leather bag::completed

I finished it! It's bigger than I'm used to carrying around, but I think I'll get used to its size with time. On the plus side, now I can carry around one bag instead of two when I decide to bring knitting with me. :) Usually I'll stuff all my knitting junk in another canvas tote. Actually, now I can go to the library and not worry about forgetting to bring a book bag and I can also stick a bottle of water in there to keep with me at all times. yeahhh. So many things I can do with the extra space.

ALSO, I've been scheming lately. I'm thinking of making these bags for sale. Possibly in leather, possibly in other types of fabric with embroidery. I've been pouring over an old embroidery book my mom had when she was in high school, and there are so many ideas I am coming up with. So we'll see what comes out of that. Sometimes I get a little bit too inspired after my two cups of French press in the morning. But I do think this would be a fun project to take on. I'd also LOVE to come out with a few summer garments to sell. I haven't figured out what exactly I'm thinking of yet, so this is probably premature to be mentioning it on my blog. We'll just have to see. Oh how I love to scheme. :)

this is how i feel::

And this makes me extremely happy. Katie, this is for you 'cause I know how much you love Kings of Convenience (me too :).

Video found via hanne::

::leather handbag

Tuesday night I drafted a pattern while watching The Thin Man. It wasn't too difficult. I had a purse that I used as a guide, though it was easier to just wing it rather than try to trace off the purse. Plus I wanted to make it slightly larger than the original.



Wednesday I cut it out and then last night I began sewing it. So far, so good. We'll see how it turns out. The fabric is leather (my sister gave me a bag of left over pieces of leather she didn't want to use from her book making). The lining is a striped linen I've had forever. Yay, new handbag! I think the handle is about to come off of my old one...

snow::

Oh the joys of a wet + white snowy evening. There's nothing quite like slipping around in the snow as the sun sets. It had rained yesterday and the ground was still a bit wet, but that just made it all the more fun. Enjoy the snow while it's here. It won't be long before warm weather sets in!

Also, I want to thank Casey for being such a sweetie and nominating me for the "You Make My Day" blog award! This is actually kind of a fun little game. Once you are nominated, you pass on the love and nominate ten blogs that make your day. There are quite a few that make my day actually, but since I can only pick ten, here are my nominations...

Brae, Elly, Lena, Jenny, Jen, Mav, Camilla, Astrid, hel-looks, hyena-in-petticoats

I am thinking of sewing something for myself this evening. In any case, I think I'll go boil some water and make tea or hot chocolate. Then maybe watch this while I draft that pattern...

let me just say

I'm in LOVE with the spring collection from Built by Wendy.

this is...my collection

1930s vintage patterns.



I love pretty much all vintage patterns, but I'm drawn mostly towards the '30s. Of course these are the hardest to find for a reasonable price anymore. Occasionally I'll come across a few at an antique store for a few bucks, though. I especially love the rare patterns like the sailor pants, bathing or 'play' suits and the evening gowns. I swiped the bathing suit pattern off of eBay a few years back. I was so pleased when I won that auction. I still haven't gotten around to making it up, but that's a project I'd like to tackle this year. Can you imagine how much fun it would be to swim in a bathing suit made of wool jersey?? I CAN! That evening gown to the left of the bathing suit pattern is kind of my pride and joy. I grabbed that baby off eBay around the same time I got the suit. (A lot of these patterns I got around the same time and from the same seller - if you couldn't tell...) I paid more than I wanted to pay for that pattern, but it was worth it. I've made it once and I just love the wide bias-cut skirt. It's tricky to cut (especially if you choose silk chiffon as your fabric!!) but sews up heavenly. I personally think the 1930s translates quite well to modern apparel.

Sorry for the delay on posting my picture for the week. Some things came up today that were very unexpected. My dear friend was hit by a semi this morning and although I think she will be alright, as far as I know she's still in critical condition. I don't mean to end this post with a sad note, but would appreciate any prayers if you happen to think of it. She and I always like to dream up pretty vintage dresses to make and we both share a lot of the same passions. I do have faith that she'll get through this, if it's in God's plan.

um.

Haven't had time to take a picture of "this is...my collection" so I'm going to have to take it tomorrow and post it then. Sorry peeps. I tried to take a picture late this afternoon, but the lighting just wasn't good enough.

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend anyway! Mine was nice. Sundays are always so rejuvenating. Someday maybe I'll write about my Sundays a little more in detail. Tonight is Jane Austen. Last night was Wait Until Dark. Night before was R.G. Books and a bottle of Heineken and a very very late night movie at the theater. (We watched Atonement. Was better than I thought, but not something I'd watch again. Filmed beautifully, but otherwise slow and kinda boring at parts. Plus I hate Kiera Knightley. I think she's a bad actress, but that's just my humble opinion...ehem.)

That's my weekend in a nutshell. More like my Friday and Saturday nights. Otherwise I couldn't tell you what I accomplished during the day. Oh wait, I made myself a plaid top using a 1950's pattern. Only it's not quite finished yet and I'm not sure I will like it. Ooohh and I got a bunch of fabric on my way home today. Bad idea to stop and "pick up a FEW things." I made the mistake of checking out the remnant table which was all on sale 50% off today only. Bad Anna. Bad. But now I have some freakishly awesome denim (which really doesn't look like your typical denim - thus why it's freakishly awesome) that I plan to use to make a sort of 1930s styled wide leg pants. Only I can't decide if I want them long or short. Anyways, they'll have cuffs and maybe even tucks (which will be top stitched) at the waist. Hm...more to think about on that. Then I got some awesome patterned fabric that will most likely be turned into tote bags either for friends or to bring along for shopping purposes. I think I love fabric. a lot.

Ok. Enough rambling for tonight. If you're watching the Super Bowl, have fun with that. I, on the other hand, will be watching Jane Austen and enjoying every minute of it. And no, I do not feel guilty about that. Later toots.



1. Pip-Squeak Chapeau Inspired Neck Warmer Pattern by Me!, 2. Untitled, 3. Carrying on, 4. campers dancing to wireless music 1939, 5. Window, 6. notebook, 7. the alphabet, 8. My first! Thank you Christina!, 9. something i tryed out., 10. something I tryed out., 11. Looking fabulous, 12. Colour Splash, 13. finally, i shipped it, 14. remainings, 15. Untitled, 16. a foggy day, 17. Me and Myrna Loy :), 18. No Known Restrictions: Tap Dancing Class in Ames, Iowa by Jack Delano, 1942 (LOC), 19. making stuff, 20. Sia's walk in closet, 21. café lef in amsterdam, 22. IMG_3452, 23. backlog, 24. liberty print and selvedge ordered from purl soho, 25. ISBN4-579-11025-0, 26. ISBN4-579-11025-0, 27. Japanese Craft Bag, 28. solovki4, 29. summer dresses, 30. zenya1, 31. ME and YOU, 32. ISBN 4277113753, 33. Untitled, 34. Untitled, 35. sou sou, 36. green & green

in 3 easy steps

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Much too easy.