Tuesday, June 17, 2008

today is a bag day...


hey... i got my sewing mojo back today and have made a handbag.



As most of my fabrics are packed away at the back of the new, still to be finished workspace which is full to the brim, i raided my little home stash instead. I am not sure where i got this piece of retro silk from but it has been in the cupboard for ages. I love this fabric and have often thought about making a dress from it. I have just under 4 yards of it so decided that i could make a handbag and still have plenty left to use for another project.

The shape was based on a small linen handbag that i designed in the past but i scaled the pattern up to shoulder bag size and elongated it slightly as an experiment. I was too impatient to make a prototype so just went for it. The whole bag was backed with a canvas to give it some body as the silk was very soft and floppy.
Taking inspiration from the florals in the fabric i appliqued on a flower motif and highlighted it with tiny seed beads. Once i had made it up i thought that a long strap would work well with the proportions of the main bag. For this i used a complementary furnishing fabric sample. The bag is lined with a gray satin. It has an integral pocket with a bound edge made from a piece of the main floral fabric.
As you can see from this mosaic i had been more inspired by my river walk on Sunday than i had realised! I also have been wearing washed out old jeans and a green tee shirt today. It seems different days bring different colour inspirations. I wonder what colours tomorrow will bring...

click on the image for a bit more detail
g x

15 comments:

Kitty said...

It's absolutely lovely. x

Lina said...

Love that fabric - makes a wonderful summer bag!

Joanne said...

Very nice bag. That fabric is just lovely - it's great when you unearth something in the stash that you'd forgotten about.

Pipany said...

Gorgeous bag Ginny and the fabric is just beautiful. I love the way your walk has been reflected in the colours. Never make prototypes either as I am such an impatient so-and-so but oh dear, how often I pay for it! xx

Tracy said...

LOVE the bag, Ginny...you did great on this one! I really like the added beaded detail. The lush green is perfect for summer--and looks great among your green-themed mosaic Glad you got your mojo back! ;o) Happy Days ((HUGS))

Anonymous said...

Hi Ginny,

This bag is beautiful and what wonderful inspiration from your river walk.

Marie x

Sal said...

The fabric is gorgeous..I wish I could wake up one morning and just go and make a bag!How clever you are!
Lovely pics!;-)

Emma Herian said...

What a perfect sized bag Ginny! Lovely colours too.
Thanks for the babushka tip, jury still out on that one! Do you remember the liberty print then, I had completely forgotten that you had given it to me. Thankyou!
As for Mr Tennant, sadly to many of my friends he does not appear from the tardis( I confess that he doesn't do it for me, sorry!)

carolyn said...

It's a beautiful bag Ginny.

Ragged Roses said...

Your bag is lovely, such beautiful colours, I love the way we are influenced (sometimes completely without knowing) by the things we see when we're out walking. I'm glad you've got some more of that beautiful fabric, it would be a shame not to have any more to look at
Kimx

this is my patch said...

Beautiful fabric and bag Ginny, and you have the applique just right to match, very clever. I've clicked on the mosaic for more detail, lovely images from your river walk. The water on that stretch of river looks so clear. x

walter and me said...

Lovely greens everywhere...and I really like that bag, great fabric. Happy soltice! X

Anonymous said...

Lovely bag...really like the silk fabric and all those greens. It's great when inspiration strikes - so rewarding...great result.
Margaret and Noreen

alice c said...

Thinking of Alice and hoping that there is good news soon.

Anonymous said...

I am in heart with that bag Ginny! Well done!