Recycled Wool Clutches

I just love the two new clutches I posted in the shop yesterday.
One is a foldover clutch, lined in pure linen,and  the other a regular zippered clutch with eco friendly canvas lining and an interior leather pocket.
They are both made from recycled Pendleton wool in browns and greens. They both feature a chocolate brown leather bottom.

The Recycled Wool and Leather Clutch

The Foldover Clutch

Happy Thanksgiving!

Small Leather Pouches

I just love the new leather pouches I made for the shop. They will make great stocking stuffers.

They are available in the shop as of today.

A beautiful project...The Necessary Clutch

My dear, old clutch-wallet is about 17 years old. It has served me well, but it is starting to show its age.
A couple of weeks ago, I was browsing on Etsy, looking for either a fabulous clutch or an equally fabulous pattern, when I came upon this pattern by Janelle at Emmaline Bags: the Necessary Clutch.
I thought about it for a few days, and then decided to go ahead and buy it. The price was reasonable and if I didn't like the final result, well, I could always keep looking...
This pattern is simply A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!
It was delivered via instant download to my email- LOVE that! I immediately printed the pattern, and started looking at fabrics. OK, I could have made about ten different wallets in twenty different fabrics, but I had to restrain myself. So I picked a lovely out-of-print Amy Butler fabric in green and chocolate for the exterior and pockets, with eco-friendly brown cotton duck for lining.
The tutorial is extremely well thought out and easy to understand, with pictures galore. Every step is well explained  and the pattern itself is pure genius.  The only thing I did  a bit differently was to mark the credit card pockets in pencil on the wrong side, and in tailor's chalk on the right side of the fabric. It really helped me make sharp and accurate folds- I am not used to working with small items, the bags I usually make  for my Etsy shop being much bigger than the wallet :)
I finished the clutch in about two hours- it took me MUCH longer than that to pick the fabrics.
I love this wallet: there is plenty of room for credit cards, cash, coins, receipts, and even a smart phone- OK, I don't have one yet, but I am getting one soon - I think the Smithsonian really, really wants my flip phone ASAP :)
I love the tailored  and overall polished look of the wallet. The twist lock gives it a really professional finish.

Now, I am already thinking about Christmas gifts, oh and how about a holiday themed clutch- for me of course- and I know the clutch would look great in this floral pattern that I love, and... OK Janelle, you have created a monster :)
Check out this pattern, you won't regret it. Janelle also has other bag patterns in her Etsy shop, I am sure as well thought out as the Necessary Clutch.
Take a look at the pictures below and let me know what you think of my first- and certainly not last- Necessary Clutch from Emmaline Bags.

Have a great weekend!
Genevieve

It's been so long...

Things have been really busy since my last entry. Between school and the shop, I haven't had much time to blog.
Here are a few new items in the shop:

A Linen and Leather bag- 

One of my favorites! The Leather Tote

A super soft, super elegant leather clutch

The Triangular Linen Tote

 A lovely leather pouch in gray

The Triangle Tote in Black Denim

Have a great week!

New in the shop: the Mini Pouch

After a very emotional month of June (see previous post) and close to a month out of the country, I was itching to get back into sewing. I created a couple of mini pouches, great for small items such as markers, embroidery supplies, or make-up essentials.

 This is my personal favorite in gray with a turquoise zipper.

 Small but mighty, the mini pouch in cream with a lemon yellow zipper

 The fire engine red zipper on this one really makes it pop!

The classic: in brown with a caramel zipper.

Check out  the Waxed Canvas Mini Pouches in the shop.
Take care~

What would you take with you?

Last week was a very emotional week for the residents in our area of Colorado Springs.
As you probably heard, a fire broke out in Black Forest on Tuesday, June 11, around 1:45. The fire devastated almost 500 homes, burned over 15,000 acres, and caused the death of two people.
This is what it looked like from my house on June 11 at 4:00 pm. The fire started about 3 miles - as the crow flies- from our neighborhood.

By Wednesday, our area was on pre-evacuation, which is a nice way to say: take a look around your house and decide on what you will take if the fire gets any closer, take pictures of your furniture for the insurance company, and be ready to go in 30 minutes or less.

Wednesday afternoon from the driveway

By Thursday midday, the mandatory evacuation boundary was moved to within 300 yards of our house. With the wind blowing like mad, all bets were off, and we knew that we might have to leave.

The neighbors started to go. One after the other, we watched them pack their Suburbans and drive away. The street was eerily quiet after a while. I thought I would stay until I was told to go by the sheriff's department.

While my husband was gathering important papers and passports, the first things I grabbed were pictures of my children. I also packed my jewelry box filled with not so much jewelry, but my kids' baby teeth and handmade mother's day cards. After that, I threw some clothes in a suitcase- just enough to last for a few days. I filled a box with each of my kids' favorite things (stuffed animals, yearbooks, school stuff). I put my laptops and iPad in a bag, along with my schoolbooks- hey, I might have some time to plan my lessons in the middle of all this...

I packed a silver sugar spoon that my grandmother had put aside for me - her last grandchild-, I filled a basket with fresh fruit and a couple bottles of wine that were on the counter- we might need a drink somewhere along the way, I watered my plants, just in case... I folded five baskets of laundry...

I was filled with a feeling of sadness at the thought of losing my stuff- my several hundred books, my sewing machines, my fabrics, my antiques- , while at the same time knowing that we were lucky to be able to prepare ourselves and exit safely with whatever was precious to us.

As it turned out we did not have to evacuate. The boundaries were moved back on Saturday. Most of the neighbors came back then. Many evacuees were allowed back into their homes yesterday. Some are still not allowed to go back.

It was a close call, and a wake-up call. We are still reeling from all the emotions- happiness the fire is under control, sadness at the devastation, fear, stress, relief it's over. 

We are making plans to cut down more scrub oak ( a very flammable tree) and to replace it with apple trees, maybe. We want to be better at organizing things, maybe donate a few things we don't need...Less clutter is good...

So, what would you take with you?

New Tote- Red and Cream Waxed Canvas

This is the most recent tote in the shop.
The natural leather handles are long enough to be worn over the shoulder and the tote has two exterior pockets as well as one zippered pocket on the inside.
This tote will make a great beach bag or boat tote. Perfect for Dad! Check it out here