holy crap, i made this!

i really do not consider myself sewing proficient,
more like a crafting proficient sewer.
over the past year, i have bought 4 different amy butler bag patterns and i gave 2 of them to heather, with the mindset that they are really cool and i just do not think i could make them.
I love bags!
any and all kinds and am so enticed by the fresh designs by amy.

the last time heather and i were out, we were in a fabric store that had a full rack of all of amy butler's patterns and heather convinced me i could make this one.

ok so it is a diaper bag, but the style is so versatile who cares what i carry in it right?

yesterday, while i was supposed to be working on layouts, i was mojo-less.
i sat with the creative blahs for a while and then pulled out the pattern.
i ransacked my stash for any fabric i had in yardage (i usually buy fat quarters which are only 1/4 of a yard) and began reading and cutting out the pattern.
i was feeling creative and that is such a happy place for me.
i modified the pattern,
i left off the cell phone pocket and the pockets on the inside and made it super simple.
2 and a half hours later, i had made a reversible Nappy bag!

i have never made a bag before...
i am choosing to call it my new beach bag (our annual myrtle beach family vacation is next week)
and i just keep sitting here thinking, "i made that!"
 
here are the other patterns i have  bought
this one is looking at me as i type....

and these 2 i gave to heather...

weekender travel bag

i am thinking i could do this one though...i put it in my cart, so i am thinking it will be my next project.

just had to share.
i am going to make layouts today, LOL!!
i think?

Comments

[LisaPink]

That is a fantastic bag, well done!! Have just bought myself a sewing machine so I guess I better get practicing before I buy any of those patterns!!

[Kal Barteski]

REVERSABLE DIAPER BAG????!!! Wow. I will need something so cool as that since I have a baby monster on the way (and it is my birthday in a few days). Very cool. I got the Arccivo yesterday and IT ROCKS so much! I have plans for that puppy! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you Arccivo!

[Linda H]

Well... I guess I'll have to look for THIS bag in the airport next time! LOL.
It's beautiful! Good Job!
Linda.

[Lori]

I really like the weekender bag, but don't have a sewing machine...if you all decide to carry it or something similar I'll be your guniea pig (or first customer!)

[Christie]

You need to check out this line of patterns for bags, too! It is called pursestrings and she has some really awesome bags. I love the Trixie bag. However, you should just buy the patterns and fabric, and then get Heather to make it for you, cause the Trixie bag is kind of challenging, but oh so cute!
http://www.pursestringspatterns.com/patterns/index.html

[Crystal Krueger]

That is one cute bag!!! I love it! I've always thought bags are hard to sew but if you could do that in 2.5 hours, maybe it would only take me a day and I should try it. H-m-m-m-m-m-m-m - - - -

[Jennifer]

That bag is way cute...I love the material you used.

I haven't sewn in years but that bag makes me want to pull my machine out and try it...

[andrea duncan]

i bought the pattern for amy butler's weekender bag a few months ago, but i'm too intimidated by all the directions to try it yet!

[Yvonne]

Is there anything you can't do!? LOL:) Watch your cape when you shut the car door!!!

[Brenda]

Too cute! I am so in love with that laptop messenger bag... and I was thinking the sizing on it is perfect for scrapbook projects. Instead of sliding in a laptop you could slide in plastic project cases to take to crops!

[marci lambert]

LOVE the bag. tell you what, if you make layouts today, i'll make layouts today. as soon as i finish photo editing for some clients...

[Michael Ann]

Way to go Donna!!! I'm going to have to check out those patterns. I haven't pulled my machine out for a while and maybe I'll start teaching my daughter how to sew...

[catherine feegel-erhardt memory makers magazine master c/o 2007]

Nice! I have the AB messenger bag pattern (along with several others) and this one has just TOO many pieces for me to do without a nice quite house...ha! since that won't happen I have to come up w/ another plan. good job donna!

[Nicole Seitler]

Wow! So pretty! I'd sit and look at it saying the same thing, too... ;)

I love that swing bag with the big bow! Ooo!!!

[Becky]

Hooray for you! Beware, bag making is addictive! I made one a couple years ago for a gift, and just couldn't stop. Now I have a shop on Etsy!

[jennie]

LOVE it, i so want a sewing machine but not sure i could pull this off but would love to try. You rock!!!

[Kirsten Williamson]

I just bought Amy Butler's In Stitches book and I can't wait to sew something out of it. She has the best designs! Nice work on your bag!

[Tina]

Very, very cute! You've inspired me to try to sew something!

[Suzanna]

Isn't that bag great?? I have made a couple of these, and they were so easy, and fun. Her patterns are so great, especially as I am totally pattern challenged, these were easy for me to follow. I love my bag, I use it all the time, and made the changing pad and bag to go inside of it as well.

Good job!

[Dianne Nelson]

Hey--if you have a tax id # for all of your DD goodies, you can get the patterns wholesale from www.petersen-arne.com. (that's where I get all of mine!)

Good work! But be careful---it's addicting!

Smiles,
Dianne

[Tonia]

Super cute Donna! I have actually made 2 of the Messenger bags for gifts-I was so not a person who sewed until I started doing it on scrapbook pages and it actually got me into sewing a few little things like these. So VERY rewarding!

[bcre8uv]

You give me hope! I have never sewed before, but I got sucked in by the Amy Butler Frenchy Bag pattern the other day. I am so intimidated to start cutting it out, but I'm gonna go for it. Wish me luck! I hope making it is at least half as much fun as picking out the fabric. ;)

[diane mcvey]

Awesome bag!
Love it and the fabric!
thanks for cluing me in on these patterns!
can't wait to see the next one you make!!!
:)

[Charlene Teo]

As a scrapbooker, I love crafting too. Especially making patchwork totes!

[BLo]

Awesome job! Love it! Congrats!

[Debbie]

Hooray for you! I made Amy Butler's Madison handbag a few weeks ago and am so ready to start another one!

[stacy]

You did a beautiful job! I love Amy's patterns and think your fabric choice is fantastic!

[Laura Casey]

Bravo !! Im looking at my dusty sewing machine...now maybe I should try making a bag ! Heck, everyone else in the country have fabric bags...why not me !! Thanks for the inspiration !!

[suetreiber]

who needs layouts whent here are so many cool bags to be made? That's how I have been with knitting. To the extreme!

[Sara]

Yep, I've made her bags before. They are super easy to make and your so proud of yourself after you make it. I get tons of compliments on my bags and people are so surprised that I made it myself.

[lisa]

I have several of the Amy Butler bag and pillow patterns. They are awesome and so is her fabric. I'm working on several myself. Good luck on yours!

[tracy]

good job! I have the same pink poppy fabric & made pillow cases out of them! well, one pillowcase, didn't quite finish the project....

[Shari]

You sew like a pro.

[Rebecca]

Donna that is fabulous! It makes me want to pretend I can sew and make one for myself- great job!

Rebecca

[nia]

very cool bag, you did a great job. I am diggin the bright color!

[jean keller {sometimes called Helen}]

love your work but have to ask. Did this bag make it to bed with you like the one at Ruban Rouge?

[Lauren Z]

Have you checked out www.radbags.com ? there are some CUTE patterns on there, (or ready made bags if you are short on time)

[Michelle Baker]

Just be careful, making bags is just as addicting as scrapping, knitting, crafting...where does it stop? lol

[Frances]

So inspiring! I totally just ordered that Nappy bag pattern--I've got two friends expecting and it is totally their style. If it took you 2 and a half hours, I'm optimistic I can finish one in 2 and a half days. Thanks for posting this!

[julie]

Good on you for making the bag...it's darling! I loved the Swing Bag (not to mention all the yummy fabrics out there) that I've made 14 of them in the last 2 months! I've been giving them away to family. I've done some w/ the canvas lining and some w/out...I'm thinking they will be easier to wash w/out the lining. Also, I added pockets in the inside and some ribbon on the outside (simple band of ribbon around the bottom and knotted it). Happy Sewing! :)

[Linsey]

"holy crap, i made this!"
I too think that every time I look at something I have made.
I actually danced around after I finished the aprons I have in my etsy store.
practice builds confidance.
cute bag!
I too have a hard time resisting Amy Butler, more so her fabric.

[Sandra Smart]

Beautiful job on the bag, love it! And thank you for the inspiration I have needed to get one started for myself. I recently purchased a couple of vintage drapery panels from a thrift store with making them into tote bags in mind. Now after seeing yours, I cannot wait to get started!

[Shelly J]

I just bought the messanger bag too! it looks too cool... hopefully i can do it?!?

[Michelle F]

I'm not sewing proficient either, but I've made two Swing bags and I just love them. the first one took two naps (about three hours). The second one took less than 2. Good luck