Upcycled Floral Tote

Happy Friday everyone! I have a busy one planned! I am finishing a $5 desk project. I got the poor desk from a garage sale, it had water damage and cracked legs. Now we are almost finished with her. I have also been signing up with a few places to be a mystery shopper. Sounds fun, right? From what I have been reading, its not that fun and you don't get to tote your kids along. But it pays. And, in the end, you might end up with some free stuff. It seems a good way to get paid for things that you might be doing anyway.
Here is what this post is really about:

My newest upcycle - Floral tote.

I used some denim that I have had in the stash for about 15 years. I have actually hauled this with me through 5 moves. It really should have gone in the giveaway pile years ago so this counts as an upcycle. Right? I used the selvage edge for the top of the bag. Its already frayed and very stable. For the flower I used this:

Pieces from an old skirt. I put 'em through the ruffler.

I cut several long pieces of fabric from part of an old skirt. I then hemmed all of the edges. After hemming, I put them through my ruffler foot. I'll tell ya, that ruffle foot was hard to figure out (they don't come with instructions) but now that I know how it works, I am  a BIG fan. After I ruffled, I laid these into a flower pattern on a circle of denim, pinned into place and sewed the flower on. I didn't want all of the wonky stitching to be visible from the inside of the bag, that is why I used the denim backing. I then sewed this onto the bag. I tacked the real floppy parts of the flower so it would retain its shape.

The flower doesn't flop due to small stitches holding it in place in certain spots.

I used soft nylon rope for the handles. I just knotted the ends (knot first then cut. also, cut between two knots. that way the rope won't unravel) then used a lighter to melt the edge so it won't fray.

The blue detail is quilt binding.

The inner blue flower is also quilt binding.

I used this flower sort of like a button or a tuft. I sewed all the way through the layers of this side of the bag, to help attach the backing to the bag.

I suppose I should hire someone to photograph me through the process, so that I can give a proper tutorial.....I get so into my projects that I don't bother to pick up the camera.....