To help get the creative juices flowing again, I joined a health club – okay, so what does that have to do with creativity and blogging? You’d be surprised, I am feeling a lot more energetic and am more interested in things around me including colors, nature and people.  

 I am going to try and post at least once each week have no idea of what the subject matter will be, but then that makes things interesting – join me and come along for the ride.

So, Mr. Government if you want to do something for us, send each taxpayer around $50,000 and we will definitely help jumpstart the economy. Now, this should be taxable income so you get some of it back. Here are just some of the ways people might use that money:

• Those who have been needing an automobile will get one – helps the auto industry
• Some will pay off credit cards – putting money back into the banks and credit card companies
• Getting needed repairs on their homes – helps small business people
• Families will be able to take vacations – helps the travel industry
• People who can afford the monthly mortgage payment but haven’t been able to save the downpayments will be able to get into a home – helping to get rid of a lot of those foreclosed homes on the market
• New clothes and new furniture – helps the retail market
• Get the groceries we really want instead of eating hamburger every night – helps the food industry; and,
• yes – some will save it or invest it – still helping the economy!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am all for infrastructure, rebuilding schools, tax deductions and a lot of the other stuff; but, that will not do much for me and most of the people I know. So, instead of listening to all those “experts” start listening to the little people and what will help us quickly.

And, for goodness sake – rewrite the tax code, forget all those deductions that usually only the wealthy can use and have everyone pay a straight amount. Save some trees with all that paper that has to be printed and give us a break!

What do you think about Stimulus plans, more tax cuts, more putting people to work?

Basic Layout

The materials you will need are:

• Fabric
• Fabric Markers (air soluable)
• Rulers
• Interfacing
• Thread
• Other embellishments you might like to add

My cousin likes a medium sized bag with soft sides, let’s say we make her one with a finished front of 8″ X 10″ with a 4″ depth. By looking at the chart you can see we would add 8″ + 2″ + 2″ + 1″(we will be using a 1/2″ seam, so 1/2″ each side) giving us a total width of 13″. We will figure the same for the length (height) so 10″ + 2″ + 1″ (we only add the dept to the bottom and again, 1/2″ seams). So, we’ll cut 2 pieces of main fabric and 2 pieces of lining fabric 13″ by 13″.

You can see by my fabric I didn’t have enough to give me the yardage I needed, so I just added some additional that goes with the main fabric. This could be added at the top or bottom. Sometimes I do this on purpose, to add interest. I’ve also sewn several pieces together and then cut the size I need – we’ll leave that for another lesson (does that peak your interest?). Cut your 2 pieces for your lining at this time.

You don’t have to cut side panels because we added that into our side and bottom measurement.  At this point I always add an iron on a light to medium weight interfacing. If I want to have more of a “hard” sided bag, I will also cut something like “craft fuse” by Pellon or Timex, even buckrum could be used. Sew front and back main fabric right sides together at sides and bottom . PRESS seams. I can’t say this too often.

Now, let’s go to the lining. You can have any number of pockets, zippered or plain, the choice is yours. The next two pictures show some possible layouts for pockets. One, has a pocket that goes acoss the entire bag, which will be separated into several individual pockets. You could also add pockets to the front but, my cousin doesn’t like them there, so we’ll do this bag with only pockets inside. The next 2 pitures

Lining with 1 small pocket

show 2 different ways of doing pockets. One single one or several by sewing one large piece across the width and then dividing that into sections. You could also have a zippered pocket.

Long Pocket

You will also notice there are corners cut out of each side on the bottom. This is one of several ways to form you side panels. Cut a 2″ square off each side. Sew lining right sides together along both sides. Sew bottom but leave the middle 2/3s open for turning purposes.

Sewing Pleat

Then you will put (right sides together) the seam from the bottom with the side seam. I prefer to have the bottom seam go one way and the side seam go the other and but them together. The width of this pleat should be 4″. Stand it up, you can see how the sides are forming at this point. Do the exact same thing to the fashion/main fabric with the exception of sewing the bottom seam totally across.

Now we have two sections, the min fabric bag and the lining. Before putting these two together, we need to decide on what type of handles we want to add, fabric or purchased. Since she didn’t want a shoulder bag, I’m just going to use some purchased handles whih require making tabs for attaching the handle to the bag.

With these two pictures, you can see how the tabs go thru the handles and get attached to the top of the bag. To make the tabs, measure the opening of the purse handle, multiply this by 4. The length is determined by how much you want showing when finished. If you want very little to show, the length will be much shorter than if you want a lot to show. Fold this piece in half and press. Open and fold each side to the center, fold and press all. Stitch down each side, close to the edge. Cut into 4 equal pieces. Center the handles and baste each one to the top of the bag. If you are going to have a flap closure, now is the time to make that also.

With right sides together, put the main bag into the lining, making sure the handles are inside and won’t be caught when sewing the top. We are going to sew around the top.  (Remember, you left an opening n the bottom of the bag for turning.) Turn right side out and I like to sew a line right at the top of the bag very close to the seam. This gives a nicer finish to the top. Guess what, you’re done! Now, wasn’t that simple.

At Doll Street Dreamers you’ll find all sorts of classes, free patterns and lots of great information.

With this basic style you can create bags from a very small size to an over-sized tote. Very easy to do. You can have several inside pockets , you could put a zipper inside or outside, or add additional pockets on the outside. This particular bag has purchased handles, but you could easily make your own.

When you find fabric on sale, especially faux leather or some of the designer home dec fabric, get some. Because of the width, for a small bag you could get by with as little as 1/4 yard of fabric. Also, small pieces of fabric are good for making changes to the bag or for embellishments.

She talks about getting more time, and with my aging years, you might think that is what I would wish for, more time. More time to be with our new Grandchildren, to see more things, to visit with friends and that list could go on and on. But for the last few months, I’ve been wishing I could get inspired. Inspired about anything, to design a new handbag, or create a new piece of jewelry, finish the 3 jackets that are sitting here looking at me and trying to make me feel guilty – NOT! It’s like the ability to create has left me. I can’t point to one thing that took it away, I didn’t make something that came out horrible, I don’t even know when it left, but I sure wish it would come back. I get to visit my best friend next month and we always inspire each other. We’re like a couple of kids when we get together, even though our Grandkids have kids – lol. She’s been working on new projects, anticipating my arrival and I was suppose to practice something I used to do to teach her, but, it too, is sitting here looking at me. Surely I’ll come back with so many ideas going on in my head there won’t be a way to contain them.

So, that’s my wish, the return of my inspiration/creativity! If you could have just one thing – what would you long for?