PROJECT: Oversized Slouchy Clutch

This is the third project of my April craft store purchases challenge (for challenge details view this post). I originally saw this idea on the very stylish blog, Style Scrapbook. So here are the two clutches I made and following is the tutorial of my version of this super easy, super stylish clutch.

Materials you will need:
- Fabric of your choosing (I believe I purchased 1/3 of a yard or so. Also the original tutorial used leather but I used a synthetic suede type material which worked nicely.)
- A metal zipper at least as long as your clutch will be wide
- Thread and sewing machine

First cut the fabric to size. I used a large magazine as template and placed it on the fold of the fabric. My piece of cut fabric was around 12.5" x 19"and you fold it in half so your clutch size is approx. 12.5" wide and 9.5" tall.

Now attach the zipper. Do this one side at a time. With the right side of the fabric facing the right side of the zipper pin and sew together.


Now attach the other side of the zipper to the other side of the clutch (again right sides together) and sew.


Here is the top of the clutch now with zipper attached. You should basically have a tube now with a zipper on top.


Now with the clutch inside out pin the two sides together. Leave the excess zipper hanging of the edges (we will trim it later) but make sure to unzip the zipper halfway so you can turn it right side out!


Sew up the sides (I double stitched this, one run straight stitch and one zigzag) and then trim off excess zipper ends. Turn inside out and you're done! I did not line these and since the material I used is thinner than say leather, you might want to line yours depending on how thin your fabric is and how stiff you want the clutch. I like the slouchy look so I kept it this way.


I made two of these, one in a rust color with a navy zipper and one teal one with a black zipper. I am going to keep the teal one but sell the rust one in my etsy store so if you would like it please buy it!





Thanks for stopping by and make sure to let me know what you think in comments below!

'till next time,

*Bonnybee

I have linked this project here

PROJECT: Patterned Scarves

Well this project did not come out exactly I had envisioned but after several failures I did end up with two scarves that I like very much. I had purchased 4 pieces of fabric (1/2 yd each) which I thought would make great scarves. However I did not do my research and to make the type of square scarves I had in mind, you need A LOT more fabric. After trying to start this project and measuring a scarf I already owned to use as a template, I needed twice as much fabric! So that was fail number one (If you are going to make one of these, buy at least a yard of fabric!) I also attempted to fray the edges of the fabric to look like the store bought ones. This was also a fail. I could get the fray long enough, but when I tried to twist several together to get the simple tassel look it turned into a big old nasty mess. Thus I decided to just cut the scarves to the desired size and then hem the edges clean.


For the above scarf I used just the 1/2 yd of fabric to make a scarf which measures 18" x 54". I am going to find uses for the other fabrics I bought but this one was way too gorgeous so I had to have it as a scarf.

Since my purchased fabrics were too small, I pulled this piece from my fabric stash and it was big enough to make a big square scarf like I had in mind. The final measurements of this one are approximately 42" square.

I have actually put this black and white scarf up for sale on my Creations by Bonnybee Etsy shop so if you would like it I am going to sell it for $18! Click on the photo above for the link.

As you can see it is really large. The trick is to use a light airy fabric and that is what gives you that layered comfy look without making it huge and hot.

The two scarves above are the ones I already own and used as inspiration for this project. You can see that they both have fringe but as you can see in the close up below, the blue one has fringe added later, it does not come from the fabric. If any of you have any fringe advice please let me know!!!


Also before taking these photos I got a great new ladder which I am very excited about! Apparently there is going to be a household trash pick up soon in my neightborhood so I was checking out everyone's curbside discards while walking my dog this afternoon. Well I came across this awesome old ladder and just yesterday I was admiring awesome shabby chic ladders used for decor by other bloggers I follow, so.... with the previous owner's permission and my amazing boyfriend's help we carried it all the way home (this was approximately .25 miles and we still had the dog and two of his doggie dumps in a bag so as you can imagine we looked pretty funny)
Anyways it's ours now and I plan to paint it white and shabby chic-ify it as a wonderful display shelf for my new house next year. If you are skeptical, I hope you let me convince you with my redo! Below is a close up of the antique-y goodness. Ah what beautiful trash!


Well that is all for now but I will leave you by telling you that tonight I whipped up the over-sized slouchy clutches and they came out super cute so post on that coming very soon!

Off to raid my neighbor's trash piles,

*Bonnybee

PROJECT: Cobalt Blue Skirt

Here is the first of my 5 projects to complete for my April Bonnybee Challenge (view this post to see the challenge guidelines). Now some of you might be worried that April is more than half way over but this is only the first of my 5 projects to complete, however some others of you may know...that's just how I work!

Okay on to the skirt. I used a super awesome tutorial from BurdaStyle which I would recommend to anyone who wants to make this skirt. The only changes I made to the pattern was to make this a high waisted skirt, the waistband started as 8" wide and I started with a length of only 25".








So there is my first project completed. I love this bright blue color for spring and will be wearing it with black tank tops, bright yellow shirts and any other color I feel like! So what do you think?

Until my next project,

*Bonnybee

Introducing Lace Jewelry!

For this Spring/Summer I have added some adorable lace jewelry pieces to my collection and I love them! I have cut delicate lace pieces form larger lace trims to get some beautiful earrings and necklaces. Below are the first round of these designs and each photo links to its corresponding listing in my shop. Take a look and let me know what you think!

White Lace Flower Necklace

White Lace Flower Earrings

Large Black Lace Flower Earrings

Small Black Lace Flower Earrings

Black Lace Flower Necklace

Floral Ivory Lace Necklace

White Teardrop Lace Earrings

Antique Lace Fan Earrings

So do you like them? Which is your favorite? Please let me know in comments below! Last night I started working on my cobalt blue skirt so hopefully I can get that done and posted very soon!

*Bonnybee

Bonnybee Challenge

So this weekend I had a nice time at the Homberg Art Market. Below is a shot of me in front of my booth!

So I have this disorder where I get carried away at craft stores, buy oodles of supplies that I may or may not have a vision for, then they sit in my craft room gathering dust. I recently went to the craft store planning to buy one item and came out with a bunch, so I am going to ask you, readers, to be my accountability partners in this matter. I am going to share with you the items I purchased and the plans I have for them. Then I will complete and share all of them with you this month. Thus for once I will actually promptly use all the supplies I purchase!

What do you say? Will you hold me to it? Here is the booty I came home with.


And here are the 5 projects these items will be used for.

1. With the cobalt blue fabric and blue thread I am going to make a high waisted skirt for spring because I love that cobalt is in this spring.

2. The orange and teal suede and two metal zippers are to make this over sized clutch whose tutorial I found on this blog.

3. The printed fabrics (3 out of 4 of them were found for a few dollars on the clearance rack!) are going to be made into square scarves. I am even going to try and fray the edges like the store bought ones which is why I got fray check also.

4. I have some plans to make feather hair accessories so this is what the headbands and large clips are for.

5. The chains are for assorted chain necklaces I have in mind.

The only item that will not be used is the brown fabric. I couldn't resist this because it was so cheap on the clearance rack, but I think it will be great for a fall or winter handbag next year so this one will be saved.

So those are the 5 projects I have to do and post by May 1 to complete my challenge. What do you think, will I do it? Which project are you most excited about? Do you have any DIY projects you are planning on doing or have been putting off? Would you like to join me in my challenge? I would love to hear about any projects you are doing in comments below.

'till next time,

*Bonnybee

Homberg Art Market This Weekend!

This weekend is the first Homberg Art Market and Bonnybee Designs will have a booth there! So if you are in the Knoxville area Saturday or Sunday make sure to come out and browse all the beautiful handmade items. It is supposed to be warm sunny weather (after this dreary week of rain) so come out and enjoy yourself. I hope to see you there!