Tank Top Beach Bag

Sometimes you just have to take what you've got and make it into something better or more useful.  Like this tank top I turned into a beach bag.  I never wore the tank top, not even once, but this beach bag is about to take a trip to Hawaii with me!

I bought this tank top on clearance at a little boutique a few years ago.   It was adorable!  I loved how it looked...

...ON THE HANGER!  

It was adorable with the sweet fringed neckline and the sheer pleated body.  So romantic.  A bit sexy.

But it didn't look cute on me!  

The color is too close to my skin tone so it washed me out bad.  Not good!

That will teach me to try things on before I buy them.

Even if they are only $5.00 on clearance.

So I put it in the donate bag and there it sat.  Until the other day when I saw some tank top totes on Pinterest.  I didn't pin them because I had no intention of making one so I can't share who made those particular totes I saw that day.  There are numerous versions you can find online though.  Just type tank top tote/bag into the Google or Pinterest search bar and see what comes up.  :)

Then the other day I was thinking about what I would carry my towel, sunglasses, book and sunblock in while in Hawaii and those tank top totes popped into my head.  And I pulled out my tank that had never been given it's day to shine and here's what I did:

I grabbed a piece of scrap fabric I had that was a nice tropical print on a cream background.  This would become the lining for my beach bag.

I measured how deep I wanted my bag and cut the lining that long.  I traced the arm holes and straps because these would become the handles of my new tote.

Once the measuring was done I folded and cut out my lining fabric to size.

I also cut a couple of strips of lining fabric for reinforcing the tote handles.

I sewed up the sides of the lining fabric.  The bottom was the fold so it didn't need to be sewn.

Here's how it looked once the sides were sewn up.  (above:  I turned it right side out for this photo) 

This piece gets turned inside out again and put inside the tank as a lining.  My tank was so sheer and "stretchy" from those pleats that I wanted to give it some form with this lining fabric.

I folded the handle pieces over and sewed down the edges then turned them right side out using a safety pin to push through.

The bottom of the tank was sewn with a zig zag stitch, the excess cut off and turned right side out again.

The lining was put inside and stitched all around the edges with a zig zag stitch to attach...sewing the little handle reinforcements under the straps.

This isn't much of a step-by-step tutorial but honestly, it wasn't too difficult.  

If you use a tank with a more substantial fabric you could create a bag without adding a lining at all...just hem up the bottom and voila!

It's the perfect size to carry my beach stuff around.  

It's cute enough to carry into a restaurant or shop as well.

And that's just what me and my new bag will be doing when we arrive in Hawaii next weekend...bumming it on the beach or shopping the open air market and sipping Mai Tai's at local restaurants.

Wish I could hide you all in my bag and take you with me :)

I hope you come and visit next week when I've got a couple of wonderful guests coming to share their fabulous~ness with you while I'm gone!  You won't want to miss them.

Aloha!

Sherry

Sharing with:

http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2013/04/mop-it-up-monday-63.html

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House Haunts at the Beating Hearth ~ IC # 16

Welcome to the Inspiration Cafe. It's Heather this week, and I am so excited to get you inspired to do something....sewing.   Yeah.

Halloween is almost here. I know,  don't blink or anything. That is why I am taking the time today, in September, to help you get some Halloween decor ready before Halloween...because that's how I typically make decorations for holidays.  Once they are over I get things done and then can't use them until the following year.  So, we're getting started early.

I felt my house needed some haunts.  Kinda like Halloween groupies.  They hang around giving my house some ambiance, make us feel a little spooky...make my kids need to have the hall light on all night while they sleep...you know, things like that.  I also wanted to give you two options.  One you can make with a sewing machine and one to make by hand with a needle and thread.  Both are easy and cute....and they take very little time. Which for me, counts for a lot when it comes to make decorations.  I love to get inspired and be able to make something in an hour flat.

So, to make some House Haunts of your own...

Please click here for more

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Inspiration Cafe ~ Week #10 with Heather & the Mustache Craze

Thanks for visiting the Inspiration Cafe this week.  It's Heather (your sewing guide), back for my turn to show you what I've got percolating this week. 

One of my favorite things about sewing, is being inspired by something and then making it my own.  My family room is sorely in need of...I wouldn't say redecorating so much as I would say...decorating.  On one wall, we have...a big screen TV.  That's it.  It needs something...almost anything to give it some excitement. This is what I decided would give the room a little...flair.  Go ahead and read what you see here out loud.  It took The Mister a few seconds to get it...so don't worry...just say it.

The Mustache craze that's going around the interwebs right now is my favorite.  So, I  have made it my own.  This project that I'm making isn't just for an experienced sewer or quilter, I am using a technique that any beginner can use with ease. Just ask my Sister.  You just need a special tool...it's called fusible interfacing, and it's a miracle product.  You are able to fake applique...and for somebody who actually does applique the traditional way, whenever I use fusible web, I think...Dang, I should only use this.  Please make sure you don't buy heavy fusible web unless that is what you want...which it probably never is  Buy the light weight version.  What's great about this is you can make personalized shirts for you or your kids.  You can make adorable blankets even more adorable.  What about holiday projects...fuhgedaboutit.

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Meet Heather from Beating Hearth ~ It's Inspiration Cafe Monday

Well, hello friends!  It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Heather from Beating Hearth.  So grab your favorite cup, fill it with some coffee or tea (I just might have to indulge in a frappuccino today), and let yourself be inspired to sew or quilt something cool....

Meet Heather!!!

Hi everybody! Thanks for visiting the Inspiration Cafe this week. My name is Heather fromBeating Hearth and I am the contributor who's in charge of inspiring you all to sew. I pretty much do it all, from quilting to crochet to embroidery to pillow cases and clothes. So, hopefully I can inspire you a bit to try one of the stitching arts and get crafty with your bad self.

My Crew

I am the sole non-redhead in the bunch. Yes, you can cry for me. Today I am going to try and get all you folks who are non-committal (and with good reason as getting equipped to quilt can be spendy!!) about quilting, to make a quilt. Come on, I don't want you to fully commit and get married to quilting or anything, but maybe just go on a blind date with quilting. Just see if maybe it's something you might be a bit more interested in. Quilting is quite handsome (or beautiful), and fun, and smart. Maybe a little different from what you've done before, but once you quilt, you'll never go back.

This is what I want you to make...at least it's the beginning of something I want you to make. These little beauties go by many different names, Hexies, hexagons, Grandmother's Garden, English Paper Piecing...but the great thing about them is you don't need much to make them. They're quick and easy to make and darn cute!  I am going to show you all the supplies you need and give you all the tips needed to create a beautiful and simple to make quilt. Please click here to continue reading... 

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Introducing Inspiration Cafe

Opening This Monday, June 4th !!! 

You don't want to miss it... 

I will be taking part in an exciting new blog adventure with some amazingly talented Bloggers and Friends.  

So stop back by on Monday for our first installment of Inspiration Cafe.

Hello and Welcome to Inspiration Cafe 

We are 6 bloggers who have joined forces to provide you with some weekly inspiration, great tutorials, gorgeous decor and awesome DIY projects...

Grab your Latte, make yourself comfy and lets meet our team:

 

NorthShore Days

Simple Jewelry Tutorials and Tips from Natalie

NorthShore Days

_______________

Sweet Little Bluebird

Delicious Recipes from Mary

Sweet Little Bluebird

_______________

Silo Hill Farm

Fun and Easy Crafts by Danni

Silo Hill Farm

_______________

Pondered Primed Perfected

Awesome DIY projects by Sherry

Pondered Primed Perfected

_______________

The Beating Hearth

Beautiful Sewing, Quilting and Crochet by Heather

The Beating Hearth

______________

Redheadcandecorate

Easy, affordable, innovative home decorating with Julie

Redheadcandecorate

We hope you enjoy your visit and we would love for you to pop around to our blogs and stay a while.

Remember we are open every Monday 'till late....Don't forget to tell your friends

 Thanks for stopping by today.

,

xxx

Natalie, Mary, Danni, Sherry, Heather and Julie 

at Inspiration Cafe

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Roadkill Rescue

Roadkill Rescue has gone and done it again.








That's right...and we are more than thankful for their generous features of our projects here at P{3}!  Just click on the picture of the sweet little mini horse tote below to go see the feature for yourself and don't forget to leave Beckie some comment love!

Thanks Mom for sharing these adorable bags with us AND thanks Beckie @ Roadkill Rescue for sharing them with all her viewers also! 

A limited number of bags are available for purchase at my mom's brand new Etsy shop if you are interested:

GladiolaSmiles

Thanks!
Sherry

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Guest Post ~ Meet My Mom!!!

I thought it would be fun to introduce you to the lady that helped shape me into who I am today.  She is a shining star, a cheerful presence, a faithful servant, a force to be reckoned with.   Really, she is the sweetest, most creative, talented person I know.   She paints, she makes signs, sews show shirts, creates quilts (people are standing in line to receive their own)!  She has an amazing vegetable garden, and flower beds that leave me envious. Not to mention, she raises her own chickens and turkeys. She trail rides her horse, Penny, and sometimes even rides in competitions!  She loves to ride ATV's with my dad, and helps with an equestrian 4-H club. She enjoys life!  I only hope that I can continue to live my life to the fullest, as well as she does, when I am her age. Today she is sharing one of her upcycle projects. This is a favorite of mine too, because she takes something that would be thrown away, and creates something unique and useful. Not to mention pretty darn cute. I have several of these beauties myself and we use them for shopping, travelling and all kinds of things.  I like to keep a couple in my car for whatever need arises. 

Meet My Mom:

Gladys

"My wonderful daughter asked me to write a guest post for her blogspot and it makes me so proud to take part in her creative endeavors. This "girl" can do anything she sets her hand to do and in my mind, she is perfect. Well, what mother doesn't think that of her own daughter?! Her husband isn't so bad, either!

Anyway, I was flattered to be asked to do this. The subject of my blog is the animal feed bags that I make into grocery totes.





Empty Feed Bags

One day I was looking for something to transport some personal items on a trip we were taking, and I couldn't find anything that just fit the vitamin containers that my husband and I take with us wherever we go. They say necessity is the mother of invention, so when my eyes fell onto the polyvinyl dog food bag that my husband had just emptied into the dog food bin, a light came on in my head! I could refashion the bag the right size so the containers would just fit and be easier to carry to the car. It worked so well that I decided I could make grocery totes and stop bringing home the umpteen plastic bags every time I went grocery shopping. I had a ready supply of horse feed bags from my other beautiful daughter who raises horses, and dog and cat feed bags because they also have three dogs and I don't know how many cats! I get sunflower seed bags from friends and pig feed bags from a neighbor.

I have cut, sewn, made mistakes and finally figured out a way to make the bags so that the pictures of dogs, cats, birds, horses, or whatever creature the feed was for would show. At first, in order to be sure the totes were sturdy enough to carry the groceries, I was sewing the carry handles all the way to the bottom. This would usually obscure the picture and I wasn't satisfied. Then one day I was in one of my favorite stores looking for sewing notions and my eyes fell upon plastic curtain grommets. They come in two sizes and several colors. They snap together easily and the handles are sewn into the holes they create. They looked lovely, but they add to the cost of making the totes.

My beautiful daughter recently turned me onto Pinterest and boy, was that a fun thing! I am so proud of all the people, young and old, who are busy little beavers creating, recycling, learning almost lost skills that our mothers and fathers knew. And guess what!? I am learning new things, myself! One day I was reading a young ladies blog about making fabric totes and saw the way she was putting on the handles and low and behold, her method would work for the grocery totes I am making with just a little change! So, now I can make them with the grommets, which some people love, and without, to save money.


I am always on the lookout for feed bags with colorful animals. Making totes keeps all that polyvinyl out of the landfill and lets us come home without all those plastic bags. I am trying to get my hands on some cute bunny feed bags that I know are out there somewhere and the pink show feed bags from my neighbor who raises prize pigs are really nice. I have some chicken feed bags that are not that attractive in orange, but maybe when they are turned into grocery totes, they will be just the ticket for someone who likes orange."

So, without further Adieu, here are just some of my mother's upcycled feed bags:

 If you are interested in ordering a bag, or have any questions regarding their use, please contact Gladys at  her Etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/GladiolaSmiles

And you can follow GladiolaSmiles in Blogland at:
http://www.gladiolasmiles.blogspot.com/

Thanks So Much for stopping by!

Sherry

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