Handheld Friends, Part 2 {Clutch & Purse Tutorials}

More clutches and purses?! Yes, please!!
Here are a few more (with their tutorials) that I have made as gifts for family. 

My grandmother and Larry's mom both complimented one of my first clutches that I had made for myself a while ago...Though she was one of my first clutches, I still use her frequently--the button and contrasting inner lining are my favorite features. Here she is!

My grandmother requested one in a black and white and red color palette for when she goes square dancing. I had just the perfect fabric for this! 

I also made a red/black/white bracelet and stuck it inside of the purse for her. :)

I unfortunately wasn't able to get a photo of her actual clutch--but this one was made from the same fabric that I had used for her's--hers was a little larger, had a red stripe on the front, a longer wrist strap and pocket on the inside.

 Larry's mother also complimented the clutch, but since she's the use-one-purse-until-it-falls-apart kind of lady, I was nervous she would love the fact that I made it for her but maybe not put it to use. Nonetheless I had to make her one! She loves the color purple. I found an amazing floral print that complimented a gorgeous purple sparkle fabric that I knew I wanted to use for her.



Inside has a pocket for her ID, cards and cash



Larry's mom and her clutch! She uses it frequently when visiting the Hard Rock Casino, movies and mall! YAY!

I used the good old gathered cluch tutorial from Anna (with a few variations) to create all of the clutches above.

I also made a purse for my sister. She had an old Care Bear sheet set that she had been wanting a purse made out of by my mom for many many years now! My mom passed on the task to me, so I used this past Christmas as an opportunity to make her one. I used the infamous Made-by-Rae Buttercup Bag pattern and tutorial for the first time and LOVED it! I've been wanting to make this purse for quite some time--I as pleased, it is fairly simple and turned out super adorable! I didn't use a heaver fabric for the lining, so I added a fusible interfacing to help give it some shape though next time I think I will try and use a heavier fabric when I'm not subjected to matching a Care Bear pattern. :) Also, instead of a magnetic closure, I used a fabric-button that I made out of the matching Care Bear fabric.

 

 

Tia with her new purse--she was very excited to see her Care Bear purse finally come to life!

Glad to share a few more of my purses and clutches--more to come sooner or later! :)

One Happy Customer :)

This week was very exciting for lots of reasons but one of the main ones is that a good friend from work was eagerly waiting for a creation of mine to take with her to use on a cruise that she leaves for this weekend. A hipster purse and coin purse in a fabric that she picked out! After two long nights of pinning and sewing without a pattern, I was so happy with how it came out & it's safe to say that she was too!

 

Meet Leslie!!

 

She LOVED her purse and preceded to model it around the office and pose for the camera :) Multiple times! I am pretty quiet when it comes to broadcasting my creations, but she definitely told people about it and I thankfully heard nothing but AMAZING comments on my purse...I couldn't ask for more.

 

I was so excited for how excited she was about her new purse and coin wallet! I love making things for people who truly appreciate them and I know there will be many more creations for her to come...as she already has a long list planned for me!

  

With Leslie's project I wanted to try something that I've been dying to add onto my sewing projects, especially my purses and wallets...an "Anngela's Pretty Little Things" label!!

A little bit of printable iron-on transfer sheets, heat-n-bond, and an old cotton t-shirt...

 

...and they turned out beautifully!! 

I am very happy with how the first run turned out!

I stitched one inside of the coin wallet...

 

And used heat-n-bond for the one on the pocket inside of the purse.

 

I am so excited for Leslie's new accessories and especially for my new labels! I feel like it really puts the finishing touch on my creations. It's the small things in life. :) 

PEACE & Love

After much trial and error, I finished my hipster purse! I started off planning to use a Simplicity pattern, but after cutting out the pattern pieces, I soon realized I definitely wanted something different. All in all I ended up using two rectangles, a smaller one for the front pocket and two longer rectangular strips for the straps and sides/bottom. I encased batting between the peace sign fabric and pink lining for sturdiness as well as in the strap. I made my own pink bias tape out of the lining and used it as an accent for the front pocket and top. I added a zipper to the main opening and a rhinestone peace sign iron-on to the lower front corner. I originally made the purse to take to theme parks, shopping, etc. but am finding that I use it way more often than that!

After cutting, shaping, pinning and more cutting, I was finally happy with this simple design!...I also found out with this project that I'd LOVE to own a bias making machine!...maybe one day! :) 

The other newest peace sign in my life is from Larry! He is learning more and more in the carpentry world and he surprised me one day after work with this awesome gift!!

It's a peace sign picture frame that he made all by himself :) 

I added some paint...

...and bling!

I LOVE it and I love you babe! Thank you so much!

My first post!

Hello all!!

I'm excited about getting back into blogging :) I'm going to use this as a way to showcase everything I make. I think people who take time to create things on their own deserve to! As well as anything interesting that should occur in my life :) 

My latest venture has been sewing. Here is my new, awesome sewing machine!! Even though I've had many arguments with him about it...thank you again Dad Wells for it! 

After reading many reviews and talking to many people I decided on a Brother. Over time, other brands have lost their features that made them the best and others have became better in value.  I LOVE this machine and have had no problems with it thus far! After many practice runs and playing with the different stitching (it even has cute heart & floral stitches!) I've hemmed a few jeans and made some repairs. My first real project was a purse. Here it is!

The first day wearing it out I had many compliments. Literally over 3 in just a few hours time! The next day one girl even said it looked "couture." HAHA! I think she was going just for the idea that it is one of a kind and handmade :) Either way I am very proud that this is the first piece that I've made! 

My second was another purse out of an old yellow sheet. The first day wearing it my co-workers commented on it not knowing I made it :)

My next project will finally be clothing! I've purchased fabric from Jo-Anns at least 4-5 months ago that I'm determined to turn into a dress and probably skirt. We'll see how it goes :)

Another project that I am working on are plastic flowers. They were an idea given to me from my aunt. After seeing a sample flower she received, I googled it and fell in love! It was created by Anthropologie with the idea of making "green" decor. I LOVE this idea! I have many flowers already cut and shaped. I still have many more bottles to save and transform and am still trying to find the right paint...but once I do I'll post how it all went! :) 

My roommate Jamie & I  also have another small project in the works, but it's a secret ;) It shall be unveiled soon enough though! 

PS: You can check out some of my projects that I have created throughout the past years under the Completed Projects tab on the sidebar. As well as learn About Me :)