Brookfield Bag with Boxed Corners

I wanted to play around with a few bags that I have made before and make even more changes, so I decided to try boxing the corners of the Brookfield Bag (by Sew Sweetness). I really like how this one came out. It gives the bag a bit more room inside. I added an accent strip on the bottom instead of the 4 corner patches. I really like the sweet look of the four patches, but I thought it would be nicer to provide more space. It's still a small-medium sized bag measuring 8 1/2" wide x 8 1/2" high x 3" deep. (Which could be small to some and medium sized to others depending on your point of view).

Since I chose to make another hot air balloon fabric bag, I didn't want to add any exterior pockets on the back to interfere with the design. The next Brookfield with boxed corners I make will have a back exterior pocket; either a zippered pocket, a slip pocket or a welt pocket. See I still need to play around and see what I think looks best, so I may need to make 3 more Brookfield Bags and try a different pocket on each bag.

Brookfield Bag made with boxed corners.

Instead of adding the 4 corner patches, I boxed the corners and added an accent strip where the 4 corner patches would have gone.  By boxing the corners, the bag is a bit roomier inside.

Back of the bag.

The bag is slightly deeper with the boxed corners.

A slip pocket with a pen pocket inside.

Seems a bit roomier with the corners of the bag being boxed.

This one will be going to the local shows(s) in November to see if anyone loves it enough to want to purchase it and take it home with them. 

I am making some changes to another bag design that I making right now to see how it turns out. I will be posting that one later this month.
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Good to Go Messenger Bag (Hot Air Balloon fabric)

Guess what is coming up? The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! In just over a week and it begins. So I made this Good to Go Messenger Bag from Andrie Designs in the small size. It's a free pattern.

The flap is perfect for all kinds of fun fabric or other artsy stuff.

I used some blue "uncorked" fabric to compliment the hot air balloon fabric. Tell me does it look like real cork? It's 100% cotton fabric. A lot less $ than real cork.

I made the straps adjustable and added some rivets.

I added a zippered pocket to the back of the bag (not part of the pattern). I know I have to have some kind of exterior pocket and I have heard this from others too. You can see the "uncorked" fabric here really well.

Inside is a nice bright fabric with a slip pocket.

This bag has SOLD.
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Clematis Bag Enlarged

The annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was here in early October and the gift shop where I sell my things takes in a lot of hot air balloon crafts to sell during that time. I made a few items with hot air balloon fabric to sell and I think I sold 3 things. The rest will be in the shop through the end of the year, so I hope they sell for Christmas.

One of the bags I made was this Clematis bag (remember all the Clematis Wristlet bags I made?), that I enlarged and added an adjustable strap so it can be worn across the body. I like this larger size as a handbag. This was the first one I tried making at this size, and I will be making more; in fact I just finished another large one that I made in different colors (no balloons). This pattern is from Blue Calla Patterns and it's a free pattern. This Balloon Clematis did sell too!

I used denim for the base and the strap.

I even used a hot air balloon charm on the zipper pull I made. This charm is large.

On this larger Clematis I added a zippered pockets as well as the slip pocket that is in the pattern.

I am linking this to Elm Street Quilts Bag It 2017.
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Daryl's Drive & Brandt's Blvd. Wallet to Match

I was commissioned to make a Daryl's Drive handbag after a woman I know saw mine. I used a colorful floral fabric for mine and she wanted something bright and colorful too. So I had picked out a nice fabric grouping and then I got a call from her that she had seen a hot air balloon fabric at one of the quilt shops and wanted the balloon fabric instead. Luckily I hadn't cut out anything yet, so I went out and purchased the hot air balloon fabric and bought some extra fabric for me too. This woman also had shown me her leather wallet that was falling apart and I mentioned I could make her a wallet too, but she didn't say anything (maybe she didn't hear me?). I decided I would make her a wallet and tell her she did not need to purchase it as I could sell it if she didn't want it, but after seeing it she bought them both. I think she was very pleased with them and I hope she uses them too. She told me the handbag was too pretty to use and I told her to use it because it was meant to be used, lol!

Both the Daryl's Drive and the Brandt's Wallet patterns are ChrisW Design patterns from her Easy Street Collection, that is why Drive and Blvd. are in the names. And Daryl is named after me (I was one of the testers) and Brandt was named after Marilyn (her last name was used and she is also a tester).

Daryl's Drive Handbag

The woman who purchased this bag used to be a nurse and I had just the right amount of this nurse/doctor fabric to line the bag with. 

The back of the bag.

Cell phone or keys pocket on the back.

Brandt's Blvd. wallet to match.

There is a detachable wrist strap, which you can remove when using as a wallet in your bag. But if you only want to carry a few things and not a purse you can have your credit cards, ID, cash, coins and even your cell phone will fit in a cell phone pocket in this wallet and the wrist strap makes it easy to carry.

They do make a nice pair.

The wallet fits so nicely inside too!

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