Spring Purse

I found my holy grail! ...And then turned it into a purse!

Turns out that amazing fabric I saw but couldn't find at the Sewing Expo was from a Kokka line called Echino... the design is called Birdsong. It's a railroaded print, which means that the design runs the width of the fabric:

I treated this amazing fabric like four different fabrics. The birds became the centerpiece of each side of the bag, framed by the dark green variegated leaves on either side. The aqua birds rose above it all at the top of the bag, and the lime green leaves provided the straps. I was able to make the bag with a yard of fabric, and some very careful, fussy cutting.

For the lining, I used another Echino fabric, called Tiger on the Flower. I like the little tiger hidden inside my purse - he looks up at me every time I dig for my keys.

The bag pattern is Sherbet, a Melly & Me design. Because the fabric I used was so stiff, and I was using it both inside and outside the bag, I skipped the fusible interfacing. I also haven't installed a magnetic closure yet, although I plan to.

Oh how I love it when a dream is fulfilled!!