As of this post, there are 110 days left before Christmas!  I know, I know…let’s enjoy Halloween and Thanksgiving first.  But, if a custom-made item by Sew Kelley is on your gift list this year, now is the time to place your order.  Contact me and let me know what I can make for you.  I’d be delighted and I’m sure so will the recipient.  I can do custom embroidery on many items, too.

http://www.xmasclock.com/

If you are a crafter yourself, whether it is making fine soaps, a professional seamstress, throwing perfect pottery or what I do, making custom crafted bags, you understand better than anyone the amount of time and energy (not to mention costs) that goes into producing your work of art.  It truly is a labor of love.

Sure, anyone can pop into their local Walmart type store and pick up a bar of soap, a t-shirt, a ceramic bowl, even a purse — but there is no relationship with that object.  It’s just a thing. 

We need things, I know. But imagine when you place a custom order with someone you know or have been referred to.  Suddenly this object you are going to purchase takes on a whole new life.  You don’t look at it as a bar of soap anymore; you can visualize someone painstakingly creating this work of art — often times just for you.  It makes it special.  Really special.  Imagine being the recipient of such a gift and knowing all the time and love that went into this special gift.  They’ll treasure it forever.

When I set out to make a new bag, I typically will make a “practice” version.  I never skimp on the materials, hardware or anything on these practice pieces as I want to feel as proud of this piece as the ones I will make for a customer.  I can’t really recoup this expense, nor do I expect to.  I either use these practice bags myself, gift them to others, run special promos or give to charity. 

But let’s back up just a bit.  Before you can even put needle to fabric, there’s quite a few more steps. 

Here is a quick summary:

1. Choosing the right pattern (so many patterns, so little time).
2. Selecting the right fabric(s).  This could mean anywhere from 1-4 fabrics (including faux leathers). Sometimes it is from my “stash,” other times I have to custom order.
3. Selecting the right interfacings.  Not only is interfacing expensive, I often use twice as much as what is called for.  It’s important.
4. Beyond interfacings, there are stabilizers and foam linings to be considered (adding to the cost but making your bag ultra sturdy).
5. Bling!  Yes, your bag needs bling to really make it zing (clearly poetry was not my calling).  Lock closures, zippers, D-Rings, Lobster Clasps…Oh my!  These pretty little pieces of metal are lovingly selected to match the bag perfectly.  If we don’t have hardware that matches, we’ll source some that does.
6. The moment of truth!  The pattern is chosen, the fabrics and interfacings are ready, the hardware in all its shiny glory is waiting anxiously…but first, we have to cut this baby out.  And fuse.  And fuse.  Good thing I don’t have a short fuse!
7. Cutting out a pattern (and all the associated lining, pockets, facings, notions, etc.) can often times take as long or even longer than the construction of a bag.  At least it feels that way sometimes.
8. Finally we are ready to assemble our bag.  Oops…did we ensure we have matching thread?  More importantly, the right type of thread (cotton is good for quilting; polyester and bonded nylon is good for bag making…don’t worry, we know the right ones to use)!
9. Ready, set, go…wait a minute.  Which machine to use?  Yes, there are all kinds of machines to use for the right project.  Sometimes we use 3 machines (even 4!) in our bag construction:  Industrial (for leather and vinyl construction), Serger (keep those edges from raveling), Embroidery (because who doesn’t want their monogram on just about everything…kidding) and a high end Domestic to do all of the other odd jobs. 
10. OK…now we can sew.  Piece by piece, step by step.  Every stitch lovingly applied because we know it’s for someone special and they deserve that extra attention. 
11. Top stitching is key to a professional bag.  It means precise stitching (or an evening with the Grim Seam Ripper).
12. Finally the bag is done.  We carefully inspect it, snip off any errant threads, give her a good press, put on some extra bling, and seal it with a kiss.
13. How many hours do you think went into this endeavor?  5?  10?  I’d guess anywhere from 15-20 (but I like to sew slow).  Like I said, a labor of love.
14. When it’s ready to ship, I package her up nice (with a bow on top no less) and send her off to her new home.  It’s bittersweet sometimes!

Phew! I hope this in some way explains what goes into my bag making process.  It’s evident I am not doing this to make a lot of money; in fact, to be very upfront, what I charge just about covers the costs of materials and very little of my time.  But I sew (sorry!) love doing this.  It’s a creative outlet and each bag brings new challenges and rewards.  I hope you will be the recipient of one of my rewards one day!

Just a reminder, the items you see on this site are not for sale. They are representative of what I can make for you in (most) any fabric combination you might envision.  Contact me for further information.

My creative best,

Kelley

…The little bags so lovingly handmade, every stitch so perfectly even. Thank you.

Are you curious what goes into the making of a bag?  I don’t mean the hours, but the materials.  OK, you probably are not THAT interested but thought I’d share just the same.

Here’s a quick list of what went into making my recent Peacock Bucket bag:

• Pattern
• One yard of fabric and lining
• One half yard faux leather
• Three yards of woven interfacing
• One half yard sew-in foam stabilizer
• One half yard craft fuse
• One quarter yard firm stabilizer
• Two brass zippers
• One bag zipper
• Hardware:  Purse feet, Belt ends, D rings, Adjustable slider, Zipper pulls
• Miscellaneous Notions: Needles, Thread