Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

A rainy Fourth of July and all I've done today is cook and sew.  I made this bag today.  I cannot tell you how much I love it!  I first found this cool silk tweed at Hancock's on sale 50% off and bought a couple of yards.  It was too heavy for a garment but it was perfect for a bag.  Then when McCall's patterns went on sale for 99 cents each, I got a whack of them and one was for this bag - M5198.  It called for metal rings, 1 3/4 in. in diameter.  I could NOT find them in any store and I went to them all.  I even tried the hardware store.  I looked online at purveyors of bag hardware, nope, nothing.  Finally a Google search led me to an eBay merchant and I bought 4 (just in case I wanna make another) and they were like 49 cents each.  I think the shipping cost more.  Anyway, the rings came yesterday and I decided the holiday with no plans was the time to whip this puppy out.  It is lined with a lighter colored cotton.  I don't like dark linings because I can't see the damn things if they are dark.  It has a couple of pockets inside.  The zipper is a left over over-ordered custom zipper for my Mariah - I couldn't make out colors online, so I ordered two to be sure.  This one had no other job to do so it was perfect.  The pattern calls for wrapping a tab of the fabric around the ring joins, but I thought that was too much of the fabric and it was really thick when folded over that many times.  I broke several needles trying it.  Finally, I hand stitched the fold-overs and decided to use some elk hide I had(what?) to create the contrast tabs and secure the ring joins.  I really like the way it came out,, though my hands are sore from punching holes in leather.  I was going to make a beaded zipper pull, but couldn't find the right beads, then remembered I had this key ring that I bought from a hearing-impaired peddler.   

I am nearing the finish of the Square Play sock yarn top - only about 5 more squares. 

The rains have been phenomenal this year, there is no county in Texas that remains in a drought - I cannot remember when if ever that happened before.  Yesterday it rained so much our little creek by the house that drains into an ephemeral pond left it's banks.  This is normally a path across the tiny creek which often runs completely dry.

Happy 4th Y'all!

Comments

[janna]

The bag is just lovely! And don't we all have scraps of elk hide just lying around? ;-)

Try to stay dry!

[Nancy]

What a great bag! Love the fabric and the hide - good inspiration. Looks store-bought and I say that in the very best way.

Love your skirt and dress too. I think the colors (or lack thereof) are perfect, but I like basics myself, so I'm not sure I'm an unbiased voice. The knitted accents will come with time, but be proud you have something you can wear NOW. How satisfying. Your daughter certainly looks satisfied with her haul! Won’t let mine see that or I’ll never hear the end.

Oh that rain looks lovely. We didn’t even hit 4” this year, so I’d take even one day of it.

[Liz]

That bag looks so cute, and silk tweed you say? Fancy!

The cement-bottom bayou by my house has been getting fuller, but it isn't anywhere overfilling its banks--yet. I'm sure the rain is doing somebody some good but I could really do with a front to push some of the humidity away...

[Susan]

What a beautiful bag! You sure are good at this sewing thing. I need to email you a baby shoe pattern for your boy!

Hope you are avoiding the skeeters that come with the rain. Rotten bastards.

[carrie]

That's a great bag! I love it.

[kelp!]

That bag is really, really gorgeous. The rain in houston has also been insane, but I kind of like it - it keeps the temps down.

[janet]

i love this bag julia! p.s. remember me? i've been here...just watching from a distance :)

[Nubiancraftster]

Wow I saw you purse at Sew Mama Sew Contest and I love it. You did a great job and I love the fabric