Purse, c'est fini

The beads came last week, so I finished the purse for my daughter. I hope she likes it. I think it came out good - so good, in fact, that I've bought ribbons for my purse. I learned a lot doing this and I'd recommend a project like this for others who want to explore beadwork without a lot of hassle. I learned a lot about purse construction, too.

Unfortunately (or fortunately if you look at it the other way), I bought a lot of stash this past week and fell off my 25 project challenge. That means I have to start over and this is the first finish of the do over.

Ribbons and Roses Purse

I'm almost done with this - except I ran out of black beads lastweek. I'm waiting for the ones my daughter sent to me on Thursday in the mail. They should get here some time this week. Then, I can finish the purse. It'll be a good thing. I've really liked this project, though. I'll be making more purses and other things with this technique.

It Looks Like a Purse

My husband decided to take a different kind of picture for this this week. It really looks like it's coming together. The edging on the purse itself is over halfway done on the first pass. The strap's 37 inches long. If I weren't going to France today, this would be done because it's so close. Instead, I'll be finishing it (soon) in France and mailing it home to my daughter.

Ribbons and Roses Edging Along

Well, I've been working on the edge of the purse and haven't been able to do much this week, but at least some. The way things are going, this will be mailed home from France. I really want to get it done. The strap is now about 38 inches long, too.

Edging Along

The strap's grown to 35 inches and I'm almost done with the first row of edging on the sides in this picture. Since then, I've started working on the second row. Once that's done, the purse is done!

Round and Round the Edge

I got almost the whole top part of the flap edged and the strap's grown to 34 inches. It's getting there! Looks like it's one I'm going to have to take to France to work on, though.

Started Edging

This week, I started a new part of the purse - I'm beading the edges. Talk about tedious! I have two rounds of it to go, and in the picture, when you look at it full size, I've got most of one side done. The instructions said to do it all in black beads, but I decided the foundation beads would be silver with black connector beads across them. So far, it looks good. I didn't get to make the strap any longer this week, though.

Since taking the picture, I've both lengthened the strap some and edged the first round across most of the flap. I doubt I'll make more progress on it before the next picture, but at least it's coming along.

Strapped

The strap is now officially 32 inches ... only 11 inches to go. I started doing the beadwork this week around the edge of the bag, but that was after this picture was taken, so you have to wait until next week to see it. The beading along the edges is rather tedious, but I'm sure it'll look nice. The end is in sight. All I have to do after the strap is finish the edging, make another circle for the rose, and put the rose together.

Strap Stretched

I didn't get much done on this this week - just managed to get the strap another inch and a half longer. I still like how it is coming along. Will be able to get it done, hopefully, soon.

It's a Purse!

It's looking like a real purse now. I got the second side sewn up. Didn't make any progress on the strap, though. Should be able to report progress on that next posting on this. With every step done, it's looking prettier. My husband keeps saying, "Are you sure you want to give this to our daughter?" I promised it to her, so she'll be getting it. Next step on the purse itself is beading all the edges in black.

Tucks and Tweaks on Ribbons and Roses

All the edges are now neatly trimmed up and the strap is 28.5 inches long. After this picture, I sewed up one side of the bag and was surprised by how nice it looked. Strangely enough, I'm beginning to feel I'm nearing the end of this project despite the large amount of beading around the edges and the rest of the beading for the rose to go. Perhaps my feeling is right, though. I'm getting through.

Purse Right Side Out

This week, I managed to get to the point of turning the purse layers right side out. Since taking these pictures, I sewed up the open side and mended the little areas that didn't quite get caught into the hem properly. Now to sew up the edges and make it into a real purse before beading it some more... I should get it done before going to ANG seminar in August, right? I do like the color of the lining, even if I don't like sewing it. It's slippery.

It's Getting Longer

The strap is now 25.5 inches long. I've not been able to stitch as much as I usually do this month due to some complications in my life, including company or going out every weekend, a traveling husband, and a son who's made a really really stupid decision. Oh, and my obligations to the groups I volunteer for. So this has been languishing a bit along with my other projects. I got a bit more stitched on the strap and the lining, but this is one project that just won't travel, so it never gets taken with. Maybe next week ... this week has become as busy as every other lately.

Ribbons and Roses Layering

This week I started layering the batting and backing for the purse. I have about a third of the purse's lining stitched on. It's all hand stitching because of the beads. As of this picture, the strap was 23.5 inches. Getting there still...

Ribbons and Roses

The strap is up to 23.5 inches and after this picture was taken, I cut the purse into its shape and added the batting. Next is to sew it to its lining. It's beginning to actually look like a purse. At the rate things are going, I should have the strap and purse itself done at the same time. Not sure if that's going to be before I get to France, though. Oh well ... I think I'm going to have a nearly full suitcase of projects anyway.

Ribbons and More Roses

Well, I'm officially halfway done on the strap now and I did manage to get the beads and finish the feather stitches on the ribbons (thank you Deanna!). Now comes the construction. I've started stitching around the edges - decided I didn't want to use a machine with all the beading, so I'm doing it by hand. As of today, I'm about halfway done with that. It's coming along, at least ... slowly I make progress, but I do get things done!

Ribbons, Roses, and Progress

I managed to get some done on both parts this week. The strap is now nineteen inches long and I have less than half a length of feather stitch to do. Unfortunately, I ran out of the beads for the feather stitch and will be getting more in this week. Deanna, the designer, is mailing them to me today. It's not like there are other parts I can work on! I'm almost halfway done with the strap, at least.

Beading And More Beading

The strap is up to sixteen and a half inches in these pictures. It's getting there bit by bit. I'm on the last row of beading on the purse itself. I have a decision then - to start putting the purse together or do the other bit of beading on the rose. Haven't decided which yet. What do you think?

Ribbon Purse

The beaded strap is now fifteen inches long, meaning I'm over a third of the way done. On Saturday, after this picture was taken, I finished the third row of feather stitch on the body of the purse. I'll be doing more strapwork this week.

Purse Progress

Just plugging along on this. I'm almost done with the third line of beading on the body of the purse and got another couple of inches done on the strap. Maybe I'll have it done by the end of the year.