Yo ho ho!

Yo ho ho! This little pouch sold before it even went on display! I guess the skull and crossbone image is more popular than I knew...

How itty bitty bits come together

"I don't know how you girls take bits of fabric not big enough to blow my nose on and make beautiful quilts..."  -- quote from my brother

Yeah, I have a funny brother, but his observation isn't that far off.  How do those tiny squares, triangles, and other little pieces of fabric go together to make something beautiful and functional? I took photos along the way to show a peek at the process. . . .

Bits and pieces near the beginning...

The finished product!

Kind of like a zigsaw puzzle

Sewing it together

Ironing seams

More ironing (I actually like ironing now!)

The sides of the pouch, ready to sew together (The brown pieces are for the lining)

Butterfly painted purses

Whoever gets one of these purses 

will be carrying their very own piece of art!

First, I "painted" these butterfly wings for a new quilt -- with marking pens and rubbing alcohol!!!

Then I cut up the bottom wing (which hadn't turned out the way I wanted) to create these original hand-painted purses!

How it began ...

A couple of months ago I tried my hand at painting on fabric - using - surprise - marking pens! Yes! You can use Sharpie permanent markers to create beautiful effects on fabric - in this case, plain white 100% cotton. And shading can be done with a mixture of rubbing alcohol and water! Who would have thought? 

After "drawing" in the color with marking pens, I used a paintbrush dipped in the alcohol solution to dilute and "spread" the color on the edges.

After I created the butterfly wings I decided I didn't like the bottom wing and cut it up to use some of the painted fabric to use in my purses! (I will paint another bottom wing to finish the butterfly quilt...)

Whoever gets one of these purses will be carrying their very own piece of art!

More photos here.

All creatures great and small ...

More animal pouches on their way to Cambria for the art show this weekend! 

Stop by my sister's studio - Patricia Griffin Ceramics - at The Old Schoolhouse on Main Street to check it out! She will be featuring functional art by four unique artists in her studio space! Things will be jumpin!

It's all part of the Cambria Art and Wine Festival this weekend, Jan. 24-26 - where you can stroll through town, dropping in to boutiques and art galleries while enjoying a cup of coffee or delicious beverage of your choice!

Circles circles circles

This little blue velvet clutch is off to Cambria, where it will be on sale during the Arts and Wine Festival next weekend, Jan 24-26.

Description: Colorful circles are individually cut from colorful cotton fabrics and quilted on to blue velvet. The result is fun, fun, fun!

100% cotton circles on deep blue velvet

Bright orange lining

Detachable handle

Where to purchase: 

patriciagriffinceramics

patricia griffin studio

880 main st.

cambria, ca

(805) 924-1050

Woof Woof!! A different kind of doggie bag!

Handle is detachable

Not everyone gets to take home a doggie bag like this! I just can't resist putting our furry friends on these zippered pouches! 

I wanted to keep this one for myself, but I already have a stack of pouches and they keep growing! So this one is off to Cambria, where it will be on sale during the Arts and Wine Festival next weekend, Jan 24-26. 

Here you can see the front and the back, as well as the lining inside. They are priced at $38, higher than a manufactured pouch, but low for original, one-of-a-kind items made by hand.

Made with 100 % cotton, fully lined

Show your love for canine critters when you're out and about by carrying an original, quilted doggie bag! Woof woof!

Where to purchase: 

patricia griffin studio

patricia griffin studio

880 main st.

cambria, ca

(805) 924-1050

Turtle Pouch

I couldn't make a frog purse without a turtle one too!!

Here's the two outside pieces along with the lining fabric I picked out. I had a green zipper ready too!

Preparing the outside fabric and the lining to sew onto the zipper...

One side sewn onto the zipper...

Making the handle... (I used the grey fabric, but added a piece of the lining for color)

Outside panels right sides together and lining fabric right sides together  - ready to sew!!!

Now it is turned inside out for the grand reveal!!!

VIOLA!!!  Here is the finished pouch!!!

Froggie Pouch

"Rivet"

This little fellow is totally handmade. I drew him on green fabric with yellow for the eyes and tummy.

I cut out the funky circles from fabric I found for the lining and ironed it onto the black background. SHA-ZAM!!!

Here are the four panels for the outside fabric and the lining.

Here is the final project after adding the zipper, strap, and sewing it all together... It's magic!

Front view, open to show lining....

and back view ....

Zip it!

I've gotten a little sidetracked lately by these little zippered pouches, a project of our Modern Quilt Guild. We're having a swap at the next meeting and I've been having a blast designing these. They're like potato chips; you can't have just one!

This one will go to the next guild meeting. We are each bringing a pouch we made in a brown paper bag so it is hidden from view - it will be interesting to see how they do the swap!  Can't wait to see what I get!!!  I hope this one delights the person who gets it!!!

The quilting was done in straight lines with a walking foot, with smaller spacing at the top and gradually widening toward the bottom to give it a nice texture.

I had fun with the polka-dot ribbon and cute lime green print fabric. The ribbon made a perfect handle!

This colorful little airplane pouch is the first one I ever made - and my first time putting in a zipper!  I was SO proud. It was a perfect gift for my sister on her birthday. 

The airplane was fussy-cut from the same fabric I used in a quilt I made for her husband, a pilot, in 2000!  It was so satisfying to find some still in my stash!

Here's a photo showing the quilting detail...

See the red-striped fabric at the end of the zipper? That is a cool technique taught by Suzanne at Strawberry Patches - we learned how to do it at the last Modern Quilt Guild meeting!

This Celtic-inspired bag was made for a friend who has a fondness for the emerald green isles...

The celtic knot was cut from gold-colored fabric, fused on the lighter green-striped background, and then satin-stitched around the edges. 

The quilting always shows the best from the back side!

The handle was made with the same fabric as the pouch and finished with a 

decorative stitch using dark green Sulky quilting thread. The pouch was lined with fabric matching the lighter green color. Viola!