A Vintage Journey #19 - All Sewn Up

Welcome to this fortnight's A Vintage Journey Challenge - All Sewn Up.  Brenda is our host for this challenge and here are her instructions:  

This is simple - a sewing inspired creation, any style as long as you tell us what the Tim influence is in your project (that could be that you have used a Tim technique, some of Tim's products, maybe you will case one of his tags but make it sewing based,  you choose but please make it clear what the Tim influence is as so many people disqualify themselves from being able to win the prize as we are not sure how it fits to our challenge blog.  Be adventurous and make whatever you like, it doesn't  have to include real sewing but must be focused within that theme.  So what are you waiting for?

While cleaning up my craft room the other day (cleaning up is a constant in my room, I'm always doing it and never finishing it!) I found - in a pile of papers - on the floor - in a corner -  a free tutorial for a fabric basket I had printed from a web site in Feb 2010!  I loved the shape of it when I saw it - but, of course, just never made it.  Enter Brenda's wonderful challenge - and Tim's lovely new fabrics, and this sweet little fabric basket was born!  It measures approximately 4"x 4 1/2" x 4".

  Here is the link to the free tutorial for this cute bag.  Her measurements are in cm so I roughly converted mine to inches.  2 pieces fabric A -  9" x 2 1/2"   1 piece fabric B - 9" x 8" 

The lining and iron on interfacing should be same size as the 2 A's and B sewn together, I cut each piece 8" x 12".  The interfacing gives the cloth some sturdiness.

 After ironing the interfacing to the wrong side of the lining piece - you fold outside and inside pieces in half - right sides facing in and sew up the sides with 1/4" seams - leaving the tops open

 Then you need to square the corners  - this was a little tricky - you fold the piece neatly with the seam in the middle and draw a line across (I drew it where the line measured 3" across - see my penciled line near the bottom??).

 Sew along your drawn lines on all the corners.

 Then you cut off the corners just below the stitching and it squares the bottom off nicely!

 You turn the outside piece right side out and insert the lining.  Starting at the seams, fold down the edges all around and pin.  Slip your ribbon handles between the pieces at the seams and sew all along the top with your sewing machine.

 And you are done! HOW CUTE IS THIS??!!!

Then I went to work on dressing it up - Tim Style!

I looped Linen Ribbon through a Word Band/Observations and tacked it onto the bag through the end loops.  I adhered a Game Piece (which are also featured on the cloth!) with Glue N Seal.

I rubbed Fired Brick Ranger Distress Paint over the Word Band and dried it with my heat tool.

I added a Remnant Rub to an Enameled tag, looped it through a Ring Fastener and poked the fastener through the ribbon so the arms of the faster are inside the ribbon loop.

I rubbed a little bit of Fired Brick Ranger Distress Paint over enamel tag with my finger, wiping some off for lighter spots.

I added a second Word Band on the other side of my fabric basket.

For the fourth and final side - a adhered some Alpha Parts/Newsprint letters to spell the word 'create'.

I rubbed Fired Brick Ranger Distress Paint over the letters with my finger and adhered them using Glue N Seal to the bag.

My thought is to have this on one of my work tables in my craft room to hold bits and pieces.

So thank you to Brenda for pushing me to make a sewn project!  I am SO happy with my little fabric basket - and I hope to make several more!  I think I'll use this one in my craft room to hold little bits I don't want to lose!

Our challenge sponsor is Country View Crafts.  They are offering one winner, chosen by the Creative Guides, a £10 voucher to spend in their on-line shop.  

 I hope you will be inspired to play along with us -  you have 2 weeks - you will find all the details at the A Vintage Journey Blog - along with some wonderful "All Sewn Up" inspiration by several of my very talented fellow Creative Guides!

Here's what I used:
Eclectic Elements 12" Fabric Crafting Pack - Traveler - Tim Holtz,  Idea-ology - Word Bands/Observations, Linen Ribbon, Enameled Tags, Remnant Rubs/Botanicals, Ring Fastener, Alpha Parts/Newsprint, Game Pieces;  Glue N Seal - Ranger,  Ranger Distress Paint - Fired Brick,  sewing machine, thread, Fabric Basket Pattern  from vlijtig.blogspot.com