Kisslock Metal Frame Purse

I bought a kit to make this purse I don't know how many years ago. I had sewn the pieces together, but it sat for years until a month or so ago I finally sewed the bag to the frame. It takes time to sew the frame on, and things do tend to shift around no matter how I basted it around the frame to hold it in place. Since this is a larger frame than I have used before and has an "M" shape to it, it was more time consuming to sew on. I know how it is to sew one of these frames on, so I have always been too nervous to try the glue on kind of frame. I just know I would have glue on the purse and me and ruin it all, so even though the sew on kind is a pain, I would rather sew (and rip out if I need to) than to glue it on.

It actually came out nice and I am glad it's finally finished. I never had a frame like this with the metal handle (see photos lower down), so it's nice to be able to try one. I think I will stick to making other bags instead of using metal frames like this; however I do have other metal frames I bought years ago and need to make some bags to use up those frames too. They are a little different than this frame. Maybe if I can get myself to make one bag a month using a metal frame this year, I might use most of them up. But then you know how making plans go, so I won't make any promises. We'll see...

I did like this pretty floral print. 

The other side of the bag to see the rest of the floral print.

I had to hold up the metal handle because it won't stay up on it's own.

The handle fall down like this if you don't hold it up.

The inside of the bag. I love how the bag opens up so wide.  See those little metal thingees on the lower right and left side? You can clip on a chain strap so this can be worn on your shoulder too. The metal handle can be removed or just let it flop down like in the photo above.

I added a slip pocket inside too.

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Kisslock Purse in Hot Air Balloon Fabric

I am sure you have seen this hot air balloon fabric a lot in a variety of bags now if you are a follower. I bought a few yards of it and wanted to make a variety of items to sell while the Balloon Fiesta was happening in early October. Well I only got to put a few items in the gift shop. Either I had my item limit in the shop already and things didn't sell quickly enough to put in more items. So this one never made it to the shop, but hopefully someone will purchase it at one of the 2 craft shows I am doing next week. 

Sales have been down this year at the gift shop probably due in part to ART (Albuquerque Rapid Transit) project that has Central Ave all torn up to put in a transit line. The poor businesses actually on the line have been so negatively impacted while this has been going on. If they can hang on long enough until the project is finished, it will hopefully bring them customers back again. But meanwhile no one wants to even go near the traffic mess if they do not have to. I think it is supposed to be finished by the end of the year. 

Meanwhile, getting back to this bag. I had some of these purse frames that I bought and wanted to use. The bag goes together easily enough, but sewing it on the frame is what really takes time and patience! This frame has a lot of holes to sew in to. I used foam stabilizer so the bag can stand up nicely. I will slowly make more bags with these frames in a variety of fabrics, but because of the hand sewing the frame in place, I will take my time in making these. I really loved these framed bags a few years ago and made several, but then wanted to try other bags and so I really need to get back to making more of these, maybe I will try other style bag shapes using this frame and see how they turn out. 

This is the back of the bag.

There is a divided pocket on the front. I added some rickrack too.

The frame opens nice and wide and has slip pockets inside too.

I am linking this to Elm Street Quilts Bag It 2017.
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Sheet Music Make-Up Bag

I made this make-up bag for my daughter. I asked her what color fabric she wanted and she asked if I had sheet music or other musical fabric. I showed her what I had and she chose this fabric. I asked her what she wanted for a lining, and she said she wanted red or a burgundy color. I decided to reduce the Companion Carpet Bag pattern to a size that would fit the metal frame I had to use for this. While the Companion Carpet Bag uses an internal metal frame, I had an external kisslock metal sew-on purse frame, so I knew I would need to adjust the pattern for the frame to the bag I was making. I gave this to my daughter for Christmas with a few make-up items inside some of the pockets.

I wanted to add a bit of color on the outside, so I sewed a red binding to the top of the pockets on each side of the bag. The red is the same fabric as the lining fabric. I did the reverse on the inside pockets by sewing the sheet music fabric binding on the top of the interior pockets. Makes it easier to find the pockets that way too! LOL!! I added a beaded charm on the side of the bag. The charm is a hear that says, "Made With Love".

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Sewing Purse {February 2015 Update too}

I made this (Tammy) bag as a gift for a friend of mine. It can be used as a sewing bag (or in a different fabric it works well as a makeup bag too).  I had some metal purse frames already and used what I had. One thing I learned about using the metal frames is that some frames open wider than others. I didn't know this before I purchased my frames. So if you want a frame to open wide, then you need to buy a purse frame that is not short on the sides. The longer the sides of the frames are the wider they open. So while this purse works, it would be nicer to open wider. I think I will use the rest of the purse frames I have to make eyeglass cases because they do not need to open real wide or be very deep. Sorry Bobbie I didn't have the wide frame for your bag :0( The frame can be easily replaced if you find a wider frame, since you sew the frame in place. This is one reason I like the sew on frames, rather than the glue on frames, plus I know I would probably make a mess with the glue and ruin the bag, lol!*** See UPDATE scroll down to ***

This side has a full pocket. The other side has a divided pocket. I added a little charm on the frame too.

Inside there is a full pocket and another divided pocket.

I made the pocket on this side divided. I added a charm on the bag too.

  ***Update February 2015: I found the right size purse frames and re-did the frame for this bag I made for Bobbie. The following photos show the bag with the new frame and how wide it now opens.

This is the new purse frame I sewed to the bag after removing the silver one above.

See how nice an wide the bag opens now?

The bag is usable now that you can see inside and put your hand in more easily.

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