Lily Bag in Lorenza

I recently got this beautiful fabric from Alexander Henry's Lorenza collection. It's been on my wishlist for so long and I finally my hands on some of it. The first thing I love about this print are the bold colours and I'm always a fan of retro looking floral prints. The design just makes a statement with this print and you can use it for day or night.

So to start off my first handmade bag using this fabric, I came up this this design which is quite similar to my Dahlia Bags but using a zip as the closure and having an adjustable strap so that it can be used as a shoulder bag or a message bag. 

My newest bag .... the Lily Bag using Lorenza in Onyx by Alexander Henry.... and so named Lily after an aunty and also to go with all my other bags named after flowers!

I've use Lorenza in Onyx by Alexander Henry and black cotton drill for the contrast. It is fully lined with beige cotton drill and interfaced to make it sturdy and all seams are reinforced. It has 2 inner pockets for your purse, ipod and phone; and another inner pocket with a zip and a swivel clip for your keys. The bag closes with a zip closure.

Measurements:

Width Top: 13"

Width (Widest): 16"

Depth: 3"

Height: 12"

Adjustable Strap Length: 21.5" - 36" nickel sliders

Interior has 2 pockets and 1 zip pocket

1 x Zipper Pocket: (W)9" x (L) 6"

1 x Pocket: (W)8" x (L)5.5"

You can win this bag by entering Blog This - Challenge 72 If I Could Change The World

"If you were boss of the world, what is one thing you would change? Just one."

Polly Dolly - Little Black Dress

This week Polly Dolly is going out with her Little Black Dress to celebrate her 52 weeks of dazzling us with her beautiful collections and her inspiration at Danimezza

This week I was inspired by the ever beautiful Elizabeth Taylor for her gorgeous beauty and the wonder actress that she was. So I've gone for the lovely diamonds that a girl must always have just like Elizabeth. A white diamond ring, diamond bracelet and hoop diamond earrings and speaking about White Diamonds the parfum too. A black lace dress to capture the romance and grace of the night, and together with crystal black shoes and a dazzling diamond black clutch. I think I'm ready for that night out with my little black dress and a memory of a beautiful person.

Congrats to the Giveaway Winners

I'm so happy to announce the winners of my first and second Giveaway for my This Side Of The Island Shop. The winners were picked by Random.org  and because I reached another new 25 fans (total now 77!!) for my This Side Of The Island Facebook page I had to have a double draw and have 2 winners.

The Giveaway!!!

My Giveaway List of everyone who entered the giveaway. Thank you so much for being a part of the giveaway.

So here are the winners!!!

The First Winner 

No.29 Gracy Baxter

The Second Winner

No. 30 Christine Santos

Thank you so much for being a part of this Giveaway and I can't wait for the next one. Random.org is amazing!!!

Blossom Tote Bag

I was inspired to make this bag from this fabulous print from Amy Butler's Soul Blossom collection. This must be one of the very few bags that I've made with just one fabric print and without a contrast fabric. This beautiful fabric is called Fuchsia Tree in Carmine and it's just so pretty. This design is more of a tote bag and I made it big enough again to fit all my things that a mum can carry. 

It's fully lined again with beige cotton drill and I've used my fav fusible cotton lining on the exterior fabric which is like a Pellon interfacing and that's been a must with all the bags I've been making. It just gives all the bags so much structure and the best thing about is when you crush the bag it never leaves a crease. You just don't have to iron it and it also gives it bit a weight for a fabric bag.

I can remember when I first made a fabric bag I used the normal paper fusible interfacing and I wasn't too happy with the paper-like creases it made in the fabric and it wasn't smooth at all. I never used it again after that and went to look for this Pellon interfacing, which although a bit more expensive it all worth it if you can find it.

Blossom Tote Bag

Blossom Tote Bag

The Blossom Tote Bag. I've made this with this beautiful fabric from Amy Butler's Fuchsia Tree in Carmine from her Soul Blossom collection and it's fully lined with a beige cotton drill. A large tote that can carry almost anything. Big enough to fit you mini netbook. Lots of storage with 4 inner pockets and a pen pocket too. A swivel clip for your keys and magnetic snap for closure. Wide straps for comfort and a detailed bow for style.

All seams are double stitched and reinforced. Fully lined with cotton interfacing making for a sturdy durable bag.


Dimensions:
Top Width: 14"
Botton Width: 15.5"
Height: 12"
Depth: 3.5"
Handle Strap Length: 19" Center drop 10.5"

Interior Side Pockets
2 x Pocket: (W)5.5" x (L)4"

Interior Phone Side Pockets plus pen pocket
2 x Pocket: (W)3.5" x (L)4"

I made these for friends so I'll make some to post for Etsy soon.

Blossom Tote Bag

Inside the Blossom Tote Bag

A bag for everything : Ava Everyday Messenger Bag

I've been talking about making a messenger bag type of bag for some time now and this Ava Everyday Messenger bag is finally here. I just had to name it after one of my baby nieces and I made it in mind with having to use it as a diaper bag and travel bag.

A lot of my ideas for my bags starts off with just a simple drawing and some measurements. I wanted a bag that could carry everything and I mean just about everything.... diapers, spare clothes for Jacob, toys, containers for snacks and all the things that I usually carry with me.... iPod, camera, phone and maybe a novel if I'm lucky.... the need for plenty of space...

This bag has a gusset which gives this bag extra space and strength and it's also wider at the base and slightly narrower at the top to give it a more tailored look. I also added in a reinforced strap that is sewn into the gusset to give a textured look on the sides and added that same width banding on top of the bag do that it highlights the printed fabric from the contrast black. Alot of the times when I sew I'll add on as I go and this extra banding just gave it another dimension and more space which really helped when I decided to make it fit my laptop. What really surprised me when I finished it was the way it sort of fell giving the bag more of a shoulder/hobo kind of look rather than a straight up messenger bag. I was really happy with this bag and it's the start of my Black to Basic collection :)

Ava Everyday Messenger Bag


Ava Everyday Messenger Bag

Ava Everyday Messenger with Adjustable Strap. It is a medium/large bag roomy enough to carry your laptop, books, ipod, phone…). You can carry this bag like a messenger, tote, or shorten the strap and sling it over your shoulder. The adjustable strap with its variation in length makes it a messenger bag for all your everyday needs; travel bag, diaper bag, laptop bag, tote....

I've use Michael Miller Floral Script Fabric in Cream and black cotton drill for the contrast. It is fully lined with beige cotton drill and interfaced to make it sturdy and all seams are reinforced. It has 3 inner pockets for your purse, ipod and phone; another inner pocket with a zip and a swivel clip for your keys. The bag closes with a zip closure.

Measurements:

Width: 15"
Gusset top: 3.5"
Gusset bottom (Depth): 4.5"
Height: 12"
Strap Length: 20" - 32.5" nickel sliders

Interior has 3 pockets and 1 zip pocket
1 x Zipper Pocket: (W)9" x (L) 6"
1 x Pocket: (W)8" x (L),55"
1 x Pocket: (W)4" x (L) 5.5"

You can purchase this bag at Etsy : 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70129118/ava-everyday-messenger-with-adjustable

It fits my laptop too!



The bag lying down flat. 



Ava Everyday Messenger Bag

My Place & Yours: Where do you blog?

It's Tuesday again and this week Danielle at Hello Owl's My Place & Yours is asking:

My Place & Yours: Where do you blog?

This is my spot on my desk in my bedroom where I like to blog. I have my laptop set up and  my blogger all set up getting ready to blog about the latest and the what's going on at my place. An iPod on hand for a lazy check on things but I would love to learn how to blog on that too but I'm rather slow at typing with on it. I'm posting at the moment about my latest giveaway and sorting out some photos for these handmade clutch purses I've just made.  I'm kind of writing two post at the same time ... multitasking and trying to take measurements of the clutch purses.  




My handmade clutch purses from my latest blog post "Clutch Purses and a Giveaway " just a little giveaway to say thank you. 


Each Tuesday Hello Owl hosts My Place & Yours so if you would like to link up and play along click HERE

Clutch Purses and a Giveaway!

I'm so happy to see that at this moment I've checked my This Side Of The Island Shop Facebook page and I have another 25 new fans and as I promised I'm going to announce my first Giveaway. 

I've been meaning to come up with some clutch purses and came up with two designs; a pleated clutch purse and a clutch bag. 

Pleated Clutch Purse

Pleated Clutch Purse:

This Pleated Clutch Purse is such a handy little thing. It comes with a strap that attaches to the zip with a swivel clip. Lined with beige cotton drill and has an inner pocket. All exterior fabric is lined with a cotton interfacing making it sturdy and never loses it's shape when the fabric is crushed but still soft like cotton. 

Measurements: 

width (top): 9'

width (bottom): 10.5'

height: 5.25'

strap: 11'

zip: 8'

Clutch Bag

Clutch Bag:

This Clutch Bag is the perfect little bag for just about anything; a make-up bag, phone/ipod bag, or a handy clutch for the day bag. It is a flat bottom clutch that comes with a strap that attaches to the zip with a swivel clip. Fully lined with a beige cotton drill and has an inner pocket. All exterior fabric is lined with a cotton interfacing making it sturdy and never loses it's shape when the fabric is crushed but still soft like cotton. 

Measurements: 

width (top): 8'

width (bottom): 8'

height: 5'

depth: 1.25'

strap: 12'

zip: 7.5'

The Giveaway!

I've reached another 25 new fans on my Facebook page and so this is my little giveaway to say thank you. I'm giving one of these clutches for the giveaway and you can have the chance to pick one if you are the winner. Just become a fan of my "This Side Of The Island Shop" page on Facebook and make a comment below this photo of the clutch purse giveaway. This offer ends on 31st March and I'll be using a random generator to select the winner of this giveaway. The winner will be announced on 1st April.


Become a fan of This Side Of The Island Shop on Facebook , leave a comment and WIN!