Sew Powerful Purses #156-159 (2024) in Hot Air Balloon Fabric

I'm Flying High, getting ready for the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2024 by making some hot air balloon purses. I took these to Old Town to sell them at Blue Portal Gift Shop. Any purses that I sell there I will donate the money to Sew Powerful Purse Project. It takes $10 to fill each purse with the hygiene items that the girls need each month. 

I had also taken in a couple of purses with a Kokopelli and batik scraps on the flap a couple months ago. So far, I am happy to report one of the Kokopelli purses sold and one hot air balloon purse sold, although I don't know which one. I am hoping the rest of the purses sell as we get closer to Balloon Fiesta (starts in 44 more days, for 9 days of balloon activities). If they do not sell then some sweet girls in Zambia will be receiving them to use. So it's a win-win either way. 

I love the fabric with hot air balloons in this print.

Front with pocket.

Side of purse.

Back of purse with a slip pocket too.

3 more purses that I fussy cut the balloons from some fabric scraps and appliquéd them on to the purses flaps. Batik fabric scraps sewn before the appliqué was added.

Same fabric for the purses and all have pockets on the back too.

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Sew Powerful Purse #149 (2024)

Another purse finished for Sew Powerful (purse project). This is a hot air balloon appliqué I had for a long time, so turned it into a purse flap and then made the rest of the purse. I will see if this one will sell at the gift shop and then donate the money received from the sale to Sew Powerful. If it doesn't sell, then I will donate the purse to a girl in Zambia. I have made several purses with different hot air balloons to sell during Balloon Fiesta time, so I'll see what happens. Right now nothing is selling at all, so hopefully the cooler weather will bring more people into the shop to at least take a look.

I had enough of this blue print to make the purse body.

And I used this sweet print for the lining.

Added a slip pocket on the back too.

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Sew Powerful Purses #43-46 (2023) for Fundraiser 2023

I made 4 Sew Powerful Purses with Hot Air Balloons on the flaps in appliqué. I put them into a local gift shop to see if they will sell, since Balloon Fiesta will be here the first weekend in October and I hope they will sell. I put a little note in the front pocket explaining that if the purse sells, I will donate the money received to Sew Powerful during their Fundraiser and Sew-a-thon during the month of September. So far nothing is selling at that gift shop. It has been hot here though, so most people are probably not wanting to shop or stroll around Old Town.

If they don't sell, then I will donate them to one or up to four girls in Zambia, depending on how many do sell, or if any sell? Time will tell.

So here are the 4 purses I made~

The body of the purse is denim, upcycled from denim jeans.

I added a pocket inside this one. I usually don't add an inside pocket, but I had some extra fabric.

I also added a jean pocket on the back that I first did an appliqué heart on it. Only smaller women jean pockets will fit on the back of the purse.

Added crystal bling on all of the balloons too.

This one I made with a batik fabric body.

Back has a slip pocket added.

Another denim jean body and pocket with a purple appliqué heart on this one.

Denim jean body and this one I did a flower appliqué on the pocket.

Flap lining I had to piece scrappy as I didn't have enough of either fabric. Kind of like that scrappy lining flap.

Wish me luck in selling these purses so I can donate to the fundraiser. If you would like to donate any amount to Sew Powerful (in my name) during the fundraiser (through September 2023), let me know so I can send you the link and my number  to enter to donate, because there will be prizes for us fundraisers. Not that I need to win anything, but Aurifil thread is one of the prizes and I can always use thread, lol! Sewing machines are donated too from Bernina and Babylock (serger), but those go to the people who raise the most $$. Will find out at the end of September if I am lucky enough to win anything.

Happy purse sewing for me!

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Hot Air Balloon Quilt in Embroidery Hoop

I made this Hot Air Balloon appliqué and set it into an embroidery hoop to frame it. I really like how this looks. Since I had some cloud fabric, I didn't need to add appliqué clouds. The pennant in white is felt and I attached it with running stitches and French knots. I have this in a gift shop, so I am hoping it will sell there. I have more embroidery hoops and can make more variations on this hot air balloon if it does sell. It might sell better in October when the annual International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta is here in Albuquerque, so I'll see what happens now.

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