Friday, August 10, 2012

Hello there, blog friends and family, remember me?  I am still here, never fear.  And here's a little treat I have for you today: Karen's Studded Shoulder Bag, from Pieceful Life Designs.  She sells her bag patterns through Patchwork passion and apparently if you email them they will send it out to you, including international purchases. Link here: http://www.patchworkpassion.co.nz/patterns_1.html

Isn't she a beauty? Isn't this so totally me? Let me count the ways.

1) made with lilac tweed purchased from thrift shop



2) lined with fake shantung purchased from thrift shop. Pattern includes internal pocket and key ring.




3) wouldn't the Queen mum have just loved its delightful texture in shades of lavender?





4) the kit of hardware you purchase with the bag pattern has really good quality sturdy studs.





5) it neatly fits all things required for my lifestyle - sunglasses, umbrella (often used simultaneously) sketch book, purse, keys, snack box.

6) the proportions of the bag are really aesthetically as well as practically pleasing. I have included a body shot so you can see how the bag sits on the body. 




a new bag with an old bag

We made the bag in our sewing guild meeting, and we were lucky enough to have Karen (the designer of the bags) herself be our tutor. A whole day of uninterrupted sewing. A room full of sewing enthusiasts. Learning new techniques. Priceless.




Sometime this weekend I will write a Pattern Review for this bag and enter it into the bag making competition. It would be nice to win of course, but if there is one thing I have learned from my journey over the last couple of years, sometimes just being able to participate is a victory in itself.

29 comments:

  1. Snap! As I was reading your post, I kept thinking: She should enter this is the PR contest- and you are!
    I love it. It's really cute. The texture of the fabric, the studs, the pretty lining, everything. Great bag.

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  2. What a great looking bag! I've been keeping an eye out for such a good bag pattern it looks and sounds perfect for a purse for me or a on the go baby bag :) I can't wait to read your review after you use it a while!
    Bonnie MS
    www.etsy.com/shop/RidingTheBonnieWay
    ridingthebonnieway.blogspot.com

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  4. So nice to hear from you! Great bag, but a little too large for my shoulders and neck (my chiropractor disagrees, he wants more of my $$).

    You have my vote btw.

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    1. woo hoo! off the mark with a vote! thanks Elle C - Karen also makes some lovely carry handbags. I hope she distributes those patterns soon too.

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  5. You have *almost* convinced me I should make a bag... I've been resisting for some time now, but this one is a beauty.

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    1. You are wise to be a little wary - they are surprisingly time consuming - but I'm sure you'd make a cracker one ...

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  6. What an excellent bag. It sounds most practical in addition to looking rather smart.Is the fabric a wool tweed?It appears quite sturdy from here. Sturdiness is an admirable quality in bags, not met by quilting fabric,which many patterns seem to call for - I haven't managed to make a bag successfully yet, and here I am pontificating about them, shame on me. Your sewing day sounds lovely.

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    1. yes it is wool tweed - I love wool for bags because it is naturally dirt repellent and the fibres are much stronger. It is a very sturdy bag too. Like you, I can not bare impractical things.

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  7. Gorgeous bag, and you are right, perfectly you. A whole day of sewing sounds fun. I have tried sewing in groups before, but I just end up spending the whole day nattering and I can't concentrate enough to do a good job sewing.

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    1. oh yes plenty of talking was to be had and I didn't finish on the day - but better sewing talk than parent talk, don't you think?

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  8. Hey! Nice to see a photo after reading the description in your witty personal correspondence. It is very nice, capacious, and aesthetically pleasing in its lavender tones. Now I want to see it with your coat- "Queen Mum Camouflage"!

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    1. Ha yes! You are so right! I very much enjoyed your personal correspondence as well. viva la beige!

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  9. Very cute! It is bigger than it appears in your first person-less pictures. I like the hardware too. You can count on a vote from me :)

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  10. Sounds like a great day. Love your bag.

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  11. What a really great looking bag. Purple tweed? That was a brilliant choice. I like how roomy the bag looks too.

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  12. It's gorgeous and just the right size.

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  13. Great bag and so happy for you that you got a great sewing day out (as well as jealous :) )

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  14. Looks super, and I love the idea of a supply kit for purchase with the pattern! The size and proportion of the bag are wonderful. Good luck!

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  15. Fantastically stylish bag. Well done you, and even bigger congratulations on being able to get out of the house to make it.

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  16. What a great looking bag. It looks perfect on you. I love the dimensions off the bag. All your finishing touches look very neat and professional.

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  17. That is a terrific bag. It's substantial. Love that.

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  18. Wow, that is one fabulous bag! I have to admit I was shocked in the body shot to see how big it is. It looked like such a dainty ladylike purse before, but now I can see this thing is no lady; it can pack a heck of a lot of stuff. Great job, great colors too.

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  19. If I ever get the time to make a bag I'd love to make one like yours. It's beautiful .

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  20. Such a nice bag there MaryNanna!!

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