Weaving Fabric Strips into a Bag, Part #3

 Woven bag is finished, and it's fabulous!

What a fun project with fun results! This OOAK bag can take you from Casual Fridays to Saturday Night Parties! And knowing its history, makes it even more fabulous!

I have to admit that I slowed down on this project after part #2. The lining needed to be shiny & bright, and I wanted a tone on tone print. However, I couldn't find anything like that in my fabric stash, nor did I find the perfect fabric at the stores. The fabric I ended up with is a basic polyester satin from my local Hobby Lobby. It was on sale and thick enough to be durable.

Ready to cut the lining fabric.

The inside pocket is black velvet with blue fabric trim. That trim matches one of the blue fabric layers woven into the bag, so there is continuity with the design. The pocket had to be hand stitched to the lining because I forgot to machine stitch it in place before I seamed up the side & bottom of the lining. (Maybe next time I'll remember to attach the pocket BEFORE I sew up the lining.)

Stitched pocket, stitched lining & fabric strip for the strap.

Parts of the woven outside needed to be stitched to stabilize the fabric strips. Good old fashioned hand stitching came to the rescue. I felt that necessary since I plan to sell the bag. I believe in making quality products even if it does require doing the little extra steps.

If you're curious about the strap, it's made from a 4" strip of black velvet that belonged to the black velvet skirt (part #1).  It was easy to sew, then I machine stitched the strap onto the outer bag. The next step was to hand stitch the finished lining to the outer bag.

Embellishing the bag excited me, and after playing with buttons, I realized that the embellishments needed to be kept at a minimum and not distract from the beautiful woven fibers. Plastic & metal buttons cheapened the look, and so did this big rhinestone brooch.

Choices...

This brooch is too gaudy!

This button is too garish!

This glass button that I picked up in Santa Fe, New Mexico felt just right. The black circle stripes on the turquoise glass compliment the black & blue lines on the bag.  A few faceted blue crystal beads were chosen for the final touch. Each bead is securely stitched, and the threads are knotted several times to prevent the beads from falling off. That needed to be done because this bag is going places!

Artisan's glass bead & faceted glass beads, hand stitched.

The finished bag measures 9" x 7.5" with a 52" crossover strap. It's fully lined with turquoise satin & one inside pocket, and a magnetic snap closure snaps it shut. The snap is positioned in the middle of the bag.

Bag's interior view.

This bag turned out to be most charming and very, very soft. It's lightweight, but very durable. I can see a bright future for it, and some lucky lady will love all the compliments she receives every time she carries it. She can tell her admirers that it is One of a Kind and that she heard the artist who made it is a legend in her own time. Well... a girl can dream, can't she??? 💕😊💕

Back side of the bag. Cute streamers of yarn & ribbon!

Inside view showing magnetic snap & trimmed pocket.

Finished woven bag with Artisan's glass button... Viola!

@Copyright 2020 Cindy Lou Hodges All Rights Reserved.

Thrifted Bag Redo

Revamped bag with OOAK background for Victorian brooch. Beautiful!

Cute fabric bag that needed a makeover. I forgot to take a picture of what it looked like when I found it, but it was rather sad. The top of the bag had elastic, so the bag gathered at the top scrunching up the opening. I removed the elastic and pressed the bag top. The original strap was turquoise braid, and it was only 30" long.

I removed both the turquoise braid & elastic by ripping open the seams on the sides, then sewed on a 52" gold cord. Now the bag is a crossover bag, and it doesn't that "scrunchy pouch" look.

The fold over flap is a nice feature, but it was plain. I chose to add a Victorian flare with the rhinestone brooch. It looked great, but wasn't quite the look I wanted. So I made the black velvet circle with decorative stitches using variegated turquoise thread. Nice! I went with the sheer ruffle accent on the black medallion, giving it one more feminine touch.

There were no pockets on this bag. A girl must have pockets, so I cut up a quilted pillow sham (Thrifted, of course!), and chose a gold cotton fabric that I purchased in Las Vegas, New Mexico at my favorite shop on the square... Thread Bear. (Beautiful quilting fabrics & a fun place to visit!) https://www.threadbear-nm.com/   The gold fabric has a gold metallic design in it, and that compliments the gold thread in the outside fabric.

Back Side with new pocket: recycled fabric, new lace, vintage button.

Newly added pocket out of recycled pillow sham.

I'm pleased with the pockets... one inside for incidentals & one outside for the cell phone. They really complete the purse and make it much more functional!

Sometimes I feel like doing the unexpected, and the additional flower brooch is just that. The whimsical green, white & black brooch is layers of animal printed fabric. And the center button & bow have nothing in common with the bag fabric, nothing other than, I like them, and I like them together.

So, this particular bag has several personalities  the Casual look...

Revamped thrifted bag without embellishments.

 Victorian Look #1...

One rhinestone brooch added...

Beautiful brooch, but gets lost on top of the busy printed fabric.

 Victorian Look #2...

Revamped bag with OOAK background for Victorian brooch. Beautiful!

the Whimsical look...

Revamped bag with crazy animal print brooch... one of Cindy Lou's Wacky Woses!

Backside of Wacky Wose brooch.

So many choices...

 

 What a fun, easy project. I played with it for a couple of sessions. Still don't know which look is my favorite. I love them all! Which one is your favorite?

Revamped bag with OOAK background for Victorian brooch. Beautiful!

@Copyright 2020 Cindy Lou Hodges All Rights Reserved.

 Charro Beans are Simmering

 
Charro Beans Recipe, Slow Cooker

My house is filled with the aroma of simmering Charro Beans, and I can hardly wait to fill my bowl to the top! Craft projects are waiting in my art studio, and clothes for Poshmark are hanging on the racks to be photographed. Instead of focusing on the obvious tasks, I chose to cook, and I'm glad I did.

This time I chose to cook only one cup of dried pinto beans. Stupid me! What was I thinking? This recipe is one of my favorites, and I have always cooked 2 cups at a time. Guess it's in my genetic makeup to make a big pot of beans or soup, so a small pot cooking just doesn't feel right, but it certainly does smell right! 😃

Here's the recipe I use. Found it online at Pinterest, and it's a winner! Thank you, Samantha, from Five Heart Home. Your recipe is delicious!

Link to Pinterest Recipe:  https://www.fivehearthome.com/slow-cooker-charro-beans/

Slow Cooker Charro Beans

Ingredients

• 
  

1/2 pound bacon

1 pound dried pinto beans

4 cups water

2 cups beef broth

6 cloves garlic, minced

Fresh jalapeno, diced (optional)

1 tablespoon cumin

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 (10-ounce) can Rotel (diced tomatoes & green chiles)

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

• Salt & freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

• Place the beans in a colander, rinse well, and remove any stones or shriveled beans.
• Cook the bacon until just crispy. Drain, chop, and set aside.
• Pour the beans into the slow cooker. Cover with water and beef broth. Add chopped bacon, garlic, jalapeño (if using), cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours or until almost done. Stir in the Rotel and chopped cilantro; cover and cook for an additional hour or until tender (the total cooking time will likely be between 8 to 10 hours, depending on how hot your particular slow cooker runs). When the beans are done, season with salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste (stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt at a time, tasting before adding more).

Notes

• My favorite way to cook bacon is to lay it in a deep, foil-lined baking pan and bake it on the center rack at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes.
• The first time you cook beans in your slow cooker, periodically check that they remain covered with liquid. Add additional hot water during the cooking process, if necessary.
• One jalapeño cooked for that many hours should add flavor rather than spice. If you prefer mild beans, scrape out and discard the seeds and membranes before dicing the jalapeño, and use mild Rotel. On the other hand, if you prefer spicy beans, feel free to add more jalapeños (leaving the seeds/membranes intact) and use regular or hot Rotel.
• For Borracho Beans, swap out 6 ounces of the beef broth with Mexican beer.
• If you prefer to soak your beans, simply rinse, drain, and pick over your beans. Place them in a pot, cover with 2 inches of water, and soak overnight. Drain off the soaking water before proceeding with the recipe. If beans are soaked, cooking time will probably be shortened by a couple of hours.
• Always use fresh dried beans, as old beans can take much longer to become tender (and may possibly never soften!).

Calories: 286kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 246mg | Potassium: 1052mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 8.1mg | Calcium: 91mg | Iron: 3.9mg

@Copyright 2020 Cindy Lou Hodges All Rights Reserved.

Weaving Fabric Strips into a Bag, Part #2

 Weaving Fabric Strips into a Bag, Part #2

Last week's post took us through the process of weaving fabric strips onto a cardboard loom. Hemp string was the base (warp), and assorted 3" wide fabric strips were woven over & under the hemp. The combination of colors & textures turned out to be beautiful!

The next step was to remove the cardboard. Since this was my first time to weave both the front AND the back, I wasn't sure that it would all stay together without the cardboard.

However, I am very happy to report that it worked! The cardboard resisted due to the tight weaving, but after a few minutes of effort, the cardboard easily slid out, and I had an intact, solid, beautiful bag!

 

Here it is... no more cardboard!

Side #1 Fabric Strip Bag without the cardboard loom.

Side #2 Fabric Strip Bag without the cardboard loom.

Top view of Fabric Strip Bag, looking inside the bag.

Success! Hooray!!! 

I'm smiling from ear to ear that it was so simple to make this OOAK bag! It's ready for the finishing touches. First thing will be the lining, and the rich velvet & rich colors deserve something really pretty. A satin fabric with a sheen would be lovely. I'll add a strap or handle, probably a strap, and trim up the outside ends. It's going to be fabulous, I tell ya'... and I am one happy crafter!

Stay tuned for the final steps to this project... Part #3, Weaving Fabric Strips into a Bag.
You're gonna' love it!

Cindy Lou

@Copyright 2020 Cindy Lou Hodges All Rights Reserved.

Weaving Fabric Strips into a Bag

Not finished, but it does look like a bag! Woo-Hoo!

 A great project for a rainy afternoon!

I watched a DIY video and fell in love with the possibilities of weaving fabric strips onto a cardboard loom. Since this was my first time weaving fabric pieces, I wasn't sure how much fabric it would take, so I cut plenty. Once the weaving was finished, I realized that I had overestimated the required amount. At least I was prepared, though.

Plenty to choose from:  3" fabric strips in blacks & blues, yarns & ribbons.

 As you can see in the pictures, I chose bright colors and different textured fabrics:  black velvet, black satin, marine blue linen tweed, blue printed silk, turquoise/brown cotton batik, and assorted yarns.  I cut & tore the fabrics into strips about 3inches wide. Some strips were 14 inches long while others were 36 inches or longer. All of these fabrics were upcycled from gently worn clothing:  skirts, tops and a scarf. The velvet ribbon is new, and so is the black hemp twine

that I used as the base warp. 

(Warp is the definition for the set of vertical length wise yarns that are held in   tension on a frame or loom.  The yarn woven over & under the warp threads is called the woof, welt, or filler.)

😊😊😊 

                   All of this was done on a piece of corrugated cardboard measuring 10 inches tall & 9.5 inches wide.  These dimensions weren't planned. It just happened that the piece of cardboard from the box I used was this size. So, I went with it.  Fifteen slots were cut at the top, spaced about 5/8's of an inch apart and about 1/2 inch deep. The hemp twine was roped around the cardboard, and I had to watch the DIY video to get that right.

  

Link to DIY:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Qrh6dtSgc 

Colouricious:  Sewing Projects - Handmade Handbags - Artist Marilyn Pipe - Jamie Malden

(Used without permission, but maybe they won't object to the free advertising.) 😇

Starting at the bottom of the warp, I tied my first fabric strip onto an outside warp string and began weaving over & under the twine. When I reached the end of the fabric strip, I cut a hole in the end of the strip. I grabbed the next strip, cut a hole in one of the ends and threaded the two strips together. (Like making a chain.)  A few times I tied the ends together and left a cute bow visible.

I like both methods!

Scrunching the fabric strips down towards the bottom was a constant task, and very necessary. Doing this makes for a tight weave, and a tight weave maintains the shape that you see on the cardboard loom.  (Once the weaving is finished, the cardboard will be removed, and a loose weave will have holes in it and won't maintain its shape.)

😄😄😄

When I made it to the top of the loom, it was slow weaving the fabric strips at the edge. That's because the warp twine was very taut at this time. A pair of tweezers was most helpful pulling the thick velvet through the warp. I persevered because I wanted two strips of the black velvet at the top.

Success! The colors look beautiful together, and there is just enough of the bright shaggy yarn to give the piece that artsy look that I wanted. I love the colors, the different textures, and I love the funky yarns, ribbons & bows! Looks like some tweaking needs to be done where the fabrics are joined together. I may trim the ends or I may weave them under, but I don't have to decide that at this time. Thank goodness!

However, I do have to pull out the cardboard.

Oh, my gosh... is this going to work, and will the fabric stay intact?

Cardboard loom with warp & woof ready to be removed.

 To be continued...

 Watch for the next episode:

Weaving Fabric Strips into a Bag

 Part #2

@Copyright 2020 Cindy Lou Hodges All Rights Reserved.

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Scrap Quilted Denim Bag

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During the holidays I watched DIY videos, and I discovered this fun craft! Basically, I built a rectangular fabric sandwich with two pieces of denim (recycled, of course). Inside I played with small pieces of fabric, layering them in a jumbled pattern. After pinning around the edges of my rectangle, and a couple of pins towards the middle, I machine stitched around the outside of the traced on heart.  Allowing 1/2 inch width, I machine stitched the inside of the heart one time.

Because the interior stitching was curved, I had to pay attention to my needle placement and carefully tug the fabric & slightly spin the fabric with each stitch. So, I decided to make the center of the heart with vertical lines. Good decision. Time to cut between the machine stitched rows, cutting through the denim & scrap pieces. (Do not cut the back lining.) Scratch the fibers to fluff the fringe, or machine wash for more fraying.

Then, I cut out the 6" heart, but added almost 1 inch extra around the outside. That's so I could zig-zag stitch twice around the perimeter (so the edges don't fray too much). It was time to stitch the heart to the bag, but in this case I stitched the heart to the pocket. 💓 Then stitched the pocket to the front of the denim panel. (The left & right side of the heart needed to be stitched to the denim panel. No problem!)

Four inch fringe is easy to add. Just cut it to size. Pin, then hand baste to the front of the denim panel. (Stitch 1/2" along the edge. Note the fringe is pointing towards the middle... very important!)

 

Machine stitch your bag together 5/8 - 3/4" from the edge, right sides together. Leave the hand basted stitches there. No need to remove them.

The outside front after stitching. Note top raw edge.

Time to select interior fabrics. Cotton batik for lining & reclaimed fabric for interior pocket. I love these colors! Cut lining fabric 1" larger than the outside bag, allowing for 1/2" seam allowances.

Pocket is pinned to the right side of the lining, then stitched in place on 2 sides & the bottom.

Turn down top edge & machine stitch.  Turn down top edge of denim bag, 1.5". Press.

Insert lining into the bag. Looking so cute! 

Strap involved piecing together coordinating fabrics to make 57" x 4" strip. Press in half long-ways.

Then fold in 1/2" from edge towards the middle & press. Fold & press both sides.

Fold together, and press. Machine stitch both sides to complete strap.

 Insert strap ends between the lining & outside of the bag. Tuck down about 1.5" (ends will not show). Pin in place. These will be secured when you stitch the lining to the denim bag. Time to stitch around the top of the bag. Leave a 1/2" border of the denim showing on the inside. Stitch around top twice sewing the shoulder strap ends in place. Now for the embellishment. Do I want to add a button?  Which color?  

 

 

The silver tone button adds a new texture & I like that. Look what the chain of tassels does:  it accents all the fringe in the heart & the outside fringe, plus it picks up the oranges & pinks. Perfect & it brings the eyes to the middle!   Forget the rhinestone bling. I want the heart to be the focal point! 

So pretty!

Hand stitched magnetic snap closure. I watched TV while I sewed them on. Pretty surprise with that textured fabric inside!

So, it's all finished, and I am very pleased! The backside showcases the leather tag from the upcycled jeans, and 3 vintage buttons... metal, of course, to coordinate with the front button.

This one will be offered for sale on my next LIVE show on Bling on the Crafts, Facebook! Tuesday nights, 7:00 pm Central.

This project turned out to be such fun, and I'm looking forward to more art creations with pieces of scraps. Guess I'll never throw out any more, never, ever! 😄

Finished bag is for sale... listed in my Etsy shop, Lady Rose Lane...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/768869561/upcycled-denim-crossover-bag-fringed?ref=shop_home_active_10&frs=1


Cindy Lou

@Copyright 2020 Cindy Lou Hodges All Rights Reserved.

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