Future Handbags

It's friends and family weekend at Joann's.  Tomorrow is the last day to get an additional 25% off your purchase, including clearance!  Here is the coupon.  If you need buttons, now is the time to get them.  They are buy one, get one free and you also get 25% off on top of that.  I found some great remnants and other fabric to make some more bags and now I can't wait to get them started...

...but real world obligations are making me put off starting new projects.  :(

Dulcie's Accessories

Last night, I launched my Etsy store!....very exciting.  I named it after my grandmother.  She was a professional seamstress and I hope she'd be proud of me.  My store is very basic - once I figure out how create a banner, etc. it'll have a much more appealing appearance.  I have 12 items listed - 11 aprons and 1 bag.  I still have another 2 items almost ready to put up and another 4 started.  After that, I'll switch to bags.  Hopefully, my items will sell...
Here's the link:  Dulcie's Accessories

Finally Finished! - Butterick 5249

I bought this pattern years ago, then finally started to make it a few months ago.  I put it aside when I realized I didn't have a matching zipper, bought a zipper, then never picked it back up again.  (I do this a lot. - Sadly, I have about 7 other projects that someday I'll finish up.)  Anyway, today I finally finished it.  Here it is:

I love the pocket!

So many more projects I want to do, but spring break is over now so back to work....maybe

My First Handbag

I've been wanting to try making handbags for a little while now, so I decided to just go for it.  Here it is!:

I used Simplicity 2685.  I thought this was going to be a lot more fun than it actually was.  It looks so simple and it really is, but it took me a lot longer than I anticipated to makes this.  Also, I didn't realize that working with canvas isn't that awesome.  My fingers are still sore from turning the handles inside out!  It was also much harder to keep the stitches straight...kind of failed at that.  I don't think it looks too bad though...you don't notice it unless you're up close.  

As an aside, i love this button!  

I decided to do my own pocket instead of using the one provided. - I made a 3 compartment pocket.  I used the bag fabric as a trim for the pocket.

I got all the fabric from the remnants bin at Joann's.  I did have to go back to get more for outside though.  I got the canvas from Hancock Fabrics - it's on sale there now!

It was a lot of work, but it paid off.  I think I'll try a much smaller bag next time...maybe a wristlet.  I'm off to take a nap now...

Spring Forward

I decided to take a break from aprons and make myself a dress.  I bought Simplicity 1872 when Joann's had Simplicity patterns 5 for $5 a few weeks ago and I've been itching to make it.

This pattern is super easy and comes together pretty quickly.  It's a great pattern for beginners. My only qualm is that I wish the tie was a little longer.  Well also I don't like that it doesn't explain how make a thread carrier.  Maybe this is something basic that most people know, but I don't so I omitted it.  I'll have to look on youtube or something to see how it's done and possibly add it later.  

I decided to try doing a French seam for the first time and it wasn't as bad as I thought...in fact it was pretty easy.

I was really excited about this dress and really wanted it to fit (the past couple garments I made for myself have been a bit too small) so I made it a size bigger than I originally planned.  That was a mistake...it's too big now.  I don't think it looks that obvious that it's too big so I can still wear it.  

I'm thinking a cute cropped cardigan in a fun color - like green - would hide the ill fit and also just look nice with the dress.  Anyway, I guess it's back to my aprons, but this was a fun break.

Half (Apron) Crazy

About 2 weeks ago, I sat down to make a half apron using Butterick 5474 view D.  I found this pattern very straightforward and easy.  So much so, I decided to make 5 more!  Two of them because I had remnants that weren't big enough to do any major project with and were the perfect size for the top apron.  (As an aside, I love the remnants bin at Joann's...I cannot leave the store w/out rummaging!)

This is the first one.  I decided to make flower appliques mimicking the print.  It was my first time making appliques.  I think they were successful.  I used the tie and under apron fabric as well as a jean skirt I cut up because it had a whole in it.

These are the rest:

I am well on my way to reaching my goal to set up my Etsy!

What???!!!!

I haven't watched American Idol in a few years, but for some reason decided to watch this season.  Tonight, the best male was eliminated!  I was looking forward to a season of listening to his velvety voice:

I don't even understand how he was in the bottom, let alone the judges' decision to save Elise over him!  I think I might be done watching this show.  Goodbye Jeremy, you were my American Idol...

Help the Chagossians!

Sign the Petition for the United States to Redress Wrongs Committed Against the Chagos Islanders:  http://wh.gov/Xbb

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 5, 2012—Today, SPEAK Human Rights & Environmental Initiative and the UNROW Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic of American University launched a petition, calling on the U.S. government to provide redress to the Chagos Islanders, an indigenous population expelled from their homeland in the Chagos Archipelago more than forty years ago.

The Chagossians continue to fight for the right to return to their homeland.  They were expelled when the U.K. and the U.S. governments decided that the United States would build a U.S. military base on the Archipelago’s main island, Diego Garcia.  Since their expulsion, the Chagossians have lived as a marginalized community on the island nations of Mauritius and Seychelles.   The recent passing of Lisette Talate, the oldest living survivor of the forced exile, underscores the urgent need for action by the U.S. and U.K. governments to redress the wrongs against the Chagossians.  Ms. Talate’s dying wish was to see her homeland again before her death.  We cannot let other Chagossians die without some form of redress: employment opportunities, compensation, and the opportunity to return home.  Noam Chomsky, a signatory to this petition, has observed, "If people knew, they would do something about it . . .”   Please do something today by signing the petition and sharing the link with friends.

We call on President Obama to respect the human rights of the Chagossians.  The Obama administration will respond to petitions that receive 25,000 signatures in 30 days.  The petition closes on April 3, 2012.

Please join the effort to bring this important issue before the Obama administration.

Sign the petition now at  http://wh.gov/Xbb