Europe Here I Come ....

Well as I am heading off to Europe next week, I decided to make a few things to take with me (lets hope they stay in 1 piece).

First off is my first LEATHER bag - this Satchel will be my everyday bag and the beauty of it I have made compartments inside to suit what I want!!


The next bag I made was a Beach bag - you can't go to Greece without a beach bag. It might be a little on the big side, but what the hell - it folds up for easy storage in the suitcase haha.


Since my camera never came with a camera bag - I made my own! I have a little pocket inside to hold my spare memory cards and the adjustable strap so I can wear it long or short!


And just because I was making everything else, I decided to make a laundry bag and shoe bag. Then because I was on a roll I decided to make an underware bag and hairdryer bag (not shown) haha, although I have stopped now - I think I have run out of things to make for my trip.


Europe here I come :o)

Review Round-up Competition - Make-up Purse

MAKE-UP PURSE

Difficulty rating: 1/5 - very easy for beginners
Were the Instructions easy to follow: I found the step by step instructions & illustrations very easy to follow.
Were you happy with the finished product & did it look like the pattern cover or tweaked: I was very happy with my finished product & it looked like the pattern cover.
What did you like or dislike about the pattern: I have NO dislikes - I love this make-up purse pattern, very easy to make.
Would you make this pattern again or recommend it to others: I have made this pattern a few times now for gifts - I highly recommend it because it's easy & a great size make-up purse!

Review Round-up Competition - Tote & Satchel

TOTE & SATCHEL


Difficulty rating: 2/5 - easy enough bag for beginners
Were the Instructions easy to follow: As I was becoming familiar with the step by step instructions & illustrations, making the bags became a much easier task. I was more comfortable with the skills I had learnt from the instructions & the easiness of the patterns.
Were you happy with the finished product & did it look like the pattern cover or tweaked: I was very happy with my finished product & proud of the fact that they looked like bags on the pattern cover. With the Satchel (above pictures) I decided to add a zip closure & a couple of extra pockets inside for a phone or coin purse. To add to my comfort level, I tweaked the pattern to make it smaller for my little cousins - I made two smaller sizes (pictured below)

What did you like or dislike about the pattern: I have NO dislikes - this is a great easy pattern for beginners.
Would you make this pattern again or recommend it to others: I have made this bag again with ease & recommend it to someone who wants a versatile bag.

Review Round-up Competition - Day Bag

DAY BAG

Difficulty rating: 2/5 - easy enough bag for beginners
Were the Instructions easy to follow: After I had made my 1st bag in Nikki's Bags for Beginners class, I decided to try the basic day bag on my own at home without the option of being able to ask for help.
I found the step by step instructions & illustrations very easy to follow.
Were you happy with the finished product & did it look like the pattern cover or tweaked: For my first day bag (opposite picture) I took the easy way & made it like I had the satchel with the flap, one strap, magnetic clip & one zipper pocket inside.
For my second attempt at the day bag (below pictures) I had become a lot more comfortable with the easiness of the pattern & instructions. I decided to add a zip closure on the black bag, two straps & a couple of extra pockets inside for a phone or coin purse.
I was very happy with both my finished products & proud of the fact that they looked like two of the bags on the pattern cover.
What did you like or dislike about the pattern: I have NO dislikes - this is a great easy pattern for beginners.
Would you make this pattern again or recommend it to others: I have made this bag again with ease & recommend it to someone who wants a smaller size bag for everyday.

Review Round -up Competition - 300mm Snap

300MM SNAP

Difficulty rating: 3/5 - easy enough but sewing experience would make it easier
Were the Instructions easy to follow: After I had proudly completed the 90mm & 200mm purse frames, I set myself the challenge of the 300mm Snap.
It was a little daunting when I opened the instructions for the 300mm Snap as there was a bit more involved than I had done with the purses. After reading through the instructions, I found that the bag & purse concept had been combined.
Yet again the step by step instructions & illustrations were very easy to follow.
Were you happy with the finished product & did it look like the pattern cover or tweaked: I was very happy with my finished product that looked like the pattern cover minus the straps & can proudly say it survived the day as it was part of my outfit to the Cox's Plate.
What did you like or dislike about the pattern: I have NO dislikes - I love the pattern, it's a great clutch.
Would you make this pattern again or recommend it to others: I am yet to make another Snap, but the next one I do I will try with the straps. I recommend this pattern, it makes a great evening clutch with the purse frame.

Review Round-Up Competition - Purse Frames

90MM PURSE FRAME

Difficulty rating: 2/5 - easy enough for beginners
Were the Instructions easy to follow: I decided to give myself a challenge & try to make the 90mm Purse Frame on my own at home. I found the step by step instructions & illustrations very easy to follow. Attaching of the purse frame had very clear instructions, but took me at least two tries to get it stuck in the frame. After getting half the craft glue on my fingers, I had a finished product that looked like the pattern cover.
Were you happy with the finished product & did it look like the pattern cover or tweaked: I was very happy with my finished product, especially when I did it all on my own & that would not have been possible without the ease of the pattern.
What did you like or dislike about the pattern: I have NO dislikes - I love the pattern.
Would you make this pattern again or recommend it to others: I have made this pattern numerous times now & love it, I highly recommend it because everyone loves a coin purse!



200MM PURSE FRAME

Difficulty rating: 2/5 - easy enough for beginners
Were the Instructions easy to follow: After successfully completing the 90mm purse frame, I decided to try the 200mm purse frame. I found the instructions the same as the 90mm purse, which was very comforting as the step by step instructions & illustrations were once again very easy to follow.
Were you happy with the finished product & did it look like the pattern cover or tweaked: Once again I was extremely happy with my finished product that looked like the pattern cover.
What did you like or dislike about the pattern: I have NO dislikes - I love the pattern.
Would you make this pattern again or recommend it to others: I have made the 200mm purse a couple of times & recommend it to anyone who loves to make purses.

My bag obsession

I must say that I was inspired to create a blog to showcase my passion of bags that has been a driving force by Nikki at Nicole Mallalieu Designs with her "Review Round-up" Competition.

I have always been a huge fan of bags and shoes (what girl isn't), but when my friend Rachel came to me and asked me if I wanted to do a bag making course, I was quick to say YES!
I was a nervous wreck when I entered the classroom of Nicole Mallalieu Designs, I hadn't used a sewing machine since year 10 dressmaking & the fact that other members of the class had made bags before wasn't helping the butterflies in my stomach.
It was with the ease & patience of Nikki (the fab teacher) that I became calmer. Class after class it got easier & the feeling I got at the final class when I had made my very 1st bag (pictured below), was when my passion for bags became an obsession!
I have been making & creating various patters of Nikki's & loving it!!!
As a huge suprise to my mother, I have actually stuck with a "hobby" for over a year now, but the satisfaction I feel when I complete a bag, purse or anything else I have done, it's not something that I can thrown in. Not only is it very therapeutic for me, but to see something I have made, make someone smile - makes me happy.

I would have to say my biggest achievement to date was the nappy bag (pictured below) I made for my little niece Montana Rose. At the time of making the bag she was unknown - so not knowing if it was a boy or girl, I went for a Noah's Ark theme.
This nappy bag is not one of Nikki's designs, but a Simplicity pattern that was driving me crazy, so I took the concepts that I learnt from Nikki & applied it to this project, because Simplicity is confusing!!!



















With my new found love for sewing, I have made aprons & art smocks for my little cousins, with great feedback that they survived the wash hahaha.