Enough with the garment sewing, I’m back with a bag! It felt really good to make something I actually know how to make and with this tote, I don’t even have to feel guilty about having too many bags because it’s actually a present for one of my best friends who is turning 30 tomorrow. I really had a hard time picking the fabric for the bag, because her style is a lot more girly than mine, so I let her choose the main fabric from Etsy and went with her request for some lace.

I used Keyka Lou’s Lots of Pockets Tote and mixed the Kokka print with some brown corduroy, a pink cotton for the lining and some lace. I think the flap could use a pretty button, but I hadn’t a pretty one lying around so I’ll just buy one next week and sew it on in the office, lucky for me we’re working together :) I’m still not 100 % sure if she’ll like it but it was as girly as I could get.

As far as the pattern goes: I absolutely love it!! I enlarged it by 120%, because her pattern tend to run small, and made the handles a bit wider and longer. It’s a great, great bag with an awesome shape and I really like the front pockets. I may even go so far and say it’s my favorite bag pattern so far. Which leads me to the conclusion: I have to make one for myself to. But you knew that already, didn’t you :)

Since I missed last weeks Sunday Stash I thought I’ll post two sets from my Tony Stash. Yes, there are still some more prints to come, my man really went shopping crazy :)

Alexander Henry

Okyo Kanji

 Tatsu

No Idea what kind of prints they are, but they’re pretty don’t you think?

They’re all fat quarters and I’m not sure what I’ll make with them, any ideas? Anyway, I hope you’re all having a great Easter weekend and I’m off now to check all your Sunday Stash post before I’m heading to the barbecue.

Want to show off your Stash? Join the Sunday Stash at 1/4 of an inch.

Wanna see more stash? Check out the Sunday Stash flickr group.

It feels like ages since the last time I posted something. Thanks to everyone who commented or sent me an email asking what’s going on with me. You guys are great! The last two weeks have been a bit hectic and sometimes life gets the best of me and I don’t even feel like hanging around on the web. So please bear with me if I don’t post that often in the next couple of weeks, I’ll try my best not to disappear for too long :)

I haven’t felt really crafty lately, but this morning I woke up and went straight to my sewing machine. Et voila: the Summer Blouse, take two!

This time I lowered the neckline by 2 inches (still too high for my taste), took in the sides by 2 inches (still too wide), shortened the sleeves by 4 inches (they’re 3/4 sleeves now even if you can’t see it in the picture) and made it 4 inches longer which is a good length for me I think. I used two Heather Ross Mendocino prints, and even though I love the fabric I think it has a bit too much body for this kind of shirt. So next time I’ll try and use something with a bit more drape. Yup, you heard right, I’ll make at least another one :)

In other news, spring has finally arrived in Germany and I can’t wait to wear my flip-flops!! I hate being in shoes and socks and I would love to walk around bare foot 24/7. Tomorrow we’re invited to a barbecue so I’ll have to get going and get some nice steaks and cheese, and after that I’ll be back and do some blog reading. I’m sure I missed a lot :(

Even more beautiful Tony stash. Looking at these prints I really think spring can’t come soon enough, I can’t bear the gloomy sky any longer. And writing about spring reminds me that I have to finish the Spring Quilt top till Thursday, because I have the opportunity to buy the backing on Friday and until then, I really have to figure out how much I need. So how about you ladies, did spring arrive in you part of the world?

Patricia Bravo, French Riviera Collection

Wallpaper in Teal

Medallion in Teal

Want to show off your Stash? Join the Sunday Stash at 1/4 of an inch.

Wanna see more stash? Check out the Sunday Stash flickr group.

I don’t know what’s wrong, but I really can’t bring myself to sew anything. It’s raining outside, I have a cold (but have to go to work anyway) and my overall mood isn’t that great. I can’t even bring myself to waste my time surfing the web, which is a first for me. So to force myself to do anything else besides working, sleeping and being cranky, I thought I’d post the Summer Blouse from Weekend Sewing I made two or three weeks ago.

This is the first version, so please excuse all the wrinkles and the fraying hem.  I used some vintage bed sheet which turned out to be a good choice, because I really have to practice the binding and sewing on  the placket neatly. Again, I went with the large size, which fits perfectly around the bust but is a tad too wide around the waist and definitely too short. If I lift my arms there is too much belly action going on for my taste :) I’m also thinking about a v-neck like Ashley suggested. Overall this blouse is pretty easy to sew, but I would definitely recommend making it longer and to go slowly with the binding, because it’s kind of tricky to sew it on nicely, or maybe that’s just me :) 

If I ever get out of my crafters block, I’ll make the final version with the fabric I actually bought for it - Heather Ross Mendocino Kelp Stripe in brown.  I’m loving the cotton poplin and have to hold myself back from buying more of the Mendocino line before it’s sold out.

Edit: Next time I take a picture in the mirror I really should clean it first before I wonder why all the pictures are so blurry, duh. 

Sunday Stash on a Monday *sigh* Lately life gets a bit in the way with crafting and blogging but give me another week and I’m back to my old self. Anyway, two more prints from my Tony stash:

Jay McCarroll Woodland Wonderland collection

Leaning Trees

Cute Deer and Shrooms

Want to show off your Stash? Join the Sunday Stash at 1/4 of an inch.

Wanna see more stash? Check out the Sunday Stash flickr group.