The New Handmade

My beloved Victorian Cameo Bag is featured on Etsy’s “How-Tuesday” today!

I’m so excited to see my project on such a great site, and paired with so many inspiring items from Etsy shops. If you’re a visitor from Etsy, welcome! If you give the project a go, please share a photo on The New Handmade Flickr Group. We’d love to see your work!

An adaptation of the “Dinner Party Grocery Bag”, I made this for my mom for Solstice and I’m very pleased with the results. It helps that the fabric (2D Zoo by Alexander Henry) is utterly charming! I added an extra layer of home decor weight fabric on the bottom of the bag for contrast and extra strength. The darker color will prevent dirt from showing as much, as well.

This was a super-easy adaptation. Simply cut at additional 5 pieces from a contrasting fabric: one piece the same dimensions as the existing bottom piece, and four pieces matching the widths of the bag’s sides by 7″ high. Iron over 1/2″ along the top edge of each of those four side pieces. After you’ve sewn the straps down but before sewing the sides together, layer the contrast pieces on top of the main side panels. Match bottom raw edges. Topstitch a scant 1/8″ along the fold that you ironed over to secure each contrast piece to the side panels. Now treat each of these four sides as a single piece of fabric, sewing both layers into the seams. With the bottom of the bag, simply layer both bottom pieces right sides out and treat as a single layer.

Comment if you have any questions!

I was so exhausted after getting back from Quilt Market that despite being so excited and inspired by all the wonderful patterns and designs and fabric I saw, I just haven’t been able to get moving again. I have managed to write out some new ideas, make some sketches, but as far as actual work? Not a thing. In fact, my sewing area is an official disaster area from the manic last-minute work before Quilt Market.

But before the hard work of cleaning up begins, I’ve decided to ratchet up my motivation by doing a little Etsy-mining and share my finds with you. My friend and coworker Adrienne really got me going just before Halloween with a monster (hehheh) list of links for all things spooky, but I lazily failed to post it when it was relevant. So instead, the first Etsy post will all things plush.

I’ve made a handful of stuffed toys over the past couple years, but seeing the variety and creativity on Etsy is incredible–and incredibly motivating. Check these out, and let me know which is your favorite.