Finished: Brown Apples & Pears Tote

Ever since I bought a simple cotton canvas souvenir tote bag from the No Doubt concert, I haven't been able to stop using it! So much so that it's starting to get dirty and gross (from being stashed under the stroller, from having copious amounts of Cheerios shifting around, and from the little one's water bottle/sippy cup leaking all over the place!) and I fear too many washings will eventually ruin the artwork that made me fall in love with the tote in the first place. So what's a girl suppose to do?

Make another tote of course!

Even though it took over the span of 2 days to make it (the little one's nap time has been non-existent these past few weeks), if I were to add up the time it took it would equal to just under half an hour. I based the size off of my ND tote, since I like how it's small enough to not be overwhelming and yet big enough to hold a ton of goodies.

At first it was going to be a simple and straight up canvas bag, but after some thought, I decided that route would be way too boring for my tastes. I'm sure you guys are sick and tired of seeing projects made with this fabric, but I pulled out the brown version of the Alexander Henry Apples and Pears fabric that I love oh so much. I contemplated using the pink color palette, but didn't like how starking white the background of the fabric was next to the beige canvas. The brown on the other hand, was accentuated by the natural coloring. I thought about cutting out a few of the apples and pear motifs and appliqueing them on, but that was too much work for my liking considering the time restraints. So I stuck with just sewing on a big strip of the fabric to one side of the tote. I didn't want to add the fabric to the other side of the bag cause I figured over time the decorative fabric could become thread-bare with wear, whereas the canvas can with hold extreme use with minimal damage.

For some reason I have quite a few metres of brown polypro webbing sitting in my notions drawer. I can't remember why I had bought the stuff in the first place, but I'm not complaining cause it is perfect for this tote!

My serger definitely didn't like sewing the canvas, but if truth be told I desperately need to change the needles and sharpen the cutter. I don't think I've done either since I bought the machine over 10 years ago! I know, I know...bad, bad, bad! Not to mention that the serger really wasn't meant to sew 10, maybe 12oz weight canvas anyways. I think the next time I make this tote, I'll have to use another seam finishing method. My industrial sewing machine, on the other hand, just loved sewing through the canvas! And I don't know why I didn't learn my lesson with the pink fabric and how, when you wash it and throw it into the dryer the fabric wrinkles like mad and is quite the bitch to iron smooth again. In hindsight, I should have just washed the canvas and taken it out of the washing machine before the last spin cycle and hung it up to dry. Oh well, next time...

I don't know why, but my favorite part of the bag is the sides of the bottom. Pure weirdness, I know. Such a small detail makes me happy! I'm thinking of making a tote out of linen and adding some cute buttons at the point, or even embroider little x's. Oohh...the possibilities for sheer cuteness is endless!

And with such an earth tone bag, how does one add their personal touch of their love for hot pink? Easy! I added my new Miso Crafty label that is black with hot pink lettering to the inside (which you can also see clearly on the photo above):

It felt good to do some sewing, since I haven't been able to do any in what feels like weeks...oh wait, it has been weeks! I'm really hoping that nap time will still exist once the weather cools down, if not, I don't know when I'll be able to make regular dates with Miss Juki. I should really get my sewing closet cleaned up and get on Brett's butt about putting those sound and vibration deadening boards placed under the machine. I'm drooling at the possibility of being able to sew to my hearts content throughout the wee hours of the morning...

'Til then, happy sewing!!