Purse revamp: book it

I was visiting a cool gallery in Wisconsin last year, the FLYING PIG, and  found these "intellectual" purses. I "booked" a ride on this craft trip, and "read" up on sewing techniques. This project might "turn a page" on your recycling urges.

You'll need:
an old book, with a cloth cover (hunt them out in thrift shops, or even your own library)
glue gun
fabric
scissors
handles (bamboo or fabric or chain)
D rings or split rings (used for key rings)
needle and thread

Now this is my idea of how this might work...

This is the view from the front. As you can see the artist used an book with a cloth cover and then a added a bamboo handle attached to the book with metal rings.

I'm thinking they used wire or key rings to attach the handles to the bag. But we can use whatever we want, as far as handles.

If you pull out all the pages and left the cover you will get the base for this purse. You would have to use a glue gun and fabric to add to the inside of this purse.
Remember, if you mess up, it's only an old book. Use a less desirable one to practice on. Then graduate up to a vintage book with a cool title or color.

This is the end view of the purse. So all you creative peeps check it out and see how you can figure this out.  This is NOT for the novice, but perhaps for the creative, "let's give it a try" and see what I CAN do crafters.
I know the shape, when the purse is open is wider at the top, to allow you to get into the purse easier.

 I, myself, could not tell you how to do this, because I have not tried. But I'm dying to. So perhaps in a future blog, I may get this down to a science.

I totally adore the idea that you can take a cigar box, or book or whatever and make it into a purse/bag. Cuz I LOVE those.  I will be searching for fun stuff to make totes and fun stuff make bags in a way we didn't expect!!!!

tip of the day:

I picked up some great veggies at the grocery the other day. But I think I might have gotten tooooo many. So to keep them the freshest I can, I placed a couple of brand new sponges into the vegetable bin to absorb the excess moisture. Be sure to check these every couple of days, and wring them out. You'll be surprised to see how much moisture is absorbed by these that would have made your food soggy.

That's all for this week...
:D

April Showers

This has been a wet, dry, cool, warm, let's just say a ~crazy winter. The 20th of March was the first day of Spring. And it tends to be pretty rainy around here. So I needed a bag that was waterproof, fast and easy to make, and recycled.

So when I changed my shower curtain liner, I had to perfect material for this tote bag.

Today's Project is:

shower curtain bag

The top of the shower curtain was perfectly clean (we won't disuss the bottom part, ugh) so I cut off about 18" from the top. And cut the width big enough to get two grommets on either side (for the handles).

I had some cotton cord (that I think came off a gift bag) that made perfect handles.

I folded up the curtain (side to side) and sewed up the one side and bottom. The vinyl material was a bit hard to shove through the sewing machine, but I did it slowly and it seemed to work okay.

Then to make the bottom flat, I laid out the bag with the side seam up. I folded up the corner inward (forming a triangle) and used duct tape to fasten it down. I did the same thing on the other side. Now it stands up on its own. I used camophlage duct tape (just because I had it). I didn't think I would be able to sew through so many layers of this heavy vinyl, thus the duct tape.

Turn the bag right side out, thread the cord through the grommets and make a knot. This will keep the cord from coming out.

I have a book by: Jodi Kahn (simply sublime bags) that talks about making a similar bag, but she used staples and duct tape. So it would be a no-sew bag. She stapled the seams, instead of sewing, and then covered up those staples with duct tape.  So for those of you without a sewing machine, go for it!  YOU too can make cool stuff! And you can find duct tape in all kinds of cool designs. That would add lots of fun to this bag.

I have used this bag as an "emergency snow/rain bag" in my car. I have my snow boots, rain poncho, hat, scarf, socks, gloves, umbrella, and granola bar (I get hungry putting on those chains on my tires) I will use this tote for a beach bag when summer comes (I'm already dreaming about the hot weather :) ahhhh

You can use a cloth shower curtain also, the grommets are the things that make this bag easy. It wouldn't be waterproof, but water resistant at any rate. And nice strong material.

I know the Dollar Store sells liners (for $1) so it's a cheap way to start. And you'll have the rest of the plastic left over for lots of other stuff.  More ideas to follow...:)

tip of the day:

Don't let the winter doldrums get you down.  Spice up it up a bit... Let your loved one know you are thinking of them by using a bar of soap and writing a sexy, fun message on the mirror. So when they get up they get a little surprise...hey...it couldn't hurt!!!! And you can wash it off easily, and add something new later....Keep smiling~

That's all for this week...

:D



Pain in the Neck!

I love to make new things from old stuff!

With the holidays coming, and things getting so busy, I'm getting a bit stressed.
And when I get stressed, I get a neck ache. Not to say I'm a pain in the neck,
which I can be...but that stiff neck, between the shoulder blades pain. ARG!

So to get the kinks out in the morning or at the end of a long day, it's good to put a warm rice bag on those achy muscles.  Also a great gift (just use a brand new pillowcase or pretty fabric) for Christmas or a birthday.
*I made two, one for me and one for a gift. So I used an old plain pillowcase for the insides, and a nice new flannel one for the outer case.

Today's project is:

Rice bag neck warmer

You'll need:
~a cotton pillowcase (any old one is fine, remember we are recycling)
~long grain rice (not instant)
 2 small bags (36 oz.) will fill one bag, with a bit left over.
~scissors and a sewing machine
~velcro fasteners (optional)

Now some of you may not have a sewing machine, but know someone who does. If you do the cutting out and measuring everything first, I bet that friend of yours that has a sewing machine would be happy to help you. All the sewing is quick, straight stitching.  Hey, make one for you and give the other one to her.

You will lay out the pillowcase out, and measure about 8 1/2" from the edge, and mark lengthwise. Cut this long piece out. One side will hold the rice. The other side (slightly wider) will be the cover.
*This is IF you are using one pillowcase to make 1 bag. If you are making two bags, cut both plain case and pretty case in half lengthwise.

Take the 8 1/2" piece and cut off the 'hem'. (You want the inside bag to be shorter than the cover) Leave the hem on the wider (10 1/2" piece)


Turn cases inside out, and sew along the long edge of both. You will leave the end open to put the rice in.  Turn pillowcases right side out again. Set the larger one aside for now.

You must now divide the smaller 'rice' bag into thirds and mark. This will give 3 rice pockets within the bag. You don't want all the rice to bunch up at one end, right?

Now measure two cups of rice and pour into the bag. Take to the sewing machine and with the rice at the end, sew on the first marked line (about 9" from the end).  Fill again with 2 cups rice, and sew the next pocket (18" from the end). And lastly fill the last section with 2 cups rice and sew up the end completely.

Now you can take the larger piece that you put aside earlier, and add a little velcro closure at the hemmed end. This is optional, but a nice touch.

Now, if you get the outer case dirty, you can take it off and wash it, leaving the rice bag intact. Remember heating the rice is okay, getting it wet is NOT.

To heat up the neck warmer, put the whole thing into the microwave for 2 min.
It will smell like rice, but feel soooo nice!!
You can use this over and over with no worries about cooking the rice. And the shape of the rice bag conforms nicely to any achy part.
Perhaps you can warm your feet, and use it for warm lumbar support.
Hey you could even use it a bed warmer on these chilly nights.
Heat it up, and put it between the sheets a little while before you slip yourself into bed. Who needs an electric blanket? (Just an electric microwave)

tip of the day:
Since we are using rice, why not make a quick shoe deodorizer with that little bit left over in the rice package?
Get a couple of clean socks, mismatched is a good way to use up those "lost in the wash" ones.  Pour some rice into it, some baking soda, and perhaps some potpourri, I like to use the lavendar I dry myself.
Sew or knot or twist tie the end shut and mush, smush and squash the contents around to mix,  then stick one in those smelly sneakers.
These should absorb the moisture and leave a nicer smell.

That's all for today!
:D

It's in the bag!

I love to make new things out of old stuff!

Hello there again!

  I was visiting my friend, Mary Jane, who owns a upscale/resale shop. It's always fun to see what goodies she has there. If you're in the Indianapolis area, look her up "Divine Consign", in Mooresville, Indiana.
  Anyway...I found these great pants, but not crazy about drawstring bottoms. Plus I really needed shorts. So I decided to cut them off, hem them, and voila~ I had a great pair of cargo shorts.
  But then I had the 'bottoms' left over, which had a ready made drawstring in them.
So I sewed the top of the pants closed, and had two great little duffel bags. The drawstring was already there. EASY!      PANTS LEG~ DRAWSTRING DUFFLES

You can find camoflage pants, with drawstring bottoms, at the thrift shops, or garage sales and make your own. "Camo" is very popular right now.  Or if a pair of pants you want to shorten doesn't have drawstrings, you can easily make your own. Just hem the top, large enough for a long shoestring, leaving a little opening to feed the string through. Then knot the shoestring to secure.

My daughter Dana might like this project. Although she is a wonderful seamstress/artist already. Check out her website: http://www.dana.danabetsy.com/ Her twin sister Betsy is an artist too, and also makes incredible clothing by sewing and knitting. They just started their own knitted projects blog: http://www.apairofneedles.blogspot.com/ 

I'm using my mini duffel for a toiletry bag, and the other duffel for a traveling laundry bag. Think I'll go on a trip, just so I can use them!

Tip of the Day:

Next time you buy aluminum foil, or Saran wrap, or wax paper...look at the ends of the box. If you see a perforated U shape, punch that inward.
That keeps the roll from flying out when you open the box to yank out the foil, wrap or paper!  If the ends do not have this feature, make your own.
Take an exacto-knife, or box cutter and carefully cut a large V shape leaving the top uncut so you can fold this inward to 'catch' the roll.

that's all for now

Dee