Ruffles - Finally!

I have several different projects that are 'Under Construction' right now but haven't completed yet. So, today I decided to start another one : )

I've been thinking & thinking about what to do with my other $1 fabric samples. I know I said I wanted to make pouches out of them but I'm not quite ready to tackle another zipper *lol*. I've been pouring over all of the inspiring ideas you all have been putting out there and when I got to Ucreate's post Wednesday *check it out here* I knew it was finally time for me to board the Ruffle.Camera.Strap bandwagon!!  I'm sorta late to the party but now I had my mission.  I studied this great tutorial *here* and was anxious to get started right away... so I disregarded the step where I disassemble a strap, and the part where I use fusible interfacing *cuz I didn't have any* and decided to just sew it right on my existing strap instead.

I knew just the fabric I wanted to use!

Isn't it yummy?  It's linen and flocked or smocked or something - I call it fuzzy *somebody educate me here please!*.  Before it was discontinued, it retailed for $44.99/yd!!  I got the 17" X 17" sample PLUS 3 smaller color swatches for $1.  Well, I thought it was just perfect for this project!  And I was finally getting my ruffle, too : )  *contented sigh*

Since I only had a fabric sample I was going to have to sew some extra seams to achieve my lengths - I certainly did not have 46" to sew one continuous ruffle.  And upon sewing my first ruffle segment I realized I was losing all of the pattern.  What a shame!  At least I'll always have the before pictures : )  

I wanted to add a flower to my strap but this fabric was too heavy to make into a yo yo flower.  The black window sheer that I had used for my wristlet was too light.  I still had about 1/3 of the sample left so I did this instead:

Now I know that the center of this flower looks suspiciously similar to the one on the wristlet but I promise you it's actually this detail on the cream sample.  (the poofy looking thing)

Of course no one will ever know that but me *and now you* and that's enough for me!  I don't want to become known as the Fray Freak so I'm backing off fraying for a while after this. : )

My camera definitely deserves the ruffled treatment because she provides all the pretty pictures that hold your attention here at my little blog *the poor angles and lighting are all me, however*.  I love the way the linen feels on my neck. You can still see some of the lovely fabric detail if you look on the back.   And I finally have my ruffles; although I hadn't really envisioned that they would go around the BACK of my neck and not the front of my shirt or on a cute purse but hey! I'm good with that!!

One word of caution: if you get carried away thinking about what you're going to say in a post while you're supposed to be focusing on sewing, you're going to need the seam ripper A LOT!  One of these days it'll be just a bench warmer and not get sooooo much game time!!  Grrrrrrr

Well, I guess I can cross this project off my list 'cuz I actually completed it!!  So - Yay!  I also think I need to walk away from the sewing machine because it's driving me crazy!  I wish I was a better seamstress!  The weather has really cooled off here so I should probably take this opportunity to go outside and finish some of my paint projects...

I hope you all enjoy a wonderful *and safe* Fourth of July!!

Blessings!
MLE