My new Christmas coffee table runner.

I've been having some great fun with my new sewing machine. This is a cute and table runner I made from an old charm pack I got years ago.  All it needed was some binding and my Juki zipped through it like lightening.

Yes, that's right, I have another machine. My Pfaff Ambition 1.5 and I are on a break. That's right, the Brain has be kicked to the curb and designated "back up" machine. I know, our relationship is only 1 year old, but although I have heard raving reviews about the IDT, mine was not quilting great for me and it always pushed the top layer. So frustrating!! I changed the presser foot tension, I pinned and pinned AND spray basted at the same time. Still sliding. Also, being a bag maker, I needed a better motor that would go through anything and I got that with my new Juki TL2010Q. Love her!

Pinky and the Brain are still part of my life and will be used often. Pinky for heavy leather, the Brain for free arm, zig zag, button holes and every other stitch. But, after reading review after review about this great straight stitch, mechanical, Juki - I knew I had to have one.

Sara from Sew Sweetness's sewing machine review tipped me over the edge and put me on the google search war path. Yes, I am keeping up with the Joneses, or Saras. Being in Canada, I could not order from Sew Vac Direct, but after much searching, I did find a machine at Sewing and Embroidery Warehouse out of Winnipeg.  The call was made, and after requesting a discount and extra bobbins, the lovely ladies in sales sent me out the machine the same day and I had it from Winnipeg 3 days later. I have to say, my life has changed.  It just.. is.. wow!!

Secret Handbags:
After finally setting up my "Bag Makers Sewing Supplies" section in my website shop, I am finally able to get to some sewing today. I am working on a bag pattern for a Spring issue of a Canadian quilting magazine.  It's a bit of a secret.... and I'm pretty excited about it because: a) I love the bag and b) I am going to be in a magazine! Whoop!

I've already made one sample and I'm working on another to send while doing instructions.  Instructions will mostly be digital diagrams, so not too many photos to take and that's good because the lighting is terrible today. Here is poor quality teaser:


OH my gosh I have to tell you what happened this morning.  It's hard having a husband working away because I can't just run and tell him something when I want to, but this is cute so you will have to hear it.

I was working on this blog post this morning before my son woke up for school and after I got him up, I put it aside and got him off to school.  Now I am back at it, with a smile on my face because that kid is so darn funny and OH MY we need to teach him about the birds and the bees.  I am just NOT READY!

My girls are 21 and 23 and on their own and poor Jace (8) is on his own here. He was saying he wished he had a brother, because he is bored and this is the conversation that happened:

Me:    "Well hon, Daddy and I wanted you to have a brother or sister and we really tried but we just couldn't."  Immediately I knew that this was going to lead to more questions because I didn't phrase that one quite right.  I thought that it was time I was straight with him.  I need to provide him with a little more knowledge, but not too much quite yet.

Jace:  "Well why not?"
Me:    "Well, I was just too old to have more kids."
Jace:  "How do you make the baby anyway?"
Thoughts:  Crap, Crap... darn it... I am not ready for this 10 minutes before he is supposed to get on the school bus, or ever. Delay, delay... deal with this later.  Oh darn, I have put this off long enough!
Me:    "....stammer..... uh....uh... well the Mom and Dad make it together."
Thoughts:  Ooops bad, bad.  No time for this!! Ack.  Please don't ask, please don't ask!
Jace:   "Do you drink special baby juice?"
Me:     "What?!"  pause.... gulp.... "Drink it? No, you don't drink it."
Thoughts:  Why did I say that?
Jace:    "What?!"
Thoughts:  Oh my!  What am I going to say now?
Jace:    "Can I have an orange in my lunch? Can you peel it?"
Me:      "Yes, I'll send a Christmas napkin with it! How about cookies!"

I did not handle that well. Again.
Can any of you recommend an age appropriate reproduction book for me to read to him??  I can't do this!

Okay, I am going to fill my hardware orders and SEW!!

 

Large Flip Lock

Press Lock or Tongue Lock

Magnetic Snap Closure

 

Press locks available HERE!

How about a fun new lock and a new front flap design for your Necessary Clutch Wallet? Yes we love the small turn locks, but this press lock, sometimes called a tongue lock, is a smart looking addition and so very, very easy to install. This alternate front flap version is also a bit softer and thicker than the original too.  I've left off the front border that you are instructed to make in my pattern (which you can still use with the press lock), and opted for a layer of fusible batting on the front flap and centre of the wallet body as well. I love the feel of this wallet in my hand.

The centre strip of fabric with sides bordered in faux piping add a bit of interest and a fresh new look. Try and not screw up your faux piping like I did.  :)  It's really bothering me that the piping on the left does not have some of the cute clocks showing. There is nice colour on the fabric of the right piping, but definitely not the left!  Darn it!!  

I have FOUR new locks coming soon, and I can't wait until they get here. Seriously, cuteness factor is going to soar with my heart locks and the rectangle and square locks will be sophisticated and classy. I can't wait to see them.

Let's get started!
If you intend on doing this in conjunction with the Necessary Clutch Wallet sewing pattern, you will need to read through both this tutorial and the sewing pattern first. YOU MUST! The sewing pattern is available in both PDF (instant download) or printed paper (shipped directly to you...) on my website, emmalinebags.com. Alternatively, you can follow the directions to add these locks to any front bag closure. Try these on a briefcase, messenger bag, or a nice flap over the top of your purse. I kinda love them!

I have been friends with Sheila for 15 years now, we both joined Girl Guides of Canada as Leaders of our daughters groups at the same time back in 1998, so it was really hard to say no when she asked me to teach her sister's quilting guild the Necessary Clutch Wallet.  But I did.  NO!  AH! CAN'T!

I had a few reservations!
1) The Necessary Clutch Wallet pattern wasn't in print, only PDF.
2) It's not a quick project.
3) They don't have the materials and interfacings available to them (remote location).
4) I have never taught a sewing class before.

Sheila continued to encourage (nag) and I started to chip away at these issues as slowly as I could.  I tried to do it quickly, but I found out that everything takes longer than you like when you are in a hurry.

The Necessary Clutch Wallet - Available in PDF or Paper Pattern HERE.

1) Wallet patterns were printed and bagged.  (Very exciting!!)
2) I would do a couple of demos for the group during their UFO weekend and they could work at their own pace, or even at a later date after seeing the demo. I would be there to answer questions the whole time.
3) I made interfacing and lock kits for them to purchase (available in my shop soon). I put out a table of glue, fraystop, screw drivers, pilot frixion pens and double-sided tape for them to use. I provided extra zippers.
4) I had to suck it up and be a Leader, just like back when I was guiding ;)
... and on top of all this I had to sew sample wallets as I had given all of mine away and package everything I sell in little baggies with price labels.  (That was a lot of work!)

So this weekend, Sheila and I traveled west about 3 hours to Hinton, Alberta, which is just about 40 mins or so from beautiful Jasper.  We stayed with Dianna, Sheila's sister, and spent all day Friday and most of Saturday with the friendly ladies of the Rocky Mountain Quilters Guild.

I had a very warm welcome from Denise (organizer extraordinaire) and Dianna and busily set up my patterns, kits, and hardware and prepared for my first demo.

I also set up my sewing machine because this was a UFO weekend and I really doubted that many ladies would be wanting to sew my project. I was sure they had better things to do!

My first demo went okay, but I am sure I talked too fast, mumbled - and talked too much.  The ladies started getting a little cross-eyed and I was only 3/4 of the way through it so I said "Okay, I think I will leave it at that for now.  I will just give you some helpful tips and you can come visit me when you are having troubles.  I'll be making my rounds around the room to answer any questions too."

Sheila "the Ruler", and my messy unused sewing area with our prize baskets in front.

Surprisingly, there were a lot of ladies making the wallet.  More ladies came later in the evening and I did a much better presentation (I think), and wasn't nervous at all.  I think in total there were around 20 ladies sewing wallets and another 15 or so working on other projects.

I made my way around the room, and around, and around. There were ladies flying through it without troubles and ladies having a few troubles and a few having a lot of troubles.  I started to worry that my pattern wasn't clear and the instructions weren't easy to follow. I had to put myself in check and remind myself that I have had a lot of people tell me the pattern was clear, that it's meant for an intermediate sewer, that this was a very distracting, social, environment and it's easy to skip steps, that a lot of the ladies have never sewed tight curves, top stitched, or inserted a purse lock, and most importantly - there are different kinds of learners.

A few of the first ladies to get done. Donna, Denise & Kelly.

The experience was fantastic!  I loved working with the ladies. I loved helping them hands on.  I loved that aha moment when a switch of a presser foot, changed topstitching from being nearly impossible - to very easy and beautiful. It was a good feeling to help them through a challenge and help them make something they were very proud of in the end.  Here are some of the beautiful wallets they made:

Beautiful Necessary Clutch Wallets. Click to enlarge!

The wallets turned out gorgeous, the ladies were lovely, and the pot luck lunches and dinners were YUMMY!

The small turn lock and metal bag label in antique brass.

I am very glad that I got it all together and went.  The big reward and validation came when I heard that some ladies were already working on second wallets and finding them much easier to work on. They came to me and purchased more locks, more interfacing and my (brag) lovely zipper pulls and metal bag labels for their bags.  (I was so excited to share my antique brass bag labels and zipper pulls as I only got the order delivered to me the night before). They look so gorgeous on the right fabric and give you such a different look than my nickel ones.
.

Antique Brass "Handmade" Metal Bag Labels

Metal Bag Labels and Zipper Pulls "Handmade"

I didn't sew a stitch on my unfinished projects, but I wouldn't change that in any way.  I really wanted these ladies to be successful with their wallets before I left so I tried to help as much as I could.

I had a great time with Sheila, as usual. We always have a laugh.  I kind of picked on her a bit with sarcastic jokes, but I think it was just my nervous energy.  Driving home, I didn't really have a chance to "come down from it all" because we had about 2 hours of driving through blinding snow. When I got home I just collapsed on the couch in a heap and cuddled with my boy, and had a great surprise: While I was gone, my husband washed the dog and cleaned the pantry!!  He's a keeper.

Don't be afraid to challenge yourself.  This past weekend, I saw a lot of ladies challenge their sewing capabilities and I certainly challenged myself with instructing, organizing, AND winter driving.  You sew girl!


Thank you for listening.
 

Would you like to install a gorgeous lock on your wallet, bag, satchel, etc., but are not sure how? Here are some simple instructions that I hope will help you out. Beware, purse locks are addictive.

The following instructions are for two kinds of locks, but they are installed almost the same way.  Once you figure out what the little parts are in these locks, when you get some that are a slightly different style, you won't have any troubles figuring it out on your own.