my new "happy bag"...

yesterday in the mail, i got a package of fabric i had ordered.

as i opened the package and "touched" the fabric i kinda felt this twinge. i would call it a twinge of guilt.

like i wanted to drop everything i had to do and make something with this fabric, but i went back to working on deadlines and assignments. after about an hour of feeling the creative twinge tug as my heart, i got up cleared off my workspace put everything aside and took out those fabrics and started ripping them into first strips, then ripping those strips into squares.

truth be told i suddenly felt excited and inspired by the mere action of doing what i wanted to do, not what i "had" to do.

looked around my studio and dug out a canvas messenger bag i had stashed in a corner and out of the way and began putting together the puzzle pieced patchwork of new fabrics.

of course i added my favorite discontinued/hoarded book text fabric (why oh why do companies discontinue such awesome products??)

 

glued each piece in place (helmar quick dry) and then machine stitched around each piece (that was kinda tricky. i ended up sewing each side vertically, then sewing each horizontal side of the fabric squares.)

then crazed i started pulling out pink, turquoise and green items from my stash. ok, see that pink imagine metal thing? literally had that in my stash for 5 years or more. at least now i know why i saved it so long.

 

ok now this is my favorite part!

the watch face is a working time piece! my frickin' happy bag tells time!

oh, i almost forgot...look at the back!

ahhh...creative release. this bag makes me happy i could just scream it from the roof top! (i am not going to, but believe me if my husband has to hear me say, "honey just look at how cute this bag is!" one more time, he might just regret his decision to work from home.)

ok so here's to a creative weekend and giving into the creative "twinge" when it starts tugging at you!

supplies used:

• Punctuation Green Tutor Stripe Yardage
  Punctuation by American Jane for Moda Fabrics
• Kate and Nate Cotton Candy Corduroy Yardage
  Kate and Nate by Sheri Berry for Northcott Fabrics
• Paradise Daylight Pond Yardage
  Paradise by Patricia Bravo for Art Gallery Fabrics
  
• Alexander Henry Turquoise Farmdale Blossom Yardage
  Alexander Henry Fabrics
• book text fabric was designed by sweetwater and manufactured by moda -DISCONTINUED
• canvas messenger bag
  
• cameo - websters pages
• large iron-on birdcage and birds - one of my new designs with prima. should be in the shop next week.
• canvas buttons
• fabric tree
• fabric letter "d"
• watch face - michaels
• cabochons (small plastic turquoise flowers) - etsy
• white frames - melissa francis
• crocheted flower - ?

Comments

[Carol C]

I love it.

[Yanely (Scrapbook Chicks)]

This is sooo cute!!!! i love it!!! I want one!!!

[Cari Kerstiens]

You are going to make me have to learn to sew, aren't you!

[vanessa lenne]

it's beautiful!

[Cindy Key]

So cute! I'm getting out that sewing machine today! And I'm going to register for your Big Picture Scrapbooking Workshop!

[Nicole Beltane]

oh my, that bag is amazing. love it doesn't describe it.. and how cute is the watch face idea..

[Kimberly Garofolo]

Oh that is a DARLING bag! Wish you made them to sell! Just too stinkin ADORABLE!
xo
Loves,
K

[Toni Kwaiser]

Pure gorgeousness!!! Love it!

[mrsgeek]

What an awesome bag. I'm going to have to remember that technique for a layout. It's a great way to use pattern paper that might otherwise be way too overwhelming.

[Cim Allen]

OMG ! I love it .. I'm going to have to do one, I love the bright colors you chose. That is sad they discountined the newspaper fabric, that is too cool ! I'm "sew challenged", but I'm still going to try ! Thanks for the friday creative push .. I needed that :)

[ida]

I am so freakin' in love with this bag it hurts. I'll trade you some newspaper print fabric for the bag!! lol!! Love, love, love it!!

[Jenni G.]

OM goodness that is tooo cute! I love the colors you used and the watch face....(grins cause she has a whole drawer of watch faces..just need batteries)

[Jessica Griffin]

Gorgeous!! LOVE the colors!!

[Jennifer LeMar]

Way cute! I'll share a sewing tip with you (if you didn't already know it): when you have some horizontal and vertical sewing to do like you did here, just keep on sewing. I mean, don't start and stop. Anchor your stitch after you finish sewing across one square, then just raise your needle, scoot over to the next square, and stitch across that square. On and on and on. Zip all the way across. When you're all done, just clip the long threads between the squares. Saves a TON of time and fuss.

[Sue]

This bag is too cute...love it. FYI: I did come across this newspaper fabric, not sure if it's the same but, just in case here's the link. Thanks for your inspiration!
http://www.raymondstextiles.com/pg36.htm

[Karin Hall]

IT'S FANTASTIC .. makes me want to paint my bag and start all over...

[Suze]

When will u b making one4 me!!!!!! I am freakin drooling !!

[Angie]

LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!! You're amazing!

[Lolly]

Amazing Donna!! This is such a cool way to use fabric on canvas!!!!

[TracyBzz]

Be still my heary...blue, green purple!! My favs :) 'See' you soon in your BPS class.

[Stéphanie Pouliot]

one word.... genius! well ok a few more, beautiful, love the colors, the quilt feel to it... really STUNNING!!
Have a fabu w-end!
Hugs from Canada
xx

[debbie McIntyre]

So cute...the timepiece puts me over the top! Also love the book text fabric and never can find it.

[Tammy Hall]

Well now, if I had a bag like that I would be happy too!!! It's wonderful!!! I love it!!!! And the working watchface, simply fabulous!!!!!!

[Jantina]

Really love it, it's fantastic!
Feeling jealous on your creativity!
(Don't know if the spelling is right, i'm from Holland and not really good at writing English ;))

[ms.espresso]

oh, wow! Totally want to play with my messenger bag just waiting to be transformed... love it!

[Rhonda Merry]

Scream it! It's Super-Fantastic!

[ReNi]

That fabric looks SO great!! - and your bag, too ^~

[andra]

You and your enthusiasm make me happy!! Thanks for being you.
Smiles, Andra

[Isolde]

OMG, it's awesome!!
love, Isolde

[Cara]

Oh WOW!! This is sheer happiness!! Perfection!

[Jennifer]

this is totally awesome; you rock! teach me to sew please!!! lol

[Michelle]

I love it think, I need to go pull out some of my new stuff and work on it!

[Kelli]

I'm glad you were able to let go and do what you wanted :o) The result is fab! And I love reading your enthusiasm... I can just hear you saying, "my frickin' happy bag tells time!!".

[Kelli]

Oh, forgot to ask, how did you attach all the items? Are they all stitched or are some glued?

[Angie Walsh]

Oh goodness! That is SOooooo cool! Absolutely gorgeous!!! What inspiration to make something like that myself!!! Thanks for sharing! (and giving in to your creative urge!)

[Rita Timmons]

OMG! THis is an awesome bag. Now I have to order one to try and make one for me... :-)

[Kathleen aka Refashionology]

I love this bag so much! I love the colors and hearing about your process and I love how much you love it! Thanks for the jolt of inspiration. :)

[Jen]

Oh. My. Goodness. That bag would make ME so happy too!!!! GORGEOUS!!!!! Now I wish I had added a canvas bag to my order yesterday too!! LOL! I have a huge fabric stash and could SO make an adorable bag like that!!! Hmm...maybe that's what I'll have to do wtih my apron...

[donna downey]

great question kelli!
most all of them are just glued with helmar 450 quick dry adhesive with the exception of the buttons and the watch

[Joanne]

OMG! That is so awesome.....I think I have to re-do mine...or let's just order a new one to start all over again....great inspiration Donna!! Thank you!!

[Linda]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels that way when they complete something they love;D

[dena scolnik]

OMFG......outstanding.....
I love it, and now I want to make one just like yours!
Will try my hardest to make do with what I got at home tucked in my stash.
Can't concentrate on anything else right now.
Hope that your little peeps settled back into school ok.

[Broni]

I just ADORE this bag! It's definitely a HAPPY bag. I'm grinning just looking at the photo!

[Katherine M]

LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!

[Debbie Burns]

OMG - Love your bag! So creative and love all the little details!

[Maria Levine]

OH HEAVENS this is fabulous! You always make me say I want to do that!! Love it!

[Jenny L]

Hi Donna. All I can say is WOW!!! I would be happy if I had an amazing bag like that too. :) I would totally buy one of those if you had them for sale. You did a fantastic job on this and I am very inspired!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful creations. Have a great weekend. Jenny L :)

[Jan]

OK this is WAAAY COOOOL. I am going into my craft room and doing the same thing on the cover of a canvas album right now at 10:45 at night because I just have to.You are so inspiring. Thank You.

[Tracie Claiborne]

That is one seriously cute bag!!!

[Liz Walker]

Absolutely stunning!! Love It!!

[Christine Campbell]

It's 3:00 in the morning as I read this (I work til midnight every night) and as exhausted as I am and I know I need to go to bed...this post makes me want to create and NOT go to bed. :)

[laura huffman]

how fun. love it. you like colours i like... oooh i need to go through my material stash. i feel the need to play.

[Agnes C]

OMG...LOVE it!!!!
I'm so going to try to make this into a canvas
Just got all my fabrics ordered!!

[Susi]

I love your happy bag! I love bags instead of purses. I must make one. My sister pays hundreds of dollars for purse's with someone else's name on them and I don't get it. Your happy bag is definitely my favorite. Your artistic expression is always so fun and happy. I bet you are a jewel of a friend.

[Larissa Heskett]

LOVE, LOVE LOVE IT TAHT IS ALL I CAN SAY!!!!!

[Cathryn]

Hey, Bill! Just look at how cute this bag is!

[StampinCathy]

This is so you! I just love everything about this bag. Great colors, detail, and love all the embellishments.

[Verona H]

Oh Donna, you have more talent in your little finger, than a lot of people have in their whole body. It's so much fun to read your blogs today and feel your enthusiasm. I'm a quilter and love how it overlaps with the joy I'm finding in card making and scrapbooking--even if my talent lies in following a pattern--not dreaming it up like you. This is such a neat, fun bag and I think it would be a fun class for you to teach. You go girl!!!

[Cindi B]

This makes me want to drop everything and use some of my treasures I have been saving "for a really great project". Love the fabrics and hope to find some of them on vacation.

[Faye]

I am totally in love with this bag Donna, simply stunning, has made me want to do one myself

[Becky T]

OMgosh I so want to make one of these!!!!

[cindy b.]

HOLY FREAKIN' S*** that bag is AWESOME!!

[Lynette (NZ)]

I love this so much - I have added it as one of my inspirations for the week on my blog. Thanks for sharing.

[Assignments]

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My kids would like to have one of these im sure.