I’m pretty happy with it, all things considered. This was a more complex project than anything else I’ve done before. I’ve never had to deal with things like handles, so I’m not 100% happy with how they turned out, but if the handbag works well for me, then I’ll do a much better job next time I make it – I love the style and other than the couple of hurdles it wasn’t very difficult, so I could see this as something I would make again already. Plus, it’s a good size for fitting a paperback in, and we all know that’s one of the main considerations when looking at purses. ;)

Next time I go visit my parents, however, I will be borrowing my mother’s sewing machine for a bit to fix up some areas around the top of the purse where I had some issues. My sewing machine doesn’t work well when I want it to go through a bunch of layers of thick fabric, so the stitching doesn’t look as nice as it could…

But other than those two things, I’m really happy with how it turned out! One of the things that I really really liked about this handbag is the fact that it’s reversible, so while I love the fabric I’ve used on the outside of the purse, I also really love the stuff used for the inside, and if the outside doesn’t match what I’m wearing, I can always turn it inside out:

This past Friday night, I decided that I was sick of looking at it, and so proceeded to search Apartment Therapy for something I could do with it. And I found a VERY easy project. So, after buying a roll of wrapping paper yesterday afternoon, I spent this evening transforming that old and ugly filing cabinet into something MUCH more my style.

And when I say that it was a VERY easy project, I mean all that really had to be done was removing the handles (and other hardware) on the drawers, use spray adhesive to stick wrapping paper to every visible surface, then reattach all hardware.

Normally, I hate spray adhesive. I would MUCH rather work with rubber cement. I spent three years in college using it to mount projects, and always managed to get it ALL OVER MYSELF. Not fun! That said, there are some instances when working with spray adhesive ends up looking a heck of a lot better. This is DEFINITELY one of those instances. So, as much as I hate the stuff, I decided it was worth it to suffer sticky hands for the next day or so in order to prettify that ugly piece of metal.

Of course, I did run into a few setbacks. Another problem I have with spray adhesive (or any type of adhesive, really) is making everything line up in a way that I am happy with. So it took longer than I expected it to.

But other than that, it was super easy. And I have to say that I’m quite happy with the outcome. Take a look for yourself. (Click on the picture to make it bigger.)

And it only took me 12 months to start it. And a project that should have taken a weekend took about 5 weeks to finish… so just over 13 months later, it is finally done.

Yes I win like that.

But! Finish it I did. And although I am not 100% happy with it, I am still about 90% happy with it. There are a few things that I think I could have done better. Such as measuring lengths correctly. And sewing in a straight line. But for the most part, I like how it turned out:

You can’t really see it, but my duvet cover and bed skirt don’t actually match. The duvet cover has faded over the year. The sun, she shines right into my bedroom in the middle of the day. Thankfully, the panel that I am least happy with is the one that is on the side of the bed away from the door. So no one is ever going to see it. Except me.

… and yes, that is my Darth Vader pillowcase.

I have to say that I’m very happy with how it turned out – only thing I don’t like about it was the fact that you can totally see the zipper because Walmart didn’t have any darker brown ones, and the neutral was the closest to what I was looking for. It was also my first time doing anything with zippers, and I totally broke a couple of needles on my sewing machine. Whoops!

I’m excited about it, really. In the next couple of months when I have some free time, I’m going to make myself a matching bed skirt, and possibly an accent pillow in the yellowish material. Then I’m thinking about getting something from blik for the walls when all of the sewing is all finished. How fun! My room is starting to look “grown up!” (Shock!)

I think it was a few months ago when I mentioned that I was going to be making my own book plates, and a few people mentioned interest in seeing them… I’ve made a couple when I’ve actually found the motivation to sit down and do something for myself, and I’m actually quite happy with them – especially the second one. So for your viewing pleasure…

Download Black and White Book Plate PDF

Download Pink Flowers Book Plate PDF

As you can see from the links above, I’ve also uploaded PDFs of the book plates in case anyone was interested in printing them off for themselves. Just, when you print them, make sure the PDF doesn’t enlarge to fit the whole sheet of paper – it should be 3.5″ x 2″ (standard business card size). And it can just be printed off on any standard adhesive paper that you can buy at most office supply stores.

For my birthday, my parents bought me Amy Butler’s book, In Stitches. I had mentioned to them how I was going to sew a few cushions for that window, but had never gotten around to it (such is the story of my life). Partially because I was extremely daunted. I made the curtains in my kitchen, and realized that I don’t know how to sew in a straight line . . . Very discouraging, let me tell you.

Anyway, this book got me motivated to actually go out and buy materials and give it a another go. So, I spent the majority of my May Two-Four weekend holed up in my apartment in front of Lord of the Rings while attempting cushions for my window. And look! I am happy to say that I now have the most comfortable window in the world. Or at least the most comfortable window that I’ve ever had. (You can click on the thumbnail to see the picture bigger.)

The best thing of it all, though, was that this book made the project so easy – the most stressful part was threading the bobbin (the instructions in my sewing machine manual are HORRID, and I had forgotten how to do it… alas). Good for beginners like me, which is awesome because I needed a hobby, and there were a couple other projects in here that looked like they’d be fun.

(Side note: I leafed through this book, and it was lust at first sight. Seriously. The design of the book – sleek, sassy, rather sexy – all book designs should be this drool worthy. End of Graphic Designer shpeal.)