We were invited to No.1 Son’s girlfriend’s parent’s house (are you with me?) at the weekend, for a barbeque.
It was his girlfriend’s mother’s birthday (keep up!) so we wanted to take a suitable present, but there was a tiny problem – we’d never met, so I had no idea what she would like.
Obviously I was going to make a gift and, after a little indecision, settled on a purse (wallet, for our U.S. friends) and a matching tote.
I found this great tutorial at Confessions Of A Fabricaholic and got cracking straightaway.
I had some leftover vinyl from the One Hour Ikea Bag and searched through my (massive) stash before whittling it down to these grey and pink coordinating cottons, using just the dotty ones in the end.
The tutorial is pretty comprehensive and soon I had put the main pieces together.
After sewing the outside to the inside, it was simply a matter of turning through to the right side and top stitching.
Et voilá – one (very pretty) vinyl purse!
I chose to fit a magnetic snap closure simply because I’ve got loads of them and they really do give the best finish.
The inside is a purse of two halves – one side is pink, the other is grey.
The grey side holds all the real money.
Coins are kept safe in the zipped pocket….
….which is lined with the contrasting pink.
Notes are stashed in the open pocket below.
The pink side houses the ‘pretend’ money and can accommodate up to eight credit cards or similar.
Just in case there was any doubt I included a label from Hobbycraft.
I whipped up a simple tote using the same principle as the One Hour Ikea Bag but with dimensions and handles more suited to a shopper.
Box corners makes for a more spacious interior.
Matching grey webbing is perfect for two short handles.
I think they make quite a smart set for nipping down to the corner shop for a loaf of bread and a pint of milk. (In my dreams. We don’t have a shop in our village.)
All wrapped up and ready to go – complete with handmade birthday card!
Update: The handmade purse (wallet) and matching shopper was a huge success fortunately – she loved it!
July 22, 2015 at 7:23 am
No need to tell you that I adore the purse and the tote bag!!Lucky lady!!
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July 24, 2015 at 8:52 am
Thank you T – she did indeed like both gifts:)
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July 22, 2015 at 8:16 am
Well, my names Pauline and I love it too! 🙂 xo
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July 24, 2015 at 8:54 am
Well, thank you very much! It is one of those items that I would be happy to make more of, which is unusual for me as I get bored of making the same thing too many times.
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July 22, 2015 at 8:18 am
Wow you did a really professional job. Really lovely K xXx
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July 24, 2015 at 8:55 am
That’s very kind of you, thanks! The details are important to get right, I think.
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July 22, 2015 at 8:21 am
Love the purse, great gift, the internet is such a great source of inspiration
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July 24, 2015 at 8:56 am
It is indeed, and Pinterest too. Such great projects out there to share – I loved making this one.
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July 22, 2015 at 9:26 am
Lucky Pauline! That purse looks absolutely perfect. Thanks for the link to the tutorial.
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July 24, 2015 at 8:58 am
Thank you – hope you find the tutorial as easy to follow as I did. It’s a useful project to use up scraps and is quick too:)
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July 22, 2015 at 9:35 am
Note to self. Make sure sons girlfriends mother can sew and is very generous. Then invite to birthday bbq. Doh, that would be the end of October! Lucky Pauline.
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July 24, 2015 at 9:00 am
Ha ha! I get itchy fingers if a day goes by without producing anything and I’m running out of people to give my creations to, so it was nice having someone new to make for.
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July 22, 2015 at 10:45 am
What a fabulous gift, especially for someone you’ve yet to meet, most people would of gone the bottle of wine/box of chocs route.
Im going to attempt the tote myself this summer, thanks for the inspiration.
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July 24, 2015 at 9:02 am
We took wine and chocolates as well as it was a BBQ, but it was lovely having an excuse to make something girly too:)
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July 22, 2015 at 11:24 am
Who wouldn’t love a gift like that! So, so pretty!!
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July 24, 2015 at 9:03 am
Thank you – I’ve got so many scraps in my stash that I can’t bring myself to throw away that I think I’ll make some for the school Christmas fair.
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July 22, 2015 at 12:37 pm
I’m always so impressed with how neat your work is. This is beautiful and I’m so glad it well received, she’ll be dropping some heavy hints in the run up to Christmas… 🙂
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July 24, 2015 at 9:04 am
Thanks Teresa, that’s a lovely compliment! Already starting on the Christmas gifts….
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July 22, 2015 at 1:57 pm
What a lovely gift!
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July 24, 2015 at 9:06 am
Thank you – I like to make pretty things that people will actually use too, and was delighted to find a good tutorial:)
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July 22, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Such a lovely gift. The purse is fantastic. Sometimes handmade purses can look a little, well, handmade!! But that is so professional looking 🙂 x
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July 24, 2015 at 9:07 am
So true! I’m a stickler for detail though, so sometimes people assume I’ve bought it, hence the “handmade” label:)
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July 22, 2015 at 3:44 pm
Gorgeous job!
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July 24, 2015 at 9:10 am
Thank you! I’m definitely going to make more using up my scraps – probably for the school to sell at the Christmas fair.
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July 24, 2015 at 5:54 pm
That will be lovely, as we know they make great gifts!
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July 22, 2015 at 3:52 pm
What a super cute gift. I love them both. They don’t look handmade at all. I know number one son was super proud of his momma’s superior talents. 🙂 xxxxx Robin
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July 24, 2015 at 9:12 am
Not sure the kids think it’s a talent ‘cos they’ve grown up with me making things, but Pauline certainly was pleased with them:)
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July 22, 2015 at 4:06 pm
I love it. That fabric is gorgeous and looks nice and strong.
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July 24, 2015 at 9:27 am
Thanks, it’s practical too, being vinyl:)
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July 22, 2015 at 4:33 pm
Wow, what a lovely gift! I’m not surprised she loved it, both look beautiful and so neat and professionally finished 🙂
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July 24, 2015 at 9:29 am
Thanks, it was so difficult to know what to make having never met before. I kind of thought you can’t go wrong with a purse and tote:)
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July 22, 2015 at 5:25 pm
Lovely gift, I would love to recieve that!!
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July 24, 2015 at 9:30 am
Thank you – why not follow the link to the tutorial and make one for your mum for Christmas?
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July 22, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Your sewing skills are impeccable! What a lovely gift for your friend Pauline. I’m partial to that fabric too. Charming and sweet.
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July 24, 2015 at 9:32 am
That’s so kind, thank you! The vinyl was both pretty and a practical choice so I thought a matching set would be nice.
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July 24, 2015 at 9:42 pm
It’s a great idea for a picnic/beach blanket. Practical and beautiful.
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July 22, 2015 at 8:48 pm
What a lovely and thoughtful gift! And so professional looking!
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July 24, 2015 at 9:33 am
Thank you – it’s tricky trying to make a suitable gift for someone you’ve never met, so I’m relieved it was well received.
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July 22, 2015 at 8:51 pm
WOW!! Fabulous gift! You’re so talented x
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July 24, 2015 at 9:34 am
Thanks Claire, what a lovely compliment:)
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July 22, 2015 at 10:15 pm
You are such a clever lady! And a lovely friend x thanks for your time today x
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July 24, 2015 at 9:35 am
Aw, shucks! No problem re the house – so glad you’re finally settled in such a gorgeous place:)
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July 23, 2015 at 5:49 am
A beautiful gift but I hope the lady in question doesn’t feel a tad inadequate at your obvious talents😉
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July 24, 2015 at 9:37 am
I don’t think she sews at all so anything less than perfect would have been noticed! Always a good incentive to perfect the finishing:)
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July 23, 2015 at 8:02 pm
So impressed – not only pretty but also useful. Well done you
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July 24, 2015 at 9:38 am
Thank you! I do like to do pretty AND useful where possible:)
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July 24, 2015 at 11:27 am
I LOVE your choice of fabrics! They totally don’t look handmade so that’s good you put in the label!
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July 24, 2015 at 11:51 am
Thanks Beth, that’s encouraging to hear:)
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August 3, 2015 at 9:55 am
I bet No.1 son’s girlfriend’s mum is so pleased with her daughters choice of boyfriend who ‘s mum can make gorgeous hand made gifts! 😉
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