Another summery project from my favorite skirt pattern, Simplicity 8418.  This pattern is just so good, the possibilities are endless.  (The green is not quite as vibrant as they are in these photos; it’s more like a deep grass green.)

Rounded pockets lined with baby blue and white gingham.

I’ve also converted a couple of vintage pillowcases into grocery bags.  I got tired of the green ones I had.  You know, the ones you get at the store, sometimes for free.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice that many stores offer those reusable bags but they aren’t exactly pretty or machine-washable, which is gross.  And who wants to hand wash their grocery bags?  Not me.

I’m ready to move onto fall sewing.  I figure if I start now I’ll actually have new things to wear in time for cooler weather!

Phew!  It took a little while to get all of this up; I wanted to get the shipping as accurate as possible as well as list all necessary details for each piece.  I’m just making my September 1st self-imposed deadline!  Anyhow, please take a look when you can.   I’ve got some really beautiful things in the shop for really reasonable prices.  Just wanted to note: I’ll reimburse shipping overcharges that exceed $1.00 USD.  That might be especially helpful if you are combining goods.

Also, if you order over $20, I’ll include a free vintage hankie in your shipment! (Unless you only order crochet patterns since I can’t email you the hankies, hee hee.)  I’ve got a bunch of white hankies with simple designs that I just hand washed so they are ready for new homes.

Happy looking!

» fable* on etsy

Me thinks my room is turning into a little museum.    What is it about these lovely and well-loved old things?  I know I’ve said this before but I adore vintage and antique things that are a little worn and imperfect.  But a couple of these recent finds are very worn and must surely have been deeply loved!

The best part is I got this old blouse, bag and hankie for $15!  Is it just me or is that a good deal?

The ’20s handbag is my favorite.  I really love vintage mirrors, especially when they’ve become foggy with that greyish cloud of a patina.  I also love old rhinestones, foil-backed buttons and sequins for the same reason.  Especially in silver and gold tones.

This bag sat forlorn in the corner of this antique dealer’s booth.  Sad and ghost-like.  I picked this up along with the pretty grey-blue and cream hankie.  The bag is actually in pretty good condition with just a few beads missing and some tiny stains on the interior (and again, I love that the foil in the sequins is very worn and old looking).

So I opened up the bag and spied a little mirror inside!  It’s foggy too although there is a clear spot on one side so that it’s actually still usable.  Snap works great.  And there’s a handle in the back – it’s too small to put my hand through so I suppose you can hold it or perhaps it could go on a belt?  Did they wear their bags on the hip like that back then?

I was interested in this Edwardian (?) blouse for its parts (re-purpose?) but got even more excited about it when it was apparent that it would fit me.  (An extreme rarity.)  But I don’t know if I could or should wear it, it’s so delicate.  The collar is yellowed and shattered and the front hem has been torn away.  And yet I love it so much it was meant to come home with me.

Here’s the back view (Edited to note: Lisa graciously has pointed out that this is most likely the front of the blouse, and I concur after trying it on again.):

Well for $15  for the whole lot , I couldn’t say no!  And speaking of decrepit things, I picked up this brass floral necklace piece from another dealer:

I like how the pearls are all but completely missing but then again I might replace them with new pearls or rhinestones; we’ll see.  And I might just remove the connectors and make a necklace out of the pendant.  The connectors I can use for a bracelet or two, or maybe a fancy brooch.

Ok, back to work I go, for it is Monday afterall! 

Yes, truly, I’ve listed my Wendy Tote and Heidi Clutch in the etsy shop!  I’m super duper excited, even though I originally thought I would wait and list them in my brand new store.   But, as you know, I’ve been a little behind in things PLUS I’ve seriously had wedding plans on the brain.  Oh, and yea, did I tell you that I moving the ceremony from fall to this summer, as in next month?!!  Yes, I know, quite impatient indeed.  I’ll elaborate more in a separate post.  (No, I don’t NEED to get married next month, sheesh, I know what you’re thinking!)

I’m also considering making some bags from these patterns to list for sale in the shop, what do you think of that?

Ok, peeps, have a marvelous Monday!  Will update you soon on wedding stuff and the like.

Wow, thank you all so much for such a warm response!  I loved every single one of your comments and well wishes for my new blog home.  I’m so glad you all come by my little place to visit and I hope you will for many posts to come!

Anyhow, the winner of the giveaway is…

Sophia!

Sophia, I’m going to email you as soon as I post this so I can get your mailing address and send you your tote bag.

Thanks again, everyone, really.  And there are DEFINITELY going to be more giveaways in the future. 

Welcome!  the fabled needle will now live at thefabledneedle.com/blog.  My old blog, http://thefabledneedle.blogspot.com, will still be online so you can refer back to it, if you wish, but is no longer live but all new posts will be right here;  So I hope you’ll visit often as I have posts a-plenty in store for you!

To celebrate my new blog location and to thank my dear readers (Thank you for all the blog-love lately!), I’m giving away this handmade Scalloped Lemon Tote based on my Wendy Reversible Tote Bag pattern (Coming soon).

A pretty and festive summer bag to start off the season.  Just leave a comment in this post (giveaway is open to all readers, worldwide) and I’ll randomly pick a name and announce the winner July 1st. (Giveaway closes June 30th at midnight PT.)  Good luck, sweets!

Do you remember, very long ago, when I said I would make some sewing patterns for the shop? Well, I barely do, it was so long ago. I’ve had the “Coming Soon” text on my Sewing Patterns page (on my fable site) for. ever. I think I was actually not going to do any because of the time it would take to produce them but I can’t seem to get the ideas out of my head. Anyway, I’ll be adding some pdf sewing patterns to the shop and I need your help!

I’m looking for a few people to test this pattern. It should be fairly easy and could be completed in an afternoon (depending on your speed and sewing skills). All skill levels are welcome to volunteer – if you are beginner it would be best to have some experience sewing from a pattern.

Also, I would like this done relatively quickly – in the next week or two (max). That way I’ll have time to make any corrections/adjustments if needed. All testers will get a completed copy of this pattern once it’s posted to my shop.

Please email me at: dearliette {AT} gmail {DOT} com if you’d like to test this for me.  Thank you in advance!

UPDATE: I’ve got my testers for this round – thank you so much!

a onblur=”try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}” href=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/SBQBawVP88I/AAAAAAAAALk/bC7D8ucGhaU/s1600-h/meadow-handbag_sage.jpg”img style=”margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;” src=”http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M5dKBd5_Vfk/SBQBawVP88I/AAAAAAAAALk/bC7D8ucGhaU/s400/meadow-handbag_sage.jpg” alt=”" id=”BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5193777829427278786″ border=”0″ //abr /I thought it would be helpful to include some additional information in the a href=”http://fablehandmadegoods.com/Crochetpattern-meadowhandbag.html” target=”_blank”Meadow Handbag pattern/a about modifying the handle flaps for different sized handles. Specifically for these ever popular – and summery – bamboo handles you see in the photo. I hope this will help anyone trying to figure out how to adjust the pattern if needed. Oh, FYI, the original pattern is still the same.br /br /I sent out the updated version to everyone tonight but if I somehow overlooked someone (sorry) please forward me your PayPal receipt email and the pattern will be on its way!br /br /On a side note, can someone please explain to me this cracked out weather? Sheesh….92 one day, 62 the next. We (2 humans and 1 cat) are doing all we can to keep cool. Which reminds me, time for another lavender Mojito, I mean, melon pop.

a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/faeriefurballs/2328928969/” title=”Meadow Handbag by faeriefurballs, on Flickr”img src=”http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2295/2328928969_6621045008_o.jpg” alt=”Meadow Handbag” height=”350″ width=”350″ //abr /br /Can you span style=”font-style: italic;”believe/span all the posting I’ve done lately? Sheesh, it’s a world record for me. Anyway, just wanted to pipe up and say my Meadow Handbag is now available! You can get it a href=”http://fablehandmadegoods.com/Crochetpattern-meadowhandbag.html” target=”_blank”here on my fable* site/a or if you prefer to Etsy, visit a href=”http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=10963″ target=”_blank”my shop there./abr /br /I really wanted to design a pattern that was very cute and spring-y. Crochet and handbags work so well together, don’t they? And I’ve been obsessing over covered buttons lately. OBSESSED. The fabric I found is too cute: I got it at Joann’s – sometimes you can find really nice stuff there.br /br /a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/faeriefurballs/2328929023/” title=”Meadow Handbag by faeriefurballs, on Flickr”img src=”http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2014/2328929023_b1bf31100b_o.jpg” alt=”Meadow Handbag” height=”350″ width=”350″ //abr /br /The handbag pattern uses worsted weight yarn and works up pretty fast, just in time for Easter or other spring-ish celebrations.