Homage to building a better bag.

When I was a kid my go to phrase was “I could do that if I really wanted to” and usually it was in reference to some incredible thing someone was doing on the t.v.

Well I still kind of have that attitude about doing most things, because it seems impossibly silly to me that only a small handful of people out of millions can do any one amazing thing, and even more ridiculously silly that a ton of us can’t do some pretty amazing everyday awesome things?  Whatever it may be, just get out of your own head and try, possibly f-up and maybe try again. Simple.

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Admittedly most of  my “I could do thats” revolve around safe arts & crafts ..although I was on a taffy making binge for about a year.

Faux bag first try: I used mid-weight linen and it was a little lighter than I would’ve liked, but there were sections where I was sewing through 4+ layers with thick seams and I wasn’t super sure the little husqvarna could handle it, I could tell any thicker and I would have to use backup maneuvers to get it under the presser foot.

The size is exactly the same as my store bought bag, 8-9 Skeins full. Internal pockets mimic the original, but I did skip the trio of grommets because for me they just aren’t practical.

I kind of love the vegan leather handle, firstly because I feel like I would f-up my machine trying to stitch real leather and secondly because Lex would have hassled me about using animal.

Faux bag second try: This time I used duck cloth, good old heavy duty canvas and surprisingly only broke one needle, after which very very slow hand cranking, cringing and swears happened at every bulky intersection (I always have nightmare thoughts of needles shooting off into my eyes!)

Wide cotton twill tape replaced the pleather handle, only because I was feeling monochromatic 😍

I also swapped out the flat drawstrings for cotton cord (clothesline cord to be exact) and made the inside pockets a little deeper.

At first I wasn’t sure I even wanted to try and understand/improve on something already good, I didn’t have any issue dropping the cash for the ready made bag, but now I’m not limited by availability, color or even size, and I can drag it around and not worry about getting it scummy ..but this messy girl will not be making another white on white bag.

Sometimes it’s not about necessity or usefulness, but the feel good of doing something just because you can or want to, no matter how silly, small or simple.

On a completely random note: kinda rough, kinda romantic, kinda janky grocery store roses.

💕

impromptu bear

Up early in the studio, I had every intention of working on work stuff, but then this little guy happened.

He’s all of 5″ and admittedly a bit fiddly, but thanks to pink plaid scrap and a little extra effort, he stitched up sweetly.

I ❤ his busy body! My fabric stash is mostly calico and large print florals, so options were limitlessly limited ..kinda wishing there was a rogue swatch of mohair cloth tucked up on the shelf, it would be heirloom gorgeous, but SO gross to cut & sew! ..thinking future bears of wool felt & pale velvet 💕

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Sewing Pattern: The Dear Ones Bear

Fabric: Reproduction 1930s Flour Sack

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.. ok little bear, let’s get back to it ..

💕

Driftless Scarf

When I was designing this scarf I really wanted something naturally simple that would build up softly in layers, something lovely that would help a beginner gain confidence while making,

but I also wanted it to be something expertly crafted and intricately clean, something that a more experienced maker would appreciate.

The finish leaves straight edges on all sides, ready to wear and beautifully minimal on its own,

but at the same time is the perfect surface for adding on a bold contrast or delicate lace edging. I didn’t want to overwhelm and fill the pattern with endless options, so I left it at two widths and a solid foundation with room for your creative variations. 💕

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Pattern: Driftless Scarf

(We live on the edge of the Minnesota River Valley known as the Driftless Area, surrounded by steep bluffs, where underground streams have carved out hidden caves and created natural cold springs. As a kid I would dig up kaolin clay in my backyard, look for fossils in the drift and occasionally find a bit of shale or mica for my pocket. I have always loved living in a place where some of the landscape was blurred smooth by glacial retreat and some was not, giving me the joy of having expansive fields of flat midwestern prairie to run through, mixed with high peaks and deep limestone valleys to marvel at.)

This scarf is a little bit of that simple complexity 💕