Selene Handbag

Making things other than quilts results in more expedient gratification! Once again I've been reminded of this as I've been preparing to sew clothing, and made a Selene handbag.

Selene is a relatively new design by Bagstock Designs. I highly recommend this pattern. If every Bagstock Designs pattern is as well-written as this one, you're making an excellent, inexpensive investment. I have no affiliation with the business; I'm only a very satisfied customer who was a professional pattern-writer.

 

In my last post, I mentioned being at a stopping point with this handbag because I needed to install four rivets. Instead of using a proper rivet tool set (out of stock at the store where I purchased supplies), I ended-up enlisting hub's help to squeeze rivets into place with adjustable pliers. Though the rivets are meant to be round-capped, mine have been flattened... but I think they look okay. The iridescence of the rivet, on top of the busy Ex Libris print, hides the flatness. 

I'm very pleased with this! The colorfulness. Fabrics are Ex Libris panels, by Alison Glass; and aqua linen.

handbag front

With a rectangle base composed of Timtex, Pellon foam, and fabric, it's sturdy. Optional is to put four purse feet on this bottom piece.

Inside, it's roomy, with a deep zipper pocket on one side, and on the other, a large open pocket divided into three sections with the center section meant for pens. 

I simply adore the iridescent zipper and zipper tab!

Another iridescent zipper is on the front exterior pocket where I'll probably keep my cell phone. I'm glad I bought this zipper tape by-the-yard, as I will gladly use it again.

handbag back

Last Saturday afternoon found me in another virtual workshop. This time I took Cassandra Beaver's @cassandra.beaver "Piecing Full Circles" workshop with South Florida MQG. As you already know, I'm comfortable cutting and piecing inset circles using a Classic Curves Ruler (see my Central Florida MQG Scrap Challenge quilt) - as Cassandra teaches - but, I was glad to learn how to use a Dritz "Quilter's See-Thru Drafting Ruler" to draw quarter-circles that translate to full circles, in whatever size I want! Learning that, in itself, made the workshop worthwhile.

By the way, the block in this picture is made with four of the 100 fat quarters I won in an Instagram giveaway of Superior Solids, from Benartex. I pre-washed all 100 fqs and none of them bled (a huge plus in my book), and the hand is lovely! 

Lately, have you noticed how many virtual workshops continue to be offered? I've been toying with registering for another intense, four-part series with Maria Shell: her "Three Points Workshop" about making improv triangles. Am I up for it? Have you taken any virtual workshops to recommend?

Linda

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