Before and after pictures

A couple of weeks I decided that my pictures really needed an update. I didn't think they were really that bad, but they weren't going to be winning any awards! I went over a series of blog posts from Etsy and tried to apply some of the things that I read. To start off with, I picked a purse that has gotten a lot of admirers, but has a really poor picture.
It's kind of blurry and definitely not the crisp picture that I want. First of all I decided to take pictures on a stack of books so that the camera can't move. I also used the timer to keep my finger from shaking the camera at all. I eventually realized that my ISO was at 100, which was why I had been having such problems with photos being blurry. But with a stack of books, the pictures turned out really clear. I also did some experiment with aperture and found a setting I liked. I figured out White Balance and EV a couple of months ago, so I just kept fiddling with those when necessary. The thing that really baffled me was composition. I didn't want it to just be plain white. I considered using props, and even tried some, but wasn't thrilled with the results. I also tried taking pictures on the tabletop instead of plain white.

I kind of liked the flowers, but constructive feedback all around was a resounding No! to the flowers.

I tried plain white, and it looks nice, but still felt like it was missing something.

This was my final result. I decided to place some sheet music on the bottom for some texture. Then I manipulated the photo a bit in picnik to get the edges like that. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but my husband and some random people on Etsy seemed to like it, so I decided to change my whole shop. It took a few days, and I still have a few purses to go, plus all the wallets. I'm not sure about the wallets on sheet music, because it's a bit too busy. But other than that, I've changed over my whole shop. Here are some befores and afters for a few of my more blah pictures.

This moss green has been really hard to photograph, but I think I finally have a picture that shows how pretty it is.

Changing my aperture and propping the camera up to keep it steady really improved a lot of shots.

This pink is another really difficult color to photograph, but this new set of pictures works better.

Overall I'm much happier now with how my shop looks! Plus, after staring at that sheet music for hours, I pulled out my violin for the first time since last year's Messiah and gave my family a concert! Much to my surprise, my fingers weren't too rusty, and my kids really enjoyed it.

King-sized bedspread

I'm so happy to complete this project. I've been working on it all summer off and on. A king-sized bedspread is no easy task, and simply putting together the backing, batting, and topper took lots of energy. This evening I pinned it all together and then did the quilting. I only stitched in the ditch, so it was relatively easy. (Ha! Easy!)
Yesterday my in-laws arrived with the new top for my table: a door! It is so much more stable than my 1/2-inch plywood and has smooth edges, yay! The other tabletop was already bent in the middle. This was how I was able to quilt this bedspread. Well, that, and my husband helped me. I really couldn't have done it without him maneuvering the quilt as I sewed. I told him it was his penance for requesting a quilt rather than a duvet/duvet cover, which would have been much easier to sew.

And here is the photobomb:

I like this view: it's what I see when I lay down.

Next up will be to make some coordinating pillows. It feels really comfy and I'm excited to sleep with it tonight.

Tutorial: How to add credit card slots to a clutch

I thought I would create a tutorial of how I create credit card slots. I use this method in my open-channel clutches and flap clutches.
First step: Cut out a piece of your fabric that is 8.5" x 13". I have used everything from cotton to polyester taffeta to silk. Even very shifty fabrics can work because of the interfacing. Cut out a piece of interfacing the same size. If you are using heavier cotton fabric you may be able to get away with no interfacing, but even for the bottomweight sateen fabric that I use, I interface with lightweight interfacing. My favorite is Shapeflex woven interfacing. The interfacing used here is a heavyweight fusible.

Iron it onto the back of your fabric.

Next, turn over and iron a .5" of fabric on each long side of your fabric.

At your bottom edge, turn up and iron about .25" or 3/8". I usually just eyeball it, since it's not a measurement that has to be exact. All other measurements should be as exact as possible.

Turn the fabric up 1 7/8". Yes, that is an odd number, but it's very important for later.

Now you can begin the accordion folding. Turn the fabric up the opposite way and iron a fold 1 3/4" from the last one.

Then fold the other way and iron 2.25" from the last.

Alternate folding the fabric in each direction and use the same measurements of 1.75" and 2.25".

The very last fold will be at 1.75. Turn it over and this is what it should look like:

Next, use a coordinating thread to sew across the top of each pocket.

Topstitching about 1/8" from the edge works great.

Here is a tricky part. Line up the pockets from the edge and pin the last lip of fabric down, as pictured below. I usually pin it 3" from the edge unless I'm doing a framed clutch, in which case I pin 3.5" from the edge. Sew on top of the last fold.

Cut off the excess fabric above the stitching.

Now you will stitch down the line between the pockets. Sew down directly in the middle of the pockets, which should be 3.75" from each edge. This is where precise ironing really makes a difference. Make sure to backstitch at each end to anchor it down really well.

Now you can sew down the two sides and bottom of the pockets. Sew about 1/8" from the edge. Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end.

And here is where you can see the reason we made the first fold 1/8" longer. Because it hangs over, when you stitch it down, there is no chance of the back of the fabric peeking out underneath.

Be especially careful stitching over the multiple layers. Go slowly. If your needle can't make it through, you may need to switch to a jeans needle. Most fabrics won't be that thick.

And you have a finished product!

This fabric was a slippery gray suedecloth--not the best fabric for precision! Cotton and dupioni silk hold folds the best.

You should test out each pocket and make sure your cards will fit.

This will be one of my new wallet clutches.

I hope that tutorial helped anyone who is hoping to add some card slots to their clutch or wallet.

New jacket, McCalls M5525

Well, I finished my new jacket! It was quite the ordeal. The original way it was cut was huge on me. My mother-in-law, who is an experienced seamstress, helped me take it in all over and make it a lot shorter. She didn't think I should take it in as much at the shoulders, but I insisted, and it did turn out a bit snug at the shoudlers. But other than that, I really like it. I just have to wear it with short sleeves because long sleeves make it too bulky. Oh well.
Looking at these pictures, I probably need to move each button up a little bit.

The inside is a fun gray and yellow cotton, which is why I picked yellow buttons.

(Sorry, I obviously need to clean my mirror!) The pattern is McCalls M5525. I think I would like to make it again in the future with a different fabric.

Purse Week Entries

Over at the blog A Lemon Squeezy Home, last week was Purse Week. Anyone could enter two purses, so I decided to enter something I already made and make something new. I found some awesome faux leathers at the store and decided to come up with the "perfect" purse. This was my first attempt:
This view makes it look rather sleek and nice, but I found that it just didn't have the feeling I was going for. I made the next one have a little more shape and several pockets.

I really like both. The elastic at the openings and the braided handle are fun.

This purse, which remains my favorite I've ever made, was the other one I entered.

This week they will announce the top ten and then readers will vote on the winners. I'll admit--I'm not even sure what the prizes are, I just am caught by the competitive spirit!

Behind the Bag: Vintage Inspiration

Whenever I am in need of some inspiration I like to browse unusual places for inspiration. One of my favorite places to go to inspire that little spark of an idea is the vintage clothing section on Etsy. Here are a few purses that I have sewn and the vintage item that inspired it.

First, here is a dress from LuckyPennyWares on Etsy.
I thought that the gold fabric covering the bust is just fantastic. I mimicked that same effect with gathered gold lame on this black velvet handbag:

And here is another dress from that same Etsy seller (both dresses are sold now, sorry!)

I loved the fringe and wanted to make a fringe bag like this. However, a bright yellow fringe bag would probably have a very small appeal, so I did it in classic black:

And finally, I can't find the link to the dress that inspired this purse. It was a blue halter dress with lots of ruching.

And the back:

It's been awhile since I searched around for vintage dresses for ideas, since I have a notebook bursting with ideas for purses. But this week is Purse Week at the blog A Lemon Squeezy Home and I'm trying to decide on the perfect design of a purse to enter. I've already entered one, and I'm trying to decide whether I want to enter a bag that I've already made or make a new one for my second entry. I've only got until Friday!

Non-Etsy sewing

I thought I would share some of the non-shop sewing that I have done in the past few months. I've got a constant list of projects to work on. Currently I am working on a fall jacket for myself and in the next few months will be making a quilt for my son's 2nd birthday and some dress shirts for my husband.
I had two baby showers to attend in one week so I saved time by making the same gift for each baby: a mini soft color book and a small blanket for each. For the blue one I tried out the faux chenille technique for the first time.

This is a picture of the top of my bedspread. It's actually still not finished, but I have bought the backing and batting, I just need to sew it all together.

I followed an online tutorial and made my 3 year old this dress out of old t-shirts.

I just made this tie for my dad's birthday. I also used covered buttons and my husband's old ties to make some cufflinks.

I used the Urban Unisex Hoodie pattern (from heidiandfinn on Etsy) to make these two hoodies for my kids. I made them reversible.

And here is my latest, yet saddest creation. I am making myself a fall coat but adult clothes really aren't my specialty, so I dove right into the pattern without taking the time to create a mockup. I tried on the coat and realized it's made for someone with a torso at least 8 inches longer than mine! It's supposed to be hip-length. I am 5'1" and short-torsoed. Also, I trusted the measurements on the pattern envelope and this coat is giant on me. My mother-in-law is helping me today to adjust it. It has the potential of being super cute, so I hope it works out!