Here's an out-of-focus photo (sorry!) of my new garment district shopper tote, which was inspired by the bags I saw in my new book, Marie Claire Idées Simply Irresistible Bags: 45 Designs for Going Out, Looking Chic, and Shopping Green. I needed a very lightweight bag that I could stash in my purse then whip out to schlep home all the fabric and notions I typically buy on a trip to the garment district. (Except for my last trip, when I only bought two yards of cording and Carolyn will never let me forget this.)
This shopper tote is made out of a Burberryesque silk I bought at a home dec fabric store near my house. The lining and handles are silk too. Dimensions: 19" wide by 14" tall by 3.5" deep. Just sew two rectangles together and square off the ends by how deep you want the bag to be; do the same for the lining. I added side pockets and an interior pocket.
I also made a drawstring bag so I could roll my shopper tote up tight and then stash it in here so it takes up little space in my purse. I used one of my son's shoelaces for the drawstring.
My niece will be a freshman at Elon University in North Carolina. I'm still trying to figure out what to get her as a main present for her high school graduation, but in the meantime I made this photo frame for her out of some ribbon in Elon's colors that I bought at So-Good Ribbon and gold applique letters I picked up at I-Trim on W. 38th Street in the garment district. I just glued the ribbon to an inexpensive acrylic frame I bought at Target: very easy-peasy.
And every college kid needs a nice soft throw they can curl up with when they need a little creature comfort. I made this throw for my niece by taking two ivory fleece throws I bought at Sears, stitching the ribbon to and monogramming Elon on one throw, and then sewing the other throw to the first as backing and to make the whole thing extra soft and cuddly. I had the monogramming done by a kiosk at my local mall.I worked on my Butterick robe all weekend as I watched season one of "True Blood" on DVD. Aren't little portable DVD players great for sewing? Mine barely takes up any room by my sewing machine, and then when I want to move upstairs to cut patterns I can take it along with me. And "True Blood"? Well let's just say I didn't mind that the weather was blah on Sunday so I could stay indoors and finish up the rest of the season. Vampires!
33 comments:
So chic! Better than a Burberry. I did a garment district shopping trip over the weekend, and at the end, was wondering why my plastic bag was so heavy. Then I remembered that I bought ten yards of fabric. That will weigh a girl down! Great idea to make a sturdy, reusable tote.
I love that tote! So chic and so useful.
very pretty bag - and I love the drawstring bag idea. The throw is super nice too. What a nice aunt you are
Great new bag and thoughtful gifts!
My husband and I just love True Blood! It is so very addictive! Have you seen the shows from this season?
Very cute bag and creative graduation gifts! I make t-shirt quilts for my nieces and nephews when they graduate. Love your blog!
Great gifts and wonderful tote. I hadn't even thought about using the portable DVD player, thanks for mentioning that. I need to get caught up on lots of scrapbooking, maybe the DVD player will help me stay motivated.
I have a big bag that folds out of its own little attached stuff bag and it is maybe 3"x4" when its closed up. It holds 40lbs and fits comfortably on my shoulder. It's a whole lot easier than those awful garment district bags to hold. It fits a lot of fabric. Ask me how I know. Yours is a lot prettier though. Tres chic.
That is a "green bag" for fabric shopping! How cool!
I love the bag. What a great combination of creativity and function! You have some great graduation gifts going on, also. I'm a big fan of "True Blood". I wonder what it is about vampires!
Great bag and I love the college gifts! Such a thoughtful aunt!
Great gift ideas! You are SO creative! And I'll bet your niece loves those gifts.
Love the Burberryesque tote,but the drawstring bag to hold it is very cute!Great college gifts,very thoughtful.
I don't know you very well yet, Lindsay T, and your appreciation for True Blood fills in some of those gaps. ;) I was an HBO addict for years, back in the day of Sex & the City and Six Feet Under. I can't wait to see if Lindsay T Sews up some vampire chic this fall!
I love what you made and the fabric is really pretty!!! I love the vampire genre, too. I had not heard of "True Blood" I will have to check it out. Interestingly, the word verificiation I am asked to type in is "fangsal". Fang?
Oh! I love how you cut and placed the pockets on the faux Burberry bag. What a chic detail!
What are you going to do with the $500 you saved by not buying one of those "real" plastic Burberry totes?
Awesome tote and the drawstring bag? Brilliant! Oh how I wish I still had some of that silk! I compared with the bolster I have on my blog. Yep, it looks identical to the "specially designed for that store" fabric I found on 8th.
Ellen
You chose the perfect fabric for that bag. I really need to check that book out!
What a cool tote!
...your fine example just might make me break one of my "I will never sew..." rules !
Great college gifts. Did your daughter ever decide where she's going to go?
My sister is at Elon! Those look like super gifts, but I especially love the bag. Because I love anything silk.
oh. my. god. My fiance and I are totally addicted to True Blood. If you like Season One, just wait until Season Two - the writing, visual style, plot, and hilarity take a MASSIVE step forward. We look forward to it every single week now.
(oh and I have the claim to fame of actually watching an episode whilst sucking down O+ while I was in hospital, too, hahah)
I love the tote idea! Makes for a great gift, too. I know loads of people are always looking for something for the childrens' teachers and the like and I think this is the perfect answer!
What a smart and stylish tote.
Love your new bag Lindsey, and your label.
I'm just wondering, why silk? I mean, other than you had it already.
To my plebian lifestyle, silk it a "fancy" fabric that requires special care - not necessarily tote material.
I'd be glad to know if silk has some properties that make it great tote fabric.
Stylish and eco-friendly! Your gifts are really fun, too.
This is totally fabulous and very chic....LOVE the label!
That, is ADORABLE. I love that it's silk. You always have the classiest items.
Great gifts and I love the tote bag. I'm intrigued by the US college system. Most Australian don't leave their home city to go University, although this is beginning to change. The residential halls are mostly country kids.
Cool bag .... just watch out .... bag making is addictive .... and love - er - ly fun!
Fabulous creations!!! Adorable dog too!
Nice gifts, very thoughtful! Elon is a beautiful campus (I'm about 30 minutes away in Greensboro). Love that bag!
Good news about my search for the NYC Burberry-like silk fabric I found years ago: I'm in Switzerland and just scored another meter at $61/yd. Hey, it's expensive here but I'm so happy to have finally located more! Can't wait to get home and start on the fab bag!!
Ellen
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