Makeup Bag | Storage Bag {Project #1}
I was inspired by and used THIS tutorial on Pinterest. I liked the way the zipper fully opened up for easy access. For the past couple years I have used a ziploc bag to hold my smaller make-up bag and two Mary Kay compacts. Not pretty, but it worked in keeping everything together. So my hope with making this bag would be to have an attractive larger bag to hold everything.
The blue/navy fabric is actually "lappa" fabric that I brought back from Liberia in 2008. I have tons of lappa fabrics that I'd like to find a fun use for. The zipper tag fabric is scrap plaid sheeting (what else?) that was left over from when I turned a queen flat sheet into a fitted full-size sheet (a 2013 Pinterest Project).
Pros: Fairly easy tutorial to follow. Like the large zipper opening. Option to have two-tone bag and mix fabrics (which I chose not to do this time). It's washable.
Cons: Doesn't retain shape with heavy objects. My compacts fit nicely upright, but there's just not enough stiffness/sturdiness to keep it upright.
Thoughts: I made the largest size, and probably could have made a smaller size, or gone with wider corners on bottom) to allow my compact to lay on bottom, rather than side. Probably would chose a more substantial lining option to make it a bit stiffer.
Seat Belt Cover | Neck Saver {Project #2}
This project has probably been on my Pinterest Project list for close to two years. {Side Note: I wish Pinterest attached dates to when we pinned stuff!} I have used store bought seat belt covers in the past. I'm short and seat belts just aren't friendly to the neck area! When I go on trips with my parents, I am 50/50 at remembering to pull my seat belt cover out of my car and transfer it to the other car (even tougher remember to return it). Now I shall have no excuse! THIS tutorial was so easy! Not sure why I put it off for so long! The only thing I really changed was that I used some scraps of pre-quilted fabric (batting between two layers of fabric) to replace the interfacing option. My exterior fabrics were soft enough, but not really thick and cushiony...and boy, it's pretty cushiony now!
Pros: Very easy tutorial to follow. It's reversible! My interior fabric is a blue plaid (scrap left over from my 2013 place mat project last summer--which I haven't yet posted about).
Cons: Not sure yet. Will be putting it to use on my trip to NYC in early May.
Thoughts: I've already cut up fabric for three more covers (all the same) and hope to finish them today or tomorrow. The 30" package of velcro I bought is enough for four covers! I'm thinking I will offer these up to a few of the peeps driving up with me to NYC. They can try them out and if they like them, I will probably just give them away. Another thought is that I THINK these would be easily adjusted to for baby carrier straps! And they'd be so soft!! I'm hoping to buy a new-to-me car this year or next and I'll have fun choosing a coordinating fabric for a new seat belt cover!
