The week that was.... the week from hell. (Oh, and a spot of Flickr Friday)

Actually, the week has left me quite exhausted. I'm not sure if I can face re-capping the whole ordeal....

Here are some pretty pictures from the Review Round-Up Flickr page instead.

This 75mm Purse Frame Purse is from the Accidental Crafter. See the review HERE.

And these are from Purses by KP. Lovely Baguettes... reviewed here.

And something that made me laugh this week.... if you haven't seen Gypsy's post about my berets, have a peek over here....

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PS. If you have the time to do a review of one of my patterns, you have ONE WEEK left before voting begins for the Review Round-up competition!!!! See here for details.

Haven't I seen your face before...?

Yes, it looks a bit familiar....

Same, same - but different. Better.
And gosh... don't those new 40mm antique brass tri-glides look fabulous?

A new and improved Baguette pattern will be finished soon.... Despite great feedback on it, I've been wanting to rework it for ages. I re-drafted the pattern and am revising the instructions with all that I've learned in the (yikes!) five years since the Baguette was born.

(BTW - I'm thinking this black and cream number needs a splash of red... what do you think?)

Because of the extra development (read: "techniques and tips" for you, "hours at the computer and sewing machine" for me...) the price will be going up to $19.95.

If you'd like to pre-order the new version of the Baguette you can have it at it's current price ($17.60) and save yourself $2.35. Order before the price goes up on the website and you'll get a bargain.

EDITED TO ADD - THIS OFFER IS NOW FINISHED, SEE THE NEW PATTERN DETAILS HERE

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I'm also re-working the Day Bag instructions. Stay tuned for that one. Oh, and I'm fiddling around with a whole new bag pattern, too.... shhhhh.

My new convertible!

I've been thinking about this one for a long time. Probably since the time I made these clutch purses...

Yesterday I saw my chance and I grabbed it. The studio computer was at the computer doctor (very timely, on my one child-free day in a week when I have half a ton of patternmaking and instructions to do... couldn't work on anything at all). So all I could do was SEW.... what a shame, huh?

This is my Baguette pattern - made as a clutch.
The main fabric is from the Al Fresco range by Marcus Fabrics, and I think the other is a Baum Wyndham "Rhapsody" print (but don't quote me on that!).

So.... where's that convertible I was talking about...?

It becomes a handbag with a clip-on chain! I used small swivel hooks and silver nickel purse chain. Easy-peasy.

But that is not all... Oh no, that is not all I can do, said the cat! (Ok, I read too many Dr Suess books!).

It can also be a wristlet with a clip-on strap.

How...? I'm going to write a tutorial for this and a few other tricks I photographed while making this bag.

Stay tuned.... (I also have to write some instructions and do a spot of patternmaking...).

Tea-party Baguette

I finished this today. It's my Baguette pattern.

The fabric is from the Charisma range by Chez Moi for Moda. I adore these prints - they evoke a late 1930's afternoon tea - lace gloves, fine china and pretty dresses. I used three different fabrics from the range, and I love them all. The colours are divine, and glow through a tea-dyed tone.. and they somehow still seem fresh and zingy (..for want of a better better ....ummmmm... vocabulary...?).

Below is the INSIDE of the bag...

This pattern is for advanced sewing skills, mostly because of these curved corners - although my instructions are designed to TEACH you how to get a really good finish with these.... and of course, a bit of practise helps!

The Baguette was one of my first patterns in 2004 - before I discovered Fast2Fuse. I now include a strip of Fast 2Fuse in the base of the gusset to hold it flat. (I cut it without seam allowances and fuse it behind the interfacing and wadding and then sew the gusset in place). It works a treat - and I'm yet to go back and revise the instructions with that tip.... you learned it HERE, folks!

I'm also loving these new 32mm flat o-rings in "antique brass" (that's the colour, not the age of them...). I did something a little tricksy (but simple) with a tube of fabric threaded with cord. A variation on the o-ring loop theme.

I have a lot of sewing to do over the next two weeks.... (gulp!) so expect to see a few more new variations on some old favourites!!!

More Detachable Straps!

There seems to be a bit of a theme emerging here....

This time to convert the Baguette into a clutch purse. A few swivel hooks and o-rings and Bob's your proverbial relation!

My original idea was to make the strap to also work as a wrist strap (from one o-ring only), but a moment's distraction while I was cutting meant that I made it TOO LONG for that. I've run out of the fabric so have to be happy with the shoulder strap/clutch options for now.

There was a HUGE disaster with the original detail on the front (hence the very wide strap detail....). Unfortunately red doesn't photograph well. It's actually less FLARING and GLARING in real life, and it has topstitching on it.

It's not quite as it was planned, but isn't as bad as it looked at one point. It was of those organically-developing designs that reassure me that my problem-solving skills are still in tippy-top condition.

And Sarah, if you're reading this..... I know you're laughing.