The Waxed Canvas and Leather Weekender

YAY! I finally did it!
The Waxed Canvas Weekender is finally in the shop!
I just love those big weekend bags. They conjure up visions of stolen weekends in exotic places, adventures in faraway lands, spur-of-the-moment trips... I have been working on a pattern for several months now, maybe a year. There are a couple of prototypes sitting dejectedly on the floor of my sitting room. So sad...
This week, since I was on break, I decided to tackle the project -again- and bring it to fruition.
Introducing (drum roll please) the Zakken Waxed Canvas Weekender ...

It is a beautiful, large duffle bag with leather handles, an exterior pocket, and two interior slip pockets.
Check it out here.
I have a couple of new items in the shop that would make great stocking stuffers, like the mini leather pouches in brown, black, cream, apple green, electric blue and silver. They are large enough to hold your cell phone, small wallet, lip balm and keys, and small enough to fit in your purse to keep everything tidy.

Happy shopping!

Waxed Canvas and Leather Clutch

I have had a fairly busy weekend and I posted seven clutches and pouches in the shop yesterday.
You can see the Recycled Wool Clutches in the previous post (or here and here).
As you know I just love waxed canvas, the richness of the feel and the multitude of applications.
I designed a new waxed canvas clutch with an oiled leather bottom,elegant and very luxurious.

The Waxed Canvas and Leather Clutch

 The Waxed Canvas and Leather Clutch is large enough to fit an iPad. The leather pocket will hold small items.

Check it out here .

Keeping my hands busy

You would think that making bags in my spare time (nights and weekends) would be enough to keep my hands busy, right? Well, not so much. I love to learn to make new crafts, even - and especially- when they are not related to sewing bags.
Several weeks ago, I saw a beautiful wrapped leather bracelet. Ooooo, I need this, I thought.... except for the price tag...
So, I went online and I found a couple of excellent tutorials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4YLTHM8NzT0

http://www.rings-things.com/blog/2011/03/08/how-to-make-wrapped-leather-bracelets/#.UP1jwifoROw
Joann's had a 40% sale on beads when I went searching for supplies. I bought plastic beads to practice with, and glass beads in various sizes and shades for the real thing. Here is the result:

Pretty cool, n'est-ce pas?


Yesterday, I made a couple of waxed canvas and leather zippered pencil cases for the shop. I really like the waxed canvas and leather combo- I might have to keep one for myself:

Have a wonderful week!

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday and I wish you all a very happy new year!

A few new items in the shop:

Oil-tanned leather clutch

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/87226170/leather-clutch-in-brown

Eco leather Zen bag

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/119613651/the-zen-bag-minimalist-leather-tote-in

Oil-tanned leather clutch in burgundy
https://www.etsy.com/listing/119608242/leather-clutch-in-burgundy

                               

Brown suede clutch
https://www.etsy.com/listing/119614777/suede-clutch-in-brown

A series of small pouches

My favorite! An envelope-style messenger in leather and canvas
https://www.etsy.com/listing/119612476/the-messenger-in-tan-waxed-canvas-and

A waxed canvas and wool iPad sleeve for my new iPad!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/119615886/waxed-canvas-ipad-sleeve

My current project is a large weekend bag in waxed canvas and leather. I was debating whether to line it or not. I am leaning toward lining. I tried to finish the seams with bias tape, but it doesn't look so hot. More on that later...

Have a fabulous Sunday!

November... Bags, Boas, and Light Dusting

It is hard to believe it is already November. October came and went very quickly.
The leather Zen Bag has been pretty popular this year, so when I found some gorgeous suede in chocolate and caramel at the leather store, I just had to try the Zen in suede.
The colors are great for fall and winter. I love the luxurious feel of the suede and the thickness of it too. The bags stand pretty much on their own.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/114343887/the-zen-bag-minimalist-suede-tote-in

https://www.etsy.com/listing/114344648/the-zen-bag-minimalist-suede-tote-in?ref=v1_other_1

Gorgeous, don't you think?

Back in September, I purchased three books by Natalie Chanin: Alabama Stitch Book, Alabama Studio Style, and Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. I just adore the simplicity of the looks, the easy patterns, the detailed explanations and the beautiful pictures. So far, I have made a bolero, an unadorned poncho, and I am currently working on two projects: a reverse applique poncho and a scarf- the Rag Boa.

The scarf-
The Rag Boa is from Natalie Chanin's first book,Alabama Stitch Book.
I am making it for a colleague and a friend  *S* who just had surgery to remove most of her pancreas, spleen and gallbladder, in addition to having just completed radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery.
Why a scarf, and a Rag Boa at that, you will ask? Well a couple of years ago, my friend S and I went to New Orleans for a teacher workshop. She had never been there and loved the city, the food, and the "laissez-les-bons-temps-rouler" attitude of the locals. We went into many gift shops and S purchased quite a few feather boas and gaudy plastic rings. You know, she said, when things get bad at school, we will lock ourselves in the principal's office, we will dress up with the boas and the rings, and I am sure it will make us feel better- at least laugh our heads off for a while... Stress relief...
I wanted to make something special for S, something that would remind her of happy times past and future, something that would feel like a hug, and something she could actually wear outside of the principal's office.
As I was perusing the Chanin book, my eyes fell upon the title: Rag Boa. Perfect! I chose pink and gray for the colors.

I was reading somewhere, perhaps in the book, that Natalie gave a similar boa to a friend who wears it and uses the end of it for dusting. It made me smile, I can so see S doing that.
My boa will serve several purposes: it will look pretty with almost anything, keep S warm, hopefully feel like a friend's hug, ....and keep the furniture clean.

Thank you Natalie, for your beautiful books, wonderful accessories, and for sharing them all with the rest of us.

Take care of yourselves-