Starfish Clutch Bag

When planning a costume or outfit one should be aware of the the details and the needs they may have while wearing the outfit or costume. This, of course, means that you need to take into account more than just hair things and gloves - this means a handbag or purse. This also, of course, means I came up with something fun from scraps of my costume that would match perfectly. (Happy Halloween! And enjoy!)

I decided I needed a starfish hand bag with a wrist strap that would be big enough to hold my cell phone, ID, and a little cash. (Plus, it needed to be fun.)


It's a lined, quilted little starfish clutch made from green fabric, black lace, with an elastic wrist strap, and a button/elastic closure. To make it pliable, yet keep it's shape I using felt in between the exterior and lining. (Yes, I needed another handbag. Don't judge me.)

Using a paper starfish template, I cut all my fabric (all eight layers), paying attention to the direction they would be in the end result.

I made a couple stitches on the corners to keep things in place before securing with a few stitched lined on the one side to "quilt" the pieces together securely.

On the other side I cut a slit through all four layers as an opening that would be big enough for my hand and my cell phone. I used a simple blanket stitch to finish the edge of the opening and to secure the four layers together. I added a short piece of elastic and a silver button as a closure. Then I added a few "quilted" lines to that side as well.

Using my wrist as a guide I secured the elastic strap to the top inside of one of the starfish with a needle and thread. I pinned the two side together, with the outside facing out, pinning the tassels as I went to be caught in the machine when I sewed it shut. I then sewed the outside edges of the entire starfish with a zigzag stitch to secure the entire thing as a finishing stitch.

It really didn;t take that long to make and it is just the right size to hang off my wrist.

A Clown or a Scarecrow?

In honor of "The Ladies Who Craft" I share my clown scarecrow. He didn't start out as a clown, but he ended up as one. Sometimes things just evolve.

Pin Cushion Jar

Anyone who sews or crafts knows how important the tools they use are. Taking a little inspiration from Queen Martha (as in Martha Stewart and her website), I made this to keep on hand and as a handy gift for other sewers in my life (Mom, Grandma, Aunt someone or other, or just a best friend). I use this one as a button jar. (Something we can all use on hand.)

So, use one of those jars you might have on hand (especially if you or someone or know is into canning), a scrap of fabric, a bit of cardboard, a little extra bit of filling/stuffing and make one for yourself (or someone you know).

New Tote from Old Jeans

You need a new gym bag, what do you do? Go buy something new? Well, you could, but I went another route, turning an old pair of my brother's jeans into a tote for my gym stuff.

The zipper was busted and I don't have a machine strong enough to put in a new one, so this old pair of jeans was added to the scrap bin to find new life in another project. In this case a new gym bag for me. It is a lined boxed shaped bag with a smaller matching denim pouch to stick in side. The roomy bag was made from five mainpieces (front, back, two sides, and bottom), lined, with an added pocket inside and at the zipper. (I could have sewn it shut, but adding a pocket was more amusing.) It was build to ensure plenty of room for my shoes, work out clothes, towel, and shower stuff. Plus, it's totally washable.

It may double for a beach bag on an upcoming trip south.

Pieced Denim Skirt

What do you do when you have a pair of jeans that fit around the waist, but the legs are falling apart? Make them into a skirt... of course. (Waste not, want not, and all that stuff.)

This pair of jeans was literally falling apart at multiple places on the leg, but they still fit pretty good. Piecing the salvageable parts of the old jeans with a light weight red fabric and side panels from the legs of another pair of scrap jeans I patched this denim skirt together into a wearable piece of art. Patches, yarn, and embroidery floss were used to decorate,  stabilize weak places, and cover holes or tears.

Some of the pockets were in really weak condition and patch work had to be done by hand with patches or stitching. It was very much a labor of love using both the machine and a lot of hand work to secure and reinforce. (I guess lucky for me I learned hand work first and for many years preferred it almost entirely over the use of the machine.) The bottom edge has a straight stitch sewn all the way around around about 1/2 inch from edge, the the outer edge left raw.

Backside

I wanted a longer skirt (this one coming to about mid calf) that was comfortable, easy to wear, and unique. I love the contrast of fabrics for spring or summer days. Instead of going out to buy a new skirt, I got want I wanted by my own hand and I got to bring new life to something that might have otherwise been thrown out. Be who you are and who you want to be - express you.

Easy Sewn Clutch with Geisha

This Easy Embroidered Clutch was made in one evening and made from scraps of material I already had on hand. The exterior was made from a sturdier material (leftover form place mats I made my sister on year). The lining was made a a velour-like red (leftover from a Mrs. Santa type costume I've been working on). The button and red bias tape loop were both from my assorted notions.

The Geisha was embroidered with black embroidery floss BEFORE the pieces were sewn together. I used a simple running stitch to hand embroider her.

It was super simple, but I still included the basic instructions. I've been wondering if my needlepoint gets enough use for things that are more personal to me. See, needlepoint isn't just for your Grandmother. (Actually, I don't think my one Grandmother has ever done needlepoint.)