Purple Canvas Messenger Bag

I know it's been almost 3 weeks and I'm just now getting around to my first real post and I apologize because I know all of you ghosts out there have been anxiously awaiting! So here it is...my purple canvas messenger bag. I made this bag for a Valentine's Day gift exchange with my fellow crafters over at Miss Imagination, but don't worry...my recipient did not get the bag pictured here! She got round two which turned out much prettier and much more square!

(A little plug for my friends who run the wonderful site Miss Imagination...if you are looking for a home of supportive crafters in a variety of mediums, this is the place to go! These ladies, and our one lonely gentleman, are full wonderful inspiration and support! Feel free to stop by and meet my friends at http://www.missimagination.com/)

Now, this is my very first sewing project. I have to say I was pretty proud of the piece when it was finished. In fact, I have happily moved the contents of my purse into it for the time being. So here is what I learned from that very first night with my mom's borrowed sewing machine:

#1) My husband can sew... my 25-year-old, video-game-obsessed husband, can sew. I would curse because I couldn't figure something out and he would set me on the right path. I was more than a little surprised.

#2) Sewing machines make Wal-Mart kitchen tables shake like leaves in a high wind. It's scary, but you get over it.

#3) I cannot sew a straight line to save my life. Let's just say the top-stitching gives this bag character. Lots and lots of character. (After further investigation, I have learned that I try to sew too fast and that if I'd slow down, and learn to pivot, that my lines come out very nice and neat.)

#4) Squaring corners is not as scary as I thought it looked.

#5) Turning straps is MUCH scarier than it looks. This small piece of the puzzle led to three days of utter frustration. (And another strap later I have the process figured out, though I am scared of really thin straps.)

Now the important part...PICTURES! (Please excuse my dirty kitchen floors...I haven't found a good place to photograph things that ought to hang.)

I made this bag following Larissa's tutorial a mmmcrafts.

(http://mmmcrafts.blogspot.com/2009/06/basic-messenger-bag.html)

For some bonus material, here is the cosmetics bag that I made as a matching gift for the second round messenger bag. I actually made this bag before I made the second messenger bag and it gave me the confidence to try again. (I will admit that I broke the first zipperby sewing into it and had to take it all apart and try again; but, I am no longer afraid of zippers!) Once again, the pictures aren't that great and this time I'll blame it on the lighting.

I made this bag using Michelle's tutorial at Craftster.(http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=176509.0)

Alright, now for yur trivia question...what did I mess up on the messenger bag? Give up? I attached the flap wrong-side up...yep, sure did. Go me! Guess what...I did it on the second bag, too.

Thanks for looking, friends. I hope you all continue following me as I complete more sewing projects and showcase some of my paper-crafting items! I promise it won't be another three weeks before I post again!