I made this cute handbag as a fun little distraction during quarantine. I planned on using it sooner than later, but we all know how that turned out. Ha! Days turned into weeks and it's all a blur from there. 

I had some marine vinyl leftover from another project and I came up with this little purse. 

Want to make a cute little handbag for your next shopping trip?

Here's what you need:

• 1/2 yard of marine vinyl or other faux leather type fabric
• 1/2 yard of cotton fabric for lining
• Thread
• Sewing machine and notions
• Microtex needle
• Scrap paper for making a pattern
• Ruler and pencil
• Interfacing if needed ( I didn't use any. Gasp, I know)
• Purse feet (optional)

How are you? Safe and sane, hopefully. Things are crazy around here, but we're getting used to our new "normal". Will life ever go back to the way it was? Who knows.

Let's talk about mask making for a second. Whew! What a whirlwind that is, amiright? I've never made hundreds of one item before, until I decided to sew face masks. They were needed everywhere overnight. I've donated them, sold them, made them for friends and family, etc., just like most of us in the sewing community. 

Just like many of you, I got tired of sewing masks. Making the same thing over and over takes a toll on you. Mind, body, spirit, and soul.  
At some point in the midst of mask making, a new sewing machine was ordered, by magical fairies who love me, presumably. I had my eyes set on this particular one for a couple of years. It wasn't an essential item, but with all the necessary sewing going on, I allowed it.
They sent me the wrong machine at first, and then finally, 2 weeks later the correct machine arrived. Wheeee!! I was so excited.

Although, hesitation and fear kept me from opening it right away. What if I didn't love it? Maybe it was too advanced for me. It is a straight stitch only machine, after all. It sat outside for 24 hours to decontaminate before opening up the box and bringing it inside. Crazy, I know.

Let me start off by saying, WOW! She's a heavy beast!

My new Brother PQ1500SL sewing machine was here and itching to be used. And, holy cow, she exceeded all my expectations and some. 

The machine came with a plethora of accessories and I totally nerded out on all of these, of course! 
The machine has a large extension table that is dreamy. It came with multiple feet including a whopper of a walking foot. 
Threading is as easy as pie. Winding the bobbin is easy as well. 
It doesn't have a drop-in bobbin, which I thought would be annoying. However, it's easy to change because there are 3 doors that open up, making it convenient to change during a project. 

A fun surprise that was included was a loaded bobbin. I've bought a few new machines in my almost 20 years of sewing, and they've never come with a loaded bobbin! This was exciting for me. It really is the little things.
Or I lost my marbles after making hundreds of masks, and any small thing was pure joy at this point. Who knows!

Once I received my new Brother sewing machine, I got a second mask-making wind. I was so antsy to use it. Give a kid a new toy, of course they want to play with it right away!

Nevermind the stack of things that I started and couldn't finish before the pandemic. I couldn't sew something for myself during a crisis, that just felt wrong to me. So, I made more masks. So many more masks. But, they were made with a big smile because I had a shiny new toy. 

I'm a sucker for accessories! Do you love gadgets and get excited to use them? Here's everything it came with. 

Feet galore

1. Zipper foot
2. invisible zipper foot
3. Walking foot
4. Rolled hem foot
5. 1/4" foot
6. Pin feed foot
7. Free motion quilting foot
8. Seam guide
9. Feed pin and lining plate screws
10. Fabric Separator
    
    

Can you believe it? It's May, again, already. The months seem to fly by quicker as I age. 

You know the drill, #MeMadeMay is all about wearing something you made every day in May. Read my post I wrote from last year if you are wondering what the heck I'm talking about. You pledge to yourself and others to wear your me mades (handmade items). I played along last year and found that I didn't like it. Gasp! I know! 

I did not like how it made me feel about my handmade garments. And, not in the way, you might think. 

I usually get excited when I wear anything I make. Hair flowers, a purse, dresses, jumpers, rompers or pants, even my bras! I love it when someone asks if I made it and I get to scream "YES!" with a huge smile. It's exciting for me to wear my stuff and show it off.

During 2019's #MeMadeMay, I didn't get excited while getting dressed. It was more of a "have to" feeling. Not gonna lie, I wear something I make almost every day. I always have a flower in my hair- that I've made. My purses are made by me too. Oh and the days I don't leave my house, do not count. LOL 

I'm a rebel in a sense I don't like being told what to do. And, the May challenge wasn't fun for me, because I had to wear my garments. Make sense? 

Now with everything that is happening, I've been living in cozy clothes almost every day. I like being comfortable when I'm slinging string a.k.a. sewing. I've been sewing every day, so cozy clothes it is! 
I feel happier about the challenge this year though because we're all homebound. We don't leave our house unless it's a run to the post office or get groceries. In which, I put actual pants on. Haha

I plan on playing along this year and have a new perspective. I'll be more inclined to wear my fancy dresses just because I can. They might not be the best to sew masks in, but... I'll wear them. It's almost a challenge for me to get dressed in real clothes every day. Amiright? LOL  

And heck, if I don't wear a garment I've made, there's always a Me Made mask. 

​So, will you be participating this year? What do you think about ME MADE MAY? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Be sure to follow me on social media as well.

Stay safe and sane,
​Annette