A New Purse -- Finally!

My old purse had gone through its paces – from Chic (or as chic as I’m going to get, which is to say – not very), to Shabby Chic, to just plain old Shabby. It served me well, but its day in the sun was done.

So, here we go:

Oh, I really like that. I used BasicGrey’s Little Black Dress 2 with Pink Chalk Studio’s Mail Sack pattern. (I made up the MIni size).

It’s the exact same pattern I used before. I really did love that purse down to its shabby bones. But now, after a little bit of tool and gadget love, I’m back in business. I used the GO! to cut the two inch squares. I used Pellon’s fusible grid interfacing to sew up the patches.

Here’s the grid:

Here’s the grid with the patches laid down:

The first set of rows sewn:

And the second:

I love working with Pellon’s fusible grid. It makes piecing go so fast!  I showed how I used it in previous blog entries.  If you’re interested, you can find the tutorials here (the square grid) and here (the on-point grid).

I used fusible fleece for body. Since the purse has darts, I cut out the wedges so there would be less bulk:

Meanwhile, here’s a close-up of some of the buttons that I added for a little bit of interest – also because I love buttons and it’s nice to get them out of the button box!

One last shot, the inner pocket:

I’ve made up some more Civil War sampler blocks, too, but I’ll save those for another day.

Meanwhile, I’m off with my new bag to go be chic (ha).

More Civil War

Apparently I am a woman on a mission. During my spare moments, I work a little more on the Civil War sampler. So, here are the next three of the sampler blocks.

This third block is not in the Civil War Sampler book. I’ve almost run out of the ones from the book that I’m going to make, so most of what I do from here on out I’m pulling from BlockBase. This one is number 2179 or “Double X.”

Besides getting to work with these lovely fabrics, I am also feeling very lucky on the weather front these days. Nothing like the weather we’ve been having lately (and parts of the country are currently having!) to make you really appreciate some warmer temperatures. In a little bit, I’ll be heading out for a walk with Mr. Cooper and my own true love (who is off for the holiday). After that, I’ll only be wishing I’d be going back to the sewing room. Instead, it’s that time again: grading, grading, grading. (Bah).

Still, pretty fabrics, pretty blocks. I’m a happy camper.

More Progress

Creeping along on the Civil War sashing. So many more to make, but, hey – progress.

I have twelve more of the actual sampler blocks to sew up, but I’m going to replace a good number of the ones from the book with blocks I’m finding in BlockBase. Inset seams? Nah. Applique? Uh, NO. It will still be a great quilt. (I hope).

Today? Some fun sew time with my sister. Which is as good a way to make it through this chilly winter as any, I say. (Is it Spring yet?)