A New Wool Coat and Some Clutches

I do love working with wool and I had a few yards of black...so I decided to make myself a new wool coat.    Why?  Who knows?  I already had a coat pattern I wanted to try.  So I purchased some black fur (I do not know what else to call it) and here is the back and front.  If I ever make another wool jacket, I think I will opt for a simpler back...there was too many darts!  My freshman high school sewing teacher would be so proud.  I do not know how many of you had to take a sewing/cooking class when you were in high school, but it paid off for me.  I had one semester of sewing and she spent a lot of time explaining how to read a pattern and how to pin and cut.  I was bored out of my mind when we had to learn this and the parts of the machine, but now I am thankful that I know the basics.

On another note, I have been playing around with making some new clutches.  I pretty much used the same fabrics, but I tried to make different styles.  

I added a purchased pin.  I love this fabric.

I added a flower as you suggested, but it only looked good when the fabric strips were running horizontal.

Close up pic of the flower.

This bag I refer to as the twisted bow.  It looks better in person.

I am getting near my 100th post, I cannot believe it.  So I have been thinking about a giveaway.  So far I have decided to fill a box with sewing things (buttons, ribbons, etc.) and perhaps a handmade item.  What do you think?

Three New Handbags and a Surprise Package

I have been working on some new styles of bags.  I have always liked the look and feel of wool, but wool is hard to come by these days and very expensive.  But I had some black and red wool and this is what I ended up with...

It is fully lined with an inside pocket.  I decided to use a snap closure and then hand sewed a flower to the outside.  The button is covered with cotton fabric (the same one I used for the inside pocket).  

Then I started to think about making some clutch bags, basically because my daughter said I should and she likes them.  I think they can be a bit boring, so I decided to add strips of fabric together (because I do love scrappy).  Then I decided to add some beaded fringe.  Here is the result...

Then I decided to make one with a zipper and this is what I came up with...

This bag is also fully lined with a small inside pocket.  What do you think, should I add a flower to the outside or leave it as is?

Anyway, that is what I have been up to this past week.  Now to go and write some instructions so that I can make some more. 

On another note, look what I got in the mail yesterday...

Carolyn from the Vegetarian Hunter sent me these two washcloths (they are handmade) and some candy corn.  I feel soooo lucky, thank you Carolyn.