Denim skirt to shoulder bag

Does anyone else have problems finding the perfect hand/shoulder bag or is it just me?  They are either too big, too small, the straps are too thin and dig into the shoulders and on it goes.  I've been wanting to have a go at making my own shoulder bag for some time now but not at all confident about coming up with a pattern that would suit.  So what to do.  This skirt has been sitting in my wardrobe for some time not being worn.

Light black denim skirt.

With some snipping and........

 sewing I now have this.  Ta dah!!!

Front

 

 

Back

 

Button loop made from a scrap of left over fabric.

Nice wide shoulder straps.

I was going to photograph the process of converting this skirt to a bag but there were so many steps I decided it would be quite tedious reading and viewing.  This is what I did.  After cutting off the bottom of the skirt I took in the waistband on either side to make a smaller opening.  I added pleats to the bottom of the bag as it was too hard to gather the material to make the bottom of the bag smaller.  I triple sewed the bottom for strength and zigzagged all raw edges.

I made the straps from the part of the skirt I cut off the bottom.  They are hemmed, doubled over and I used a very small zigzag stitch to reinforce the edges of the straps.  After pinning them in place, I triple sewed them in place adding an X shape for extra reinforcement.  The pockets were sewn shut at the top as they were to shallow to be used on the outside of the bag.  I created one pocket inside by cutting a slit on the front of the pocket piece inside the skirt and hemming around it.

So there you have it, a new and hopefully just about perfect bag for me that cost me nothing more than my time, yesterday afternoon and evening.  I had the thread and the button already in my stash.  I'm just wondering now if I should embellish my bag.  Anyone with ideas or suggestions?

Have a lovely day,

Anne  xx

Storage

 I recently discovered a blog called Full of Great Ideas by Stephanie who is one very creative lady.  She recently set herself the challenge of a $0 spending month other than for things such as bills and essential food items.  As she loves to create and decorate, she is looking at what she already has in her craft room to use.  I am fascinated by what she is creating and how inventive she is becoming.  I've been encouraging her because I think we can all fuel our passion to create and decorate without spending, especially if you have a well stocked craft room like me.

Can you identify what this is?

It's supposed to be a CD holder.  It's a useless piece of wire that doesn't function as as a CD holder.  Check this out.

CD's spilling out all over the place.  We don't have room for CD towers due to limited floor space and besides they are so ugly.  So what to do.  Light bulb moment inspired by Stephanie, dig out a cardboard box from the recycling bin and make something.

Cut box in half and glue top and bottom flaps and reinforce the bottom with some heavy card saved from some other packaging at an earlier date.

I've used curtain fabric samples to cover the boxes with.  I used craft glue as the hot glue gun just wasn't doing it for me.  (All tips on how to get a hot glue gun working properly would be greatly appreciated.)  The fabric has been tucked away for years (given to me by someone who had a shop) and while it's not my favourite fabric, it serves perfectly well for this project.  The boxes aren't going to be on display after all.

I have white card strips also tucked away and I stamped them with fancy alphabet letters for a bit of whimsical nonsense.  Can't have CD's out of alphabetical order now can we?

I

Here is the second box covered in outrageous fabric.  Can you imagine curtains made from this fabric about 10 -15 years ago?  Of course I used the same outrageous colours to stamp the alphabet letters on the card strips for this box.  My stamping skills leave much to be desired, but hey, out of sight again.

This is a slight improvement on what was there before. 

I just have to tackle the cassettes now.  Yes, I still have cassettes and until I find some way of converting them to CD's, they are staying put.  I probably could have used plastic boxes to store these in, but plastic is so ugly and I would have to go out and try and buy something to fit.  This was so much more fun and it cost me zilch as everything I used was in my craft room.  As a side note, the blue box contains classical music (hubby) and the big circle box is for contemporary, boppy music (me).  :)

Enjoy your weekend and if you live in Victoria, enjoy your extra long weekend.

Anne  xx

Little things

Hi everyone, I've just dropped by to say a big thank you for your love, support and comments the last few days.  Miss G.'s friend has gone home now after three days and nights of rest and quiet.  Hopefully as a family we were able to give her some love, support and acceptance.  Perhaps too during our quite chats I was able to give her a few tips and suggestions on how she might go on from here.

Friday is the only day of the week I have nearly the whole day to myself and it's bliss.  I went out early after dropping off Miss G. at school to get some essentials like chunky wool, big crochet hooks and row markers to make winter socks.

Buttons for an op. shopped (thrifted) cardigan I found this week.  The buttons cost more than the cardie which was only $1.50.

I got lucky with this bag which is a birthday present for Miss G.'s friend who has just gone home.  I know she loves this bag and when I went to the shop to purchase one for her it was on SALE  :)

After my morning out, I came home to a quiet house to just sit and be still for a while.   I found pleasure in little things like finding a few flowers in the garden to make a cheery posy.  The peace, quiet and beauty of my garden is very soothing.

Picking ripe raspberries from our canes.

And enjoying the company of my little furry friend Stripey again.  Here he is stretched out beside me looking delightfully relaxed.  I have to admit to having a cat nap too, it was obviously the thing to be doing.

Wishing you a lovely weekend,

Anne  xx

Op-portunities

Today I had to visit the nurse to get a fresh dressing on my thumb, which fortunately is healing really well.  Hopefully steri strips and bandage will be coming off in a week.  While I was out and about, I had a few other bits and pieces to do, return books to the library, post some letters and return a DVD.  Guess what happens to be right next door to the DVD store?   An op. shop.  :)  Of course I just had to go in and have a peek and look what I came home with for $7.00.

The lamp was $2.00 and although it needs some work, I think it was a steal.  A good vacuum and clean and it will look lovely.  The enamel container will be used as a pot plant holder and the two photo frames will be painted off white.  The photo frame with the funiture pictures is for Miss G. as she is decorating her room in a French theme and I/she thinks this will suit that theme.

 The little silver pieces and cut glass pieces will be put away until I find the perfect place/decorating idea for them.  I might use them to hold candles.  Does anyone have any suggestions?

What was your last bargain?  I love hearing bargain hunting stories.

Anne xx