[DIY] Summer Slouch Bag

Once upon a time I decided I needed a new bag. 

A summer bag. 

That could fit my stuff 

and completely zip so said-stuff wouldn't fall out

and lay in the sand/by the pool without worry

Etc etc etc....

So I made one. 

It all started with hand-painted fabric you may have seen me Instagram (jaymeeryn). Half painted bolder with lots of paint and the other half more mild from the bleed through of the first.
Should bold & mild adjectives be reserved for salsas and the like... Oh well.

Once dried, washed and dried again I cut it all up.
Until I had lots and lots of pieces.
I wanted random, patchy, hobo-ish.

Then I started piecing them together.

1/4" seam allowances just like you would for a quilt top.

Bold with bold. Blue with green. Any way I thought it looked good.

I pieced and pieced and pieced.

Until I had used up most of the fabric.

Minus the pieces that didn't turn out right

To give it some extra strength

(and take away the unsightly seams on the wrong side)

I quilted it to a plain piece of cotton.

Going with the random look I didn't follow any lines or seams or pattern.

Just back and forth over the top whichever way seemed best.

I paired my newly handmade fabric with some simple gray cotton for the lining,

a bright blue zipper, some D-rings and webbing for the strap.

Followed this tutorial by Bev at Flamingo Totes

and Ta-Da!!!

I'd say it was a success.

Perfect? Heck no!

You should see those strap connectors, a mess!

Handmade from mostly things I already had? Definitely!

What have you DIY-ed lately? Share a link if you have one because I love to see what people can do!