Crafty Satchel

I am so thrilled to be a part of the Just for You book tour today! Caroline and Sarah have put together an amazing book full of fabulous projects that are just perfect for spoiling yourself or someone you love. If you enjoy sewing clothing and accessories, then you absolutely need to add this book to your wish list! I was asked to make the Crafty Satchel which was created by bag extraordinaire Sara Lawson. Although I would recommend this project for someone with at least intermediate sewing skills, I was able to finish it in a single day of solid work, which is always a big plus for me!

I paired a sweet floral from Acorn Trail by Teagan White for Birch Fabrics with yarn dyed essex linen in leather by Robert Kaufman, and I love the way they look together. For my interfacing, I used a double layer of thick batting rather than the recommended Soft & Stable which I didn't have on hand. Although my version of the bag isn't as structured as it would be with a foam core, it holds its shape fairly well. Leather handles are a challenge to sew onto the bag by hand, but it looks so professional when you're done! And as you can see above, this bag has tons of room inside it for just about anything you might want to carry with you on the go.

My sister pulled into my driveway when I was outside taking photos of the satchel and helped me out by holding it for one last shot.

"It looks beautiful," she said, examining the front while I took a few more pictures.

"It's yours," I answered. "Happy early birthday!"

Her gasp and smile reminded me why I love making gifts for family and friends. It's all so very personal -- just the way it should be.

If you'd like to win your own copy of Just for You, please leave a comment on this post. I'll pick a winner on Friday. The giveaway is open to everyone worldwide (international readers will win an e-copy of the book). So many thanks again to Caroline & Sarah for letting me be a part of this tour and for putting together such a beautiful book!