revamped purse

i've been wanting a new summer purse/bag.
i'm not really a purse girl but with a toddler still in diapers, it's a neccesity.
i also get tired of purses really quick so i didn't want to spend money on one.

then i had the brilliant plan to revamp a purse i already own.
i got so giddy at the thought of sitting in my pile of fabric scraps and creating.


i got this great bag from my sister in law for christmas.
i've used the heck out of it so it's starting to rip and also just looks a little wintery and tired to me.

first,  I cut off the leather binding around the top. 
(okay actually first i cleaned out all the junk in the bottom of the purse, raisins, gerber puffs, receipts, etc.)
i also wanted to create new handles but i couldn't find anything in my fabric scraps that would work or look right.
so i just decided to leave them because i wanted this project to be free.

then i just dug through my big tub of fabrics until i found some that would work and be springy.
i just made it up as i went along.

i never use a pattern for anything.  that is way too rule-following for me.

first i folded over and pinned some bright turquoise floral fabric where the leather binding had been.
then i quickly stitched it in place.

at this point sawyer woke up from his nap.  for the rest of the project he sat right beside me, squealing with delight every time i pushed the foot pedal.

again, just making it up as i went along, i found pieces of fabric and ribbon that would fit and sewed them on.
i left the edges rough to give it a vintage/funky feel.
i ruffled up the last scrap of navy ribbon i had and stitched that on.

the top need something so i cut three random cirlces, made a little button with a button kit i found in my sewing box and hand stitched that all on.

then i took an obnoxious amount of photos of my revamped purse

this was such an easy and fun project.
i loved having no plan and just stitching stuff on willy nilly.

it's so springy and lively now.

so what about y'all?  do you use patterns? or are you a sewing rebel like me?
i'm curious, so i put a poll on my side bar. 
vote and tell us where you fall in this very-important-matter-of-life-and-death topic. Pin It