Screw cleaning, make something cute!

Wednesday turned into cleaning day in my craft room (my husband calls it my crap room.)

I fired up my computer and started the first season of Downton Abbey.  I figured that Lady Mary and the Turkish attache would make me feel better about organization.  It worked.  For a while.  Then I came across some big scraps of a fabulous fabric from Timeless Treasures.  (Before you start your internet search looking for this, I'll warn you that it's out of print.  I know, what were they thinking?)

OK, I'm done cleaning.  I've been eyeing a pattern I bought online, the Necessary Clutch Wallet by Emmaline Bags and Sewing Patterns (www.emmalinebags.com)  A match made in heaven!  I have no idea why I am so interested in making wallets all of the sudden.  I made one from a different pattern for Miss O, and it turned out adorable.

Now it's time to forage through the bins of batiks.  Needed some lining and pocket fabrics.  I'm so happy batik fabrics are so readily available here on Kauai.  It always seems like if you need something, but you don't know what you need, fling some batiks at it.

Start to finish, this project took about 3-4 hours.  With lots of lollygagging mixed in.

How cute is that?  Really cute, if I do say so myself.  As suggested in the pattern, I used Peltex stabilizer in the trim piece around the front flap.  It's kinda like fusible, flexible cardboard.  That stuff could stand up on it's own!  My first time with that heavyweight stuff and I am sold.  Love it.

This view illustrated how I chose to use this directional fabric and big print.  And you can kinda see my awesome topstitching.

There is a spot in the middle that can hold my cell phone and lipstick, increasing the awesomeness of this little specimen!  And I just love that I happened to have two coordinating batiks in my collection!  Score, and score again!

I put a big ass snap on the front to close it.  Not a magnetic snap.  I've had many a credit card lose it's swipe-ability from close proximity to a magnetic snap.  I used an old-fashioned regular heavy duty snap.  Here I go off on a tangent...one of the best things I have ever purchased was a really good snap tool kit.  It's called the Prym Vario snap kit.  I bought it ages ago, maybe while I was living in Singapore.

I use this thing more than you can imagine.  You can buy all sorts of pretty snaps to use with it.  But more importantly, you can attach these big, honking camping snaps or anorak snaps.  When you need a strong snap, nothing else will do.  But I digress.

The pattern for the NCW is delightful.  Well written instructions.  Most importantly, the finished product is one that is well thought out and useful.  I added an interior piece so that I can attach some kind of strap to it (the designer has a free download for this.)  I'm going to use this as a mini purse when I don't need the kitchen sink with me.

One more gratuitous shot of this beauty...

All in all, I'd say this was a delightful diversion for my Wednesday!  Screw cleaning, make something cute!