Project Quilting - Last Challenge

Project Quilting's last challenge for Season 4 was Hurray for Spring! I spent a lot of time thinking on Spring this week while being the homeschool mom who taxis her children from place to place.

The Boybarian has been under the weather, so he went to the Dr. and found out that he had a double ear infection (just didn't have any ear pain for the first SEVEN days of feeling ill). The homeschool theater group is very busy with practices and Princess Sunshine has been helping out at the scene shop for an upcoming production of Music Man ...all in addition to our regular lives *sigh*

I wanted to do tulips. I also wanted to use this fabric that my mom and dad  brought home from Hawaii (they went to celebrate their 50th anniversary):

And the fabric refused to be used for tulips *sigh*

Does your fabric tell you what you can and cannot do to it? Mine obviously does. It almost was screaming at me when I got the different design ideas together and started pulling coordinating fabrics!

SO, the fabric told me I needed a new purse :) My current purse is made from denim and a lovely paisley that is fairly dark. So, I should have a bright and happy purse for spring.

I'm a fan of small purses, so I pulled the Mini Messenger Bag pattern and started to work on the flap :) I pulled a lovely green that reminded me of grass, found a great gold and a pink for the flower and drew out my shapes on the paper-backed fusible web. I fused the shapes and then scribble stitched the flower down, quilting it in the process.

 The flower was going to point down (as shown in above photo), but I changed my mind later :)

I added a divided interior pocket.

I also added a back pocket and a loop to hang my keys.

This purse is going to make my day brighter as I use it - I'll smile at the happy flower and the lovely batik!

Now to make some accessories to match :)