Just had my two week knee check-up and I’m healing great!  AND I’ve managed to complete bags number fourteen and fifteen for the Artwalk Show!  Bag #14 shall be named Merry Messenger.  It’s the same Ali Foster mini-messenger pattern that I used a few weeks ago and loved.  This time I stitched from an embroidered floral faux leather from Cowgirls and Lace, and just for fun, added a textured leopard print strap and a laser cut button.

For Bag #15  I modified my Anny Clutch pattern, including adding a tan and turquoise beaded purchased handle.  After studying several YouTube videos on making fabric flowers I tried my hand at creating one.  Using a teal and tan French wire ribbon, I gathered it into a flower shape adding a vintage aqua and gold button.  A little netting that I happened to have on hand was an added touch, plus a circle of felt to cover the back and a pin so it could be removable.  There are so many awesome videos out there that it was exceptionally hard to quit watching them and actually try it!  (Just Google “Making Fabric Flowers.”  Oh, my!  A plethora of flowers–fabric, felt, ribbon, lace, sewn, glued–you name it! )  And this last bag was where I gathered the courage to cut that luscious silk velvet from Mood Fabrics, both the teal and soft floral taupe that seem to have an antique look. Forever in Velvet is the name of this bag.  But honestly, If you could touch that velvet, you would want to wrap yourself in it.  So yummy!

Oh, yes, and I transformed my sewing room.  I don’t know what got into me but the night before my knee surgery I felt the need to rearrange that room.  I’m sure part of it was that Rick is building me a bench with drawers (Farmer Rick is also Retired Engineer/Woodworker Rick) and you know how that goes.  Once you have a great new item, it starts that domino effect and suddenly you want to organize, purge, donate, and make everything more functional.  I did that, including the entire walk-in closet, and I’m very happy!  Sometime I’ll have to give you a virtual tour of my room. 🙂

So with three weeks to Showtime, I have “finished” my Fall collection.  Hmm, do we actually believe I won’t try to slip in another or another?  Anyway, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before but with every bag comes a handmade tag.  And by tag I mean this is how I keep my hand in the scrapbooking department. 🙂  I compose a little blurb about the bag, then print on scrapbook paper and embellish with sparkles, florals, ribbon, whatever strikes my fancy to give it dimension.  Sometimes I incorporate some of the fabric from the bag.  Last night I stayed up very late (so what else is new?) and composed the tags.  Just composed the writing.  Now I need to turn them into little works of art.  That’s what I’ll be doing this week.  Here are a few samples from past bags:

Talk to you soon, after I get things just a little more under control.    But for now I’m off to catch just a few more tutorials before bed!  Darn those YouTube tutorials!  They’re as addictive as Pinterest! 🙂