The Prima Diva Wallet

I found this wallet pattern at a little quilt shop in Provo, Utah.

Its called the "Prima Diva Wallet".  I love it!!!  I had been looking for something that I could
put "EVERYTHING" in.  If you are like me you have more cards (credit and store loyalty) than you have space for in your wallet. Then there is the checkbook, coins and cash bills too.  I had not been able to find something compact enough to carry everything until I discovered this.

My version of the Prima Diva Wallet filled with belongings

Photo from Sew Many Creations  (sewmanycreationsny.com)

I made mine out of an ethic print in a bold colors.  It holds everything I need and even fits into my Fossil Crossbody Bag.  Whoopee!!!!  I love these so much that I will be making more of them.  All of the women in my family will receive them as presents. That's 6 total on my sewing list.

My only regret is that I didn't do the loops for a chain.  So I will be doing that on all of the new ones; and I'll be making another for myself.

The wallet went together very easily.  There are very detailed instructions for the construction, and a step by step sewalong that was hosted by the designer of the wallet on her blog: "Prima Diva Sew-Along",  I used fabrics from my stash.

I purchased the wallet closure from Sew Many Creations Etsy Shop.  It comes in silver, brass, and burnt antique.

The most difficult thing to find was the Pellon Decor Interfacing.  I was able to find it at Hobby Lobby in the weight that I needed.  Also, I think you could just as easily use mini binder clips
 that you can get from staples instead of the Clover clips.

One thing that I did do was to make plastic templates for all of the pattern pieces using quilting template plastic.  This made it easier for me to keep track of all of the pieces, and will make it easier to complete the others.

2 zippered compartments

2 credit card holders areas that have over 12 slots

There are two compartments for bills, and between each compartment is are storage area's

To see photo's of other wallets

Now on to complete the other 6 wallets!!!!

No Brainer Pick-me-up --> Luggage Tags

Every once in a while you need a little pick me up.   Something to get your adrenaline flowing and doesn't require a lot of effort or thought.  I needed one of those.  I kept thinking about all of the scraps I have, and I wanted something quick.

So I figured, Luggage Tags!  Doesn't require much fabric, and I have everything I need here.  Its something I can never have too many of.  And with all of the traveling I've done, and the traveling to come they would definitely get plenty of use.

Of course I didn't want to pay for a pattern, so a "googling" I went.  I came across this pattern: Studio Kat ID Tags.  It took less than 30 minutes to make 3 tags.

I did make a couple of changes when I made the tag:

1. The patterns calls for 8 gauge or less vinyl.  I had a box of sheet protectors that I bought from Staples, so I just took a sheet and used that for the clear vinyl window.
2. The pattern called for interfacing on the wrong sides of the tag.  I did that; but I also had some buckram.  (I had used it in a belt).I cut this to the same size as the interfacing, and then trimmed it down so that I was just barely catching it in the seams.  This gave an additional stiffness to the tag.
3. My tag is just large enough to fit a business card into the vinyl pocket (as you can see in the picture above). The instructions state to stitch the vinyl pocket closed once you've inserted your ID information..  However, I decided to leave it open.  This way I can make some as gifts for family and they can put their information into the vinyl pocket.  It also makes it easy to switch out the id card info if I need to.

Tomorrow, I'll be back on my regular program - garment sewing.

Happy Sewing . . . .

Back down "Memory Lane"....

I have always loved that song by Minnie Ripperton.

As I was doing one of the many re-organizations of my sewing room, I discovered some pictures that I'd taken of some of my past sewing projects. Boy did it bring back memories, especially since the kids are now gown.

Join me for my trip down sewing memory lane....


Daughter's dedication outfit (Bishop dress and bonnet with smocking), she was about 2 and we did it during Christmas holiday.
Her kindergarten Halloween costume (she wanted to be a princess on a horse), the things we mother's will do.
Denim bishop dress and headband. My daughter had very little hair until she was about 3 years old. Headbands and bonnets were a mainstay of all her wardrobes
Then I made a second denim dress with a matching hat.
Her first Halloween costume (a fish pattern that I found in a parenting magazine). She was only 6 months. I tried to get her brother to dress as a fisherman, and hold a fishing pole with her attached to it, but he wouldn't do it. Of course he regretted that decision when she won best costume.
Casper the friendly ghost costume for my daughter (my boys said she looked more like the Pillsberry Dough boy).

Finally a quilt I did for a co-worker's new baby. That baby should now be about 20 years old!

Oh well the memories that sewing can bring back are good ones. Now I guess I'll have to make more sewing memories for the future.

Baltimore and husbands (picture heavy)

Well, finally I'm updating you on what I did in Baltimore (besides getting a chance to visit relatives). Of course on my second day there I had to do the rounds of fabric stores! At first my husband kept trying to send a relative with me, but I finally convinced him that unless they were into fabrics and sewing, then it would just make the trip miserable for myself and them. All I had to do was remind him of the times he's tried to go with me on an all day excursion! Thank GOD for portable navigation systems! You can't get lost with one of those things, even if you tried to.

My first stop was Blanks. It is a quaint little shop, but most of the fabrics I saw were more geared towards home interior (but hey that hasn't stopped me from using a piece of silk I loved for a dress; I'm terrified I'll walk into some one's house and see a matching curtain or pillow).I didn't get anything from there; mainly because I didn't have home decor items on my list of to-do. My husband was very pleased with my decision; His biggest fear was that I would end up having to ship some stuff back home.

Then I immediately went to G-Street fabric in Rockville, MD. Of course the table that caught my eye was the $2.98 table. I got some awesome finds, once I was willing to dig. One piece I'm sure is a silk/wool blend. I've already got the patterns picked for each of the pieces (All of the fabrics are dark, so not sure the fabrics will show up well)

Vogue 1123 From what I and the fabric clerk could tell, this appears to be a silk/wool blend in a navy blue tone.

Vogue 1121

This fabric is a brown tone, sort of a herringbone with some spandex.

Vogue 8594

This a a brown tweed.

Vogue 2457 (OOP)

(This is two pieces a smoke gray cotton w/ spandex for the top, and a black wool for the dress).

I also found two pieces of wool in a black tweed and solid at $13.00/yd to make this Vogue ensemble from.

Vogue 8605

(I also purchased all of the trimmings, so all I have to do is start working on them.)

I was tempted to go to one of the other locations also, but had promised my husband I'd be back at a reasonable time.

Then on the way home, I stopped by a little Quilt shop in Glen Burnie, MD. Turns out it is going out of business (another victim of the economy). If only I had known they were there on all of my other visits. They are a Bernina shop, so all of their Bernina items were 40% off.

I found two pieces of fabric a Kona Print, and Hoffman; which I had to get.
Along with 3 differential feed feet for the Bernina 830: 1/4" piecing foot, clear foot, and open-toe embroidery foot.

By then it was time to go home (I'd been gone since 9am and it was now approaching 3pm).

When I got back, my husband was surprised that I only had the few items that I did (Although this may seem like a good size bounty to others, my husband has seen me do SO-o-o-o much more damage!).

I didn't get a chance to check out "A Fabric Place', but its on the list for next time.

Well that Saturday my husband decided to take me downtown, and guess what we walked upon: Gus Woolen shop! I got a chance to just browse through it. My husband kept encouraging me to go in and get some fabrics, but I decided that it was not good to be greedy. So we made a deal that next time we go to Baltimore, GUS WOOLEN HERE I COME!

Then we walked towards the Hippodrome theatre. As we were walking I spotted a hatmakers shop. Too bad they weren't open. I was so excited I had to take a picture of the shop window. This is also a MUST go in, and check out when we go back.

We'll be heading back to Baltimore in February, 2010 for a wedding; so I think I'll get there a day or so early! I gotta have time to go fabric shopping again, and add to my stash.

I must say my husband was extremely accommodating, and encouraging when it came to me wanting to go to the fabric stores, etc. You know it was one of the moments where you look and go, "who replaced my husband!". I guess it would be sort of a "Stepford Husbands" moment. Usually when I mention fabric or sewing in a sentence he and the kids would cringe, and literally run to other parts of the house. The empty nesting is pulling us closer, and we're learning new things about ourselves. "I think I've found my new potential boyfriend", but I call him my husband!

Well I'll be back to Baltimore in February, and maybe I'll get a chance to hook up with some of you in that area to do some Fabric shopping or just have lunch.

In the meantime "Happy Sewing!"

Empty Nest

Well, I dropped my daughter off at college. I am now an "empty nester".






It's strange not to have any kids in the house. Actually, it is way to QUIET! I never thought I'd say that, but it is. So now I'm trying to get a new schedule for my day, one not centered around kids.


In the mean time, the first thing I did when I got home was started digging up the yard. I have rocks along my driveway, and grass was peeking thru, so I decided now was as good a time as any to replace the lining underneath them. My husband thought I'd lost my mind; but I told him it was way too quiet in the house, and I wasn't ready to go inside yet. So each weekend I'll be working on a section of the driveway until the entire thing has been done.

After it got to hot to dig up rocks, I came inside and started sewing. I got my muslin done for my vintage dress (I'll have to include pics later). Then I decided to do something quick and easy. I came across the purse organizer, and decide it would be quick and simple. I had some upholstery fabric that a friend gave me, so I decided to use it. The fabric was reversible.





It was very quick and simple project. It took a total of maybe 30 minutes to do, and has been a real plus in making my purse look a lot nicer on the inside.



Organizer on its side, like it would be in my purse.


After I got all of that done, I decided to clean my sewing room. Its amazing how much bigger it looks when its clean!

I also started back on my pants. I figure since it'll be fall here soon, I'm getting in the right frame of mind for pants.