Academy Awards clutch!

Hello Beautiful Dynamos!

So, for the last couple of weeks I've been working on secret projects.  I've still got one more set of secret projects to finish up, but I'm so excited that I can finally tell you about one of them.

I made a purse that will be going to the Oscars!  OMG, right?!

I can hear you wondering now, "How in the world did THAT happen. Jaime?"

Well, it just so happens that my bestie, E, is a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and thus gets to go to the awards ceremony every year. And it also happens that the last time that she and her totes adorable son, S, were over, I showed her some of the bags I am working on for my new book (and one of those secret projects that I mentioned before, shh!).  A few days later she had a dream about asking me to make her a bag to carry to this year's Oscars, so of course, she sent me an email right away asking if I was even interested.

Was I interested?!!!  Oh my gosh, pinch me! I said yes immediately!

And then immediately realized that I've never made anything like that before. I'd never even TRIED to make a purse like that before. I don't have a go-to clutch pattern, and I haven't worked in bridal/formal crochet, like, ever!  Aaaaaaah!  But, after a lot of back and forth, 3 mandatory re-starts (and about 15 non-mandatory do-overs!) I finally created something that we both love.

It's about 7" long and about 4" high and it's just the right size for her to stash a lipstick, some cash and a couple of granola bars (you never know, it's a looong ceremony, folks! LOL!!!).

I've been pioneering this new way of lining crochet bags, and this was a great opportunity for me to really refine the process.  I re-did the lining several times, because I'm a perfectionist (and what's the point if it's not as close to perfect as you can make it). It really pushed my sewing and design skills to their limits (I know, it looks so simple, but it wasn't for me).  But the good part is that I will be able to roll all of that trial-and-error into some pretty cool tutorials so you don't have to make the same mistakes that I did.  Yay!!

I'm hoping that E will be able to snap some quick phone pics of herself on the red carpet, but even if she can't I'm still excited to tune in next Sunday to watch the show.

xoxo!!!