm climate I couldn't find lightweight, loose clothing for my daughter to wear.  I started making matching clothing for the two of us because I didn't want to clash with her when we were together (I know that's crazy but some people are bugged by strange things!).  

On my quest to have a pure child unaffected by this technology laden, plastic world I enrolled her in a Waldorf school.  This was a wonderful early childhood experience for the both of us. The Waldorf philosophy embraces all things handmade.  I started felting and dollmaking.  My daughter has become a creative sponge.  Phrase of most days is , "Let's do a craft mama!"  Her fine motor skills are miles ahead of a child her age.

Hopefully you will find my posts interesting enough to follow.  I will try to include pictures with all that I do for those of you who are intruction challenged as I am.

Feel free to follow!

Greetz!  Jill

 

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Reversible Flirty Skirt

Well thanks again to Anna Maria Horner for her beautiful fabrics and now her free Flirt Skirt Tutorial.  I've made one already and have decided that this will be a spring/summer staple in mine and Juliet's wardrobes.  I am making some adjustments to the pattern so the skirt is reversible!  Who doesn't like the option of flipping it inside out and having 2 skirts in one?!  So cute and comfortable!

Friday, March 4, 2011

Strawberry muffins

3/4 cups sugar                                                                          Oven 400 degrees
1 egg
1/2 cup butter
2 cups flour (we used whole wheat pastry flour)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups chopped strawberries

Cream softened butter and sugar together.  Add egg and mix well.  Sift dry ingredients together.  Add dry ingredients alternately with milk to butter mixture.  Add the vanilla. Gently add strawberries. Spoon into baking cups.  Top with sugar and cinnamon mixture or fancy them up with sprinkles.  

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Cape failure!

So my beautiful little cape was not a hit with Juliet.  It was too big for her and swallowed her up and I don't think she liked the feel of felt on her little baby skin.  I'll just have to sell it at the Retro Indie Market!  I'm working on a new smaller one for her that she should not be able to resist!  Pictures when I can catch her long enough to stick her in it!  This might be tutorial worthy as it is super easy.