Cherry Purse, Ami Frappe, and Ami Gnome (crochet)

Hello everyone!! You can see what I've been busy with the last couple of days... I've also been picking up my embroidery materials for a few minutes here and there and I'll show that when it's finished (might be another few days).

The cherry purse is something I came up with on my own and figured I would give it a shot. It didn't turn out too bad, though I will admit I hate hand-sewing in zippers!!! lol Next to the purse is a cup of frappe with a big pile of whipped cream on top. :D And lastly, a GNOME!!! I LOVE gnomes!!! I'd like to have them all over the place, but I have to do it strategically so the hubster doesn't notice right away. ;) hehe There were patterns for both of those, but I was a bit disappointed with how they were coming out so I ended up changing it as I went anyway. I love the gnome! Did I mention that? :)

If anyone has any other gnome patterns or can point a finger toward some online patterns, I'd love to see more to try out. :D Hope everyone is having a happy weekend and staying COOOOOL!!!

Pearly Green Purse with Long Handle (crochet)

Tonight I am lucky enough to get to go to a concert with one of my best friends and I am so excited!!! BUT a problem I always have when I go to those kinds of things is what to do with my purse. I don't want to just set it on the nasty, sticky floor and risk someone swiping it...but I don't want to carry one on my shoulder or hold it in my hand the whole night. SO I came up with a solution.

I crocheted this green purse with an extra long handle in exactly the right size to hold my gnome wallet (yellow above) and my cell phone (purple above) and it can go messenger-bag style across me and hang by my hip. :D It only took about 1 1/2 hours to make and is all done with SC stitches working in a round. I used a light green somewhat fuzzy kind of yarn that I had no label for so I have no clue what brand/kind it is and doubled it up with a baby yarn in white-pearl color. The button I sewed on is a matching pearly color. I used an "I" hook and it's approximately 15 stitches wide. I didn't count the rows, just stopped when it fit my wallet without poking out the top anymore. The handle is 150 chains and then SC back across once.

So that wasn't exactly a pattern, but if you have crochet experience you can probably get the idea -- very simple and quick! :D

Canvas Purse/Bag (sewing)

Clearly, I am not much of a sewer (that doesn't sound quite right... seamstress, maybe?...sewing-person..) Anyway, I can't really follow a pattern to save my life, but if someone *shows* me how to do it, then I am willing to try!! And sometimes it works out for me. :) This particular bag was from a book called "Simple Gifts To Stitch" by Jocelyn Worrall. In fact, it is the bag from the cover!

Notice the world's cutest little gnomie wallet (my sister made for me, who by the way CAN sew just about anything you can imagine...I missed the boat on that gene quality...) fits perfectly in one of the side pockets...

This photo is showing that all 3 of the front pockets (as well as the main compartment) are all the same depth..they all go to the bottom of the bag.

Here is the inside view of the main compartment. My sewing machine decided to poop-out on me just about the time I was attempting to sew in the handles at the end. Not until a phone call later did I realize why this was. (Using the wrong kind of needle.. heh heh). I ended up just sewing those in by hand.

And the completed bag/purse. I am probably going to use the freezer-paper-stencil method one of these days to give it some color, but for now I'm just happy I could make it and it came out looking somewhat like the tutorial.


If you are new to sewing OR would just like an awesome extra bag, I recommend this book for the ease of the directions and the fact that it is NOT patterns, but more like tutorial-style. :)

p.s. If you want an awesome handmade wallet like mine (or in a variety of other colors/fabrics)...check out Schnitzel and Boo . I know she doesn't always have it posted but you can always contact her to ask!! :)