Monday, March 14, 2011

Anthro-Inspired Bag: Ile Saint-Louis Bag

I saw tutorials for a knock-off of this bag from Anthropologie floating around some link parties last week:

Anthropologie - Knotted Tag-along Tote, $498 (Renamed by Anthro as the Ile Saint-Louis Bag with the reduced price of $288 ;)
The Little Appleseed posted a tutorial and a pattern at Someday Crafts! I checked it out and it looks easy enough to follow (except for the bias tape part... I have never tried using one before) so I decided that this will be my first attempt at making a bag.

After spending all my free time over the weekend...
... Mommy-and-daughter matching bags! After looking at the photos this morning, I only noticed that the folds along the sides are not as noticeable in the bags I made. I only made a couple of folds on each side and they were completely covered by the bow, but trust me... they're there! Also I couldn't find checked fabric in the fabric store at the mall so I had to use one with small beige stripes.

I mentioned that this is my first time to use bias tape...
Yes!!! I did it!!!
I didn't have time to make my own, though I saw a tutorial by Dana over at Made on how to go about making them. Maybe next time. The tutorial she posted on how to sew bias helped a lot though! And I did it the proper way, not the cheating way!!

I used soft cotton material for the bow so it was flopping around a little. I stabilize it, I sewed along the sides of the center:

I think the bag could use a zipper... but that's another thing I have never tried before. I think I will though, because I really want to have a zipped opening for this bag. But for now... my first attempt at making a bag and my first time to use bias tape! I think I learned a lot last weekend :)

Before I end this post, you gals might be wondering what my 1-year-old toddler needs a bag for. Well, every girl needs a place to put her 'essentials':
...you know, phone, keys and 'lipstick'.

I wasn't able to take pictures of us using these yet because I only finished last night (Sunday night my time). I meant it when I said this project took 'all my free time last weekend'. Andrea had no idea what it was when I first handed it to her... but when she saw I was carrying one just like it, her face lit up. She loves rummaging through my bag and I think she will love having one for her own to rummage through.

I hope you all had a productive weekend like I did. (In spite of the very sad news about Japan. Let's all keep praying for them).

Updated 3/17/2011:
We took Andrea to the doctor for a check up this morning and we used our bags!

Updated 04/04/2011:
I was browsing the Anthropologie site and I noticed that this bag is available again... but they are now calling it a different name: Ile Saint-Louis Bag. And they reduced the price, they are now selling it for $288. They have another bag they are now calling the Knotted Tag-along Tote.


I linked up this project to the following link parties:
Sundae Scoop at I heart Naptime | Free for All at Young and Crafty | Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff | Craft Couture Monday at Craft Couture | Made by You Monday at Skip to my Lou | Sew Cute Tuesday at Creative Itch | Take a Look Tuesday at Sugar Bee CraftsShow Me What Ya Got at Not JUST A Housewife | Handmade Tuesdays at Ladybug Blessings | Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog | Made with Love Monday at Sew Chatty  | Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design | We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado | Sugar & Spice at Seven Thirty Three | Strut Your Stuff at Somewhat Simple | Crazy Cute at Between You and Me | Think Pink Sundays at Flamingo ToesWeekend Wrap-up Party at Tatertots and Jello Keep It Simple Sunday at The Tattered Tag | Strut Your Stuff at Saturday Mornings | Sew Crafty Saturdays at Wildflowers and Whimsy | CraftOManiac Monday at CraftOManiac | Making Monday Marvelous at C.R.A.F.T.Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple | Craftastic Monday at Sew Can Do |

21 comments:

Katie said...

I am in love with this bag! Great job!!

Leigh said...

OH MY! Those bags are PRECIOUS! I love them and now wish I could sew! Great job!

Stacey said...

So cute!! Love that you made mommy, daughter matching ones!!!

Unknown said...

I love the matching purses. You did a great job!

I made a placemat purse/scripture bag this week. Hop over to www.froufrugal.blogspot.com if you're interested in seeing it.

The Extra Ordinary Bree said...

This is so sweet! My daughter is just getting into this stuff and would freak to have a matching purse like Mommy!

Dominique @ Craft Couture said...

Great job! I like yours way more than the Anthropologie one, is that bad? lol. I love that you made matching ones too! Thanks for linking up!

Janet said...

I LOOOVVVEEEE this bag!!! I think I might borrow this idea!! Thanks!!

http://www.craigslistqueen.blogspot.com

I Love Crafts said...

Well done! No one would guess that this is your first attempt at a bag! And if your ever need to make your own bias tape, I have lots of those bias tape folders in different widths, so you could come over and I'll give you a hand!

Janelle said...

Thank you for all the nice comments! You can grab the pattern over at Someday Crafts! :)

Jayna Rae said...

I love that they are a matching set.

Yvette said...

Those bags are adorable! Glad you have a little girl to share your crafts with. I'm visiting you from the We Did It! Wednesday link party.
-napualaniscloset.blogspot.com

Fonda @Southern Scraps said...

Great job! And such cute bags!

country girl chronicles said...

Matching mommy/daughter bags...what a great idea! They look beautiful.

Unknown said...

How cute! Maybe one of these days I will attempt to make these for my daughters and I. Of course that means I have to learn to sew...

I found you from "Between U & Me"

Jill said...

Brilliant!! These bags are just gorgeous - and matching mum and daughter ones - genius!

I would love if you came over and linked this project to my weekly Round Tuit party at:
http://jembellish.blogspot.com/
Have a great week!
Jill @ Creating my way to Success

Kristin said...

You did a wonderful job on those bags!! I have never used bias tape either, but I might just give it a try - those bags are beautiful!

Dominique @ Craft Couture said...

I featured this on my blog today :)
http://dominiquescraftcouture.blogspot.com/2011/03/features-from-craft-couture-monday-7.html

Kara @ Mine for the Making said...

These are TOO CUTE!! Nice job!! You are a very talented seamstress. Ive seen two of your projects this week and I am just loving your ideas! I am your newest follower :)

I would love for you to stop by my little corner over blogland sometime!

Kara
www.mineforthemaking.com

Unknown said...

These are soooo adorable!! Thank you for linking up to my K.I.S.S. blog bash last week. This weeks blog bash is in full swing again!! If you haven't already please be sure & link up more of your creativity, I look forward to seeing all your great ideas. :)

Drop by The Tattered Tag

Megan said...

Oh those are precious! Iam a working mom of a 14 month old and I would love for us to have matching bags! So so cute!

Megan said...

Oh those are precious! Iam a working mom of a 14 month old and I would love for us to have matching bags! So so cute!