WHERE DID LAST WEEK GO?

My goal last week was to finish quilting my GD's quilt so I could take it to my guild meeting on Monday and then send it to my GD.  Well, I had problems with my sewing machine, so on Friday I took it to be serviced thinking it would take about a week.  I decided to make a new purse with the pattern and fabric I bought in Oregon last summer at BJ's Quilt Shop since I could use my Featherweight.  It is so nice to have a "back up" sewing machine!  

I really liked the purse when I saw their sample hanging in the shop and the directions were quite complicated, but I got it finished in time for church on Sunday!

Both sides look the same, so it is confusing.  I keep getting into the wrong pocket.  There is a zippered pocket and an outer pocket with a snap on each side.

Inside there is a pocket for my cell phone and two other pockets.  I still haven't gotten everything organized yet.

While we were in Oregon, I found this "toy" ironing board at a garage sale (where else?) and couldn't resist.  DH refinished it for me.

Yesterday I made an ironing board cover for it since we will be taking Abby's Christmas and birthday gifts with us when we go to her house for Thanksgiving.

View of the top.  Now we just have to find a toy iron for it!

Oh, my sewing machine was fixed by Saturday, so I went and picked it up.  It seems to be working fine, but I had to re-prioritize my quilting and some other items will come before my GD's quilt.

Hoping for no sewing machine problems for all during this busy time of year.

A NEW PURSE!

It was time to  change from my summer purse to a winter purse, but I was tired of the one I had been using for a few years.  I decided to make one and I had received a pattern a couple years ago from Barbara in a drawing.  I looked it over and decided it might make a good purse for me.

I had the pattern and I wanted to use fabric from my stash, so I started trying to find some fabric.  I picked out a piece of upholstery fabric that I either got at a garage sale or from someone in my guild - I didn't remember which.  Then I picked out some fabric that I liked - and that went with it - for the lining, pockets and handles.

Here is the outside of the bag done.  The only thing I purchased to make it was the magnetic  closure for $1.00.

Here I'm making pockets for the inside lining.

One side has a huge zippered pocket that is equal to the whole side.

Here it is finished.

View of the inside with stuff in it.

One inside section with pockets along the side. 

The two zippered sections, one is a divider for the middle.

When I got to the handles, I didn't think I would have enough of my cotton fabric to make them, but luckily I just barely had enough!  I will use one of the outer pockets for my keys and one for my cell phone.

As I was literally digging around looking for purse fabric in my sewing closet, I also found some other upholstery pieces and decided to make a couple of these little bags.  I like this for keeping just some money and a cell phone for when you don't want to carry the larger purse around.  They make nice little gifts, too.

I like these little zipper pulls that I purchased several years ago to use on little pouches.

This is the pattern I used for the little bags.

I think I'm going to really like my new purse.  It sure has plenty of pockets for different things.  I doubt I will even need all of them!  Do you make your purses?