Prepping is fun...but now I want to finish this Explorer Tote!

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Three front pieces. 

I had started the prepping for the Explorer Tote class a few weeks ago, getting the pieces cut and interfacing fused, but I didn't want to do it all too soon, as it's a review for me too.  But the class is 2 weeks away now, so  I worked on it some more Saturday when I sewed with friends. I think it's ready to go now.

Center section has a pocket with the turn lock attached. Easy peasy to do. 

Inside lined pocket. They still have their labels on them from the pattern. It will make things easier to set up before the class. 

Denim bottom, with cutouts done.

Tote flap completed. This one will go on the bag.

I made a prep flap too, so I could show how to attach the rest of the turn lock.

When I finished prepping the Explorer Tote, I started working on my Letter Challenge project for my guild. We picked our letters months ago ( I got the letter U) and I have been thinking of some ideas, but hadn't settled on one. At our meeting last Tuesday, I realized they are due next month, so I needed to decide and get on it.

Several ideas I had: 

--A small quilt using many cars that could be "Ubers".

--Something using an umbrella (maybe decorating one with applique shapes, or  making pieced umbrellas for a quilt. 

Unicycle (yea, fleeting thought)

--Useful: I wanted to make something I could use or give as a gift. Which gave me the idea of making a bag. I have been wanting to make the Heidi Foldover Clutch by Swoon (free pdf) ever since I found it online, so since it unzips, that became my theme to making this cute useful clutch. 

Heidi front: I didn't have any vinyl, so self faced the accent pieced on the bottom since I thought it added so much to the bag. 

I decided to use the fabrics from the new Explorer Tote, as it might be nice to have a clutch to match the bag if I use it myself or give as a gift.

The Accent is the same as the lining for the bag.  I made the back out of denim. 

There is a set in zippered pocket on the back. I used a gold zipper for it.

I printed out some U words that were useful for the clutch on June Tailor White Colorfast Sew In Fabric  Sheets.. I love these for printing pictures and labels as well. 

                                          

I spent a lot of time framing the words with gold fabric. I trimmed them, backed them and turned and pressed...but didn't like how they looked on the clutch when I was finished. They were meant to be labels to put in key places and they stood out too much.  (Plus I just like fabrics with words on them.)

So I cut them out of the frame and backed them with fusible web. Sigh....wasted a lot of time, but that's part of the creative process.

Here's one on the back. 

Can you find them on the front below? I had to attach them before I sewed the clutch together.

I hope to finish it this week, though I have classes tonight and Tuesday night, so we'll see....

Pat came one night and finished her More Peas in a Pod quilt. It turned out so pretty! She has already gifted it to a granddaughter! I am adding her picture to her class's final post as well.