Amy Butler Love Shoulder Bag

ab love bag, originally uploaded by gardenhouse.

The holidays are over, the weather is cold and it is the perfect time to think about Spring.

This is a beautiful handmade purse created with Amy Butler Love collection fabric.

Go to http://simonehowell.blogspot.com/ to see more from Garden House.

Purses, Bags and Totes oh my!

This purse makes me smile. It makes me think of a front porch swing & a tall cold glass of sweet tea. Barbara made this purse with fabric from a curtain panel and tells me it is about 10 inches across. What a great way to recycle a curtain panel!

Speaking of recycled curtains....remember when Scarlett O'Hara tore down the emerald green draperies to fashion her Southern Belle style gown? I loved that scene in Gone With the Wind! Hey.....Scarlett was "Going Green" before "Going Green" was cool! Ok.......I'll stop rambling.

Here is another purse made by Barb. She used Amy Butler Daisy Chain fabrics for this one. The main body is Deco Rose -brown. She told me these are her first attempts at sewing purses and is still learning her way around the sewing machine. I'm looking forward to seeing what she creates when she learns how to sew! :-)

Amy Butler fabric turned into The Ashley Bag

Ashley wanted a new bag and requested a top zipper closure.

Here is what we came up with. aka The Ashley Bag.
I gotta say this zipper panel nearly kicked my butt! Putting in a zipper was not the problem. The problem was the mathematics! Look close at the drop-down zipper closure. Since I didn't have a pattern..........let's just say.........my seam ripper and I bonded.


Apparently the length & width of the inner band and zipper panel MUST match the finished width of the bag! Who would have thought?!

Sewing Trivia

Beginners to sewing are more likely to be bothered by the need to
remove stitching mistakes than seasoned sewers.

I read that on a blog last week, but can't remember who to credit this knowledge to.

For me, I am so "seasoned" that I can almost laugh at my sewing blunders!

Amy Butler - Purses - Halters- Pecan Waffles-& Novocaine

If you are an Amy Butler fan and happen to be in Carrollton, GA be sure to stop by a little Dentist office on Center Street. The gals in there will welcome you with pure Southern style! They are every bit as friendly as a waitress in a Waffle House!

For those Non-Southerners..... you should know that a Waffle House waitress will greet you with a loud " good morning" as soon as you walk in the door. Everyone else will look up from their pecan waffle and nod. Super friendly folks, yet NO more friendly than the ladies working at Dr Ayers Dental office!

Wondering where I am going with this??? Keep reading.

You'll get MORE than a simple "good morning" or " good afternoon" at Dr Ayers office. Heather is happy to usher you to the best seat in the place! She'll encourage you sit down & kick your feet up. Shoot.......she will even brush and floss your teeth while you sit and relax!

Come to find out, the dental staff loves Amy Butler fabric as much as I love my Novocaine before having a cavity filled!

Wildflowers - navy & Happy Dots- leaf

Deco Rose - brown

Up Town Bag purse project

PURSES! Quick easy and fun to sew!

Normally I carry larger size purses, but sometimes a large bag is not appropriate.
I needed something for church and decided the Amy Butler Uptown Bag
would be the perfect size. It is about 10 inches wide & 10 inches tall with the handles.

The interior is roomy enough for a large wallet & cell phone with room to spare......but not enough room to hold a spare tire!
I selected Floating Buds in grey from Amy Butler's Midwest Modern 2 fabric collection.
The grey on cream background seemed neutral enough.

Since it was a quick & fun project, I couldn't stop by only sewing one! I made another one and will try to post a picture of it soon.