While I love to look at fabric in craft stores, my main passion for fabric hunting is at thrift stores and garage sales. These are the best places to find decorator quality fabric, vintage curtains, and rolls of unused fabric from unfinished home dec projects.

This set of bags came from a single curtain panel that I bought at a thrift store. It was half off day (Every other week this particular thrift store sells everything for half off!) and the aisles were packed. I was headed towards the tablecloth section when I saw a sliver of pink stripes peeking out from the rack. When I pulled it out, I could instantly see what I would make of it.

These are the results of a day spent thrifting, and a day at the sewing machine.

Spring

After a few weeks of crazy winter weather (an ice storm, and tornado warnings two weeks later), I'm ready for spring! Here are a couple of finished bags that I've done as I wait for spring to officially arrive. My favorite is the small floral purse with wooden handles, so dainty and perfect for Easter Sunday.

Be An Original Don't Buy Fake Purses

Over the past few years I have noticed a change in the way women buy handbags in 'Middle America'. Women who could afford designer handbags (Coach, Gucci, Louis Vuitton etc.) wore them with pride, since very few people could attain such a status symbol. Obtaining a 'fake' Louis Vuitton bag used to take a trip to NYC, and a search for street vendors who sold the knock off you wanted.

Now, all women have to do is either go online, head to the local flea market, or go to local 'accessory stores' that sells a plethora of items that are knock offs.
For as little as $5.00, you can get a 'Coach' purse at a flea market, or a 'LV' handbag for $10.00 at the local gift store.

Sadly the women who purchase these items, are in the dark about where the merchandise comes from. The majority of these counterfeits are made by child laborers from impoverished countries around the world. The atrocities they suffer just to bring cheap,giraffe print, Dooney and Burke counterfeit bags to flea markets across this country would break your heart.

To read an in depth article about this, check out Harper's Bazaar January 2009 issue. They have also set up a website (fakesareneverinfashion.com) where you can learn more about this issue, and find ways to help put an end to this terrible fashion statement.
I'll get off my soapbox now!

Websites to check out:
fakesareneverinfashion.com
stopfakes.gov
confuciusfoundation.org

Zebra Love

Animal prints were everywhere this past year. Purses, belts, shoes, sweaters, and even Christmas ornaments were decorated with animal prints. Early last fall I started finding really great zebra print fabric, and started sewing just in time to have a plethora of items ready for the November shows. These are just a few of my favorites from this past year.

Samples of 2008

This past year was a busy one, I tried out new designs, new fabric, and a few new craft shows. These are just a few of the bags that I made/sold over the past year, and I'm already working on my inventory for the first craft show in May.