Pirating Bag Hardware

This is where I get most of my bag hardware.

$1.00.
Bought on the last day (half price!) local estate sale.
It was marked $5, but my winning personality got me from $2.50 down to a buck.

Samsonite laptop carryon.

When I pirated the 'Detour ' label, I found out how tags are stapled into the seam allowance so they don't  shift.

Pencil Girl loves to rip out zippers.
I can't stand it.

Normally, I don't ever take zips out.
But these were double close heavy duty zips.
Nice pull tabs too.
I pulled out my unpicker and ripped those babies out.
Two of them - perfect for bags.

In my hurry, I ripped a hole in one of the zipper tapes. Still usable.

There were about six other zips in this bag - all single pull - I didn't bother with those.

I thought about pirating this strap holder plastic thing. It's there to keep the strap straight.
The weird brown color makes it unusable for most things.

Nice swivel hardware.
The plastic mesh was cool until you touch it - eeuw.
I left the mesh.

For $1.00, I spent 20 minutes (zips) to get
2 double pull zips.
2 sliders 1 1/2"
2 D rings 1 1/2"
2 swivel hook attached to 1 1/2" D rings.
1 swivel hook
D ring 3/4"
2 plastic buckles with interesting pull tabs

New? One of the swivel hooks is around five bucks.

Fifty cent purse.
I liked the purse handle.
Even though it's short.

Most of the time you just need a pair of scissors  to pirate a bag. This time I used pliers for the zipper pulls.

The other trick is to pull hardware immediately. Get rid of the bulky bags.

Stash your hardware for when you need to sew your own awesome purse.

Sunday Sewing

Some Sunday sewing.

I pulled some of my Japanese fabrics to make a tote bag with some kimono accents.
I was looking for a coordinating neutral and I found this batik with japanese characters. Or is this chinese?
I do know this fabric is not from japan.

The fabrics sewed themselves into a simple hip bag with a slip pocket inside as well as outside.

This bag measures 7 1/2" x 8". On the small side.

I sewed the lining longer than the outside and ironed it down to sew, creating an accent at the top.

I've been in a funk since I got back from my trip.  Dealing with postal drama that keeps going 'round and 'round inside my head. Tired from a very intense trip that taxed my auto-immune.

I'm trying to make sense of a lot of things in my life.

Friday prompted a turnaround in my mindset.
My postal mgmt is in the quandary of not being able to nail me to the wall on any of their far-fetched accusations. My auto-immune is *there* and I need to continue to be mindful of it.

These things won't change and I need to live my life and not fret at stumbling blocks.

Sewing helps.

I weeded for an hour this morning too.
Then I planted a bunch of spring greens.
Beets, chard, bok choi, lettuces, kale.

Good stuff.

Spring In The Country

Creative girl yelled over at me from the work fence to see if I wanted to go check out the Spring Bazaar at the Canby Fairgrounds.

From vintage tchotchkes to handmade pretties.

Old window with birds sitting on a line.

Purses with bling.
Old windows - repurposed.
Silverware windchimes.

Found me a rusty biplane.

Solar lights taken to the next level.
Local popcorn - Tutti Frutti.

Clothing.

 Spring In The Country  

Running now (monday) through Saturday
April 6-11.
At the Canby Fairgrounds.

Chirimen Gathered Round Basket

I needed to sew something today.

It's reversible.
It's a quick sew.

I had two Chirimen pieces about 9" square. I picked these up at the (forgot name) department store in kyoto for 98 yen each. (82 cents).

It can be difficult to cut into vacation fabrics but this seemed the right pattern to use up most of the square with a third fabric cut as a binding.

Fun and fast.

I saw the idea on Benta's blog: Slik Stitches.

She used this tutorial.