Lisa Lam, author of the bestselling book titled
The Bag Making Bible, has recently published
A Bag for All Reasons. This outstanding collection of 12 inspiring bags includes Lisa’s personable teaching style and detailed technique images along with patterns and instructions for 12 new bags and totes for every occasion. Full sized pull-out patterns allow you to get to work immediately on the bag of your choice.
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book for review & I can tell you first-hand that it is beautifully made. I love that it's spiral bound allowing the book to lay flat when open to various pages. The book opens with an introduction to basic equipment, the ins & outs of a sewing machine, a how-to on using patterns, and an overview of fabric types. These sections allow beginners to enjoy the book just as much as advanced crafters. I had the opportunity to ask Lisa a few questions & her responses are below.
The book features:
• 12 new projects with full pull-out patterns
• Full-color step-by-step images for each technique and each project
• Lay-flat spiral binding
• Tips and techniques including choosing fabric, attaching
zippers and snaps, and more
• Extras including pattern legend, suppliers list, online resources
FREE PROJECT: Click here to download the FREE Compact Groceries Tote project and templates from
A Bag for All Reasons.
DISCOUNT OFFERS:
A Bag for All Reasons; Make Fabulous Fabric Bags for Every Occasion
1. Please give us a short background description of yourself. I was born (errr…nearly 40 years ago) in Poole on the beautiful South Coast of England. I’m educated in all sorts of things because when I was younger I couldn’t make my mind up as to what I wanted to do for a career. So I’m a trained chef, I have a Psych degree, I can hand-make women’s shoes, I have successfully run two other businesses…and there are yet more different jobs to add to my mixed up work history, but to date U-Handbag, book writing and pattern designing are my very favourite jobs and I’ll continue to work at them until I can work no more! What do I do apart from crafting? Well at the moment I have no time for crafting because I am very busy looking after my new baby girl. She’s totally awesome; she has such a yummy smile and easy-going nature. I know she’s going to be a fab crafting buddy.
2. What inspired you to write A Bag for All Reasons? Well after my first book, The Bag Making Bible (which was a very technique driven book), I wanted to write a book that more showcased my designs. In my work I always love to try to do something different. So in my research for my second book I checked out other bag making books and decided that a lot of them were (how do I say this?) not modern enough for my taste. I also saw that none of the bag making books grouped their bags by usefulness, rather they focused on seasons, or eras for example. To me, function is just as important as form and this influences all of the design work that I do. If I can’t design something that is practical as well as pretty, then it probably won’t leave the drawing board. That is why when it comes to bags I’m obsessed with pockets, roominess, structure, volume, adjustable wing-dings and the like. I think if you are going to go the trouble of making your own bag, it’s good if it is practical, that way you’ll enjoy A LOT of use from it. Also your bag should be designed to withstand the rigours of busy college/family/mom/work/etc. life! Hence A Bag for All Reasons is full of bags designed for use in real-life situations by all members of the family.
3. What is your absolute favorite project from the book? Ohh, I’d have to say ‘The Fashionista Baby Bag (with matching changing mat, page 92)’. It might be my fave because I’m now a mom myself, or it could be that the bag was designed around what design features my Facebook fans said I should include in the bag. I also love the Too Cool for School Satchel (page 70). The design is totally influenced by the tough (and quite rigid) traditional leather school satchels, but I had fun figuring out how to realise the design in soft fabric. I think the results look pretty cool and whimsical.
4. Any other craft books or projects for us to look forward to in the near future? Ohh yes there are…I can’t write a full-blown craft book at the moment because it’s a labour of love that is very labour intensive. I’m enjoying being a new mum right now, but there are some very exciting future plans on the horizon for when my daughter is a little older. All I can say is that I will at some point resume designing, writing and maybe filming more DVDs, there are a few more surprises planned as well, but I have to keep shushhh about them for now. Whilst I enjoy this precious time with my girl I’m blessed that folks still want more of my designs and my publisher still wants to work with me.
5. What does handmade mean to you? It’s no exaggeration to say that handmade is my life. I love to start from scratch in lots of things I do; from cooking to crafting; from DIY to making up funny songs for my baby. Handmade is not only the action of making something yourself, it’s the attitude behind it. When you take time out to make something yourself, you are making many positive statements to you and those around you. You are saying things like: I enjoy the challenge, I love someone enough to give them something that I made myself, I have pride in my skills (and/or I am enjoying learning how to improve those skills), I don’t always want to accept what is available in the shops, I want to make history by passing my handmade skill or handmade item down my family generations. I could on and on! Handmade is so positive and at the same time nutritious! It influences much of my life and the decisions I make. It’s fair to say that without handmade I wouldn’t be the person I am today & my life would be very dull without it!
*** GIVEAWAY - Closed- Congrats Gill! ***
TO ENTER: Leave a comment on this post noting an occasion you most need a bag for.
ADDITIONAL ENTERY: Like Lisa Lam's
U-Bag on Facebook, then leave a comment on this post noting you have done so.
ENDS: 9pm CST, Wednesday, October 24th.
