A No-Sew Project for Everyone!

uteness alert!




I had to share the cuteness.

All this is courtesy of Lil' Blue Boo's blog and her helpful recommendations of a place to get lovely free downloadable designs and super-soft transfer paper.
Go read to find out what she recommends. (you can get to her tutorial through the link below)

Here is the direct link for the deer design.


And here is my finished product.  I just did exactly what she recommended and ordered the transfer paper, downloaded the image full size, printed it and ironed it onto a white tee from Target.
I had already made the fun knit ruffles to go under her Christmas dress.  They just happened to be the perfect accompaniment for the shirt.

Birdie Sling

my Butler sure knows how to make a bag.
The question was, did I?
I've had the Amy Butler Birdie Sling Bag pattern for over a year. I cut out all the paper pattern pieces. I cut out the main panel pieces. I looked online at other peoples bags, read some tutorials and sew-alongs... and then neatly folded everything and put it all in a bag in my closet with all my fabric.
Recently, I acquired some more of the Optic Blossom fabric by (who else?) Amy Butler that I had begun to cut out for the bag pieces so long ago. The bag came to my mind again.
Then, yesterday, I suddenly got up the gumption to take out that bag of neatly folded paper and fabric and DO IT!

Here is my first accomplishment along the way. I was pretty proud of this perfect pocket and was really appreciating the crisp look, thanks to the interfacing.

I'm so glad I waited to try this bag. It's definitely not for a beginner.
Be prepared for a lot of prep time cutting out all the pieces plus interfacing and then ironing on the interfacing.
Then be prepared for a lot of pinning, a lot of curves and a lot of fabric manipulating and just hoping you don't end up with a fold or pucker you didn't intend.

I didn't take all the pictures I should have. In fact, the next picture I took was right before the very last step. This was a scary moment because I felt like I was sewing blind. The widths of the top bands were not the same and I was trying to line up all the seams and still make sure I caught the strap in between them when I sewed them together. I was very nervous that I was going to have to rip out the stitches all around the top and line it all up again.

And.... drum roll!.... Here she is!

I can hardly believe the inside has these beautiful big pockets, even though that was the easiest part. Just looks so cool when they are really in there.

I actually did it! If I ever recover from all the stress of this one and decided to try it again, I would use lighter weight interfacing or maybe fleece to make it softer. It's very stiff and I'm afraid it will be uncomfortable to carry.

It also needs a closure of some kind.  I'm asking for Amy's new book with 26 bag variations for Christmas.  I think there might be a few good ideas in there for a way to add a button or something.

I definitely gained confidence from finally  finishing this and I'm ready to try whatever pattern strikes my fancy next....
Which will probably be the Oliver + S Ice Cream Dress pattern coming in the mail tomorrow!