Patchwork Handbag

I’ve really been enjoying  putting my sewing machine to use recently…handbags specifically.

I picked up this great book by Amy Butler called In Stitches. She has some fabulous ideas for all around the home. She gives great, thorough  instructions with pictures for each project…patterns included.  Everything I’ve tried with her patterns has turned out very well.

So this is her patchwork handbag. All the pieces are cut out, sandwiched and quilted before you put the bag together. Was a bit time consuming, but the outcome was great...what do you think?

 

Just so you know I've been having lots of fun this summer, I'll share some pictures with you.
We've spent the last week at Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin Park, Ontario enjoying the beautiful and very peaceful scenery...at least it was peaceful until we got there!

We enjoying playing in the waterfalls...

Canoeing (with son Sully)

Biking with friends Wanda and Brigid...

Hiking....isn' the view breathtaking? Sully, Sam and Aidan have a great outlook from a rock jutting out over the valley.

I hope everyone is able to enjoy their the beauty of their surroundings as much as we have!

Just a couple of reminders...

Shabby Quilt

Wow....what a lazy summer! It's been too long since I've blogged...although I have been checking out all my fav blogs pretty regularly! I came across this great "shabby quilt" today and loved it. I love the colour combination and the fact it's pretty simple because of the shabby edges. You can check out the tutorial here. For lots of other great ideas check out this site!

Country Living Images

These are some beautiful images from the latest Country Living magazine. I think this garden is amazing. Look at the size of those dahliahs...wow.

I can't keep the weeds out of my garden, I can't imagine the work involved in this organic garden!

I love the combo of this bookshelf , painted in black....and the crazy quilt upholstered chair.

What a great....and inexpensive idea for a coat rack!

Another great purse !

Isn't this the cutest? I love the big size

(they call it a laundry bag), and the

ruffles. You can see the rest of

Shoestring Home here.

Frenchy Bag

I’ve been looking at so many great patterns online for handbags. I really like Amy Butler’s collection. Mom brought me a pattern last week for this very cute “frenchy bag”. It can be made as a shoulder bag or a hand bag.

For the first attempt I used this cool vintage cowboy barkcloth fabric. Granny gave it to me…it used to be curtains in my uncles bedroom when he was a boy! I’m really happy with it. I think next I’ll try some cute flowery summer prints in fun colours.