Art Bag

 Artsy, Crafty, Re-cycled fabrics, my own pattern &  Art Bag Creation.

Remember when I mentioned all those art bags & posted about all the wonderful inspiration? Well I haven't been in the painting mood lately, but I printed out something I painted onto muslin and created an art bag / purse using felt, burlap and fabric scraps I had laying around. I used some decorative machine embroidery. Although far from perfect my daughter Sammie fell in love with it. She asked me to make the straps so she could wear it from shoulder to hip. I thought I would share the results and a few steps I am going to take to make it better next time.

If you have ever printed something from your computer you will notice how sometimes the colors just don't match the image. That is just what happened here. It was pretty light on the muslin that I printed it on. But I used permanent felt tip markers to draw in shapes and color it up. I need to fix color prior to printing!

Well, you know how I hate to stop even where there are mistakes. I decided since I started and this was kind of like a pro to type any way to finish what I started instead of scrapping it. I love figuring out how to create patterns on my own. This image shared is the back where underneath the front flap is sewn in and connected.

Another thing I will change when I create my next one is the strap material. For this I didn't want to go out and purchase anything. I wanted to use felt I had, burlap from a recycled coffee sack, woven burlap scraps I had from the wedding table runner we made, and for the straps I had these great silk pants that were ripped which I cut and created them from. Added a vintage button from one of the grandma's stash & ta da.....

A happy girl modeling her new art bag with gnomes. I promise to share  my next one with you when I make it! & I hope I can even try painting directly on fabric when I get unstuck from my painting slump! Here is the acrylic painting completed which the art bag was made from.

 If you'd like to see my post about the art bag inspiration just click here. Also visit here to see the original post of the gnomes acrylic painting  and if like you can visit my link on the side bar where I have video of  how I finished the painting on You Tube.

Have you ever tried creating and sewing an art bag?  What art or crafts inspiring you right now? 

If you have never sewn a bag & need a pattern and instruction this might be something you would like. Amy Butler's Style Stitches.

Vendors Craft Apron Tutorial

Vendors Craft Apron Tutorial PDF

I came across this vendor craft apron tutorial and since I know a lot of you not only create arts & crafts but some do art & craft shows, well it just seemed fitting to share. This is easy sewing. I am not big on complicated or expensive patterns. I am sure if you are crafty, have a sewing machine this might be one tutorial you would like to try. I sure think this will be one I try this fall & I know the perfect place to get some fabric in our small town.
Are you artsy crafty? or just artsy? Hope you are inspired to sew & enjoy the tutorial!

Pink Friday

Today is Pink Friday for the Schools! Stand up for the Schools! The future for our children and their children depend on it! Go to........ www.pinkfriday09.org ! The cutbacks for California are suppose to be $$11.6 billion for K-12. This is a huge impact on our school systems. My mom was a teacher for 25years + She was active in the California Teachers Association
( www.cta.org) She would be recruiting everyone if she were still alive! We need to make our law makers listen! Audrey gets a newly sewn set of pink pajamas. She is my first granddaughter her mom Krissy is doing an amazing job! Audrey loves her new pull dogie toy. I want a better future for her and my youngest daughter of 7 yr. So Support Pink Friday! And have a very Pink Day, Pink Camellias, Pink Pajamas, Pink ribbons in your hair or Wear Pink to show your support for our schools! And remember some of the first things to go are art and music education! My heart goes out to all those affected by the cuts and join me in taking a stand for our educators and their needs!!