Bend the Rules Sewing

[http://users.livejournal.com/_perestroika_/]

I'm new to this community but I'm a constant LJ lurker. I have really been enjoying seeing everyone's projects. I am especially interested in subversize craft, stuff that uses up waste materials or somehow betters the enviornment/reduces sweatshop use.

For my first post, I wanted to show off/recomend a book. It's 'Bend the Rules Sewing' by Amy Karol and it's brilliant. I'm an experianced sewer and yet the book is fun to use for projects you MIGHT have been able to come up on your own but never did...anyway, here's the first thing I've made, a purse for a friend's birthday:






Details: all leftover linen scraps (the lining is from an old pair of pants) interfacing found at the thrift store, and instead of the ribbon trim she uses, I added a scrap pocket. It took maybe 2 hours tops and my friend SCREAMED with joy when she got it. I used all her favorite colors and she happens to love butterflys. Not bad for a gift that cost me >.10, and isn't even perfectly sewn.

One cavet: if using lightweight fabric like linen, also add interfacing to the straps, they are already twisty and wrinkled when I saw this purse (day 4 of use) today.

Anyway, I highly reccomend the book, and can't wait to meet you all!