More with Melly’s Meadowlark (and a giveaway winner…almost)

(scroll down to find out the winner of Melly’s fat stack giveaway!)

Last week we took a peek at some things I made for Melanie Testa’s booth space at the Quilt Market trade show to introduce her line of fabric for Windham. If you can’t wait to see who won the Fat Stack of her fabric scroll to the end right now! The same day I put together projects for her I decided to use the leftover cloth I had and make a purse to take with me on a trip I had. And yes, the trip was happening early the next morning and it was late in the evening when I decided to throw this thing together. I used to do this ALL the time.  (Make stuff the night before a trip that is.)

And every time I do it’s an adventure. I needed a travel purse big enough for my iPad. My every day purse is really just a hanging pocket – just big enough for my keys, iPhone, and my important cards. When I travel I need something that will fit my camera, and now my iPad. My usual travel purse has a zip opening about half an inch too small to slide my iPad into it.

I’ve had the pattern for Linda Ghee’s Bellino Purse (you can take a look at it here) ever since I met her somewhere I was teaching. Nope – don’t remember which where it was. She is a delightful person and I LOVE this bag! I vaguely remember her driving me somewhere (this could all be completely wrong in my head) and her letting me completely root through her purse as I examined the inside as closely as the outside.

I really love shoulder bags that convert into backpacks. My bones are getting old enough that they hurt with all the weight on one shoulder. I also love the adjustable straps to it can be long for an over the shoulder bag or shortened so the weight just hits the small of my back when it’s worn back-pack style.

I decided the medium bag would suit my needs well enough and sat down at my HQ16 and super quick quilted the lovely toile looking cloth to a backing. I do mean super quick. It’s just straightish lines back and forth at top speed – which on the HQ16 is fast!

I found this super funky lime green flower pin in my closet as I was taking photos and trying to stag them. I’ve decided it’s staying. I’ve also decided I’m better at playing with my photos than staging. (The magic straps in the air were really held up with hot pink shoelaces which I then erased with an app called Touch ReTouch.)

The funny part of the story is that it’s been about 8 years since I’ve followed a pattern. With clothing I can usually look at the pieces and choose how to put it together.

Don’t get freaked out by that – it comes with having put together lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of sewing patterns. This was my first time following a purse pattern though and this things has three interior pockets and a zippered back pocket as well as the one you see in the front. I had to THINK about the construction. And it was late at night. And every time I got ahead of myself and thought I knew what I was doing I’d sew in a pocket upside down. It really does go together win a very clever way and the instructions are not difficult. It was just me and my brain late at night that got a little loopy.

So nearing midnight (with a 4am wake time for the next morning’s flight) I stitched the final stitch and triumphantly zipped up the main zipper – only to watch the zip/pull go sailing across the room.

I must admit I shouted something loud enough that my husband came running down to see what was wrong. No – I didn’t swear – but I wanted to. I’ve repaired zips before. I also knew I could unsew and resew the other end. Except that I sewed the other end REALLY, REALLY good and tight and it was late. So I just snipped a few teeth, ignored the hole I poked in the cloth, and was really careful about opening my zipper on that trip. I have to admit that I zipped it right off again (and fixed it again) the next morning. When I got home I finally remembered to sew in some zipper stops on BOTH ends of that wonderfully chunky purple zipper. (Oh – the hardware and zippers can also be purchased at Ghee’s website.)

And finally, congratulations to Denise Spillane who wins a fat pack, one 10″ square of ALL 26 of Melly’s fabrics! If you love what you see here ask your local shop to order the line! (Meadowlark by Windham!)