This time the challenge was to try making a bag using beadwork. Now that could be an amulet bag, or a beaded bag or whatever else you decide you want to try your hand at. That is the best part of this hop --- it has pretty easy going rules. I was going to try an amulet bag, but instead I decided to make myself a jewelry travel pouch.
What's that? Well the one I had, I'd had for years. It is still in very good shape, in fact almost new. It has all these little zipper pockets in it to stuff your various earrings or bracelets in. Then you roll it up and you pull a cord around it to secure it. (Here is a similar one) So why did I need a new one? Well, the one I had was from my mom, and when my sister came to visit I sent her home with it. I made quite a few pieces of jewelry for her to take home for herself and several of her friends. I tucked them all into the jewelry travel pouch from mom. She lives so far away from the family and has so few things from our mom that whenever she mentions that she likes something from mom I tuck it in her suitcase.
I actually ended up shipping her some green glass bowls that my grandmother used to use for desserts but my sister said "oh those are awesome champagne glasses!" Huh, yea I guess they are. But I had been using them for pudding or jello for the girls. She had a much better idea of what they were. So I shipped those to her. I would bet that my grandmother spent less than $5 for the set of 8, and I paid nearly $130 to ship them to her (New Zealand is not cheep to ship to!).
Ok, officially down a rabbit hole. Back to the topic here. My travel pouch. I love this rusty copper color. I cut a swatch of raw silk and assembled it by beading the sides together with peyote. I used some suede for reinforcement of the magnet closure and added a bit of beaded design around the top of the closure. Pretty simple actually, but will be just the perfect thing to keep my bits of jewelry in when I'm traveling.
Don't forget to check out all the other bloggers for the hop: Christine, Therese, Bobbie, Amy, Alicia, Dagi, Jasvanti, Karin S, Debbie, Liz E, Lori F, Maryanne, Paula, Samantha, Jenny, Ana, Motidana, Becky
well, you know I love this ~ the textures, earthy colors, peyote, FRINGE! And that it came out of you being you and generously gifting the jewelry pouch you had been using. Even when you make something for yourself, it stems from generosity. Enjoy your jewelry pouch, knowing your sister is enjoying hers :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I mailed a neti-pot to NZ once...it was $30 give or take a couple bucks! I cannot imagine mailing breakables!
Hi Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteWhat we would not give up to our Sisters, because we love them so and want to share family keepsakes. I am sure your sister is loving her jewelry bag and glasses. Your hand made jewelry travel bag is beautiful and so you. The construction is simple and practical and I am sure it will get lots of use in your travels. Thank you for joining in on another ATTS challenge and I hope you will join in on the next one too.
Therese
Cynthia, it's a gorgeous bag. I love everything about it. The choice of colours, the design, the silk and the embelishments: the peyote in its sides and the diamond focal with the fringe. Stunning piece.
ReplyDeleteHappy beading,
Ana
Your sister must have loved finding the jewelry bag from your mom in her luggage! You are sneaky! How funny that you guys see the bowls/glasses differently. Your new jewelry pouch is beautiful. Time to plan new trips so you can start putting it to good use!
ReplyDeleteHow ingenious to zip the sides together with peyote stitch. And the magnet closure is perfect. I'm inspired - definitely going to try this for myself. Will be much lighter (and more fun) than the hard-sided jewelry box I stow in my luggage now.
ReplyDeleteOoh... I love this! The colors are so rich and the beading compliments it perfectly. Great job!
ReplyDeleteLovely travle pouch! That will keep your jewelry safe while travelling.
ReplyDeleteHi Cynthia, your jewelry travel pouch is perfect. It is something I have been meaning to male myself but sadly I have put off. Your pouch is inspiring to me and the wheels are turning in my head as to what I want to do. I am sure you will use yours a lot. It is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI really love your pouch, the color and beading are amazing! and I also loved going down the rabbit hole with you, sharing mom & sister things ... very important.
ReplyDeleteYou did a beautiful job!
ReplyDeleteThis is so pretty and I love that it will be so useful to you!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a luxurious way to travel with your jewelry. The satin is yummy on its own, but your beading makes it scrumptious - and the colors are so elegant. I'm impressed with your ingenuity in creating it from scratch. Isn't it interesting how many of us made bags for specific uses, rather than just a purse? I love your creativity, and how it reflects your love of travel!
ReplyDeleteHaven't been online forever and just saw this post of yours - LOVE this bag. Awesome colors and your beadwork is super, as usual. And so fitting for all your travels, too! I saw the price you mentioned to ship to your sister across the water - holy cow smokes Batman, that's something else!! I'm sure she loved the green glass bowls though!! :-)
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, the colors so rich and what a perfectly brilliant idea. Your sister must love her gift and now you have one as well! Beautiful design
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bag! Love the earthy colors and the bead work really stands out so well . What I love most is your idea of making a travel pouch for your jewellery . Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteAww... a beautiful bag with such a rich story behind. I love the reason you had to make it; and I laughed out loud at the glasses part - I actually use champagne cups as desert bowls :) I eat desert more often than I drink champagne, that's for sure. I love your bag, it is beautiful - and you gave me a great idea. I should make a (not-beaded) one as well, whenever we travel I find myself dumping stuff in plastic zip-bags :)
ReplyDeleteOooooh, the colour! The colour!! Gorgeous...and what a unique and creative way to join your fabric pieces together....very clever! This will be such a conversation piece to use in your travels. Well done!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to make something to hold your creations! I love the colors and especially like the beaded side panels. It has been so fun to see all the different ideas everyone had for this challenge. And I agree - Time to Stitch is my favorite too!
ReplyDeleteHmm stitched up the sides with peyote now that is really giving me ideas! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThat is really cute!
ReplyDeletegreat idea! Love that you have your own case that you can look at fondly with memories of this hop. Very elegant!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty and very practical. I love small pouches, which explains why I have a ton of them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea to make a jewelry pouch! I love the fringe.
ReplyDeleteAmazing pouch! I love the beaded closure! I keep my "best jewelry" in a pouch too :)
ReplyDeleteHow sweet of you to gift "your" bag to your sister! Your "new" bag is lush - first word to come to mind - love that you "sewed it together" with beads! I have a handmade jewelry bag that my Mom made for all the "girls" in her family, and I treasure it!
ReplyDeleteThat bag is cute! so the whole purpose of it is to transport or keep jewelry? I bet you beaders would need one!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great Idea, I love your jewelry pouch!!
ReplyDeleteI agree that shipping is not cheap, last year my daughter was in Australia and shipped something and it was pricey.
Wow Cynthia, this is so clever and beautiful, love that you combined sewing and beading, silk,suede and beads. This is a gorgeous bag to travel with.
ReplyDeleteOh what a fabulous piece and with a great purpose too. How great that you can share those little bits with your sister, despite her being so far away. your story about the glasses has stirred up a memory of my own of eating pudding and ice cream from fancy stemmed glasses too. For the life of me, I can't picture the glasses but I recall the sensation of it being so special. I bet it was champagne glasses too!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty!!!!!
ReplyDeleteShipping does get very expensive, but I think that $130 was well spent. The feeling it gave your sister when the package arrived was priceless.
ReplyDeleteOn to the jewelry travel pouch. What's not to love? Super beautiful functionality. I love the fringe and the way you stitched the sides together. The color is so satisfying and rich. Make sure to take some pictures of your beauty as it travels the world with you. It's going to have a very interesting life.
I started to laugh about the champagne glasses and you using them for pudding or jello! LOL! Your travel pouch is truly special! Beautiful!
ReplyDelete