Bohemian Gathering Bag complete

I played around with embellishing the Boho bag last night and for now it is ready to use. I can always add things later. I played in Photoshop and printed off my favorite saying.......and a few words on butterfly images to personalize it further. "Fly" represents continuing to go forward in any situation. Building confidence, which I'm not in abundance of :-)
"Follow your Bliss" means just that, do what you love and love the life you have created. Enjoy!
I'm hoping the edges of these will fray as I use the bag. I prefer the worn look.
On the back of the bag I attached a hand dyed crocheted table runner I found at a tag sale. I folded it over like a pocket and it fits a magazine perfectly.
I embroidered over the black thread on the flap which was an embroidered doily purchased from Gypsy Feather on etsy....Love her things but she is on vacation until July :-(
I love the Mokuba flower trim and when I am fortunate to find a piece it goes on projects for others however this beautiful one was from Carole of Flights of Fancy Boutique and I claimed it for myself. It is my absolute favorite trim in the entire universe and it happened to arrive at my home just in time.
I love the little porcelain angel button but I couldn't leave it alone so I strung some purple petite beads and put a crystal on one of the ends and a purple gold wrapped stone from Amber Dawn on the other.
The appliques received a pearl in the centers. I will be making more of these bags. I took the pics outside hoping for truer color however it is much richer looking in person. I put it on my shoulder and it just hugged me perfectly. These are so comfortable to carry and have a nice weight to them. Plus the large flap worn near the front of the body protects your content from sticky fingers :-)It was a lot of fun to just go with it and grab whatever tickled my fancy. As a matter of fact I may carry this one instead of my big brown bag to CA and if the girls like it and find a doily or tapestry focal piece for the flap I will create one for them.
Suzy, I didn't use a pattern, I just cut out a muslin shape for the purse front and back then added a continuous 3" strip for bottom and sides. The flap is just the doily shape which has multiple fringe and lace layers under it.

Well that adventure is over with for now. I have errands today and tomorrow but hope to get everything in order and stocked for the guys while I'm gone. Only four more days until the trip!!! I can't wait to step foot in the first fabric shop, then a bead shop, then a trim shop, then.........................................

Long awaited project finally coming to fruition

I began organizing my studio on Friday evening and kept coming across stash items that I put aside for a special project which never seems to get started...until last night! I decided to stop everything and begin my long awaited Bohemian Gatherings bag. When friends send me things I have a special place so I can select things from that place for projects I make for myself, which doesn't happen too often unfortunately. This will change :-)

I piled my selected stash (purple) onto my cutting table and started doodling on a piece of paper. I'm not one to plan, perhaps because I can't draw and I could never keep journals filled with ideas like most everyone else. I'm not a jealous person and I don't envy people because I am a fairly contented soul however, I do strongly desire the ability to draw and those who can sometimes frustrate me and I would love just a bit of their talent. The doodling didn't last long. Instead I pulled out my muslin and set to work cutting a large square then rounding the bottom edges like a huge smile!
I decided I did not want to CQ this bag and I wanted to use a beautiful burnout velvet piece Suzy Quaife sent me from AU, and I had a coveted piece of insanely expensive gold print on purple velvet I kept in a safe (only kidding,) and a few heavy purple fabrics. My thoughts turned to the marvelous Magnolia Pearl bags, oh if I were a rich woman!!!!! I have wanted one of her bags for many years, or one like it sooooooooo. My hands work and I know what I like so there you have it. My muse set to work creating my Boho Gatherings bag. It isn't close to a MP bag however, it is Uniquely Mine.
I have much more to do but this is the basics.....

I layered a vintage dyed crochet trim under my dyed spiral trim from Tish..................... A vintage embroidered doily and trim from Gypsy Feather...................purple tatted and beaded trim from Wendy Shu of Singapore, the velvet from Suzy Quaife of AU, and I'm still gathering...
I have so many wonderful friends who have slipped me special things through the years so it is fun to create a bag which will carry thoughts of them with me. I will share it all when finished, now back to play! I'm anxious about the trip so I must keep busy!!!!

Enjoy your day!

Too cute! Purple on my mind........

Sunday I walked around snapping pictures of all the newest blooming purple flowers. The Clematis on the front porch..........
....the Siberian Iris in the new front walk garden....

....and the Blue-Eyed grass (so dainty).... love this! I wanted to share a few signs I found at Marshalls last week. They hang by my mermaid tear corner upstairs. I am starting to rethink blue....a pale Robin Egg Blue bedroom? Hmmmmmm. Perhaps it is time for a change? I did fall in love with the pale blue walls and quilt on page 62 of the new Romantic Homes magazine which arrived yesterday. It does look more simplified than what I have and I'm all about simplifying right now! Clean...crisp...fresh! Leave the encrusted,embellishments to my crazy quilting muse. I forgot...I also made Blueberry Streusel muffins this morning!

Yesterday I also received a goodie box from a gal who is in big trouble! Tisha....you have me tongue tied. I had to share this adorable scissor fob. Isn't she the cutest? A tiny porcelain doll with Lilac dress attached to a purple tassel with purple AB Swarovski crystals and tiny bee charms on one end and a beautiful purple pair of scissors with purple sheath on the other. I want to put her in my pocket and carry her around with me. She reminds me of a frozen Charlotte. If that doesn't make you smile when you sit down to stitch, I don't know what will. That is exactly how I spent my evening...stitching each of us a "Girlfriend" water bottle carrier for the LA trip. I hope to finish them in a few days and pack them so I don't leave them behind. I put a dragonfly on each of them from Flights of Fancy....which reminds me that I need to order more. The Pink one is for my little niece Katy, Nicole likes blue, the Aqua is for Dawn, and of course I get the purple because ,"I make my own rules!) LOL yeah right~We must have water with all the walking we will be doing. I booked our room yesterday at the Biltmore which looks amazing. It will be a nice place to relax after walking our behinds off. I can't wait to experience this adventure. Time to get busy...clock is ticking! Have a great day!!!