So for now my blog posts will be posted in reverse chronological order: meaning each project will date back further in time as I scurry to locate photos of my past projects. My intention with this blog is to use it as an easily-accessible portfolio, and if my posts help anyone creatively or technically, great. Hopefully my photos will improve and become useful teaching tools at some point.  It hadn’t really occurred to me before. I always knew I’d someday need a portfolio but each project comes with its own time constraints and squirmy models itching to trick-or -treat or whatever, so most of my photos are hastily taken in less than ideal lighting and with my small camera.

My son’s friend invited him to her birthday party. My spouse was recently laid off and I needed a cheap gift.  Children are difficult to buy for in any situation, for me, at least.  No one wants more junk they have to store and/or get rid of.  I asked my son to tell me about his friend and the one thing he definitely knew was that she loved a certain British television show.  So I checked the web for inspiration and found plenty.  Knitted scarves, the robot-guy with the orbs, and of course the Metropolitan Police blue call box (don’t want to encroach on anyone’s trademarks).  Looking through my stash/hoard, I found a linen blend dress that I had taken apart to alter and never put back together- so using it for this project meant I didn’t have to throw it out because heaven knows I’d never have gotten back to it.

At first I had planned on making the side panels like placket pockets but after one trial, I knew I needed another plan. I cut my side panels and made strips of bias tape (on the top right in photo below) and top-stitched them on after securing them with the glue sticks. I embroidered the Police and Box onto black grosgrain ribbon with my (less than stellar) embroidery machine. I could not, however, get the Police Call words small enough so I printed those onto iron-on transfer paper with the instructions and seal.

You can see the printout I used as a guide- mostly to make sure I had enough pieces to make a rectangular prism by the time I finished.

Things went along fine.. as far as sewing goes, some of my measurements were off, some pieces were overlooked and misplaced, but working within my time constraints, it progressed nicely…. until it came time to attach a strap.

I had no strapping suitable and none of my local craft stores carried any.  With such a short time to complete it, ordering online was not an option.  So, I ended up at everyone’s favorite superstore and bought some nylon tie-downs from the camping section.  (My husband found them, whew.)  For practicality, I knew it needed to be a cross-body fit. 

I found the plastic pieces in my stash- before throwing anything away, I harvest it for useful parts- a frugality I learned from my grandmothers who lived through the depression.  I inherited many buttons with bits of fabric and stitches still attached.  I sewed the zipper on to the main body while it was flat and sewed the other side to the lid in a square shape.   I thought about piping down the corners to add some body, but ultimately decided (again, with some help from my husband) to insert zip ties into the seams. It both stabilized the purse and added dimension to the look. 

(This photo shows it without the top ribbon and corners tacked down.)  There is a bit of buckram as well to add stabilization.  The trim at the top leaves something to be desired, but I added a few spangles and beads to add sparkle. I had originally wanted to overlap the zipper with a flap to hide it but I couldn’t figure out how.  I lined the bag and made a phone pocket- because who wants to search a box-shaped bag for a ringing phone, right?  Conveniently enough, the dress was lined so that spared me searching for a matching lining fabric.

I also embroidered her name to the interior lining, so she had no doubt that it was made especially for her and is a one-of-a-kind. So all-in-all it cost me my precious time and $6 for the straps.

My husband caught a video of her opening it and she was speechless; she loved it… and wore it as a hat.  ; )

Had I known she would have preferred it as a hat, I wouldn’t have had quite as much work. LOL