A-Tisket, A-Tasket, a Bag and a Basket

I was overdue for a simple handbag and decided to get to work with some of the new fabrics that I brought home from Pink Chalk Fabrics. I make these simple handbags quite often. I don't use a pattern these days, but the general style evolved from Jennifer Ladd's fat quarter bag tutorial.  This time, I paired Echino Ni-Co in mustard with a bit of Mixteca. It's lined in a black spot and has internal pockets in the same Mixteca print.  I'm quite happy with it, but in looking at it now I wish I had put a funky snap closure on the outside instead of hiding it internally. ...next time, I guess.

I usually carry quite simple handbags, totes or messenger bags. I'm not big on flash, gathers or ruffles. When you have good fabrics, they sort of speak for themselves. 

Speaking of good fabrics, I used the same Echino Ni-Co fabric earlier this week and paired it with itself and Windham's Bye Bye Birdie to create this basket using Anna Noodlehead's Divided Basket Pattern. It's a clear, well-illustrated pattern. I've briefly omitted the handles because I had trouble finding coordinating webbing and prints. I decided to omission was better than including the wrong thing. I might go back in and add them later.

It's a fairly large basket - much bigger than I imagined. I think it would be handy on the floor by the sofa filled with balls of yarn while crocheting. I used both the interfacing and fusible fleece, but I wish I'd added even more structure to it as mine is a bit floppy when not fully filled. I'm taking that as a reason to buy more yarn. Wouldn't you?

I fussed a bit with the positioning of the glasses on the front of the basket. While I'm happy that worked out, I'm even happier with the cartoon-like triple lens that resulted on the basket sides. Both of these projects were great because they reminded me that you don't need complex patchwork to make yourself smile.

Have you been making simple lately?  Sometimes it is nice to just let those fabrics shine.