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Bartering for The Wire
My incredibly generous co-worker offered to lend me all four seasons of The Wire on DVD when I couldn’t rent them from my local video store or Netflix. (I will discuss that travesty in a later post. ) It was an incredible offer because she didn’t know me that well and sharing a favorite DVD with an acquaintance is always a little risky.
I felt compelled to reward such a lovely act of generosity with a surprise purse. It also gave me the chance to try out a new style. I haven’t named it yet but it is a cross between the Handbag and the City Bag. It is wider than the Handbag but not quite as deep as the City Bag. It is also perfect. My co-worker now knows it is coming, but I can’t say I didn’t seriously consider keeping it for myself.
Here are some pictures of it next to the City Bag for a better comparison. Aren’t they so cute together?
Simple Totes, or The Cobbler’s Wife Goes Barefoot
These simple, unlined totes were a huge hit at the Bust Craftacular, so successful in fact, I sold the one I made for myself as well. Seriously, I sold the purse off my shoulder. I have been without a Lunden Designs bag ever since, so I figured that it was about time I started carrying one of my own creations. The fabric is from Reprodepot and is a medium weight canvas, perfect for these totes. The straps are made of chocolate brown microfiber and provide a nice contrast to the dark gray background and gold accents.
I went ahead and made three at once; one is spoken for, one I am keeping for myself and the last little one is looking for a home. So if you are interested in purchasing this little beauty, shoot me an email. We’ll talk.
Sneak Peak
When the OLDM (original lunden designs model) saw The Quilt For A Big Girl, she made it pretty clear that if Charlie didn’t want it, she would take it, no problem. As a gesture of appreciation, I figured the OLDM should get her own quilt and not embarrass herself fighting a three year-old. So we picked out the fabric together at Purl Soho on a cold winter’s day and magic happened. Just take a look at the fabric and you will see for yourself.
As for design inspiration, I came across a picture of Provence tiles and was immediately smitten. I loved the idea of recreating tiles in the quilt blocks. There were some skeptics (Mom) but I held fast to my vision and it is coming together better than I could ever imagine. So, without further ado, here are some pictures.
Pretty In Pink
This is a little something I made for a friend’s birthday. It was a collaboration with her husband – he provided the material and I put it together. It is so cute and provides that perfect splash of color for going out.
Wait A Minute Mr. Postman
There was a fabric delivery from Reprodepot waiting for me when I got home last night. Thank you Mr. Postman and Reprodepot. I placed my order with them on Wednesday and it arrived on Friday. Now that is some great customer service.
I picked up some new medium weight broadcloth and canvas that will be perfect for tote bags. The dark blue material with the sweet gold accents and the colorful flower print are perfect for totes. If I get my act together this weekend, I might just have a new work tote for Monday.
I also started collecting material for a quilt for my husband (okay, it’s for the both of us but it just seems weird to wrap it up and give it to myself). Even though we are already married, I figure it is never too late for a dowry. The little blue birds and the red mosiac pattern had me at hello. I have no idea what the quilt will look like but it is so far down in the project queue that I will have plenty of time to work it out.
Quilt Action Shots – Part II
Charlotte’s amazing mother found the time in her crazy schedule to arrange this little photo shoot, and I am awfully glad she did. Will you just look at that little body! I can’t stand it, she is so cute. I would like to think that the quilt compliments her cheeks, but they don’t really need any help from me.
Mon Dieu!
I just can’t believe how gorgeous this city bag turned out. I lined it with the dark brown stripes rather than a solid brown just to try something new and it works so much better than I could have imagined. The strap is dark brown ultra-suede attached with silver rings. Did I mention how gorgeous it is? It was ordered as a gift but I’ll bet $10 that a certain new mother in San Francisco keeps this one for herself. So without further ado, here is the cutest little city bag around.
Update: The bag was shipped directly to the birthday girl so the certain San Francisco mother ordered one for herself. Now everyone is a winner.
Another First
I was told years ago by by a certain friend that I needed to make diaper bags (Hi Amy!) but I dragged my feet on trying out that style. I was intimidated by making something so detailed and complex.
Luckily, the babies just keep coming and my new cousin-in-law, who just gave birth last week, asked so nicely, I just couldn’t say no. And I am so happy I said yes. This bag is so chic, functional and big! It is 16 1/2″ wide, 14″ high and 6 1/2″ deep. It is made with the lovely french toile and lined with dark brown stripes. It has three interior pockets and two exterior pockets. I also made a changing pad with the new dark brown graphic flowers. It has a layer of cotton batting to give a little padding for my new little cousin’s bottom.
The best part about this bag as that it doesn’t look like a diaper bag – it can keep a new parent in cognito or can be used for carrying other things besides bottles and wipes. I really need one for myself.
Some New Fabric
Here are some of my new fabrics. I have so much love for the french toile flowers – the red and dark brown on natural linen is striking, classic and modern all at the same time. I picked up the dark brown stripes and the dark brown graphic flowers to work accent pieces.
You asked for it…
My dear friend (and now brother-in-law) has always been incredibly supportive of my sewing adventures, from the day I asked him for a ride home with my first sewing machine, to all the rides to the fabric store to the words of encouragement at the Craftacular.
Through all the years, he has only asked me for two things: first, he wanted me to put him on my website; and second, he wanted me to make him something (but since this is a family site, I can’t bring myself to describe what he wanted). Luckily, my friend told me that he no longer needs me to make him his special request (you are just going to have to ask him yourself if you really need to know). But, as I was going through my old pictures, I came across this photo shoot, taken in my San Francisco apartment, full of boxes and just days before I moved to New York, and recalled my friend’s request to be on my website. So, although long overdue, here you go!
Personally, I find that the juxtaposition of such a brawny, hunky man and such a sophisticated purse really works. Or maybe it is just that beefcake can really sell anything.
Lunden Designs Greatest Hits
Here are some of my favorite bags. Looking back at these pictures is like looking at pictures of old friends. 
Holiday Presents
Ladybugs!
Since I can’t stop making quilts, no adorable ladybug fabric was safe from me and my machine. I found these abstract ladybugs on reprodepot.com and mixed up the solid red ladybugs with the orange ladies and yellow dots. I had enough fabric to make two quilts for two little ladies. Charlotte in Maine is already enjoying her quilt and the other little lady should be presenting herself this week. I can’t wait for action shots.
The Goods
THE BUST CRAFTACULAR IS COMING!!!
Bust Magazine hosts an annual holiday craft fair and they have accepted my application to be a vendor. Wahoo! So on Saturday, December 8th from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m., you are invited to come on down and get busy on your holiday shopping, either at the Lunden Designs table or elsewhere. The Craftacular is located at The Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City, 125 West 18th Street. I will be posting pictures of the purses and other lovelies as I make them.
Toot! Toot!
I know it is rude to toot my own horn, but every once in a while, a gal makes something that is just so pretty it can’t be helped. This lovely quilt was started a while ago but was put on the back burner so I could concentrate on my wedding dress. Now that the dress is finished and the wedding is just around the corner, I finally had time again to work on this little beauty. It is a gift for my newest friend, Clementine. She took her sweet time coming into this world, but she was definitely worth the wait.
I used a Japanese print and created a cream border to create 12″ x 14″ blocks and then sewed them all together. I quilted “in the ditch” following the two vertical seams and outlined each swatch of pear material.
The original backing was going to be made with the same cream material, but there was a tragic accident involving some purple fabric that ran in the same load of wash. The cream fabric took the color beautifully and I found that the pink really worked well with the pears and leaves so I used it anyway. Sadly, some shirts and a sweater did not fair as well.
Quilt Action Shots – Part I
It seems like just yesterday that I was sending off my first baby quilt to San Francisco, anxiously checking the post office website for delivery confirmation and just busting with excitement for my friends to receive their surprise present. They did receive the quilt but had to wait a couple more months and then one very long week past the due date for their bundle of joy. Luckily, Henry arrived safe and sound. Here is the man of the hour, clearly enjoying his quilt and generally being charming and adorable.
Knitted Baby Blankets – Part II
Lunden Designs products are huge in Europe! It’s true, all the fabulously adorable babies have Lunden baby blankets. This blanket was made for my little friend Kes, who lives in Amsterdam. When I generously offered to take Kes off his parents’ hands, I was politely told to go get my own baby. At least I can take comfort in the fact that Kes gets to stay warm this winter cuddling in this lovely wool-blend baby blanket. As you can see, this versatile blanket is good for both playing and afternoon naps.
The pattern came from Debbie Stoller’s Stitch ‘N Bitch knitting book, a great guide for teaching yourself to knit. I picked a thicker yarn that yielded a much larger blanket than described in the pattern so Kes could use the blanket for years.
Knitted Baby Blankets In Action – Part 1
Long before there was quilting in my life, I knitted baby blankets for my friends’ babies. Now that the babies are born and growing so fast, it is such a wonderful feeling to see the baby blanket in action. The yarn for this blanket was a very soft wool blend painted in different blues and greens.
Here are some pictures of little baby Lucas enjoying his blanket on a leisurely Saturday afternoon. As you can see, the blanket is not only comfortable, it is also quite tasty.
Quilt For A Big Girl – Part II
So I spent yesterday afternoon trekking around SoHo looking for the perfect fabric to back this lovely little quilt. I went to one of my favorite fabric stores, Purl Patchwork on Sullivan Street, because I knew they would have just what I need. I decided on this gorgeous, pale rose pattern for the back, instead of a solid color. It is delicate and feminine, but with enough detail to be a great reversible side.
Ever since I learned that Simplicity did not make a compatible walking foot for my machine, I really started looking at my machine with new eyes, as if it had betrayed me and now all I could focus on was its faults. A little time trolling on the internet led me to a great deal on a Brother machine that came with all kinds of great quilting feet. The old machine is in a box; the new machine is all fired up and the rest you could say, is history. I tried out the elusive walking foot last night and it was everything I wanted and more. I quilted this little baby by sewing in the ditch, a fancy term for following the seam lines. I only quilted the vertical seams and did not quilt the short horizontal lines. Keeping the back of the quilt nice and visually simple seemed like a nice contrast to the fun and busy front.
Here are some pictures of the completed quilt for my little friend. I am waiting to give it to her after her little sister is born so I will just have to wait for action shots of the quilt and its new friend.
A Quilt For A Big Girl – Part I
I know a certain three year-old who is about to get a new baby sister. It is an exciting time but it also comes with a lot of changes, so I wanted to make something special for my little friend. I also had a lot of great material that would be perfect for her bedroom. Most of my material was patterns so I supplemented the group with a pretty fresh solid pink. The material were all made up of pinks and browns, so I added three little squares of a bright, fun pattern of birds and flowers. I chose the garden path quilt style, or at least, that is what I think it is called.
Here are some pictures of the quilt in the making.
Some recent developments
The day job has really cramped my style lately, both in sewing productivity and posting new pictures.
So on that note, here are some of my more recent creations.
My First Quilt
My New Love
Here is the first picture of my favorite new bag. I picked up the material months ago after falling in love with the delicately embroidered flowers on a cream linen background. I lined it with rich, dark chocolate silk. It is nice and spacious and can carry everything I need for a day away from home.
The Perfect Bridesmaid Gift, Part II
Here is another little number I made for the bridesmaids of a friend’s lovely wedding. The bride picked out the exterior fabric and requested the shoulder strap. They turned out so pretty and the shoulder strap is now going to be an option for all clutches.
There’s a new girl in town…
with a brand new style. Allow me to introduce my newest style, the City Bag. I am not sure if the name is going to stick; we’ll just have to see how it rolls off the tongue. I made this little number for a friend in grad school who needed lots of room to carry around her personal branch of the New York Public Library. This little lady is 17″ long and 16″ wide with one wide strap. The exterior is a thick pink cotton/denim and the interior is pure happiness and sunshine.
