Another Custom Order Complete

I have been working on this custom order for quite some time, as I had to go back to the drawing board and do some rework.  Today, I am done with the custom order and here are a few pictures.

This picture is of the front of the bag.  The customer is originally from Australia and wanted a bag that reflected her homeland.  She wanted the flag on the front, so I found this awesome embroidered piece of fabric that I attached in the top right hand corner.  The top right hand corner has her first name embroidered.

I chose a light print for the lining (so one can see better in the bag), and the print has all things Australian written and pictured on it.  Was a perfect match for this bag.

This final view shows the front  and the lining for an overall view of the bag.

I am going to be honest with you, this custom order was a struggle for me all along the way.  I now know what it is like to deal with difficult customers,  who are unable to make up their mind and change their minds several times along the way.  I am chalking it up to a learning experience in this e-commerence business and will make a few changes next time I do a custom order.

Warmest......

Union Jack progress

I finished the outside of the bag with the Australian flag incorporated.  I am now working on the lining.  I think it is coming along just splendidly!

PS... I also worked on the some (10) of the 116 flying geese i need for the border for my current UFO project I posted here.

Union Jack Block Sort Of....

Okay, here's the scoop.  As you know, I have an Etsy shop, and I receive lots of requests for custom orders in the bags I have listed.  This time is very unique, as I was contacted by a new customer wanting a Two Zip Hipster that reflects her Australian background, because she is originally from Australia,  and now lives in the United States.  She left the design up to me, but wanted to incorporate the Australian flag and some landmarks from her native land.  After doing some major web searching, I found this fabric with every imaginable Australian landmark one could think of, and I figured it would make an awesome lining!  Isn't it just perfect?  My customer thought so, too!

Now, I needed to incorporate the flag in the bag.  Again back to the web and googling the Australian flag and looking for a pattern.  Lo and behold there is a wonderful paper pieced pattern here.

I reduced the pattern to 90% so that it would fit the pattern piece that I want to be on the bag.

Now, let me say that I have only paper pieced once before, so I found a wonderful tutorial here on Connecting Threads website.  I watched, and I figured I had it, so I started to put the sections together. But, to no avail, I failed, and failed, and failed.  Over and over and over again.  When this happens, I walk away, and this time I slept on it.

The next morning, I realized that I needed a mirror image of the printed pattern, so I traced it on my light box backwards, and (drum roll please)  I managed to get it done!!  The way it is supposed to be done! Happy dance!!

This is the view of it sewn together with the paper still attached.

Ta Da!  Here is the final result.  I am so pleased in the way it turned out!  I should have the bag done in the next day or so, and will post the final product.  Stay tuned.....