Today is my dear friend Angela’s birthday. We’ve known each other since we were children in elementary school. I don’t quite know how to begin to tell you how wonderful she is. Well, let’s start with the fact that she cashed in hard earned Airmiles to fly to Edmonton to visit me while my daughter was recovering from a liver transplant. Can’t really top this with anything else. She is a great support to me and I am thankful that we are still friends after so many years.
On top of being an awesome girlfriend, Angela is a regular craft maven and as I have recently discovered, an amazing amateur chef! Make sure you head over and visit her blog, Ange of all Trades for crafty and culinary inspiration!
For the past 1.5 weeks I’ve been working on Miss Maven, yet another Amy Butler handbag. Finally, a project that really got the best of this crafty mama. The ruffles were a near disaster. After following Amy’s instructions to a T, I decided to close the book and make the ruffles my own way. Amy’s method teaches you to make the ruffles by sewing gathering stitches and pulling on the bobbin threads to create neat and even gathers. I tried this three times and every time, my threads broke and the ruffles fell apart. I was ready to pull my hair out.
I thought that after I completed the ruffles I would be home free but no, a bigger challenge was waiting for me - the handles. On hindsight if I had to follow instructions, I should have done so for the handles which I feel really completes the look of the Miss Maven bag. Unfortunately, I did not have the required double sided fusible Peltex so winging the handles with stiff interfacing was the best I could do. I could not for the life of me get the handle seams to match properly. I gave up and decided to add my own handles. They are similar in shape to the handles on the Cosmo and Isabella bags.
After much stitch picking and re-sewing, I’m proud to present, the one and only Angie Bag. Happy Birthday Ange!
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Thank you so much Shani! This isn’t what I expected when I dropped by your blog today! I’m so honored to have you my friend and this handmade gift looks beautiful!
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!
Beautiful work. Love the fabric and lucky you to have such a friend!
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