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Celebrating a Fabric Love Affair

in Bags, Featured Crafters, Handmade, Quilts, Sewing on

As always, I love reading the little tidbits you all put into the odd-n-ends section of the featured crafter applications.

Janet included this disclaimer with hers – “I just got up and am only on my first cup of coffee so I hope my answers made sense. I’m kind of bleary eyed so I don’t want to edit to death or I will never send this. :)”

Don’t worry the answers are PERFECT!

janet howard

Random Facts About You?

I've lived every day of my life in Maryland.

I am a Libertarian who dislikes personal conflict.

I love poodles and have 3.

I'm a total coffee addict.



What got you started crafting?

My grandmother (born the century before last) made clothes for me when I was a child and made quilts and I was just fascinated with sewing. I loved home economics class in junior high school and loved to make my own clothes. I took up quilting in the 80's and read every book in my library and am totally self taught. Hand applique and quilting are my passion.

Making purses and bags has also always been a passion of mine (and compulsion) because it enables me to buy and use fabric much faster than quilting does. I design my own patterns. Etsy has given me the perfect outlet for following my fabric obsession.



What is your source of inspiration?

Cotton fabric. I love the feel of it and the enormous variety.



What have you made recently?

I made a messenger bag the other day out of a coral colored home decorator fabric covered with white leaves. I paired it with a white cotton sateen lining and it is so pretty and has such a clean economy to it. I can't imagine how I could improve it. (Although I never thinking about that).

This is the style I personally use and I've had success with this style on Etsy so I keep making them. It's a very practical style. It takes me about 3 - 4 hours to make one start to finish. O make each bag start to finish one at a time. This style is all rotary cut except for the curved flap. It's all interfaced and fleeced. I cut everything out and then interface/fleece it and then assemble.





Where do you sell your crafts presently?

I only sell on Etsy.



Why are handmade crafts important to you?

I have always been in pursuit of making the "perfect" handbag for myself. Over the years I have made myself dozens and dozens of styles because I have always had a lot of fabric around. I kind of like loud and splashy fabrics. I like to look at the bags in stores and would use something I couldn't make myself (like leather) but for me, a day without sewing is a day not lived.

I understand the compulsions that drive people to craft and I respect that in people and I want to support that.



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