Prequilted fabric Sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In addition to the handbag sale I am having on my web site, http://www.arlenesbags.com/,  I am also having a 20% off fabric sale on all the fabrics I have listed in my etsy shop:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Bassetmommy     Free shipping on the first 3 yards ordered still applies-such a deal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bag Sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A first for me-a 20% off handbag SALE!!! Check it out at http://www.arlenesbags.com/


The sale price applies to new bag orders as well as bags I have in stock. Feel free to contact me to find out which bags are readily available. The winter is over-think NEW HANDBAGS!!!!
The sale ends April 30, 2010.  Details on the sale are listed on the Index page of my site.

Give-Away-Personalized Travel Mug!!!

In honor of National Craft month & to introduce my personalized travel mugs, I am doing my first-ever Give Away.   
The mugs hold 16 oz of fluid, either hot or cold.   They come with a very secure snap-on lid.   What makes the mugs so unique is that the mug slips into a clear outside cover than can hold a personalized embroidered insert or a themed fabric.   The inserts quickly turn the dull and mundane into something pretty and cheery.
The winner of the Give Away will have a choice of one of 3 types of embroidered inserts: a monogram, a single letter or a first name.  The winner can also choose from one of the fabrics shown.

To win simply (1) leave a comment and (2) sign on to follow my blog.
I will announce the winner on April 15.

Please note the mugs should be hand-washed and are not microwave safe.
A personalized mug makes a great gift for just about everyone.  Consider one as an end of the year teacher gift or for a medical person who has been especially helpful or for a golfer.
Price: $10 which includes an embroidered or themed fabric insert.

I have also included a sample of a travel mug with themed fabric insert: 

Below are photos of the mug's snap-on lid and the outside clear holder for the insert.

My 'Take' on a Chanel Jacket

I have been obsessed with making a Chanel styled jacket since last summer when I saw the perfectly made Chanel jacket my friend made. Being the sewing purist she is, my friend followed the haute couture directions Threads Magazine published about 3 years ago. In true Chanel fashion, the directions called for a tremendous amount of hand sewing which I simply despise & don't trust.
Luckily, my friend told me the Jan.,'07 issue of Threads included an article on a shortcut version of a Chanel jacket. The article describes and explains how to do the 'bagged' method for making a Chanel jacket.
So last week I set out to do my trial variation on the bagged method. I made View E of Vogue 7975. I opted to eliminate the patch pockets & substituted a trim I thought better suited my fabric.
Because this jacket is my 'trial' version I didn't use the traditional wool boucle for my jacket. The outer and lining fabrics are machine-quilted in a Chanel jacket. Because my wool is 'flat' I had to eliminate the quilting on the front as I couldn't control puckering.
I also machine-sewed wherever I could as there is some hand sewing in the 'bagged' method. I machine-sewed the 2 sleeve lining seams and part of the lining shoulder seams. A purist I am not!
I opted for a non-fringe trim simply because I dislike fringe trim. In the photo the center of the trim looks like rhinestones but it isn't. The center is actually a dullish brownish-black.
I did hand-sew the gold chain that holds the hem in place.
Overall, I am pretty pleased with the jacket. Even being made out of a plain old wool, it still feels wonderful. I have this week out of work and will probably wear the jacket everywhere I go!