Bonbon Purse

Hello, hello, sewists!
Thanks so much for stopping by today.
The pattern and instructions for these sweet little purses
is in the Spring issue of 
Classic Sewing Magazine

This green version was my first attempt and,
as you can see,
the monogram is oversized for the purse flap

The flap is is an in-the-hoop design and the fabric measures 5″ x 5″
I’ve completed enough in-the-hoop embroidery projects to know that the finished
design will be less than the 5″ x 5″ size,
but I threw caution to the wind, and just added a 2″ monogram – don’t do that!
By the time the design finishes stitching around the edges and the flap
is sewn onto the purse and curves slightly over the top of the bag,
a good portion of the embroidable space is consumed in the construction process

I changed the size of the monogram to 3/4″ on my second version:
much better!

Soft and stable foam is used to give the purse body and structure,
so these binding clips are more effective than pins at
holding those layers together
One change I made to the original instructions was to add ‘D’ rings
on which to attach the handle
The ‘D’ rings allow the handle to hang nicer
and they give a more polished look to the purse than just
sewing the ends of the handle into the side seams as instructed in the pattern

Assembly time on these little sweeties is about 2 hours each
and they are very, very small
A perfect size for your little toddler to store her
miniature toy figurines or other valuables
Have a terrific stitching week, my friends.

Ring Bearer Pillow

“Here Comes the Bride, Here Comes the Bride”
We are in the throes of wedding season, my sewing friends
The instructions for this beauty are in the Summer 2016 issue of Classic Sewing Magazine
For subscribers, designer Sonia Showalter,
also includes the machine embroidery lattice file as a free download
No, there is not a bride in my life,
but
I’m putting together a few decorations for an upcoming
marriage conference hosted at our church
I used two layers of wash away stabilizer and some gold thread that I had on hand
Once the embroidery is stitched out and the stabilizer washed away,
the four lattice panels are ready to be joined together with some ribbon
The outside edges of the lattice overlay are then stitched down to the pillow
and the machine embroidered flowers are stitched on by hand
(yes, the flower design file is also a free download for subscribers)
This is such a quick project with lovely results
I highly recommend it for anybody who is looking for a ring bearer pillow
Can’t you just see that lattice in beautiful colors to match any bride’s wedding?
I also made some cute little treat bags using my paper crafting supplies
I filled these with Hershey’s Hugs and Kisses
They will make the conference that much sweeter!!!

Have a lovely week, sewing friends, and treat that bride in your life to a beautiful,
handmade ring bearer pillow
(or . . . contact me and I will make it for you – you can tell her you made it, it will be our secret)

Leggings – A Wardrobe Staple

Hello Sewing Friends!
I’m a true legging lover
they are comfortable and
they can be worn in numerous ways
Dress them up with a stylish topper and heels
wear them under a dress or skirt
for added warmth in the winter with boots
for a simple pulled-together look in the summer with sandals
You can make them full length,
cropped,
or bermuda length

Use a ball point double needle or a serger
to achieve the ready-to-wear hem look
and use a ball point (stretch) needle for your seams so they don’t ‘pop’
no extra equipment required
I’m teaching a legging class on March 2 from 1-5 p.m.
at Nuttall’s in Layton
if you are local, won’t you come join us?
You will go home with a new pair of custom sewn leggings

Pattern:  Kwik Sew 3636
Then sit back, relax, and enjoy the sense of accomplishment
from such a short investment of time and effort
Thank you for stopping in to say hello.