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Sunday, June 4, 2017

Wave to Canada's Birthplace!



Welcome to the Maritimes where you'll find Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Canada's very own Birthplace - Prince Edward Island (Canada's smallest province)! 

PEI is the home of all things Anne of Green Gables and the super delicious Cows Ice cream which you have to try if you ever get the chance! To get to me here in Nova Scotia just head along the 12.9KM Confederation Bridge to New Brunswick (Canada's only constitutionally bi lingual Province) and then into Nova Scotia (Canada's second smallest 

province).

Our whistle stop history tour ends just along the road from me in Annapolis Royal where exciting things have been happening and just in time for Canada's 150th Birthday! Annapolis Royal has its very own official tartan and it's all thanks to the determination and design skills of Kimberly Gunn from Tartan Wave.



 

So when I discovered the mystery bag pattern I was getting to sew was Fabulous Home Sewn's Military messenger bag I knew right away that Kimberley's Tartan, Fenna's pattern and my favourite chocolate brown cork would be the perfect combo.


The Military messenger bag has just been released in Issue 15 of One Thimble magazine and it is an intermediate level pattern. It's finished size is approximately 12" high x 10.75" wide x 2" deep - the perfect shape to hold a computer or use as a roomy book bag. The flap fastens with two magnetic snaps and has two shape options.. an asymmetric one with one bellow pocket or a symmetrical one with two bellow pockets. For the adjustable cross-body strap you can use either webbing or the same fabrics as your bag. The pattern has both written instructions and plenty of step by step photos which makes it very easy to follow. If you are a beginner bag maker.. the only part you may find a bit tricky is sewing your bellow pocket(s) onto the flap. 



I made a few changes to my military messenger bag as I have some fabulous blingy strap hardware that I've been dying to use for ages.. so instead of using the webbing all around the side(s) & bottom of my bag I used my BringBerry U shaped strap connectors and snap hooks instead.








In order to use these connectors I recommend you make a few templates.. one so you can cut the perfect shape on the bottom of your strap and another to mark the position of your screw holes to attach it to your bag. I pressed the back of the strap connector into a piece of paper to make little impressions and then pierced holes in the paper to give me the perfect screw hole template. 



For the curve template.. I drew tightly around the outside of the U connector and then trimmed around the inner line of my pencil markings. Then tried sliding the paper into the connector.. it was still a little big on my first go so  trimmed a tiny bit more and it was then perfect.




 
 


If you're using cork like I did you will also need a punch to cut the right size of holes through all your layers for all connector screw holes and rivet holes to nestle into. I used an 8 inch long x 2.5'wide strip of cork folded in half both width wise and lengthwise to make my connectors with a D ring at the folded end. 





 

I also use a piece of Peltex inside under my washers and screws when I secure my strap connectors to my bag with a little metal glue in the screw holes to make sure everything is absolutely 100% secure. In my bag flap I used fusible fleece just as the pattern suggested but as I like my bags to have a firmer body I used soft and stable foam on those pieces instead.



I think you can never have enough pockets so I also added a simple slip pocket to my interior too.

The bellow pockets on the flap are fabulously roomy.. the reason why I didn't put the grommets in my pockets as mentioned in the pattern is because I didn't want anything to detract from the tartan. 

On a plain fabric I think they'd make a lovely little detail.



So how did my messenger bag turn out? I'll let you be the judge but I absolutely LOVE it! 





Now for my giveaway... just leave a comment on this blog post below for your chance to win $35 to spend as you wish in my online store https://www.tangledblossomsdesign.com/

The Giveaway is open worldwide and the winner will be chosen by random draw generator at 2pm Atlantic Canada Time Tuesday 6th June 2017 ... now extended until the end of our InTheBag tour so everyone this week gets a chance to enter! Winner will be announced 2pm Atlantic Canada Time on the 11th June 2017!





Each blog has an exclusive giveaway, so be sure to visit them all.


And don't forget to enter our main Canada 150 in the bag rafflecopter giveaway at the bottom of this post for your chance to win one of the many amazing prizes!


Tour Discounts

  • 10% off! Tangled Blossoms Design is offering 10% off anything in stock for the duration of the tour. Offer expires June 10, 2017. Use discount code HAPPYBIRTHDAYCANADA
  • 15% off! Bringberry Handbag Hardware and Design is offering 15% off anything in stock for the duration of the tour. Offer expires June 10, 2017. Use discount code LOVECANADA150

Tour Stops

(These links will be active on and after the day they are scheduled.)

June 4

June 5

June 6

June 7

June 8

June 9

June 10

Giveaway ends at midnight EDT (North America)

July 1

CANADA DAY 150

Giveaway Prizes


  a Rafflecopter giveaway Please join us in thanking our tour sponsors by visiting their websites.

* Jewellery is the Canadian spelling.

80 comments:

  1. Awesome messenger bag! I love the tartan.

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  2. Really nice messenger bag. Great for day trip.

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  3. That bag is amazing! The Maritines are on my bucket list as soon as we retire in 2020!

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  4. Love the cross body idea! Beautiful work!

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  5. Great bag. I love the u connectors and the detailed photos in how to install them.

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  6. Would LOVE to win!!!! Great looking bag. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  7. Beautiful bag and fabric.

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  8. Wow - incredible bag - so lovely! I love the tartan (my family was originally from Amherst, NS - way way back!! - gorgeous province!) thanks for sharing!
    ali in alabama

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  9. Love the messenger bag! I've never seen that strap hardware before and just love it.

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  10. Love the look of the tartan in the bag!

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  11. Beautiful bag with the tartan (where can I get some?). Thank you for the giveaway and Happy 150 Canada

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    1. Kimberleys shipment of Tartan just arrived last week and less arrived than she'd ordered... more is coming though! I will ask if she's planning to sell some as yardage and get back to you :)

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  12. Looks fabulous! Love the shaped connector--really adds to the appearance!

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  13. Love your gusseted pockets! Always wanted to visit PEI!!!

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  15. I love the tartan. What a great bag!

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  16. Love the bag and the plaid, and thanks for the chance to win!

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  17. What a fantastic bag!

    Jenny in Florida

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  18. Love the colours on that tartan! Great looking bag.

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  19. What a great bag. I have some Ramsey plaid I could use with black. Great job.

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  20. Love the Tartan color.

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  21. That is a great bag, and the added hardware brings it up several notches on the awesome scale

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  22. Love the Plaid and the Hardware!!

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  23. Some great tips and stunning bags!

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  24. I love this messenger bag. I've never been brave enough to try to make one

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  25. Thank you for the great closeup photos on your tutorial. Always very helpful. I'm a coast girl, too, BC , though!

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    1. Congratulations Laura you have won my $35 Tangled Blossoms Design Voucher! Please get in touch in the next 48hrs with your email address so I can send you your voucher code. Fiona xox

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  26. Love your bag, really loved seeing how you did you connectors, I've been eyeing them, sew thanks

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  27. That's a great looking bag! I'll have to give cork fabric a try.

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  28. what a cute little bag! Love it. It would be cute done in my family's tartan colors.

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  29. You know I'm coming to visit you the next time I take a road trip Down East.

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  30. Beautiful bag. Thanks for so many pictures on attaching the hardware. It is beautiful and I can see clearly how you achieved such great results.

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  31. That tartan is absolutely gorgeous and you live in one of my favourite parts of our country!

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  32. Nice messenger bag. I've never tried using hardware on bags.

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  33. Great bag - love the hardware and tartan plaid.

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  34. Thanks for the great tutorial and tips to install the strap connectors! I'm planning to order some and this will be really helpful 😀

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  35. You did an amazing job on the bag! Love the fabrics you used--would love to give cork a try one day!

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  36. Where can I get the tartan? I love those colors.

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  37. Great bag. It's nice to meet another Canadian blogger.

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  38. Your bag is great, and you are absolutely right, you cant have too many pockets in a bag. That's a lovely pattern.

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  39. Love your bag so much! The plaid is wonderful.

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  40. Great bag and terrific instructions on the connectors. Thanks

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  41. Gorgeous!!!! I'm in love with that hardware!!! So nice, what a great sized bag.

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  42. Oh wow, I love this bag! I'm very new to sewing and in the process of making my first bag but this design is definitely going on my to do list!

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  43. What a great bag, and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the colors of the tartan.

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  44. Love the tartan! What a great bag, and you did a fantastic job!

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  45. Great, functional bag! I love cork but haven't sewn with it much yet. I'm intimidated because of the price and the holes that I might leave behind if I have to pick it out! Thanks for sharing, participating in the blog tour and the giveaway!

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  46. Beautiful!
    And i love the lining fabric you used too

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  47. I love the look of yourbag!

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  48. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  49. Love the bag and the choice of fabrics. The cork is something I need to try.

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  50. Beautiful messenger bag. Love the tartan with the cork. And fun seeing the u-handle connectors. What a Lovely blog tour!!

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  51. Love the use of the hardware, thanks for sharing!

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  52. Beautiful bag!!! Love the bling-it's the perfect accent.

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  53. wow! that's a gorgeous looking bag! <3 <3 I love your choice of tartan <3

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  54. A spectacular bag; you are so talented Fiona!

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  55. Beautiful! The colours are really lovely

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  56. I really like the screw on strap connectors. Your instructions are clear and helpful

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  57. Love your bag. Thanks for the hint on making paper templates.

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  58. Love that connector. And Annapolis tartan - now I'll haveto make something for my bil as he lives there.

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  59. Gorgeous bag. I love how you used the cork in it.

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  60. Great fabric choices! Can't wait for my order.

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    1. Thank you soo much! Your order is on its way 😃

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  61. great bag Good photos of how to install hardware.

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  62. I'm so happy to have found you! Love the bag!

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  63. Love your Tartan bag, it is so pretty and the Tula Pink lining is so cute!

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  64. Your bag is fabulous and thank you so much for the tutorial! I keep admiring those connectors but I admit to being a little intimidated by them.

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  65. Love the bag and the tartan is lovely!!

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  66. What a great looking bag! And I love the strap bling you used - it looks so awesome! :)

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  67. Gorgeous work as always Fiona! :) Also, Maritimes FTW! ;)

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  68. Annapolis Royal has it's very own tartan? How cool is that? :D I'm a transplanted Nova Scotian and I love both the provincial tartan and messenger bags so your bag really got my mind going. It's gorgeous!

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  69. beautiful bag and i love the tartan you chose.

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  70. What a bag to treasure! Its's beautiful and the workmanship is impeccable! Thanks for the detailed photos on the construction too - very helpful

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  71. Love the tutorial! That will be very helpful when i use mine, thank you!

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  72. Your bag is lovely! The lining is so pretty!

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  73. Your messenger bag is stunning! I know all about those blasted bellow pockets!! I had to put 4 of the darned things on a backpack for my daughter's Christmas present. I was working with a canvas fabric.......never again!!

    Thanks for showing your wonderful tartan bag & Happy 150th Birthday to you and your fellow Canadians in July!

    Regards
    Stephanie,
    in York, England

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  74. Your messenger bag is fantastic. And, thanks for sharing your "blingy" hardware with us.

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  75. Great tutorial and beautiful bag.

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