Quilty Penelope Bag

Hello sewing friends. I get to be the guest designer this month for Patchwork Posse's online Quilt Guild and I'm so excited to share with you the project I've created for it.  I've added a little "quilty" flare to my Penelope handbag and turned it into a PDF pattern to share. Introducing the Quilty Penelope Bag.

The handbag has a Variable star built into the side panels, giving it a pop of color and a cute way to show off your love of quilting. The star panel is great for using up some of your scraps or for playing around with your new favorite fabrics. You can also substitute an 8”, or larger, orphan block to the center panel for a completely different look.

 The Quilty Penelope Bag is perfect for carrying all your essentials, plus a few extras. It’s small enough that it won’t weigh down your shoulder, but roomy enough to hold what you need. 

There are pockets on the inside and a simple magnetic snap closure. The comfortable fabric strap stays on your shoulder and easily slips on with one hand. 

This pattern is written exclusively for Patchwork Posse's online Quilt Guild. Are you a member yet? You may want to consider joining. Not just for my pattern but for access to all the other exclusive patterns, tutorials, Block-of-the-Months, and giveaways that come along with membership. 

There's also a facebook group where you can show of your projects and get feedback and fun swaps you can participate in. It's just like being part of a local quilt group but with the convenience of your own schedule. You'll find all the details about how to join on the Quilt Guild Info Page 

You can read more about me and my project on the Guest Designer page. Sign up and download my Quilty Penelope Bag pattern and let me know what you think.

Happy Sewing!

Making Christmas

Now that the packages are all sent and the presents shopping is done (mostly), for us these last few days before Christmas are all about keeping the kids busy, cleaning up the house, and planning meals.

Yesterday we did a fun craft from with some friends using the Yarn Wrapped Ornament tutorial from the Inspired Treehouse. We cut, taped, wrapped yarn, made a mess, and it was fun. Of course a box of donut holes made it a little extra fun too.

I love how they all turned out! Now tonight's job is to tackle the 5 pair of Christmas jammie pants I have waiting for me in my sewing closet. Wish me luck. Are you having fun making Christmas too?

Mini Tulip Tote Winner

Hello there! I'm just checking in to announce our Mini Tulip Tote Winner from the Sew Mama Sew giveaway day.

And the winner is LeeAnna Paylor!! I'm sending your pattern today!! Thank you to all who entered the giveaway.  If you aren't a winner the PDF Pattern is still available in the Etsy Shop along with 1 more sample bag that's still up for grabs.

Also I received a lovely email recently from Melinda Burch showing off this lovely Mini Tulip Tote she sewed. You can find her at Sew Good To Be Home on Facebook.

She got creative and figured out how to insert a zipper into the top. Way to go Melinda!

That's all for now. Back to Christmas shopping and prep. Happy Holidays!

Giveaway Day!!!

Hello everyone! Today is Giveaway Day! Not just here on our blog but on lots of others too.  SewMamaSew is hosting this fun event where everyone with a shop or a blog can link up an item that they would like to giveaway. Which means there are A LOT of other things you can win around blogland.  The giveaways are open for one full week so you can take your time browsing around and getting to know other fun blogs too. Want to see what we're giving away today??  The Mini Tulip tote PDF Pattern!

This stylish little tote is the size of a small handbag. It is perfect for when you just want to carry the essentials.  It has a wide base so it stands up by itself. The top opens up wide and stays closed snugly with 2 magnetic snaps. There are 2 pockets on the inside to organize your small items. It's quite roomy despite it's small size. The handles are sized to hang on your forearm, but you can lengthen them if you’d like. My favorite thing about the tulip tote is the ruching on the sides. I just love the texture it creates.

This pattern features 18 pages of instructions with step by step photos, as well as 2 pattern sheets with printing instructions. Finished Dimensions are 7” tall X 14'' wide X 4'' deep with 16’’ handles. For more details about this pattern, check out my full Mini Tulip Tote post.

Want to win the Pattern?  Just leave a comment telling me your favorite thing to do with your free time.  I'd love it if you'd follow me or "Like" me on Facebook too, but it's not required to enter. Make sure your email address is linked in your profile or leave it in the comment so I can find you. U.S. only. 

If you are new to Blue Susan Makes, Welcome to our little corner of the sewing world!  You'll find me sewing handmade gifts, stuff for my kids and home, and lots of handbags. I'd love it if you'd check out my Blue Susan Etsy Shop and our sister shop, Beyond the Bead Jewelry. Let's keep in touch!. 

More Handmade gifts in the Etsy Shop

Rachel has been sewing up a storm and filling up our Etsy Shop.  Woohoo!! She's been working so hard I thought I'd show off some of her stuff. But before I get to that I just want to let you know that I get to be the curator for the Handmade Holiday on Sew Mama Sew today. Click over to their website to see my list of must sew Handbag tutorials for everyone on your gift list this year.  

Okay now for some Handbag goodness.

This bag is called the Vinca Zip Top bag. It has a pretty piecing on the front and back.

 The inside has a zipper pocket and slip pockets and the top stays closed nicely with another lovely zipper.

The piecing on this Vinca is a little different than the first.  I just love the way it turned out with the zippered top. 

She also sewed up some coordination Girlfriend Clutches.

This is the Pleated Shoulder Bag in Purple Zebra.  I love it's simple design and I think the zebra pattern on that purple fabric is cool.


The inside of this one has a zipper pocket and some slip pockets as well.

And one more  Pleated Shoulder Bag.

 

She also listed a bunch of Painter's Clutches. You can find more info about the Painter's Clutch in this post.

The inside of all of them has an invisible snap and a divider like pocket so you can keep your keys and phone separate

You can find more details on all of these bags in the Shop.

Happy Browsing!

Behind the Scenes

I've pulled out my Garden Tiles Bag pattern to work on lately.  It's been dusted off and is getting ready for a good polishing. Which means pretty new step by step photos. I've purchased a whole stack of beautiful Wild and Free fabric this week that I can use.

My mission of the day is to start cutting it up. I'll keep you posted on my progress on my Instagram feed. I will likely be looking for pattern testers for the Garden Tiles bag soon so let me know if you are interested.

Until next time.. Happy Sewing !

Newest Etsy Listings - Handbags!

Take a look at our newest shop listings! I'm clearing out my closet full of sample items that I sewed for my book "Just for You".  I had to sew a bunch of partially made items for the publisher to photograph and show all the steps in the pattern. Instead of hoarding all those partially made items I finished sewing them up am giving you all a chance to get your hands on them.  You know, for those times you look at a pattern and say "I would really like to just buy that instead of make it"... well here's your chance.  Check them out!

Here we have the Venna Tote.  Read more about the makings of this in THIS post

This is the Crafty Stachel designed by Sara Lawson

Here's another Crafty Satchel that I sewed up for Purse palooza. SOLD OUT!

The sweet little Mini Dresden Coin pouch designed by Amy Friend

 This is the Bella Pouch designed by Bonnie Rosales. This is not in the same fabrics from the book. It was one of the pouches I sewed up to test the pattern.

And this last one I listed in the Kate Handbag. It's not in the book but it's from a design I came up with and sewed up a couple years ago.  (like I said I'm clearing out the closet) It even has my "vintage" Blue Susan tag inside, lol! I love this bag! It's even the Pantone color of the year...Marsala!

Now if you actually want to sew one of these pretty bags you can find the patterns (except the Kate Handbag) in my book Just for You:Selfish Sewing which you can find signed for you in the shop as well.

Thanks for looking!!