Yesterday marked the start of Selfish Sewing Week hosted by Imagine Gnats (Make for yourself! All week!) and I was so excited to be asked to participate as a featured maker. I got to choose a pattern from the collection of giveaway patterns and I picked the Olivia bag pattern from Chris W Designs. I am so dorkishly happy with my new bag! Oh man, look at this crazy bag. Vespas! Teal! Stripes! It’s pure love. The pattern includes all manner of crazy pockets and places for keeping all the stuff organized…and I mean all the stuff. I’m not joking, the pattern includes two exposed pockets on the outside, two different zipper pockets, side-of-the-bag pockets & patch pockets on the inside. I seriously paired this puppy down. I love pockets but living near New York City has taught me to avoid any and all pockets on the outside of a bag (mostly because things fall out of outside pockets and get lost in the melee) so I skipped them with the exception of one zippered pocket. Plus, I really wanted to show off this fantastic vespa print and pockets would have only interrupted the amazingness going on with all of those teal blue vespas and berry stripes (the fabric is from Echino, I got it at my favorite fabric shop Rock Paper Scissors). I mean, how much do we love the Echino fabric? With vespas? I couldn’t stop myself from buying this! Oh Echino, what you do to me! I played around with lots of details. The fabric itself has the great panel of stripes and I tried to line them up as well as possible. It was harder than it looks to get that zipper placket as close as I did! I kept the handle stripes and zipper placket stripes on the same side. I wanted to have stripes on both sides of the bag but to do that my vespas would have been upside down so the back of the bag doesn’t have stripes on it. Inside the bag is also wild, with bits of leftover Kokka designed by Ellen Lucket Baker of The Long Thread. I used bit of leather for the strap attachments and I like how it looks..just a bit of neutral in the sea of bright colors. Can you spot the wee bit of Echino selvedge there at the end of the strap? Even their selvedge is so fantastic I had to use it. This week is filling up with all kinds of crazy already with upcoming travel plans, a birthday and tons of classes to prepare for. So, I’m really going to have to squeeze in my selfish sewing but my hope is to finish a wall quilt. Don’t you know that the walls of my home, outside of my studio, have all kinds of artwork but none of my own? How silly is that? This week I’m working on a quilt to change that. It’s going up on the wall for everyone to see. Guess I will have selfish sewing to thank for that courageous act. *beam* Be sure to check out all of the other amazing sewists joining in with Selfish Sewing Week: milkybeer · Behind the Hedgerow · jm_subrn · Sew What, Sherlock? Lladybird · sew Amy sew · the Brodrick Design Studio · adirondack inspired The Crooked Banana · Sewbon · Idle Fancy · girl like the sea oona aloona · Lauren Dahl · verypurpleperson · la inglesita Groovybaby…and mama · Buzzmills · La Pantigana · sew a straight line Dandelion Drift · JustMeJay · B Yazoo · Disaster In A Dress the quirky peach · Fishsticks Designs · Seamstress Erin · a happy stitch Casa Crafty · Sarah Jane Sews · YoSaMi · Call Ajaire · miss matatabi And, do not forget to enter the giveaway Rafflecopter giveaway If you are sewing along with Selfish Sewing Week be sure to share what you are making on Kollabura, and use the hashtags #selfishsewing, #ssw or #selfishsewingweek. Have fun! Sewing for yourself isn’t really selfish, of course, but it’s a great excuse to just own it, take a week and indulge in making something that makes you happy.
rachael {imagine gnats} says
oh, i LOVE it!! this is a fabulous bag, my friend 🙂
Melissa Q. says
Thank you!
Debbie says
Very cool bag!
Melissa Q. says
Thanks so much Debbie. 🙂
Jill @ Made with Moxie says
Melissa, you’ve done an epic job! I love that scooter print, too.
Melissa Q. says
Aw, thanks Jill. Sometimes a print just calls your name, right? It’s our job to help it sing its song.
bobbingirl says
Love it, the contrasting chevron fabric and different textures you have used are so effective
Melissa Q. says
Thank you! The burgundy stripes are actually a pattern on the fabric (how amazing is that!). And, I do love texture…that is true.
melintheattic says
Love love LOVE this bag. The hardware, the leather, the fabric. THE FABRIC. Seriously, so cool. You are so super talented. The pockets! I’ll be over here geeking out…
Melissa Q. says
Aw, you. Now I am blushing…but don’t let that stop you from geeking out! I love it.
Daniela D says
Loving this bag. A lot. Love the thought that you put into it, the contrasting pop of the interior, the stripes, etc. Love it all. You wear it so well!
Melissa Q. says
Thanks so much! I really value your design eye. <3
thingsforboys says
Gorgeous bag! i know what you mean about lining up fabric on zippers…why is it so hard?! You’ve done a wonderful job…so fun!
Melissa Q. says
Yes! So hard..darn zippers.
Beth says
Love it!!!!!! As always, fantastic job!
Melissa Q. says
🙂
theaubreyhunt says
Ah! This bag is adorable! Love the Vespa fabric. (I found your blog through the Southern Institute group, and I’m so checking back in often! Love your projects.)
Melissa Q. says
OH, what sweet words! Thank so much Aubrey!