Bowling Ball Bags in the Wall Street Journal

Yesterday in my inbox arrived the Emmaline Bags email newsletter. Apparently, where Emmaline Bags is located in Canada it has been snowing! But, that is not the news. The news is Janelle's (the owner of Emmaline Bags) snow sale to commemorate the first snowfall of the season. 15% off any two items purchased. I have been aware of Emmaline Bags and eyeing a couple of her bag patterns for quite some time and used the snow sale discount to purchase those patterns. The patterns come in a pdf format; translate that to mean, immediately. She also sells all the bag pattern hardware as kits which is nice as one might not have purse buckles, grommets, etc...just laying around ready to use. I thought her prices pretty reasonable and should have my kit in a few days.

But all of this bag pattern talk and her sale brings me to the purpose of this post; bowling ball bags and the Wall Street Journal.

Way back in February when we subscribed to the Wall Street Journal they ran a story on Prada bags. The WSJ features much news and articles about fashion (it's true) and also publishes a glossy fashion magazine insert every so often. The mag is edgy; the adverts are edgy; the fashions are edgy; the photography amazing!

                    

While I wouldn't show most of the magazine to my teenage son and there is no way my middle age body would look good in the fashions featured, I kept all the magazines anyway and actually miss not receiving the recent issues. They gave me marvelous ideas especially in regards to treads, basic shapes, seasonal colors and patterns. If you ever come across one, it is worth picking up.

But, where was I? Oh yeah, Prada.

As you all know it can be desirable to own a Prada bag. In fact, entire industries are dedicated to duplicating Prada (and other designer) bags and sold, for a fraction of what a REAL Prada would go for, on street corners and in the case of my town, the local Antique Mall. So when I saw this feature, I started thinking about how it probably would not be too difficult to make a similar bag. In fact, I was pretty sure I would be able to find numerous pattern copies of the bag. The reason, well....it looks remarkably similar to a bowling ball bag. On second thought, it really is a bowling ball bag complete with designer details, made from high dollar fabrics and with the Prada logo. Okay, okay...so all that IS a big deal.

Gorgeous Contrast.

Tried to find a fabric like the bag of the left. Never found one I loved.

            

So on the quest I went, looking for a pattern, thinking about if it were possible to create one, contacting my friend Susan, an accomplished seamstress, with my idea. "Why don't we just buy a bowling bag and cover it?" She ask. "Wouldn't that be cheating?" was my response. "Well, it would certainly be easier!"  Susan was obviously not in the same mindset.

It did not take me long to discover there weren't many bowling ball bag patterns out there. In fact, there weren't any! I did find a cute design in one of the One Yard Wonders Books' (can't remember which one) and on a blog somewhere, someone had created a pattern and made it up for a bag swap. Then some weeks later, lo and behold, there was a pattern at Emmaline!

                                                        

So there the link to the pattern sat for all the summer months on my desktop. Frequently, I would visit the page just to look at the pattern and think about Prada. But, it wasn't until the GAM Challenge that I decided it was time. This is just the right bag for the Ottobre dress and for fall in the midwest. So yesterday I took advantage of the snow sale and ordered the bag pattern and kit. I haven't ever made a bag such as this so keep your fingers crossed.  I am hopeful the directions are clear with lots of pics. I'll let you know.

November Garment of the Month, Ottobre Magazine and Britex Fabrics

It has been so exciting for me to find this group and challenge that I have already been gearing up for the November GAM:

Seriously, what could be more fun that seeing all the gorgeous garments being made by like minded sewing types, making new sewing friends from all over and BONUS....sewing a new wardrode yourself along the way? I don't know about you but seems like a bit of heaven to me!

There are so many projects that I have been wanting to do, it is hard for me to choose the next one. But, for some time now I have been wanting to sew a sheath dress. Being short and somewhat curvy, the properly fitting sheath dress is a pretty good choice for me. This Vogue pattern has been tempting me for a while.

Love, but too similar to October GAM?

I think the sleeve style and gathered bodice would make it a sort of "modified sheath" but those design elements together with the lower cut vneck, another good choice for short curvy women who are less well endowed, add up to be a winner in my book.

But, I think the Vogue pattern is going on the back burner for now because in the meantime the first issue of my new subscription to the Ottobre Women's Edition Magazine arrived.

Worth the money.

Ottobre is from Finland but is published in a bunch of different languages and has about 20 (mostly) easy patterns complete with pattern sheets and instructions (again thin instructions but they can only do so much in a magazine space I guess). The cost of the magazine is $25 give or take depending on the euro exchange rate and you get two issues. Not too shabby for 40 patterns! More information can be found here.

They also offer up a few free patterns which I happened on while doing this blog entry. Who doesn't love those?

In the issue is another sheath dress pattern with a scoop neck instead of V and longer sleeves. Hmmmm...this might be nice. And easy to sew.

Simple and Elegant. So many accessory ideas come to mind.

Before, when the Vogue pattern shown at the top of this post was in play I ordered some fabric from Britex Fabrics in San Francisco. Let me tell ya, those folks at Britex take their customer service very seriously. A few days after my online order, I got a phone call from a Britex rep who wanted to verify my address because it wasn't coming up "quite right" in their system.  In just 2 days after the call I had my fabric in my hands. Whoa...that was super fast. Britex is at least 2000 miles and many many post offices away. Impressive! Then I opened the box and it was LIKE CHRISTMAS. The fabric was in a sealed plastic bag, wrapped in tissue paper with a Britex seal and I even got a blank postcard! It all may sound trivial but I have ordered MANY yards of fabric online and NEVER has it been delivered with such style. I like.

Sweet package of fabric from Britex.

The Vogue pattern calls for a stretch woven, lightweight double knit or crepe back satin. What I found at Britex was a lovely chartreuse stretch brocade. I think this fabric will be a dream to sew with. A bit of stretch, a lot of body. I can't wait.

This picture is more the true color of the fabric than the pic above.

The sewing directions are very basic and the dress will probably come together pretty easy. A lining would be nice. Pink just flashed in to my mind. Or steel gray. Suggestions anyone?