Amanda has made her decision! The stitch she chose is the second swatch, the Solid Scallop. She chose fabric swatch No. 6 for her lining. Now the Amanda can start to take shape! Pictures will follow as the Amanda is built.
I have finished both front and back portions of PEACE! I decided to make it a tote style bag so I made a strip for the sides and bottom. Now, the next step is to attach the front and back to the sides/bottom strip. I have decided to attach the strip using the attached I-cord method. Pictures to follow soon!
Meet Caesar and Robbie my almost 2 years old Labradoodles. They keep me company when I am working and in return I have to throw pool toys or a tennis ball for hours on end. Not a bad deal! I have always loved making custom-fit dog sweaters for SMALL dogs, but I can’t use my boys for models. I can, however, use them for making decorative large dog collars. I can’t make collars for them because they would tear them off of each other.
If you are interested in custom-fit dog sweaters and/or custom-fit, decorative dog collars, now would be the time to let me know as Christmas and cooler weather is right around the corner! All the fashion magazines are already putting out their fall issues! For a custom-fit dog Sweater, I need measurements such as inches around the neck, inches around the rib cage (largest part) and inches from neck to base of tail. You can choose the color and yarn type for you custom fit sweater to match your dog’s personallity! For a custom-fit, decorative dog collar, I need to know the size and breed of your dog, and the inches around your dog’s neck.
This is definitely peaceful and a perfect backdrop for creating the PEACE! purse that will be making its way to the Democratic National Convention in August! My good friend, Michele, is the wife of Democrat Delegate, Barry Birdwell, and both are off to the convention in August. Michele will be volunteering at the convention as well. She asked me to make her a special purse to carry that reflects how she feels while being fashionable and unique at the same time. That is how the PEACE! purse was born! 
I have been working on PEACE! for a while - its a labor-intensive project requiring stringing thousands upon thousands of seed beads in the correct order and bead knitting 2 sides. This is very entertaining for me as I love to knit and crochet with beads.
Once side 2 is complete (most likely today), I will next decide how to put the pieces together. I am thinking about making 3 strips (2 for each side and 1 for the bottom) in order to make it a tote bag style. Then, once that is done, I will configure the handles. Will it be one long shoulder strap, two shorter shoulder straps or wooden handles? Those things are still in the works. I could use help in this decision!
The “Amanda” is a custom made purse in the making. My niece, Amanda, has commissioned me to work with her on a design for a clutch style purse, and we would like to share the process with you. I have made five (5) stitch swatches for Amanda to consider. I have also picked out six (6) fabric swatches for her to consider for the lining. She has already decided on the overall design - a crocheted envelope-style clutch bag with a zipper closure concealed with a front flap and button closure. She chose brown hemp as the raw material to be crocheted. Amanda lives in Maryland and I am in Florida, so I am mailing the stitch and fabric swatches to her so she can touch and feel them. The swatches are pictured below - see if you can guess which ones she will pick. She will also be giving me the dimensions of her purse, too.
| Here are the stitch swatches: |
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| Here are the fabric swatches: |
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