Looking Forward to Spring

January in the Midwest can be brutal. Cold temperatures and gray days get tiresome after a while. Seeking a little color in my life, I decided I need to make some cheery items, and add them to my Etsy store. I already posted my Cherry Blossom Vest, but I will be adding an appliquéd organic skirt and a brand new handbag. The skirt reflects my love of coneflowers, with a simple appliqué made from fabric scraps. A small amount of embroidery adds some subtle detail.



The new handbag was inspired by my Jane Austen Project, and the Regency-era reticule that I made then. The shape of the bag was appealing, but a reticule is not practical for most occasions, so I was trying to find a way to keep the feel of a reticule but make a larger, more modern handbag. I came up with two different shapes, although the basic design is the same. The one I made first is the Emma Bag:


It has one divider pocket and two side pockets, and will actually hold quite a bit of stuff even though it looks fairly small (it's actually about 11"W by 9"H). I was able to smursh my big wallet in there along with my sunglasses case, my wad of keys, and my Blackberry. I was so pleased with this bag that I have already gathered fabric pieces for another one that I can keep for myself! The bag shown here is made with leftover pieces of indigo-dyed organic cotton twill, and is lined with scraps of a handpainted organic cotton sateen. The pockets are made with unbleached twill, which makes them stand out some from the lining. The bag is closed with one large snap at the top. The picture may not accurately depict the actualy color of the bag, but it is a bright sky blue, just like that of a sunny spring day.

Spring may not have made it to Iowa yet, but it's slowly creeping into my Etsy store. I wonder when the crocuses will start coming up.