Small Cosmetic Bag

I had a need for a small cosmetic bag for my rather small purse and I also had this pattern idea for small evening pouches so I decided to make a prototype of the pattern I had in mind yesterday, I have been thinking about it for 3 weeks.
I had heard of people making handbags and clutches from placemats so I based my pattern on that procedure.
I didn't use a placemat but instead I made what looked like a small placemat from some beautiful lightly quilted orange fabric from one of my Interior Decorating fabric sample books. I used 2 fabrics , the orange and what would end up being the lining a soft fabric in chartreuse. I like the combination.

My pictures don't really show how I sewed it together but hopefully you can figure it out. I want to make more of these but slightly larger and with a thin strap like cording or similar. I want to embelllish them and hopefully they could be little evening bags/pouches. Big enough for a lipstick , a few dollars, cell phone, keys and I.D.

Its a really simple procedure really. The only problem I cam across was when I went to sew the corners to square off the bottom...see next picture. It was a bit thick to get under my presser foot so I ended up sewing it by hand.

I'm quite happy with how it turned out aside from that and it fits a few of my cosmetics and goes quite nicely in my purse. Now to start making more of them.

Here is the finished product

Art-O-Matic Vending Machines

This morning I was thrilled to find on the blog of one of my new followers a fantastic article on Art-O-Matic which I had no idea existed, not surprising of course.
I am adding a link to her blog and the article so you can read it for yourself and pay a visit to the website.

http://cursivearts.blogspot.com/2011/02/worlds-largest-gallery.html

The idea is that old cigarette machines have been converted to carry individuals art that have been submitted for approval.
Cursive Arts is one of those artists.
There is a huge variety of art including jewelry, sculpture, canvas art, carvings and so much more. Check out the website yourself to see submission guidelines and find out where you can find one of these machines.
So unusual and so inspiring.

http://www.artomat.org/

Quote of the Week (perfect for a Saturday)

I can't help but think of this quote when I try to prepare to do a craft instead of just diving in no matter what else is going on that day.

"Why not seize the pleasure at once, how often is happiness destroyed by preparation, foolish preparations."

Jane Austen

A Special Little Girl and a Big Collage

Three years ago my best friend who is 20 years younger than me (read on for the reason I mention this) had her first baby, a beautiful little girl.
My friend wanted me to be something special to her little girl and she told me this not long after she was born. She said I don't want you to just be an aunt it needs to be something else. So we thought about it and came up with the name "Nanba". So that is what I became that day and she became my Nandaughter.
Today she is an energetic, intelligent, witty, enertaining and very loving 3 year old and she now has a little brother so I now have a Nanson!
When she was 6 months old I decided to make a collage (her mom loves collage) of her baby pictures on a canvas with some of my creativity mixed in. I incorporated my friends favorite colours and some of  her favorite pictures and quite a bit of imagination and whimsy and I got a bit carried away.
It ended up being an 18x18 canvas framed with wood painted black and sealed.
My friend hangs it proudly in her home and keeps telling me now that I have to make another one when my Nanson is 6 months old. I've got 5 months to get my act together..!

 I have this listed in my ETSY shop and will do a custom keepsake with your mementos, photos and anything else you want to incorporate into the collage.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/58020640/collage-art-of-your-baby-or-child-18x18

Thank you !

I just wanted to say a big thank you to the followers I have gained in the last few days. Welcome to Dressedtothe9s. I hope you enjoy reading my posts and following me as I will enjoy reading and following many of you..!
Connie

Books

There are some really great books out there and I hope that everyone is still buying books these days and encouraging our children to have a love of books. I work in publishing and have seen the changes over the last 30 years with independent booksellers going out of business to make way for big box stores and then more independents closing up as we have made way for purchasing our books online. It can be on your doorstep overnight and they almost always have what you want.
Now we struggle with digital books on e-readers. The Ipad, Kindle, Kobo, Nook, and many others and more to come.
I love books , I love the feel of them, the smell of them and there is something so comforting about curling up with a book, any book, a novel, a children's story, a how to book, cookbook, nature book and turning the pages, perusing, absorbing and learning.
I don't see a world without books, I don't think they will ever go away, I won't let them leave my world, I grew up with them they are part of my life and my memories and my future.

Here are some of my favorite books on crafting:



If you are looking for a book to help you start an online craft business , blogging, selling on etsy and more this is a great one.

You beautiful Doll

I love to make things and I will try anything once so I was pretty excited to attempt to make a mermaid doll for a very special little girl in my life for Christmas. I made the pattern myself after a little trial and error.
The doll has a head, shoulders, arms and torso only. There are no legs because she is a mermaid and the  outfits (which there are 3 of) are the tails.
The outfits slip up over her hips and do up in the back with velcro as do the tops.

I made her body with broadcloth and then I stuffed her with batting and painted a face on her with acrylic craft paints mixed with textile medium.
The hair is made from upholstery trim that I cut up and sewed to her head with clear nylon thread.
My mom made me a large rag doll when I was little she was almost the same size as me and this kind of reminds me of her on a smaller scale.
I will try to post more pictures once I get them off of my friend. She has them on her computer.