ode to ruffles...

i love ruffles...full, layered, cinched bunches of fabric LOVE.

2 days ago i woke up with this idea of ruffle-ing my canvas messenger bag. the most exciting part about the whole process is going through my fabric stash and coordinating fabrics...it is a total high for me. all the patterns and colors...oh my!

i love fat quarters, they are usually the perfect size for most all my crafting needs and i can buy several coordinating fabrics for the price of 1 yard of fabric. i chose some new and some of my favorite hoarded fabrics and layered them out mix and matching color and pattern.

ruffled layer by beautiful ruffled layer i began sewing them to the messenger bag flap.

until finally i covered the entire flap.

i wrapped the top ruffle around the top of the flap so that there is a small ruffle on the back side. this covers the flap in its entirety

HAPPY PLACE!!!!

but then i still wanted to play. what if i made the bag in a completely opposite palette? hmmm?

say something darker, like this?

are ya feeling it...giddy!!!

perhaps my most favorite fabric EVER is this big red poppy fabric by laura gunn...it's magnificent!

so i began layering ruffles on a new bag.

i LOVE all the raw edges...so girlie, so punk!

the big poppy on top makes this bag so awesome!

i think i will need to make more...oh Prima, more canvas messenger bags , please...and bring on the fat quarters, mamma's making ruffle bags! lol!

Comments

[bonnierose]

Oh my these are just fabulous!

[Angie Blom]

oh . I agree with BOnnie.. these are fabulous. I think I need material!!

[Broni]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these! I am SO gonna try this!

[JosieK]

Still LOVING these bags...can I gush anymore?
I wish I sewed..don't have a sewing machine..
I'll just covet yours! They're AWESOME!!

[Pam]

Oh my. This makes me NEED fabric!

[Penney]

These are fabulous! Hmm.........where is my Moda fabric?

[Erika Davison]

Love them!!!!!

[Donna VW]

Absolutely fabulous! Were you a quilter in another life?

[Jantina]

Wow! Really great!

[Barbara Harrington]

Love this! How are you finishing the top? Are you foldidng it under? Making a casing? What do you have going on up there?! Can you show a picture of the top & back please!!!

[Sherry]

LOLOL mama's making ruffle bags
I know there are many ways to do ruffles, but how do you do yours??
I'm loving the darker one. =)

[Michelle S]

I soooo want one! I don't know how to sew so (sew-so?) I can't make one for myself. Are you going to sell some on etsy?? Pretty please???

[Barb]

They are both gorgeous and all I carry are messenger bags (I need the room) So now youve given me the sewing bug even worse than I already had it!!!
Peace & Love,
~Barb~

[Dee Callahan]

I love love love the one with the newsprint and the skulls on it .. how cool ! I wish I could make a ruffle, I would have to do that to my messenger bag .. I love it !! Maybe you could sell those for us sew challenged people :) LOL Have a great day Donna !

[janie]

fantastic....everyone needs one...

[Holly S]

ooohhhh...I love ruffles, too! I also love the newsprint fabric...

[bonnierose]

Let us know where these are avail.. in your shop or on etsy???
Need to know.. stat!

[Kim]

Love them!! Too cool!!

[cindy b.]

AWESOME!!

[Liz Smith]

These are just gorgeous, but then everything you do is gorgeous...

[Crafty Mom]

OOooohh, Doooonnna! Does this mean you've added BLACK canvas to your product line???? At first I thought you painted the bag black, but the strap is also black. If you have added black I so totally NEED your black SLR bag!!! I really, really hope you've added black canvas and I really, really, really hope the SLR bag will also come in black!!!

[donna downey]

sorry crafty mom to disappoint but i painted the bag and the strap with black airbrush paint.
http://www.donnadowney.com/shop/product.php?productid=952&cat=0&page=1

[Teresa Wilkins]

These are awesome. You should give one away on your blog!

[Artiste Nouveau]

This is why I love reading your blog--you type exactly as you talk and it's hilarious :D

You're so much fun Donna :)

[Dawn]

I love the ruffles. I so wish I could sew. =)

[Linda R.]

Thank you for the Drawing Book tip, I ordered mine today. I have just been beginning to draw and don't know what I'm doing, or should be doing - but enjoying it, exploring. Can't wait to get my copy - thanks again.

[Carol Bailey]

I just LOVE the ruffles!!!! What a neat way to use up all of my odds and ends scraps.

[Julie Johnson]

Make more please, and sell them! I can't sew...totally sewing inept, but I need one of these. Either one, LOVE them both!

[Cheryl]

Donna these are fabulous!! Please sell them!!! I need one!!!

[Ariana]

For some reason I read "red poppy fabric" as "red PONY fabric" and it made me laugh.

[Grace]

Too darn cute!

[Damon]

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[Canvas Bags]

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[Calico bags]

I thought you painted the bag black, but the strap is also black. If you have added black I so totally NEED your black SLR bag. What do you have going on up there?!I would have to do that to my messenger bag.