In the Making (pt 2)

I'd say my mom's bag is coming along nicely! This bag can actually be held in 2 different ways, giving the bag 2 different looks. It can be used as a shoulder bag or a handheld tote! This will be more understood as I'm finishing it up! I'm super excited about getting this done! I'm hoping today or Thursday! So far I'm about a quarter-way through.

Above: Here I am starting the pinning process to the main bag exterior to get it ready to sew. Also, I'm sewing the bottom panel on.

All sewn together! :) Currently I am working on the interior lining and inside pocket! *Do you see something on the upper left side of the bag?? I think you do!

That's right! I feel official now! :) I purchased some custom labels just for me and my bag business! (Sorry about the pics, my camera sucks!)


Doesn't it look fantastic?!
Keep posted to see the finished bag!!
xo TL

In the Making

I've started on yet another bag! This particular one is specifically for my mom. (I guess you should expect your first sale to be from your mother!) She chose the fabrics and now I'm getting to work! Both fabrics are a cotton twill which means they're just a bit stronger than regular cotton. I'm using a lightweight interfacing for the main bag part because this sort of purse is not meant to be stiff. However, I am using my heavyweight interfacing for the strap and the bottom of the bag mainly because those two pieces get the most use and you want something that can handle every day life!

Above: This is the fabric my mom chose. Very fall-like! Here I'm getting ready to press and then cut all the pieces I need.




Everything is cut! Next step is to start pinning and piecing and sewing! I'll be posting more pics throughout the making of this bag! Can't wait to see how this will turn out! :)

xo TL

Eminem - Not Afraid

I truly hated Eminem before his newest album! Now I actually like a few of his songs! And I actually like him better with brown hair instead of blonde. Figured I'd post this because it's literally in my head alllll day (...mindy...) So here's to you Mindy! haha! Here is Eminem with his single "Not Afraid".

and the winner is...

Hey guys! I'm super excited to announce the winner of the "4 Goals Challenge"! At first, I was going to make a short video of me picking a name out of a hat to pick fairly. However, my mic on my laptop decided not to work. SO, I found Random.org! This is a 100% completely random pick. I had to use numbers... so I did this based on what order you posted your comment.

The list is as follows:

1. Amanda

2. Christi

3. Valerie

4. Rachel

5. Ian

6. Kathy

7. Mason

8. Frankie

9. Mindy

Whatever number is chosen is the winner!

Are you ready?

And the winner is........................

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random integers, generated without replacment:

1

Timestamp: 2010-08-24 03:04:06 UTC

Number 1: Amanda!!!

(or Mandyloo as I now call her apparently...)

Congratulations!!! I really hope you love my handbag! It's going to a good home! :)

Here is your prize!! (I was eager to take a picture, so ignore the wrinkledness! I will press once more before giving it to you!) There is no enclosure for this handbag.. to be honest, I didn't like any option. However, if you would like one, that could be arranged. The exterior is black with tiny white polka dots, the band across the top is ruffled and the bag itself is pleated 3 times on the front and back. The interior is black with bigger white polka dots and has a nice sized pocket for all of your necessities! There's only one strap and both fabrics are a nice cotton blend. This handbag measures to be approximately 15" wide and sits 11" tall (measurements taken flat). I hope you enjoy your new handbag! :)

Thank you to those of you who participated in the "4 Goals Challenge"!!

(.....even some boys.....)

I will definitely be having more contests in the future so keep checking up here! To everyone: Please remember to follow through with your goals! It's important to work hard for what you want out of your life! Keep me posted on when you accomplish these! I'm excited to hear about them! :)

xo TL

One More Day...

(Source)

One More Day to enter for the "4 Goals Challenge"!! Thank you to all of those who have entered so far! It truly means a lot to me!

To clear the air a little bit here, I just wanted to say that winning a handbag designed and handmade by me is just an added bonus. Whether you "win" or "lose" is not the point to this challenge. It's about each and every one of you picking 4 personal goals to accomplish before 2011 to make your life happier, healthier and more fun in general! This challenge is about YOU. Again, it's important to pick goals that you know you can achieve easily, it's just a matter of actually following through with it.

So what are your 4 goals?

Also, I know some people have had a hard time commenting on here. If you cannot sign-in to your google or yahoo account on here to leave a comment... after you type out your comment, go to the drop-down menu that says "Comment as:" and choose 'Name/URL', type your name and then post comment. This option works for most.

Thanks again!

xo TL

4 Goals Challenge

The 4 Goals Challenge is about goals that you want/will accomplish before 2011. It's important to pick goals that are personal, important, something realistic and simple. By simple, I mean choose real goals... not, 'I want to travel the whole world by 2011'! But don't choose result-oriented goals. For example, in Elsie's words, "Instead of saying 'lose 10 pounds' choose something like, 'eat fresh fruits and vegtables everyday'!" It can be anything that you, yourself think is important and will ultimately make your life healthier and happier! Then, when you have accomplished these 4 Goals, reward yourself! Your reward can be whatever you feel is right for you! *Keep reading to find out how to particiapate!* These are my goals:

1. Spend more time with my husband and friends! It seems as though I might spend a lot of time with my hubby, but realistically... we are crazy busy all the time! Whether it be we're working (we usually work opposite hours of the day), or the hubby has to run here and there, or me working on starting up my own business. I am constantly sewing nowadays and sometimes you do need that break once in awhile to spend time with eachother. I don't mean sitting on the couch, staring at a TV either. I mean, really spend some quality time together! Same with my friends! I feel like we're gradually slipping away from eachother. So it's my goal to set aside some time each week or so to get together with my girls!

2. Work hard and get my business up and running. This is a goal that I know for sure will be in the distant future. However, I would like to really build up my inventory and focus directly on my work before 2011. It'll be tough I'm sure, but I am ready and willing! I also think that I've kind of talked my sister, Christi, into going into business together! Purses/accessories/jewelry... what more could a girl ask for?! :)

3. Go some place I've never been. Now that summer is unfortunately coming to an end, this goal may be a little tough to work with. I am convinced however, that I will go some place I have never, ever been. Whether it be with my husband or friends... or both, I want to be free for one days' time! Leave all my worries and stresses behind me! Just. One. Day.

4. Get into drawing more. I've never actually considered myself an artist of this sort, but I do like to draw! Doesn't matter to me if it looks good to others or not. All that matters is how that drawing makes me feel! Above is a drawing I did of my husband and I on our wedding day! :) I did pretty good with that one!




What are your goals? I'm going to go ahead and twist this challenge a little bit. The rules are the same... however, if you would like to participate**... I want to hear your 4 Simple Goals! Leave a comment by clicking below and tell me your goals and why it's important for you to accomplish these. I'll read all of them and pick the winner at random (with the hubby's help of course)! The winner will receive a handbag that will be revealed later this week! So keep tabs on my blog to find out! Tell all your friends! :)




**Participation**
-You do NOT have to have a blog to be a part of this challenge.
-You DO have to be an actual follower of pinned&ruffled, otherwise your comments will not show up.

Runaway Train - Brandon Boyd

Hello everyone! Happy Monday! Just felt like sharing my current favorite song with you. I absolutely LOVE this song... & not to mention, Brandon Boyd himself.. :) This is his first single off of his newly released solo album, The Wild Trapeze. I definitely recommend checking it out! Of course, I wouldn't go into this thinking it won't sound anything like Incubus, because it does. But, what do you expect... afterall, he IS the lead singer of Incubus! All of the instruments and backup singing is done by him. I think it's a truly amazing album! Can't get it in stores though, so click here if you are interested! Have a wonderful Monday! xo TL

Project 3

Our third project for Home Ec is a reusable grocery bag/book bag/tote. I knew I would have a great time making this one! :)

Above- Here I just hemmed the top of each panel of the bag. Now I am attaching both handles.

Handles are on and I pinned each panel together (good sides together). Now I am ready to finish this bag!

Isn't it great?! Love the purple ribbon too! Seems out of place, but it actually pulls it all together and adds a little funk to it! Hope you like it!

xo TL

Quilted Paisly-Print Handbag

Hey guys, I just wanted to share with you what I was working on for a little bit! This was not a home ec project. Just something I wanted to see if I could do! This would be the second purse I've made so far and I love it! The whole point of me making purses and stuff was so I could sell them (which I am still planning on doing)... However, this one is not for sale! As soon as I saw this fabric, I was automatically drawn to it and I knew I just had to have it! (And extremely expensive too.) So this one is most definitely a keeper. Wait until you see the interior fabric... it's gorgeous! :)

Above- Isn't is pretty?! This particular fabric had a gorgeous exterior & interior, so I chose not to put a lining in. Which is why there's no pockets or anything. The reason being, if I had sewn a pocket in, those stitches would be seen on the outside of the bag and I did not want that. The fabric is a quilted fabric and is very secure and sturdy!

I really hope everyone liked my handbag! More to come real soon! I've already got a few people interested in buying one! :)

If anyone would like me to make a bag for them email me @ tlarish9509@live.com with your name and contact info and we will discuss fabrics, embellishments, colors, cost, etc. Thank You!

xo TL

Project 2

Hello again! Today was the second day in Home Ec and project #2! A gift pouch! Another fairly easy one, but I did learn how to make a drawstring casing. That was the hardest part in my opinion. Check out my work below!

Above- I have all my fabric cut and now I'm pinning the band to the bag! Ready to sew!


All done with the band. (I love these fabrics together!)

Next, I folded it in half and sewed just the outer 2 sides.


The free arm was a great invention! Here I folded the band halfway and I stitched 2 parallel lines; making sure the beginning and ends are about an inch or so apart to leave room for the drawstring.


To get the ribbon (drawstring) through the small opening, I used a safety pin and pinned it at one end of the ribbon. This makes for a better guide to get the ribbon in and around the inside of the band.


There she is! My little gift pouch! Came out great for my first gift pouch!


I guess I can give bro a thumbs up with this project for sure! :P

Next project is a reusable grocery/book bag!

xo TL

Project 1 & Work Space

The first sewing project for the class Home Ec was to make single-layer and double-layer napkins! Sounds fairly easy (which for the most part it was), but I swear my sewing machine does not like to zig zag! It sure was a long journey. However, I think I did pretty well if I do say so myself! Take a look!

Above- I just finished pressing my fabric (even though you can't tell) and I pinned the sides down. Ready to start the sewing process!

Here's my bro! (That's my lil nickname for my machine!) Here I had just finished threading the bobbin, then I put the bobbin in its little home under the needle and now I'm ready for take-off! :)

I test drove the whole zig zag stitch on a scrap piece of fabric before starting the real project. So this image is when bro started to cooperate with me.

Done! The white napkin in the middle is the single-layer and the outer napkin is the double-layer! I surprised myself with the double-layer because you have to round the stitch at each corner and I did it like it was my job! :) Overall I had a lot of fun making these! Can't wait for today's project; a gift pouch!

Below are some pictures of my work area. The space really should be a little bigger! :) But for now it will do and I still love it!
My dad actually made this sewing table for me! Isn't it great? It has a lot of storage and a cute little area for my laptop! The best part is, while it's not in use, the whole table closes up!

Redneck Harvest Fest Invites

Hello all! It's getting close to that time of year again! The beautiful fall weather! And with that beautiful fall weather comes the 2nd Annual Redneck Harvest Fest!

Beginning last year, my sister and myself, got this brilliant idea of having an annual redneck party! (Which she is kind enough to host.) Sounds pretty weird, but it's actually a TON of fun! It's a great time to let loose and have fun with friends!

Because I do make invitations, I offered my services! Below is a simple invitation I made for the 2nd Annual Redneck Harvest Fest!

Above is all of the supplies and tools I used to make these invites!

I cannot wait for this party! xo TL

Home Ec Part 2

Here are just a few of the projects I will be working on in Home Ec! :)


If you would like more information on this course or any courses they hold in the future, follow frecklednest, the blog!

Home Ec

Home Ec is back and it's not just for high schoolers anymore! I've decided I wanted more sewing experience and what better way to do so than to take Home Ec! Classes start tomorrow and I'm super excited about it! It was a rather last minute decision on my part, but I figured... why not?!

This is a 5.5 week online course. You get video tutorials, constant interaction with the teachers and 26 projects to help you get well-rounded with sewing techniques! Best of all... it's a REAL go-at-your-own-pace type of class! Which, believe me, is perfect for a gal like myself. No grades, no nothing. Just knowledge. Luckily, I already have all the tools and supplies I need, so no running out and spending hundreds of dollars on stuff! I'll keep you posted on projects I do and all the fun I have! xo TL