flamingo beach tote

You follow my facebook page, right?
So you knew already that this was a work in process!
Because when I stumbled upon the Kate Spade Flamingo Tote two weeks ago I got the DIY bug right away.

The bag retails at the not very friendly price of 275$.

I'm all over being stylish on the beach.

Not on board for the number, it's a canvas tote. 

Give me a break.

inspiration&realisation

Fabric and paint...Voilà.
My version: suited for my needs.
--> I want to be able to carry the bag on my shoulder... check ✔
--> I want it much cheaper... duh... check ✔
--> I want it machine washable... check ✔
--> Most of all: I had everything except for the pink paint... triple check ✔✔✔
--> Last, but not least: total cost of paint : 3.98 $ ... can you beat that?

picture from www.saksfifthavenue.com - collage by me

The tote itself is a regular, rectangular piece of fabric (44-1/2" x 20-1/2"), folded in the middle with the 45 degrees corners stitched at the bottom to create the flat base.
Same process for the lining inside, where I added a pocket.

--> The straps, errr... the flamingoes' heads: length from beak to base: 28"
* I printed out a picture of the tote with scale 560%, (and only printed page 2 where the flamingo head was, I really didn't need the other 35 pages!!!)
* Cut the shape ad used as my template
* With the strip of fabric left, I folded in half and draw the flamingo at one end of the fabric, end the neck a.k.a. the strap of a 1" 1/4 all the way down
* repeat on the other side of the fabric, only the template of the flamingo must be face down this time
* now I decided to bast the straps because the stitch that I wanted to use pulls the fabric a lot and didn't want the two layers to move around. (btw, I hate basting)

* Set my machine on zigzag and length one click after 0.
* After it's done, cut slowly at the very edge of the stitching.

* I cut the flamingo template in three parts: the black beak, the white mask, and the pink head, using the three parts again, as a template.
* ... and painted pink and black

*** tip: If you're trying to do this stitch, try on a sample first. The fabric moves extremely slowly, you need to pull it, and the result is neat (well, I like it!)

* In the meantime, I hand drawn (using always a water soluble marker) the flamingo body on one side of the tote, folded in the middle, set it on my glass desk with the light underneath to match the lines on the other side.
* ... Lots of pink paint later, I was done.
* Done with the body, done with the straps, let dry (most.annoying.part. e-v-e-r)

--> Construction of the tote
* Sew the sides of the bag and the bottom corners
* Folded the top part twice and insert the lining
* Sew the top hem about 2-1/2" down
* Sew the straps in the way that the two flamingo's heads will be on the same side

Wash it to remove all the marker lines, let dry, press.

Flamingoes are happier to the beach! (and so am I)

xox, d.

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