Because I am too much woman for just a “purse”…

 
When Christie from A Lemon Squeezy Home announced her Purse Week, I knew exactly what I wanted to make.  I had seen these chic diaper clutches on Babysteals, and I loved the angled look.  I’d been wanting to make my own, bigger version for some time, and the Purse Week challenge was just what I needed to motivate me to get moving on it.

Pretty and feminine enough for when I get to go shopping by myself….or wandering dirt back roads in heels.  Whatever.

But also ready for an outing with my little men. 

We’re out of the full-on diaper bag stage, no longer needing room for lots of diapers, changes of clothing, and bottles.  But we still need to pack the random toddler paraphernalia.  This bag is big enough for our cloth diapers and  wipes, but also not too bulky that I feel like it would need it’s own seat on an airplane. 

I put in both a cell phone pocket and a zippered interior pocket, so that I could stash, and later find, my necessities among the kid stuff.  I even added a key fob.   This is one seriously functional bag. 

   

And with the some of my favorite Alexander Henry prints from the Farmdale line, it’s also seriously cute.

 

So flying solo

or out with my boys

I have a new go-to bag.  And I pretty much love it. 

And you can, too.  I have the pattern and tutorial all ready for you here.  Enjoy. 

 

It’s a pretty lengthy and detailed tutorial, so I’m trying something new, just putting the whole tutorial on downloadable, printable PDF form.   Let me know if you like it better this way, or if you’d rather I just keep posting that kind of thing bloggy style.

There are five pattern PDFs in total: 
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
and
THE INSTRUCTIONS

And get this:  I even finished the bag early, days before the final entry date for the contest.  And then I got sick again.  And then I never got around to getting pictures.  And then the deadline came and went and I totally thought it was the next day and, and, and…so I didn’t get it entered in the contest, but I love it so no regrets.  Plus, since I was no longer entering it in her contest, I was able to ask Christie to help me out by taking the pictures of it.  So really, I’m kind of happy things worked out the way they did.  I love my husband, and he’s a talented man, but he doesn’t really “get” the whole pictures-of-stuff-I-make thing.  Especially when I say I want to drive to some random fields across the highway.  Christie, however, that girl gets it.  So thanks again, Christie.  What would I do without you?! And with that fun little story, go vote for your favorite purse right now!  There are some amazing ones to choose from, so good luck picking just one.

 

Linking to a few of these awesome parties.  Thank you to all who host these!