So, my dear one hands me back some of our vacation funds saying, "We don't need what we've saved, or we would have FLOWN somewhere for our anniversary."  He proceeded to tell me he almost bought an iPad for me the day before, but knew I was the one who would have more questions on the product than he did.  So he waited, and told me to GO!  Awesome!  btw - I'm totally hooked already on the notes app.  So that just meant I needed a handmade case for it, because that's just who I am.  Here is one of the best downloads, which I purchased, that I could locate on the web.  So my Amy Butler fabric I've been hoarding which was bought with a gift card from a very good friend, will get made up into a WHOLE set of great organizational tools and covers for MYSELF!  ME?  I don't make things for me!  But when you spend that hard earned cash on an item like an iPad, extra precautions just need to be made.  Isn't this a great pattern?
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You can find this tutorial in pdf format over at NapKittenPatterns on Etsy.  Her shop is full of great ideas and downloads.
 
This thing just kept morphing all afternoon until it turned into this:  "Hot Pants Valentino Tote Bag"  Don't ask me why 'hot pants' came into my mind, other than the back of the bag really does look like a pair of pants.  HA!  Well, this is totally different still from the others, so we'll see if it flies.  
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Here's Val taking a little sunbath.
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Here's Val's behind - just ready to hold something special.
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Just another view to show her pleated side gussets.
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I could not for the LIFE of me get a good picture of the guts. But this one is padded good enough you could carry eggs in it.
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Turned the logo into a sort of luggage tag and dangled a gold purse charm that has Swarovski crystals on it from the same ring.
This one was very difficult only because of the vinyl not being as pliable as some.  It's very tall and actually gets more slender as it comes up to the top - fairly feminine I'm thinking.  Has a magnet inside for closure.  Absolutely NOTHING would fall out of this!  Hope you find a good home, Hot Pants Valentino!  :)
 
Had a rough start on this one yesterday, and turning it right side out after forming it into a box was probably the hardest one I have done to date.  Sort of wanted to punch it.  :)  But that certainly wouldn't have gotten the job done.  So here is how it sits this morning with hopefully a better ending to it later today.  The difficult part is at least completed, and the fun and bling can begin!
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The front......... (laying on the ironing board)
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Threw a package in this pic so you could see the back has a HUGE outside pocket on it.
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Doesn't know how to stand up straight yet, but we'll get 'er trained by end of day.
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A really BAD picture of the black and gold brocade that will be the lining. Guess I got in a hurry with the camera.
Get a little creative today and think outside the box!
 
I promised there would be a blog about all the stuff that has taken over my dining room table.  Everything is just sitting there, waiting for me to get busy and get creative.  Wanted to show you what fun things came along in the past week to incorporate into some fun bags, totes, clutches and WHO KNOWS WHAT?  :)
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Giorgio Armani vinyl banner......
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Kenneth Cole (two of these) vinyl banner
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DKNY fabric banner (way cool)
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GoodWill findings - nothing like brand new fabric and some FUN accents for tote bags.
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Small assortment of adorable little girl's clothing - SO perfect for trendy and fun clutches.
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A 5" X 7" oil painting on canvas just sitting there waiting to get put on the front of a purse. Adore the colors and whimsy of this one.
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Perfect heart closure clutch frames from China - SO CUTE!
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Jewelry findings and charms on SALE at Michaels! Yeah, and ceramic buttons - very cool.
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Since when does Swarovski crystal charms end up in a CLEARANCE bin????
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eBay finds - a much needed base pattern for a messenger/laptop bag. Amy Butler to boot!
And this treasure also came this week..........
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Bill's brother and sister-in-law were SO generous to bring the Dale Nichols history and art book that we'd special ordered to Lincoln the other day.  I just noticed this morning that the author even signed it for us!  Dale Nichols is Bill's great uncle - Google him sometime and you'll be able to see some incredible art.  This is a huge book, and will definitely make time to sit and really read this bit of family history.

There, that's all I have for you and it's time to get on with things around here.  So YOU go do something fun, creative, and exciting!  Never know where it will lead.
 
I found this picture on a blog this morning that just had to be revisited.  It's just TOO cute,  creative and just plain ADORABLE!  Check out the Be Sweet Blog and check out all the other knitting articles - there's a lot of fun reading over there.
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What a great idea to serve at a knitting party or get together. Now THIS is talent!
 
Here is the next project on the drawing board.  Just a shot of the Valentino vinyl banner that's been getting designed in my head for over a week.  Hopefully this one will turn out very posh and sophisticated.  There is a black and gold satin brocade that was purchased especially for this bag's lining.  I really hope my head isn't trying to overachieve on this one.  So it's just GOT to be next in line and get it out of my brain.  HA!
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A couple things got worked up this weekend and finally off the drawing board and onto the camera.

Here is a MONSTER of a tote from the Kate Spade vinyl banner I'd collected.  This thing is huge and could hold maybe even a small child in it.  HA!  Not sure I like the flower on it, but it's just pinned on and can come off easily.  As usual, I am so totally spent after completing one of these banner restyles.  But it is rewarding to get something accomplished.  

I don't have real good pictures of it yet because the camera fogged over from the sauna weather we are having outside..... AND I weenied out and came in.  Not meant for man out there today!  HOLY COW it's HOT!  But anyway, here's the back of this same bag.  Yes, it's from the same banner - even though the colors change a little..........

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The second is a set of distressed linen with a lovely washed out lily in golds and blues, made up into a clutch, notebook and mini change purse/wallet.  Don't think I'd put coins in it, but it would work for paper money and ID cards.  
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Too pooped to list anything tonight and it may just have to wait until next weekend.  But then again, it seems that there will be grandchildren to attend to.  So we'll see!  Not holding my breath.....  :)

Have a wonderful week and enjoy something different!
 
Remember the post with the three paintings?  Or at least knock-off prints of paintings canvas?  One really is a real painting, the other two are prints on canvas.  Well, I took one of them, squared it up nice and got THIS out of it!  I couldn't be happier with the end result for my first try at a market bag.  This guy is big enough to carry a dozen ears of corn, 3 onions, 6 tomatoes, head of lettuce AND that fantastic sour dough bread the Mennonite women make at our local farmers market.  I'll bet it would even hold a bunch of fresh cut flowers, a jar of local honey, a gift of handmade jewelry for a loved one AND a dozen cookies.  
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This bag even got my husband's stamp of approval.  Now we need to come up with a name for this little division of TygerLily.  Got any good ideas worth sharing?  If you do, try to get the name Bonnie worked into it somewhere.  I have my reasons.

Thanks for looking and ENJOY this wonderful weekend!!
 
There are times when one must just stop and smell the roses.  Since all of my supplies have not yet arrived for one of my other ventures, I decided that a little fun with another restyle of a designer banner could get accomplished.  This LaFont banner started out being about 2-ft by 4-ft in size and is made of some type of nylon or polyester fabric.  The colors on the back are absolutely gorgeous.  With only one imperfection to the whole banner, it was easily hidden with a trendy patch and an Arc de Triomphe ironed on.  That added just a little more 'French'-ness to the bag.  When it was complete, I remembered all the fun flower clips and voila!  Guess I'm a sucker for those flowers, or could you tell.  :)  This bag could actually get used for a purse or handbag as it's not as wide as the others.  It does have 4 gold feet on the bottom (not in picture) and deep pockets on the front only.  You know, that old lipstick thing again.  
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Sister bags - Aren't they just CUTE? Smile for the camera ladies!
Thank you for taking time to look.  Every day is a new experience - LIVE OUT LOUD!  It's worth it.
 
This was the next banner that I had cut down, so it needed to be done first.  It morphed and morphed as I worked on it.  There was just too many cool things on the banner that just could NOT be cut off or discarded.  But it was way too deep, so that's why there is a pocket that circles all the way around the bottom.  You know, a quick place to stick your lipstick or something.  So here is my remake #2 - the OGI Bag.  
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There are 4 buttons - front and back and on both ends to keep that long old pocket in place.  And you may be asking why the pink flower hanging on the pocket?  Well, on the back of the bag is the model's bright pink lipsticked up lips.  It just screamed for a BOLD flower.

This is a one of a kind, there won't be another one like it on the face of the earth.

And thank you for checking it out!