a.d.holley "Customize Your Own" Clutch Update

I haven't posted in awhile so, I thought a great way to get back into the swing of things would be to post an update on the "Customize Your Own" a.d.holley Organizer Clutch.

The "Customize Your Own" clutches are clutches I've picked out materials for, cut out, and are ready to be made. I do this way ahead of actually sewing the clutches because it's faster on the days I'm not feeling as creative. I see all of the color and pattern combinations I previously picked out and it just jump-starts my creativity and cuts out a step that particular day. It also gives customers the option to pick out and customize a little bit what their end clutch looks like. It's kind of like having the patterns and colors picked out, but you get to decide what the band looks like (or go with what I've pictured) and choose what kind of button (or no button) and on what side of the clutch your button gets sewn on. Plus, as in the case below, you could say, I'd rather not have a button- add some fringe instead! Pretty cool.

Anyway, here's a little before and after photo to get you thinking on the raw material to finished product process:

Seriously.. D.I.Y. Fringe Skirt

I've been dying to do some D.I.Y. posts on here. I've loved doing stuff myself for years. I think it started with my learning how to sew. It suddenly inspired within me this desire to do everything myself that's possible! Sometimes I might take it a bit to the extreme.. but nonetheless. Sometimes it's a D.I.Y. that I adapt from one I found online and sometimes it's one I make up myself, but they range from foodstuff I prefer making myself over buying, sewing, or to building/transforming/repurposing unlikely things into something useful.

So I'm going to share some of my favorite D.I.Y. things on here with the link or origin of where I found them and detailed pictures and instructions of my process. Which can sometimes be very vague, I'll warn you now.  But, since I hate reading D.I.Y. posts that are very vague and not detailed I'm trying to steer away from that myself. I want anyone and everyone that has a desire to get satisfaction out of doing things themselves!

My first one is going to be making your own elastic waist fringe skirt. The customization here is endless. You could just make the elastic waist skirt and stop there if you wish or you could do different fringe patterns, you could dye/bleach the end of the skirt/fringe like here (FANTASTIC blog, by the way! I have a lot of posts of hers I'll be referencing, she's amazing and her photography is breathtaking. I wish she was closer to do future photographing sessions of mine.) the options are kind of endless.

You need to start out with fabric, 1.5 to 2" elastic (this depends on what is comfortable for you, go smaller or bigger even if that's comfortable for you!) that measures comfortably around your waist- basically how your want your skirt to feel when you're wearing it, matching thread, and fabric scissors- super sharp or you will get annoyed at cutting a bunch of fringe strips. I think I cut about 35-ish. But I had the skirt doubled over so it was half as much as it could've been.

My fabric was the length of my waist down to my feet + around 2.5-3" for my waistband. The width of the material is usually 60" wide which for me is plenty to do the waistband. I shoot for at least twice my waist, or more because that just means more gathered but you can do less too if you don't like it as gathered. If this isn't enough, you could do the 60" as your length and get your waist size in the yardage. Your local fabric store can help you determine with your fabric choice, because each fabric is different. Sometimes the stretch part goes from top to bottom and sometimes from right to left. Have them help you if you can't determine it. You can measure this yourself at home or your local fabric store employees would be happy to measure you. I used to work at Hancock Fabrics.. trust me. :)

I used striped material because I loved it and it was easy to straighten up and measure. You can use solid fabric or any kind of print you like, it just needs to be a knit fabric to keep the ends from fraying. We aren't hemming this one. HORRAY! 

Next, I ironed the material and straightened up the top and bottom to be even.

I then folded the piece of fabric hot dog style (did you fold things like that in elementary school? haha) with the stretch part that will be the elastic and hem at the top and bottom and the length of my skirt the side that is pinned. I pinned mine the entire length and fairly far apart. If you are a beginner it might be easier to pin it closer together because sometimes knit material tends to curl up after you cut it. 

I apologize for how dark these sewing machine pictures are, but I think you can get the general idea here. Here I am sewing a 5/8" seam allowance along the entirety of the length of my skirt. 5/8" is standard with most apparel patterns, there is a convenient line on the right of your machine foot that helps you align your project while you're sewing. You could also tape at that line or use a magnetic seam guide (life saver.) to help you keep an even seam. 

This is what the inside of the skirt looks like after I've sewn the length together. This is where you would press the inside if you weren't sewing with a fabric that curls up, so it's not an important step here.

Now you have a piece of fabric that looks like a big tube with an open top and bottom because the side is sewn together. 

Next is the waistband. You will measure your elastic and add 1/2" to 5/8" for the seam. Turn down this measurement. I made mine super easy, I turned down to the gray line and pinned. It's very important that you have your fabric inside out and fold down to the inside of the skirt. You want the opening of the waistband seam to be on the inside. Again, I pinned pretty far apart so if it's easier you can pin closer together. 

When you are sewing, leave an opening about 3-4" wide to insert your elastic. I normally leave this space near the seam because when I sew it up, the stitches closing it up will be on the side or back, not on the very front of the skirt. This doesn't really matter, it's just a habit of mine to have a pretty seam in the front.

 You can sew with a zig zag stitch here or a straight stitch, just stretch your fabric a little while you are sewing so when the skirt gets stretched the stitches don't break.

I then inserted the elastic into the opening I left in the waistband with a safety pin to easily move it through the waistband.

This is what it looked like when I brought the elastic through the whole waistband and out the other side of the opening I left.

At this point I pinned the elastic together and tried the skirt on to see how it fit and I actually made my original measurement smaller because the elastic was really stretchy and  I wanted it to fit tighter.

After I was happy with the fit of the skirt. I overlapped the elastic ends, and made sure that the elastic wasn't twisted because it's easier to do than you would think! I then sewed from the top to the bottom a couple of times to prevent the elastic from coming apart when I wear the skirt.

Since I was happy with the fit of the skirt I sewed the opening for the elastic waistband closed. 

This one's kind of blurry, but this is what it looked like after I finished the waistband. I did two seams below the elastic because I allowed more room than the size of the elastic and I like for the space to be pretty tight around the elastic. It just looks better when its bunched up, but not too tight that the elastic curls down when it's worn.

At this point I started experimenting with fringe on the end of the skirt. I wasn't quite brave enough to make the fringe as high as the tutorial I referenced above so I aimed for mid-calf and I figured I could always go higher. This is also where the stripe came in handy, because I just cut up to the top of the gray line at first.

This is what the bottom looked like after I cut all the way across. I didn't measure the width of the fringe because it's really forgiving if they aren't exactly perfect. The knit material curls up anyway, so it wouldn't be obvious if they aren't all exactly perfect. Also, this would be a great opportunity to use your rotary cutter if you have one. 

I ended up making longer fringe in the front about up to my knees and angled the fringe down to mid-calf around the sides and back. This is the creative part because you could do pretty much any length all the way around or vary it like I did. You could even do a zig-zag cut, which I think would be fun and I might try that in the future. I think I need more fringe in my wardrobe. 

^edited with A Beautiful Mess app

Organizer Clutch Giveaway!!

 

 

I'm pretty excited to announce I'm going to be hosting a giveaway open from June 1- June 30! I'll be giving an Organizer Clutch away after June 30, through a Rafflecopter giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter is awesome and allowed me to make it SUPER easy for you to score lots and lots of entries into this giveaway. All you have to do to qualify for an entry is follow what each entry's instruction says. EASY. You can do one, some, all of the entries, or some entries every day. It's entirely up to you.

Here are the options you have to enter this giveaway:
1. Like adholley on Facebook
2. Follow adholley on Bloglovin (I seriously love this app. I check blogs I love every. day.)
3. Share a photo from adholley's Facebook page- You can do this EVERY DAY for more entries!
4. Leave a Blog Post comment
5. Join adholley's mailing list (Send me your email, simple. You can unsubscribe at any time and I will only email you solely for adholley promotion purposes and keep your info safe.)
6. Follow adholley on instagram
7. Share a photo on instagram (You can totally do this everyday! I upload daily!)
8. Leave a comment on adholley's Facebook page with comments or questions
9. Share this particular post on adholley's Facebook page

If you've already done any of ^ these you've got an easy head start!

Okay, I've given you a ton of options to enter this giveaway a million times. Well, not a million, but a whole lot. I'm so excited to see how it goes and give an Organizer Clutch away to a lucky follower!

The 'Build Your Own' Organizer Clutch!

Since I have this awesome deal for the rest of the month of May, and May's almost halfway over.. I've decided to implement an option that will add a lot more variety and inventory to my Etsy shop. If it's successful I might just keep it going from here on out.

You will now have access to see clutches before they are made and choose your own! The reason I have build your own in quotations is that most of the clutch is already decided for you as they are cut already and folded up. A lot of times, since the organizer clutches are currently all one-of-a-kind, the fabric left over from cutting clutches out is minimal. This means unless I have extra fabric of the one you choose, you will pretty much have to go with it like it is. However, I will do modifications of a different fabric for a fee of $10 (materials/time).

You do always have the option to customize the front of the clutch for no extra fee:

Normally I have a band across the front of my organizer clutches with a covered button either in the middle, or on the right or left side of the clutch.

 

Sometimes, depending upon the clutch, I will just do a decorative stitch over the front of the clutch itself or decorative stitches on the band on the front of the clutch.

 

 

I really like the band on the clutch below. It allows you to see the beauty of the floral print featured. This one was repurposed from a vintage curtain! I still have more of this one if you're in love with it like I am.

 

 

 

If you're looking for more of a formal or fancy clutch, options like this are available:

 

 

So, now you've seen some clutches that I've made in the past and have an idea of the range of customization possible for the 'build your own' clutch. If you'd like to see more, check out and 'like' my Facebook page Adholley for even more pictures. I am also very open to your ideas if you'd like to do something totally different with the band across the front of the clutch.

When you order your 'build your own' clutch on Etsy, you will see an option for variations. This is where you will choose your customization on your clutch.

 

I'll have two customizations, one for the band across the front.

 

Your options will be Fabric 1, Fabric 2, No Band, or Different Band.

 

In the Etsy listing you will be shown which is Fabric 1 and which is Fabric 2. Fabric 1 means the picture which has a clutch folded up and a strip of fabric placed across the front. Fabric 1 is always guaranteed because I've already cut it to size and am 100% sure I have enough fabric. Fabric 2 means that you could essentially reverse the way the fabrics are shown. You could have the lining as the outside of the clutch and a band made of what was originally the outside of the band. Some times this is possible and sometimes it is not. I will let you know when you select Fabric 2 if it is indeed an option. I apologize in advance if it's not possible, but I like to assure (for now) that these organizer clutches are one-of-a-kind and sometimes that means I grabbed a teeny tiny scrap somewhere of a unique fabric that is not available for order. I will do my best to help you find the combination of fabrics that you like the best.

 

If you choose No Band and would like something else instead, please either send me a conversation on Etsy, an email at adholleyhandbags@gmail.com or leave it in the notes when you purchase your clutch. The same goes for if you choose the Different Band option. I will need to know what you would like to have instead of the fabrics listed in your Etsy listing.

 

Your second customization is to have the covered button on the left, middle, or right side of the band. Simple. We can do a different fabric covered button if you choose, but I will need to know what you would prefer instead.

Here are just a few that will be appearing very shortly!

 

 

 

 

 

This is going to dramatically add to my inventory in my shop, and while these are currently listed in the made to order section, they may not stay there long! I will be periodically pulling from these clutches to make finished products for shows, Etsy listings, and just because they fabrics look pretty to me and I feel like sewing them up. Even if you cannot buy currently, check back every so often to see the progression from made to order clutches to finish products.

 

So there you have it, your option to buy clutches before they are even made! It's like a surprise you have a little control over. Believe me, it's really fun seeing the fabrics and then seeing a finished project. I hope you'll enjoy it as much as I do.

 

Is there anything you'd like to customize on your organizer clutch that I did not list? Comment below and let me know for future reference.

 

Happy shopping,

 

Amanda

 

 

 

Musings on Purses, Part 1

"A handbag is fashion's cherry on the sundae." -Hagerty, Handbags

I was loaned a book called Handbags very early on in this handbag making adventure. It goes through the history of handbags, featuring vintage bags by various designers and various owners of these classic designs. It also touches on the psychology of the handbag, which if you've never thought about it, is quite fascinating. Hagerty likens the handbag to a womb in one chapter using comparisons of secrecy, privacy, and individuality. It's an interesting read, if you're interested in that kind of thing.

Maybe for some women, they could care less about the origin of the handbag they're wearing, be it handmade and custom designed (so easy to acquire nowadays with sites like Etsy and the internet availability of custom ordering) or picked up at Walmart. It seems as though a lot of women care more about the specific style of the purse than anything. I've set up a booth selling my purses SO many times and I've heard every preference out there. Some women need something small; only able to fit the essentials- keys, phone, money/cards, maybe a tube of chapstick. Some women need a big purse to throw several smaller bags into; each smaller one organized to hold different things- makeup, a small bag to carry into a store to shop, baby essentials, etc. Some women are so specific that they need a certain number of dividers and zippered pockets and a certain type of handle, or the option to throw over their shoulder or carry two smaller handles.

From the viewpoint of a handbag maker, WOW. If you specialize in a certain type of handbag, as I do, you're bound to hear that you should make this type of purse or use this type of organization inside a purse. Or use this type of handle and this type of fabric. One day I'd love to have my version of all of these handbags, because I'm a woman who loves them all. Some days I feel like carrying a small clutch, but others I feel like I need a briefcase, or maybe another I feel like a grocery tote is acceptable (one handmade by myself, at least.)

Anyway, after all that background...

I figured after I switched purses the other day to an amazing thrift store find I bought years ago and have yet to carry, I'd write a post (or maybe more!) about my psychology behind the purses I like to carry.

Starting with this one.

I think this might have cost me $2, seriously. What's so fabulous about this purse are the details. It was made in Italy. It's a pretty color, it has three sections- two of which close with snaps and one closes by a zipper. It also has two zippered inside pockets. These are things that, nowadays, you're only going to get out of a handmade or high quality designer bag. Walmart? No. Way. This purse has a change purse attached by a gold chain! AND AN ATTACHED MIRROR. ON THE INSIDE. See, these are the things I fall for in a purse. I want to be organized, I want a unique identity, I want hidden treasures.

I'm drawn to purses like these, mainly because when I was a little girl my mom bought or had a lot of vintage (now considered vintage, and maybe even vintage then) purses that my sister and I used to play dress up. I was always obsessed with these purses. The closures, the materials, the pockets... Just take a look at these pictures and you'll understand.

 

See the signature tag? Love. Purses with signatures get me every time. Partly because I've implemented my signature into my clutches and I love the special touch it gives my clutches. Even if it was factory made, signatures are just plain cool.

 

 



Occasionally, with these thrift store finds, you might even luck up and find used cigarettes, half a piece of chewing gum and some interestingly named matches. What we carry in our purse sure does say a lot about us, or does it? ..

 

Anyway, there's the first of my musings on a little bit of the psychology of purses from a handbag maker's point of view.

 

Bored to tears? I hope not. What type of details in a purse catch your attention? Comment below or email me and tell me, especially if it's about a clutch!



 

Mother's Day Special

Good Monday morning to all,

In honor of Mother’s Day, I’m going to run a promotion through the rest of May beginning today! So, everyone, listen up!

I’m going to offer all of my organizer clutches, both in my Etsy shop and custom orders, for $55 and I’m going to allow one bonus to each clutch order.

 

1. You can choose a free set of covered button earrings (see below) these, depending upon availability could match your purchased clutch or they could be totally different. You can pick a color and print from what I have in stock or I can make them to your specifications. I wear covered button earring pretty much daily and they are great to dress up or down, sometimes I even wear them to the gym! Now, as awesome as the covered button earrings are... some of you might not be interested or it might not apply to you at all.

 

**If you have sensitive ears and require a certain post on your earrings please include this in your message to me, because I'm just using regular posts as of right now. However, I'd be happy to accomodate your needs.**

 

2. So for you all, I’m offering a checkbook cover for only $5 (they will retail for $12) in addition to your clutch purchase. I use one all of the time and it’s perfect for holding my checkbook and I have enough room to keep extra papers, stamps, and cash/id/cards if I need to. Now, with some clutches, the material might not be available to match exactly but a coordinating one might be possible. We can always do a custom one as well.

This is a perfect opportunity to purchase an organizer clutch if you’ve been wanting one but hesitant to purchase yet. Plus, you get the chance to try out one of two new products of mine. Both of which, I’m very excited to offer.

And, if you are a local shopper, I’d be happy to meet with you and save you shipping costs and meet you if I haven’t already!

 

To contact me you can convo me through my etsy shop, adholley, you can email me at adholleyhandbags@gmail.com, or you can post on adholley's Facebook page and also message me through the Facebook page.

Happy May and Shopping!

Amanda Holley, adholley

 

The Chevron and Polka Dot Organizer Clutch Collection

After a long, busy summer and fall season with the company I sew and do a little designing with and for, I've been sewing purses again! With a crazy fury, too. I've made a ton of new clutches and a new line of purses which I WILL make a special post about very soon. Most of these you can find at the Cindy Saadeh Fine Art Gallery in downtown Kingsport, which is an awesome shop for those of you looking for locally crafted handmade gifts this holiday season, or any time for that matter. The rest are in Etsy limbo to be listed very, very soon!

Now to the juicy part.
The collection I've been dreaming about for months.
...(I realize this might not make sense to people who don't design on a regular basis. Dreaming about a collection of clutches for months? Boring! If that's how you feel, skip the long drawn out story, scroll down and look at the pretty pictures.)

This is the perfect time to tell you a little bit about my method of designing. Yeah, I'm a seamstress and a designer and have worked at a fabric shop off and on for about six years now, but first and foremost I'm a fabric lover and collector. Some fabrics I will never in my life sew just because I'm so fascinated by their potential that I'm too scared to cut them up! Those are kind of few and far between. Most of the fabrics I have I collect for the perfect companion or design. Sometimes it takes me months or years to realize the perfect match or to actually find the perfect match for a fabric. Sometimes I'm not even looking for the companion and have a fabric set aside for something entirely different and it will catch my attention out of the corner of my eye and, voila, it's done. This collection originated of one of those situations.

I've had the polka dot for years, because it's an awesome black polka dot printed on a heavy weight cotton, drapery canvas type fabric. And, I'm a sucker for prints on heavy weight cotton drapery canvas type fabrics.  Then I found the chevron fabrics.. which are hard to find because they're so stinking popular right now and while I never intentionally make something because it's popular... who doesn't like the chevron print? In five different colors?

Okay, so here are the lovely chevron and black polka dot organizer clutches with funky retro-looking over sized covered buttons that can finally get out of my head.  And into your possession!

                                                                                           

And my signature, of course.