Waste not, want not!

Revamped Purse

A few months ago I started designing camera bags. My first attempt was not a resounding success! It's been sitting on a shelf and every once in awhile I'd take it down and look at it. I liked the fabric but it was a bit flimsy and the inside compartments weren't exactly right. My father's voice...."waste not, want not...." would enter my head but I wasn't sure how to salvage this bag. A purchase of a new pair of sandals gave me an idea. Just remove the inner pockets, add some padding to the front and back of the bag, sew a buckle to the strap to allow it to be adjusted in length, and I had a summer purse, just perfect to wear with my new sandals!

Original Camera Bag with inner pockets

The "Executive" bag

Erin bought these two fabrics for me not knowing that I already owned a pair of pants in that exact same grey stripe and I have a pink shirt. I think I will keep this bag for myself  but would I really want to carry it when dressed in a matching outfit?

Camera accessories

I enjoyed designing Erin's camera bag and have gone on to create a few more items with the photographer in mind. Of course there are other applications for all these items. No need to limit the padded bag to just your camera and lenses. Why not carry it as a purse? The padded strap cover would work just as well on binoculars and who couldn't find many uses for a drawstring bag?

Reusable Grocery Bag

I dislike the look and feel of the reusable tote bags sold at grocery stores so I am forever making ones to use. When I saw this pattern I knew it was just what I had been looking for. It's roomy, sturdy and attractive. Because it is cut in one piece it uses quite a bit of fabric but there are then fewer seams to "give way". I sewed using a french seam to encase the raw edges and to provide more strength. The added bottom panel also provides extra reinforcement.

The only problem I can foresee is putting more into this bag than I can comfortably carry!

Fabric Flowers

Erin recently asked for some fabric flowers made from scraps of fabric. These were fun to do but now I just need to come up with a use for them!

Camera Lens Bag

My daughter Erin is a photographer. She does amazing work. Some of it has been showcased recently on the ultimate wedding blog "Style Me Pretty". She has also been doing a lot of work for the Stratford Festival and is shooting a white attire garden party and some of the opening ceremonies this weekend. She needed to get dressed up for this honour and wanted a camera lens bag to match her new dress. I was pleased when she asked me to make one for her! And I was pleased with the result.