Basic Fabric Tote

    

In the spirit of Spring cleaning (assuming Spring ever comes, that is), I have been slowly purging my closets. Gone are the jeans I’ve been hoarding (that haven’t fit since High School) and the tees with holes in them that I’ve been claiming to be “weekend housework shirts”. But not all of my purging has been so easy; I have been nostalgically using and keeping a Vera Bradley bag that I bought my first year of college. It was my book bag, my weekend bag, my purse, and for the last two years, my work bag. This bag is a wreck. So I decided to replace her by making a tote the same size and shape.

What you will need:
2 different fabrics – half yard each
batting – half yard
The Usual Suspects: sewing machine, thread, scissors, iron

Step One: Cut your fabric pieces; two pieces of each fabric – 15” x 15”. Cut two pieces of batting 15” x 15”.

Step Two: Make two ‘sandwiches’ with outer fabric | batting | inner fabric. Press these sandwiches.

 

Step Three: Put two ‘sandwiches’ together, inner fabric to inner fabric. Sew seam along two side edges.

 

Step Four: Turn bag so that inner fabric is facing out. Sew additional seam along same two side edges.

Step Five: With bag still inside out, sew seam along bottom of bag.

Step Six: Box your corners. Do this by pinching side seam and bottom seam together (I chose to pinch 2.5 inches along both seams) and sew corner off.

 

Step Seven: Snip off the corner distal to the seam.

 

Step Eight: Turn your bag right side out. Here is what your bag should look like thus far:

Step Nine: Cut a 30” x 2” strip of the outer fabric. Press so that edges meet in the middle on wrong side of fabric. Then press in half so that edges are tucked under. (If you are totally lost, check out the instructions for the handles – same process)

Step Ten: Fold edging over top edge of bag and sew seam around bag. Finish by tucking end over before finishing seam.

   

Handles:
Step One:  Cut two 30” x 3” strips of inner fabric (I had to cut several 15” pieces, hence the seam).

Step Two: Flip strip so that wrong side is up; press edges into center of strip. I didn’t bring them all the way in here, but just enough to make the edge clean. Then press in half. Repeat for other handle.

 

Step Three: Sew seam along both long edges of handle.

Step Four: Attach handles in inner edge of bag.

Voila! New tote!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers,
Bridget XOXO

Champagne Cork Magnets

First off, let me apologize for my little hiatus. I just started a new job in the Medical ICU and my life got away from me. If anyone tells you change is easy, they have never experienced change. It's amazing how a life alteration, even a small one, can turn your world upside down so easily. Nonetheless, I love my new job and I'm slowly settling in!

Since all I've had time for these days has been small escapes and tiny crafts, I wanted to share one of my favorites with you; champagne cork magnets. Joe and I started making these maybe two years ago and we have saved all champagne bottle corks ever since.

Champagne Cork Magnets

What you will need:

• Corks (preferably champagne corks - they work best)
• Magnets (fit to bottom of your corks)
• Super Glue

This is a simple as gluing a magnet to the bottom of the cork. For us, we used some old recycled super magnets that my Dad pulled out of the trash at work. But any magnet will do. Super glue works best because the magnet never comes apart from the cork after regularly pulling at it.

                        

I wish we had thought about it back when we started, but it would be nice to write on each cork the special occasion that you celebrated with that Champagne!

I love that they feel like drawer pulls. And they each have a lot of character. And they're all different!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers,
Bridge XOXO

Etsy - Spring Collection Coasters

Just posted some great SPRING coasters on Etsy! Can’t wait for Spring? Bring a little into your home to coax the warm weather out. Check them out here!

 Thanks for the support!

Cheers, Bridget
XOXO

Mint & Lemon Statement Necklace

     

I LOVE statement necklaces. I have a weak spot for the boldest, brightest, sparkly-est necklaces that I come across, and just the other day I wandered by this little link on Pinterest. DIY Valentine’s Day Necklace by My Girlish Whims – only you can use whatever you want. I HAD TO DO IT. Make my own statement necklace? With the colors that I want?? Hell yes. Now I can feel better about spending so much money on the others that I bought, because this necklace only cost about $10 to make.

See link for detailed tutorial. Here is how mine came out!! I am so excited.

I can feel Spring coming already! Have you started ringing in Spring? I need to keep thinking of sun and warmer weather - this Winter is starting to get very old.

PS. Working on my photo skills, hoping to get better post by post!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheers, 

Bridget XOXO