Thursday, October 29, 2009

My Creative Space - Assessed with Dogs

My space this week has gone to the dogs! My niece is obsessed - or if you ask her "assessed" - with dogs so for her 5th birthday, she has a new bag to carry her every growing collection of dogs.... and other special treasures.

I wanted a basic lined bag with a zipper closure, easy for 5 year old fingers to open and close, and secure enough so as not to lose anything while out and about. I have made and love the shape of Nicole Mallalieu's Make Up Purse so I enlarged the pattern and added handles.


There is fusible wadding on the outer fabric so it feels soft but also gives it structure, and I followed this tutorial to add a base using template plastic. I used two pieces of plastic for extra strength.

And because I had some little bits of fabric left over, there is a matching snap purse.


Thankyou to the lovely Miss Marzie for coming to my rescue with some perfect fabric for my dog-assessed niece.

My niece's party is this Saturday and the invitation says to "Come as your favourite jungle animal". Seriously??!! What was my sister thinking!
This is what I have so far.....

While I am confident I can talk my way around a leopard being in the jungle, has anyone ever seen a jungle cow?

Not sure what I am going to do next but if I run out of time, I could always cut out eye holes and the kids could go as jungle ghosts. Is it a spooky coincidence that Saturday is Halloween??? Oooooooooohhh.....

For more creative spaces, head over to visit Kirsty who just can't get red out of her space!

53 comments:

Unknown said...

Isn't that a giraffe print? In zebra colours? Perfect! I think jungle ghosts is the go. Love the bag and purse too.

Kirsty said...

Ditto what Lauren said. Whack it in a tea bath & call in giraffe I say.

The sausage dog bag & purse...too cute.

Leah said...

Love that dog material! and the purse is so darn cute. Im to scared to go near those closures.

Cathie said...

how very cute! fantastic birthday gifts.
if you run out of time for the costumes just make some animal print bandanas and put them on their little heads, tadaaa

Unknown said...

Awww the bag fabric is just too cute and perfect for a dog-assessed little one..:P

Becky said...

I am assessed with that fabric! My favourite type of dog as I had a sausage dog while growing up :D

Tania said...

DON'T GO ANY FURTHER! Jungle ghosts couldn't be more PERFECT (best of luck keeping the ghosty outfits on the wee ones!)...

Bianca Jae Makes Stuff said...

Seriously laughed out loud! Jungle cow! I'm with everyone else. Jungle ghosts. And you can always add a tail for extra weirdness.
Very cute bags. Sure to be a hit xox

Beck said...

Hilarious! I guess the good thing about kids is that they can go with the flow and use their imaginations, so a jungle cow/ghost actually isn't that crazy is it? Love the matching purse, it's so sweet. And dogs, what a great obsession, I'm with her xo

Selina said...

my daughter was also "dog-assessed" for quite some time, after her dino phase. That dog fabric is soo cute, and the little purse, adorable!

Sally said...

That doggy fabric is wonderful - and the bag & purse are out of this world. Your neice will be jumping out of her skin when she gets them. I can almost feel her joy now.
Good luck with the fancy dress.

Kylie said...

Ha! That's fabulous - love the jungle animal :)
Your bag and purse for your niece are just so utterly wonderful. Thanks for all the great links. K

Aussie-waffler said...

How fantastic for your niece to have a puppy print bag(and purse) for all her wee puppy treasures. Jungle cow, hee hee hee.

elk said...

what a very lucky niece to get such a cute dog carrying purse...have lots of fun in the "jungle"

Unknown said...

I love the bag, and I bet the purse is a hit too! As for jungle animals, I think giraffe too.

Pippi creates said...

Jungle ghosts are a definite goer. Original, easy and they will be the talk of the party. Lovely bag. Can't beat a sausage dog I say!

teddybearswednesday said...

I like the idea of a jungle cow ! Why not? I bet no one else will be a jungle cow there.
Love the bag and purse too, you've done a beautiful job! And the doggy fabric is so sweet.

dillpickle said...

The bag is magnificent, and the little purse will be the perfect icing on the cake!

I'm sure there were cows in the jungle once upon a time. Cows are great.

kellie said...

that is such a great gift! how lucky she is to have you as an aunt!

Jodie said...

Ears and tails and don't worry about the rest -

P.S love the emo giraffe print, its what all the fashionable giraffes are doing these days - going black and white!

Kate said...

That is one lucky 5 year old. The bag and purse and divine. Next week Pepper is invited to a bug party! Dress as your favourite bug!!!!

Gina said...

There you go, making the most perfect and thoughtful gift again. Honestly, if there was such a job as 'perfect gift giver/finder' um, you would have that job. (Ahhh, the eloquence... you know what I mean. Hopefully!)
I'm with the crowd on the 'jungle ghosts' theme. How much fun did you have just plonking that fabric over your kiddies' heads and making them 'disappear' for just that moment?! Tee hee.

CurlyPops said...

Love the ingenious make up purse enlargement. She is going to absolutely adore those pressies.
As for the costumes, you cracked me up!

One Flew Over said...

Love the purses...very sweet!

Karen said...

The fabric of the bag and purse are perfect Nikki, I bet she will lovethese.
And yep, cut eyeholes and away you go with jungle ghosts!

Christina Lowry said...

Wow Nikki! I love coming to your blog and seeing the amazing things you make! This present would be perfect for anyone of any age, so I am sure the 5 year old will adore it. Love the fabric and the matching purse.

I would say it was an albino giraffe? And that leopard must have chased his lunch into the jungle?

If all else fails, yellow clothes, yellow face paint and a hair band with yellow wool tied to it and you would have a lion and lioness?!

:)

tea with lucy said...

We're pretty dog assessed around here too!

I would be stoked to receive that bag and purse set for my birthday!

annamaria potamiti said...

The bags are absolutely the cutest! What a lucky niece! I loved the idea of the jungle ghosts...Totally hillarious-
Have great fun on the party day!!
Annamaria

Mel said...

I am speechless .... nah not really :) That bag and the matching purse is so so lovely Nikki and looks beautifully made. The fabric is super cute and perfect for a dog lover.

Laughed out loud when I saw your jungle animals! It would certainly slow them down if they just went like that!

michelle said...

thats hilarious. i love the bag and purse they are so gorgeous. what a nice aunt you are. and i say go jungle ghosts. and who says cows can't live in the jungle if they so desire. enjoy yhe party. what are you going as?

MooBear Designs said...

I always forget that you can enlarge patters. I like the coin purse... so cute!!
If Bear can be a Jungle Bear then there is room for a Jungle Cow... Love the photo too... "Throw N Shoot" shot!!

xo Steph

M* (Melanie) said...

the bag and matching purse is adorable. The print is just gorgeous! A great gift

Unknown said...

I love your 'doggy bags'. They are so adorable. Even though I'm all grown up now - I'd love a set of those!!!
What a lucky 5 year old!

One pair of Hands said...

You are clever. That little purse and bag look very professional (hope that's not an insult) Anyway little girls love handbags so this one will go down a treat. Elsie

Tricia said...

Your neice is going to love that bag and I love the matching purse. I've just bought one of those zippered purse kits as I have been struggling with my zip ends. Thanks for the link!

Jeana Marie said...

i like the idea of jungle ghosts - the dog fabric is so very cute!

{it was very nice to meet you on Friday last!}

Liesl said...

Clever! That's the best bag - it looks fantastic! (You don't think she will go all Paris Hilton and carry something small white and fluffy in it though do you? Uh, what do you mean its not that kind of dog bag?)

I hear its going to be pretty warm on Saturday so animal drapage is probably the most sensible option for the party. Could get a bit stuff if you sew up the seams.

Sherrin said...

I love you space this week! Great idea re blowing up the pattern, and I LOVE the purse. Jungle cows? Don't be a stick in the mud... of COURSE (my little dude would say 'of coursely') they exist!!!

yardage girl said...

These two are so cute, Nikki. Where can I put my order in? xx

admin said...

Amazing creation as usual!

Ooty said...

looooooove animal prints =D I wish I knew how to sew!!!!

Anonymous said...

Ahhh yes, jungle cows are quite common around these parts. LOVE to doggy bag, gorgeous!

handmaiden said...

Nikki, its fabulous and the fabric is so great, i am sure she will love it

Anonymous said...

The fabric is very lovely and I love the way it shows on your end product.

Anonymous said...

I love the wiener dog fabric. SO cute! Whenever I read blogs like these, I wish I was more skilled at sewing.

Nikki said...

Love what you did with the purses and I can't wait to see the update on the costumes.

Tracey@bountifully said...

oh how very gourgeous that fabric is - I especially like the snap closure purse - what a lucky little girl!

Maria Rose said...

Ah yes, the fearsome jungle cow!

PS The dog fabric is wonderful!

Alisa : Ink Caravan said...

Jungle ghosts, how fantastic! And love the bag and the little purse ~ how gorgeous is it with sausage dogs. Oooh you are too clever! Happy Jungle party. : )

Kylie said...

Wow! I love that you didn't just make a bag from a pattern, but enlarged it and added handles... you amaze me every time! Cute story. I love 'little kid speak'. My four year old had some gorgeous ones which I filmed him telling me about at two and half... tigidar (guitar) and pnano (piano). Every now and then he will look me in eye, with an amazing dead-pan expression and say, "Are you kidding Mummy?" Hope your jungle ghosts have fun at the party! xx

Peta @ Pippiwillow said...

Sister if a Hippo is colloquially called the river cow and a Dugong called the cow of the sea, then i am all for the 'Jungle cow" Rar! Peta

Sandrine said...

The photo of your little one pre costume is hillarious!and the bag and little purse really great!x

Cathy said...

they look great NIkki, you have done a great job of the purses - I am sure your niece will love it! As for the costumes not so sure.