Monday Inspired me to Make a Gnome House Bag

monday, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

This is the start of something good- Bag Week here at Calamity Kim.
This page from my purse calendar is inspiring enough to make me want to make one of my own...maybe with yoyo shingles... what do ya think?
Sound fun?
Let's go get started!!

***This article has been edited several times to add the house bag as it progressed!****

Monday's Bag Looks Like a House,
It's big enough for a brush or comb...
and maybe a wallet, pen and pad to call it home.

***** later, after running errands and getting some chores done I sat down and drafted a simple house bag pattern.

Here are the front and back sides and the ends.

I scanned them and stored them in Flickr.
 Then I went and stitched them to a backing fabric and layered some cotton batting in between leave the bottom open for turning.
after I trimmed the seam I turned them inside out and pushed the corners out nice and sharp and then ironed them down smooth.
Then I cut some chipboard (cereal boxes work great) to the same size as the sides and bottom except I trimmed about 1/4" off each side.
I am starting to get a bit sleepy tired so I am going to stop now and pick this back up in the morning.
 I think the windows and door fabric is by Michael Miller but I will check tomorrow.
I am going to make red and white polka dot yoyo's for the roof shingles..
I think...
I do have some fabric that looks like pinkish shingles..
.I really think the yoyo's would be so cute though.
 I will continue this post tomorrow with dimensions for you to make your own little Gnome House purse...
I wonder where those magnetic latches are that I bought for bags a few years ago...
I wonder if I can make a bag a day?
 I bet by Friday it's gonna be a tote bag!...
.g'night sweet sisters in calamity...
 the sandman is on his way..
Do you think it should be a different bag each day or a different house?
I could make a red riding hood house bag and a Hansel & Gretel witches house bag and a Chicken House for you Baba Yaga lovers out there...

OK, so it's Tuesday, 6:12 pm and I am stuck on the roof.
I cut the pattern and layered it with batting and stitched it and trimmed the seams.
Making sure to cut in to the dip where the scallops meet so that it won't pucker when I turn it inside out.
It looks OK but I need a handle. Thinking.... Thunk.... Thinking.....
apparently I am smitten with the tortoise shell plastic and only like the clear acrylic enough to buy one set.
I could use wooden beads or fabric or maybe some chain with fabric or maybe...
Maybe I'll just run real quick over to Joann's and she what's available...
 I know I need to make some red & white yoyo's too..
Because there aren't any in my little storage drawer... Fred says to go buy a "cheap purse" and use the handle...Oh, so sweet yet so wrong. I want to make one. The perfect one... what is it? wood? wood grain fabric? I can't see it. Maybe if I just shut my eyes for a second... any ideas? Maybe this is a good time to say that a house purse a day is ambitious! very, very ambitious! Maybe a house purse every other day! sheesch! I will be back. k

So I bought several kinds of bamboo handles and then made some tabs to install the handle.
I did bend a needle stitching the tabs on because I went through the cardboard. Now I am going to hand stitch the roof panels together.
After I hand stitched all the openings closed I then stitched them together. Then I sewed one edge to the top edge of one side.
That way it is secure but can be opened wide!
 To carry pixie dust and marshmallow treats and paper dolls.
I stitched down a velvet ribbon to use as a tie- it wraps around the butterfly and holds the roof down nicely. This bag won't hold a ton of Benjamin's but it would be great for a light day.
So, I am still in the designing stages on how to make it really strong without being too heavy-
Amanda and Cheryl both have suggested that plastic canvas so I will get out my bike and ride over to the store tomorrow to get some.
I have several more House bag designs written down and the next one is going to be in Honor of Frieda Kahlo and the paper doll and apron I did for the newest edition of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine which should be out at the newstand any day now.  
I am going to still add some red and white polka dot yoyo's to this roof...but technically it is finished.
 The Frieda bag will be her Blue House, of course! with some skeleton beads for the handle...and who knows what other Frieda-ish things I can come up with! So come back real soon- I might be finishing something else real quick!