Yes, I've got a SALE coming up, and this is just a heads up so you are ready for it!  My Valentines Sale will be announced on my newsletter (sign up on the right side bar) on Wednesday.  I'll also post it on Facebook as well as here on the blog.  Not all statuses are shared to all followers on Facebook these days, so make sure you are on the Newsletter list!  There will be discounts on all purse supplies and bag sewing patterns.


Also, last week I added a couple of new hardware items.  I'll be using these in my next handbag pattern, and I want to have all the supplies available in a neat little hardware kit that goes with the pattern.  Purse feet and square rings for handbag straps will be a couple of the optional items.  You can find them in my shop now... but it's okay if you want to wait for my Valentines Sale!!
 

 Thanks for looking, may your bobbins always be FULL
 

The Great Granny Bag:
I've been dying to make a bag with bamboo handles for a long time.  I don't really care if they aren't trendy or in style, I just kinda like them and I wanted one.  I love the light feel of the bamboo rings in my hands, I love that handmade, "basket-ish" look, and best of all, I love how EASY and FAST they are to make.

Bag #1 made out of Ty Pennington's Decor Fabric

I made my first one, with wrong dimensions, out of Ty Pennington decor fabric and it was a bit thick in the gathered areas, but keeps it's shape very well.  The second bag, with the dimensions worked out, is made from a modern Moda print quilting cotton, and it turned out rather nice.  Note: If I were to use home decor fabric again, I would cut the exterior fabric at least 1.5 cm or 1 inch longer from top to bottom so that I would have a bit more fabric to wrap around the handles.  Also, a thimble is necessary to do a small bit of hand sewing through decor fabric.

Bag#2 is made of Quilting Cotton, and a bit easier to work with.

I found a pattern in a Japanese magazine, but it was Japanese.... and I don't read Japanese.  I think with the very few diagrams and instructions they gave, anyone who spoke or read Japanese, might have issues too, but after some trial and error (Bag #1), I managed to make a very passable fabric bag with bamboo handles (Bag #2).  Bag #1 is now my knitting bag, perfect for holding my scarf projects, and Bag #2 might end as a gift to daughter #1, who has started to knit herself.  She is not knitting herself, she knits ALSO! 

Makes a great knitting bag!

Ok, enough silliness, on with the tutorial:

I've just listed a few items on my website, yay!  I love new stuff.  After a few requests, the Emmaline Bag Hardware Kit is now available in Antique Brass.  It's going to make some very classy looking Emmaline Bags.


Also, I've added 2 more sizes of nickel swivel snap hooks, they will make some awesome removable straps for that handbag, duffle bag, or purse.  I ordered them especially for a my next handbag pattern, so watch for that new kit coming as soon as the pattern is ready.


You can also buy your antique brass rectangular rings separately too, in packs of 2, 4 and 10, and with a discount when you purchase a 10 pack.  In hindsight, I should have taken this picture with a bit more sunshine!


I have a few more items coming soon, so stay tuned.  I'll have some 1" adjustable sliders for your skinny adjustable straps, and some cute little purse feet coming.  They should be posted by next week.


I just love handbag hardware.  It adds such a classy professional finish to your bag.  Now, back to the drawing board.  Thank you so much for reading, and shopping at Emmaline Bags & Sewing Patterns!

 

Why a Minecraft Block? 

On a recent trip to one of my area quilt shops, I gave my seven year old son the usual pre-shopping talk about him not touching anything and me promising to be quick.  Of course, neither happened.

I took much too long and Jace touched a lot of things.  He was especially taken with the fat quarters and was oohing and ahhing over all of the bright colours, mixing them quite nicely.   He came running up with a fat quarter of bright blue.  "Lapis Lazuli!  Lapis Lazuli!"  To which I replied something like, "Huh?  Go put that back and stop touching things."  He continued to tell me all about a block I needed to make for him and this was the perfect colour for Lapis Lazuli, and we had a little discussion about how confused I was about what he was talking about.  He told me it was a Minecraft block, "you know Mum, it's just a 3-D cube, you can make it."  After confirming that all I had to do was make a 3-D cube, we bought his fat-quarter and he was thrilled.  (Minecraft is a computer, ipod, or xbox game where you build mines, build houses,  and grow plants, etc. - It's actually quite creative, and he is quite addicted.)

Sew.... I made his block.  First though, I had to Google Lapis Lazuli to make sure I knew what it was.  Luckily it was very easy to find, Lapis Lazuli on minecraftwiki.net. 

The boy was thrilled and screamed with delight over this cube.  I asked him what he was planning on doing with it, and he just said "Play with it!!"   It's been on his bed ever since.  He tried to use it as a pillow but it didn't work too good, but all of the doggies and bears have had a turn.  Jace says it's just a big party on his bed and no one gets left out, so they are all taking a turn.  (A block party?)  It's Chickie the Penguin's turn tonight.   So why did I buy him Christmas presents anyway?  He likes a cube!

Make a 3-D Block:
I didn't refer to a tutorial for this, as I already knew how to sew a cube, but if you'd like to learn how to make a cube, or baby blocks and do great 3-D corners, HERE, is a great tutorial for you.

On another note, even though it's -28 outside with a -43 windchill, it's Spring time in my house.  I picked up some crocus, and hyacinth's at my Safeway and they are blooming.  They make me smile when I see them.  Bring on Spring!