Tag Archives: homemade

Making a Clutch Purse: Putting it Together…Maybe

I know I haven’t posted about my progress with my project on making a clutch purse (see the beginnings here).  I clearly meant to start it while my boys were in Las Vegas just before Thanksgiving, but I ended up doing a lot of cleaning rather than working on the purse.  It’s always easier to really dig into a deep house cleaning when your toddler isn’t around to get into all of the cleaning products and tools.

The update of where I am with the project is that all the fabric is cut and just waiting to be put together.  I fully intend to continue the project within the next week or so.  I have some found time coming up so I will use that time to take out my semi-new sewing machine (used only a few times) and finish up this project before the end of the year.  I want to ring in the new year with my new little clutch purse.

Making a Clutch Purse: The Humorous Side of Getting Started

I wanted to creatively challenge myself with a project while my son and husband were away for a few days in Las Vegas (I will be joining them later in the week for Thanksgiving at his parents house).  After my friend gifted me with a handmade velvet drawstring purse (seen here), I decided that I would try my hand at making a clutch purse.  I found a great pattern on Better Homes & Gardens:  Clutch Purse with Antique Pin Closure.  I had very pretty heavy fabric remnants left over from my “French Boudoir” bedroom project that have been sitting around for awhile.  I just couldn’t bear to throw them out, so I’m glad that this project has given these bits of pretty fabric new purpose.

On Saturday, I went to my local JoAnn’s Fabric and Craft store to pick up some materials that I needed in addition to the fabric I already had.  As I was waiting for the clerk to cut the interfacing fabric at the cutting table, I asked where I could find an item that I needed.  Here is how the conversation went:

Me to the store clerk:  “Excuse me, do you have ‘3/4 inch wide sew on hook & loop tape’?”
Clerk:  “I’m not sure what that is…”
Customer next to me in line:  “That would be ‘Velcro’.”
Me & the clerk:  “Ah…”

Does that bode well for my project?  I cut all the fabric, so I guess I’m in too deep now.  Barring any other little mental pauses, I will be posting pictures as I complete this seemingly daunting project.

Homemade & Vintage

The colder weather is finally here and I’m turning some of my summer maxi-dresses into winter wear by combining them with cardigans in all incarnations, scarves and boots. 

I read a definition of “vintage clothing” as anything dated from the 1920’s to the 1980’s.  That means anything that I owned as a teenager has become “vintage”.  I could either stay horrified or just embrace the fact that I have some orignal “vintage” pieces in my wardrobe that I didn’t buy in a thrift store or re-sale shop.  So the sweater I’m wearing is actually from the late 80’s, given to me as a gift.  I removed the broken buttons, so the sweater has this homemade feel to it.  It is now going to be a model for one of the things I aspire to knit someday.

Speaking of homemade things, my friend made the cute drawstring purse I’m holding.  She made a scarf from an old velvet dress, then used the sleeves to make a couple little purses and gave one to me as a gift.  I absolutely love it!  Now one of my future endeavors is to make purses out of some fabric remnants that I have left over from a previous room decor project.  I’ll feature my work in future posts.  In the meantime, I told her that her awesome little purse would make an appearance or two in some of my pictorials.

Outfit:  Cotton On floral maxi-dress; 80’s vintage knit sweater; Jessica Simpson boots; handmade velvet drawstring purse

Photos by Deon Chen