Polka dot purse/bag

So I am so inspired by all of you wonderful, amazing, crafty talented creative people.  I only wish I could sit and create all day and have oodles of money to buy all that I want and think I need.  I have really been loving all the fabric flowers I have seen and wanted to find a way to use them.  I apologize I do not know who's blog I saw these on or if I even made them they way they said.  I have a vague (let's just say I'm over 40 so everything is getting vague) memory of how these are made and so I took that and just winged it.  If  I got my idea from you, apologies, really... would love to give you the credit.  I will say I love what Jen at Tatertots and Jello has going on and the feel of her former blog layout ( love the new one too Jen) and so that was kinda the feel I was going for!  I know enough rambling!

So as you can see I cut out some circles, nothing special here, they gradually get a little bigger starting with the floral working up to the red. Some pinked some not.

I folded the circle in half and found the half way point and took a couple of stitches about 1/4" from the fold. Then I folded it in half the other direction and did the exact same thing. This gives it a bit of a pucker.

See how it isn't flat any longer.  I did this to all of them and then stacked them on top of each other and sewed them together with 4 or 5 stitches to the center.

Ok peoples, this is one of the funnest little tools around, I just love making these and they look so professional, but there is nothing to it.  You can pick them up for 2 or 3 dollars. Simply follow directions on the back and wala you have....

I glued this to the center of the flower.  I could have sewn it because it has a little eye to sew it on but I am a fan of hot glue, I mean getting done quickly!

Hmmm, isn't she cute??? Oh and I thought it needed a little "sompin sompin", so I took a strip of the black fabric about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide and just took a basting stitch on one side, until I had this cute little fan, that suppose to look like a leaf, and then took a few stitches and hot glued it to the back of the flower.  Do you see that little polkadot background.  I had the perfect thing to add these flowers to.

Isnt' it so cute?  I found this bag at Hob Lob.  They sell them for 7.00 I think.  I got mine half off.  I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it, but I thought it needed something, so I added these flowers. Hey notice the chair, she is growing up!

You can't see well, come a little closer my dear! I really am happy with it, I'm not sure if I will use it as a purse, I prefer a longer handle, still considering if I want to change that out. But I love it, burlap and polkadots, what's not to love I ask you!!!! Oh I almost forgot check out the inside.

I cut a piece of that plastic canvas to fit the bottom of the purse and covered it in coordinating fabric.  It helps give it a little more stability and a pop of color on the inside!

Here is a pic of the canvas, it's that stuff you sew on with yarn.

Anyway, I am glad summer is almost over and I get back to blog land and all you spectacular, brilliant artist/crafter/decorator types.

Speaking of creating, check out this amazing sunset we had this evening.  So glad I keep a camera with me! 

Now isn't that BEATUIFUL!!!



~toodles~ Laura

Free stuff is the best stuff!

So finally I am back to blogging. I have really missed seeing what you all are up to.  I work at a church with children and let's just say my summers are crazy busy! The kiddos go back to school on Monday soooo I see a little free time in my future!  Time for bloggin, I'm thinking.

Anywho, I got lucky and got this beautiful piece of furniture FREE!  It was left over from our rummage sale at church.  I had been looking for something new to go into my entry and this was the perfect piece.

It's in pretty bad shape huh?? You should have seen it before I started sanding it. (Yes I forgot to take a pic.) See the keyholes?  It even came with the keys.  It also came with a thingy (not sure what to call it) that held a mirror at one time.  I took it off, could be a future project.  Ok, so I sanded, and sanded and sanded... and then I thought what are you going to do with this thing.  I really wanted to paint it black but it just didn't seem like that was the right thing to do for where I was putting it.  I really want to move this piece into another bedroom one day so I wanted a quick fix for now.  I decided having a little color in the entry would be nice.  I say entry, I should clarify, it is where you enter my house, but there isn't really room for anything, but I am kinda stubborn that way and wanted an actual ENTRY, and of course a place to put some more STUFF!

See it's a little hard to get the picture because there really isn't an entry. As I was painting I started to remember these adorable little knobs at HobLob and so I knew exactly what I wanted to do with the chest. I painted it this lovely blue and went over the bottom with some walnut stain I had.  Then of course I had to get out the chochkies. You see that closet just beyond the chest?  That is the official chochkies closet.  Filled with stuff I trade out with all the time, just there at my fingertips.  (Don't tell the hubby tho!) Ok, so let's get a closer look at these things.

You may remember this frame I made.  I got this at the rummage sale for 1.00 I think and redid it.  It is beautiful, and one of my all time fav finds.  Those who have seen it say it is so much prettier in person.  I just love it.  Let me explain this entry a little better, it is a pass thru to our den, but I don't want everyone to see the den as soon as they walk in so we have installed these doors.  Once I put this chest up I felt like we needed some art work hanging, this was the perfect solution!

Check out this knob, isn't is so cute??? It was the perfect match, they make me smile! Am I strange to get excited about a knob???

Look at these sweet birds. I bought one in the spring and decided I needed the other one but when I went back, there weren't any.  Months later I went to Florida and there it was!  Happiness!!!

Check out this cloche.  Isn't is amazing???? I found this at Goodwill for 6.00, yep you heard me right, what a steal!!! I don't know if you can tell in the picture but it is about 18 inches tall.  I went to a Goodwill sale, not at my usual Goodwill.  I have never seen anything like this sale.  I think we had 4 or 5 carts between my sister and I .  People were lined up at the back waiting for more merchandise to come out.  It was craziness! So I am in love with my new chest in my entry and can't wait for fall when I can decorate it all over again!!! Speaking of fall, I have already bought 3 new things for decorating!  Do they have a 12 step program for that? My name is Laura and I am addicted to fall decorations! There I said it!!! Does anyone need to join me?

~toodles~ Laura