Black Kiss-Lock Purse

After completing Monday's KissLock, I felt I could do better.  What makes everything better? Bigger does. So I made a bigger, rounder, puffier clutch.

I received this fabric for Christmas, and really didn't have a plan for it.  Nothing jumped out at me except for the high contrast colors.  I knew I liked that, and I wanted to play off of that as well.  I started embroidering the black parts with red a few weeks ago, before a clutch was even planned.  Embroidery is hard! Not physically or mentally hard, just dull and I really have to force myself to get in a stupor to do it. I finished what I did because I was feeling mopey and thinking hurt my brain.

While I was out shopping, JoAnn's had this sale going on, and those big black kissers where staring at me from the shelf. How could I resist those shiny plastic bulbs?  And thus I was inspired.  Big black knobs, black and red fabric I have no plans for.  Voila!

I did learn from my previous encounter with metal frames that I needed some poof and some stabilizer.  I returned to my trusty teacher, Google, and was rewarded with this amazingly handy tutorial from Lisa from UHandbag. It's a very good tutorial, easy to follow and to alter to fit my needs.  I really only used steps one and two, but those are the best steps.

Kiss Lock Purse Frame Coin Pouch, something interesting?

      New year, new you, blah blah blah. So, in all actuallity it is the new year, and it is the time to try new things and shake it up a bit.  The first bag of the year that I wanted to create, was going to be a challenge. Something small, simple, that is seen everywhere, but how are they made?  I'm talking about the little snap coin pouches, similar to what my greataunt would keep her cigarettes in.  I didn't even know the name of the little frames or where I would begin to start designing a pattern.  I've come to find out that they are called "kiss lock" metal purse frames.  Looks like the little knobs are kissing. Heh. 

          And to start on this adventure, what the first thing that I do? Google it. "Snappy lock frame thingy" didn't really help find a tutorial or anything. But I did find a helpful blog, Sew 4 Home, that had a quick tutorial for something similar in concept.  I admit, I really only used the free pdf pattern and then cut it down, because my frame was way smaller than the tutorial's.

         I am on a red kick lately, so my fabric choice was surprisingly easy.  I don't know what it's called or anything; I received a big box of remnants from Jo-Anns for Christmas. The piece I had was about a 1/4 of a yard, so I couldn't do a big bag or anything. Anyway, perfect fit with the antique brass looking frame.  

Here are the results of about an hour of sewing/cutting/googling.

I think it turned out nice.