Sew-a-long: Purse in a Weekend

I've been wanting to make this type of purse for a while and got the right amount of encouragement when Celine over at Vol d’oies suggested a sew-a-long to make that purse! And, to even make it in one weekend! Well, a girl doesn't need much more encouragement than that.

I invited my good pal Nancy to hang out at the house Saturday night for some girly conversations while we both worked on projects: her on sorting paperwork, me on the following purse. I still have to sew a button onto the front and finish the bottom of the lining, but I couldn't wait to take a picture.



A bit closer...



This purse was so fun and easy to make. It took only about 4 hours to make and was made entirely from my stash. The hardest part was picking and cutting the fabric. Not that cutting fabric is challenging, but I just liked my fabric sooo much I almost couldn't cut it. That white fabric with the red squigles is actually from a vintage pillowcase. The red is hand stiched embroidery. Parts of the pillowcase are badly stained so I salvaged the good parts for this bag. Almost all the rest of the patches are leftovers from previous projects or fabric given to me by good friends.



On a slightly related note, if you remember, the purse mentioned in my previous post (the one with the embroidered pig), I gave to a good friend a couple of weeks ago. Since that friend has actually been using the purse, others have seen it. Well, today after church, a gal came up to me and said that she'd like to commission a purse! I've never been so flattered as a sewer before. Sure, I've gotten compliments on my sewn items before, but this was so unexpected. First, I didn't have to fish for the compliment. And second, it was by someone who doesn't even know me that well, and thus, doesn't "have" to compliment my creations. I wish I had more time to make items for everyone just so I can get more compliments like this!