Project In Process

Actually, I have MANY projects in process! But this is the most recent NEW project....

This is a Crazy Quilt Kit that I purchased some time ago from Shannon at Sweet Inspirations Etsy Shop 
She has beautiful fabrics and hand dyed trims that she sells from her shop. She is a sweetheart and is very helpful and kind. Do you remember my post about the heart I had made for our Anniversary? Shannon was the one who created that gorgeous heart for me. She has many beautiful handmade tags and items in her shop. She is a very talented gal.

I began working on this purse the beginning of this week as I travelled with Hubby to deliver sparkling cider to a business in Seattle which will be carrying it. Since I did not plan my time well, I seldom do.... **rolling eyes at self**, I ended up handstitching these pieces together in the car!

You can see where I tried to stitch a piece of fabric on and I messed up the picture of that sweet girl! The fabric was not pinned and I ended up removing the stitching and repositioning it. I decided to NOT start over and place some embellishments over the stitches, we will see what I come up with! This second picture is after the majority of the fabrics are stitched down, it's a different color..."Don't start THAT again!" because of the afternoon sun shining through the car window, as we sat and waited for a semi truck to be cleared from a rollover accident on Snoqualmie Pass, over the Cascade Mountains.

All of the fabrics that I have chosen to use are sewn in place in the shape of the purse I am making.

Now, to decide what embellishments to place where! I am not good at these kinds of decisions, that perfectionism stuff again, so I am just going to be brave and CHOOSE! 

Here are a few of the things I will be choosing from! The picture at the left has laces and trim that will be stitched with fancy stitches to the area they are shown right now.

These are some velvet hand dyed ribbon leaves I made quite a few years ago and I have not

been able to find the right item to use them on until now! They have the same 

dark pink in them that the flowers the little girl is holding have.

I am so happy to be able to use these. I think a velvet ribbon rose might be

a great addition to this purse as well.

Pat Winter, who made my crazy quilt purse for me,  likes to use beautifully embellished insects or butterflies on her purses. She and Shannon happen to be good friends! 

I came across Pat's Blog, Pat Winter Gatherings,

after having seen and purchased a few pieces from Shannon's 

Etsy Shop. Then later realized they knew each other well!

I decided that I could try to make my own dragon fly... so here is my original attempt. 

I accidentally cut off that left wing... but I am trying to just work

with what I've got, not be a perfectionist about this! 

Not finished with him yet, the dragon fly, but I do plan to place him on the purse.

Look at some of the gorgeous beads and sequins that Shannon included in the kit. 

There are so many things to choose from, and enough fabrics to make three of the same purse! 

I am sure I will use these fabrics in other projects as well. 

I will be working on this awhile, but I will show you when it is finished!

I am using Pat Winter's DVDs teaching me how to do this and make these purses. 

She has amazing directions and suggestions and is a HUGE inspiration to me.

After 22 years, I am finally trying the crazy quilting I've been planning to do!

YAY, HOORAY!

Hugs and Easter Love to you all! 

Betsy

The Neckpurse Strap

I realized I hadn't posted pictures of the "strap" I made for the neck purse I was given by
Pat Winter, of Pat Winter Gatherings Blog.

It is really a used necklace chain we had, with some beads added.
It was harder than I hoped it would be.
The perfectionist in me is a real pain....

Above was my first try... And I was not particularly fond of it. Do you know how many times beads rolled off my counter???? I am sure it took an extra hour or two from climbing off my bar stool to pick up the crazy beads! Yes, I have beaded before, but I didn't want to go get a towel, I just wanted to bead!

Next time.... I will get a towel. *rolling eyes at self*

I looked at other beading projects and realized that I needed larger beads, which I thought I didn't have. But I looked around and remembered a few places I had things stashed and found the rest of the beads I needed.

This version is more pleasing to my eye, and this is how it has stayed. From the bottom of the strands up, I found the green teardrop beads in a bead set we have had for years. I was using the "E" beads at the time, from the set. Now, I have use for the seed beads as well!

The pink are Swarovski crystals I have had about as long. The oval pearls are from a stash of vintage beads I bought at a yard sale a few years ago. I am amazed at the beads and vintage jewelry I bought there that day. Two boxes... Some I won't use, but much I will!

The gold rose beads, large and small, are from that same purchase. The green glass beads came off one of those Jewelry Christmas trees that were so popular in the 60s. It was my mother's tree in a frame, but she didn't make it. So I had no qualms about taking it apart to use the jewelry! I am using the frame for something else.

The pink beads I stole from Daughter*4's earring drawer! I didn't realize they were given to her as a birthday gift when she was 12. She doesn't wear them so I thought they were fair game...Oops! She can inherit the purse! I don't have any pink large beads, so I was scrounging! I did send her pictures and asked if I could use them... She told me they were a gift, and forgave me. 

The glass beads above the pink were from a collection of vintage aurora borealis glass beads I purchased from my favorite local Vintage shop, Patina. 

I used necklace clasps to attach the bead strings to the purse and to an old metal necklace chain I did get permission to use from Daughter*4! She gave me that some time ago. I like how the

clasps accent the beads much better on this version. instead of at one end, they are on either end of the bead strand.

Above the aurora borealis beads are a smaller gold rose bead. I thought their vintage look was just right for this purse. I wanted to add some "Glam" to the purse back so I spent a gazillion hours making this collection of "baubles". This was what I was making when I kept having to get off my bar stool! I realized that I needed more of the correct jewelry findings, so I made a trip to JoAnn's Fabric and bought a collection that matched what I was already using, a combination of gold and antique golds colored metals. It made it so much easier when I had enough of what I needed to attach each item so it could hang just right at the right length and spacing. The pink aurora borealis was a vintage necklace on a gold chain, also from Patina. It was a wonderful color accent to the "baubles". I had a clear glass teardrop pendant , but you can see below, it was too large for this size of bag. Pretty, but larger than I wanted.

This was my first attempt at the "baubles". It needed more color as well as additional items. Here is 

a close up shot of the final "baubles".

I love the gold heart locket, I think it's Black Hills Gold, also from the yard sale find! I think I will put pictures or my initials inside of the locket. And there has to be a heart somewhere on this! I just love hearts!

Daughter*2 says the baubles should be on the front, they are also very beautiful there. I need to tack them down, however. They swing very well when I walk or lean over. 

I wear this purse whenever I go shopping lately. I am going to have to make a few more so I don't wear this gorgeous one out! It's already looking a bit soiled... Can't have that! I may just have to keep it hanging on the towel bar in my bathroom... It looks so beautiful there as well!

I am so excited to make a purse myself! 

And I have been doing more house cleaning and organization, so now I can give myself a little time to work on one. In the evenings, I have also been sorting seed beads... A bag of various kinds and colors of vintage beads from Patina. I need to call Judy at Patina and have her set aside the other two mixed bags for me! They will be great for Crazy Quilt Projects!!! And the sorting really appeals to my OCD!!!!! I have been sick a few days, and hope to stop sneezing and sniffing soon! But I can still sort beads! 

Have a beautiful Monday!

Hugs and thanks for coming by!

BETSY

P.S. I am not sure why the text changes during my posting when I post from my phone....I think that is odd...and I don't really like to post from my phone. But it's to keep me from spending so much time on the computer!!!! I AM trying to organize around here and the computer is SUCH a magnet to me!

And, I am not sure why only one picture didn't have the white behind it. That would be from the Be Funky App I used on the phone. I'd rather the white background was not there...I will remember that for another time I try it...