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Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Maker Faire 2014

**Update: May 21, 2014**
 I had a great time at Maker Faire this past weekend, and I received a editor's choice ribbon for my toy patterns, which is pretty awesome.

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Maker Faire is this weekend, May 17-18 in San Mateo, CA. I'll be there under the San Francisco Bazaar Tent selling my plush toys and patterns.t

The bazaar tent has a new location from last year.


Come check it out, there are so many awesome things to see and do. More info at MakerFaire.com

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Change Purse


At craft shows I don't have a great place to stash my change as I don't always wear outfits with pockets. This makes it difficult to find somewhere safe to keep all my important sales items while at my table. With my long term projects progressing slowly, I recently took a couple hours to make a quick project; a custom change purse. Since it's just for me, I had free rein on the design so I picked out some of the fun vintage fabric and trims I got last November to make it special and unique.


First I decided exactly what I wanted to hold in this bag, mostly change and some extras like pens, credit card reader and notes. I picked out a screen printed canvas with bright yellow flowers and green bamboo. With the white background it may get dirty easily but it's all cotton so I can just throw it in the wash. I also had a green quilter's cotton in my stash that went well with the printed pattern. I determined the bag size, about 12 inches by 6 inches and got to work.



I put a zippered pocket on the front and added some daisy lace trim. Little bags like this are a great opportunity to use up scrap fabric.

On the back I wanted a couple specific pockets to fit an iphone/credit card reader, pens and notes. So I measured out those sizes and sewed the dividers onto an additional piece of fabric.

I made the long straps out of coordinating green cotton.

On the front I made the zipper panel line up with the straps so it creates a continuous green line. I sewed the straps onto the sides of the front panel piece.

Once the straps were attached I sewed the back panel to the front panel creating the front pocket and making the whole bag come together. I turned it inside out through the zipper opening.

The finished front with plenty of room for change.

The finished back with the specific pocket sizes I planned out.