In'vest'ment purse

I have been interested in upcyling for years.  Way before it became 'cool' to be green.  It is just something that my Grandma's both taught me.  Neither one of them ever let anything go to waste.
My Grandma 'Rie (Marie)  would garden and can everything that came out of it...I am not sure if she liked to do it or not, but it was what she did.  My Grandma Doris made stuff out of other stuff like no-one I have ever seen.  She would see something and figure out a way to do it with whatever she had on hand.
For example, she wanted small tables for her patio and constructed them out of wheel rims, plywood, and broken tiles she found on construction sites.  The rims were topped with the plywood and then the tiles were made into beautiful mosaic patterns...They were actually very cool, very green and very FREE!

While going through my closet the other day, I ran into a vest that I haven't worn in years.  I would have probably donated it, but I loved the embroidery on it.  I decided that I was going to make something with it.  I put it on the kitchen counter and just looked at it for a few days.

Finally, inspiration!
The first cut is always the hardest!  After the deep breath and the realization that there will be no turning back...the scissors make a swift slice...hey, this is kinda fun...

I am now left with a pile of fabric just waiting to become something totally new. Something totally fresh.  Something totally fantastic...

The pattern is pinned and all the pieces are ready to be sewn together.

I know you are probably saying, "that's not a sewing machine".  It is the most important step in sewing anything and the part that I was most likely to skip in the past... An iron is the difference between 'homemade' and 'custom'!

It's always fun to see your creations starting to take shape.  At this point, I am zoned out and hope that the phone won't ring or that I have to stop to start dinner. The zipper will take my undivided attention!

Ta-Da! Wa-La! Yay!  Whatever you want to say!  It's a great, fresh, green, fantastic PURSE!  It turned out nice if I say so myself!!! Grandma would be proud!