Betz has reached out and asked a couple designers to add their personality to a few of her patterns. In exchange for doing this blog post, I received a fully printed panel of my own designs printed on Eco Canvas through Sprout Patterns.

The design process on Sprout is really cool. You can choose from any design available on Spoonflower.com and add them to different sections of whatever item you want to make. I chose the Field Study Tote by Betz White and added my own fabric designs. I messed around with this thing for close to an hour to get the exact look I wanted. There were so many possibilities.

In the end this is what I loved the most! Isn’t the digital mockup neat? You can see exactly what your finished piece will look like.

The fabric takes anywhere from 1-2 weeks to come in, which isn’t bad for a custom product. I was so excited to cut in to mine I forgot to take a photo of my panel!

Once your fabric comes in, you need to go back in to your Sprout Pattern account and retrieve the instructions. They can be found in the Orders section under Your Account.

Another awesome feature is you get to keep the original pattern. Which means you could make a second, third, or fourth bag out of fabric you already have on hand too. You basically bought the pattern as part of the initial cost. I love that they included this.

The bag went together fairly easy. I did struggle a little with adhering the stabilizer to the Eco Canvas (which is like a backpack material. kind of shiny). I think this was my fault, since I didn’t wash the panel first. Spoonflower recommends you do! Don’t be me, wash your fabric.

I also learned a new skill with those handles. How neat are they all folded up like that?

The strap normally has a slider on it, so you can adjust it, but mine is on back order so I just temporarily tacked the fabric up as if there was a slider. Haha, I have the worst luck! I plan on adding it later once they come in. If you make this bag, it will look way nicer with a slider.

I’m very happy with how this bag turned out, and I like the options to use it as a tote bag OR a messenger bag. The material also feels very durable and I imagine it will hold up for awhile.

I will always be amazed by these new options to make customized items. It will never get old. I’m already dreaming up a Moneta Dress with fabric similar to the bag. I just need to feel more comfortable with my serger first.

If you’d like to mess around with clothing or accessory patterns on Sprout yourself, then just head over to their site. I also recommend going to Spoonflower and favorite whatever designs catch your eye. Having favorites will make them easier to find on Sprout.

Now go and make yourself some one of a kind pieces!!

Anyway, this post, and the next one will be dedicated to Designer Con! What is Designer Con you ask? Well to quote their website… “Designer Con is an annual art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys and designer apparel with urban, underground and pop art!“. It’s a one day event, this Saturday, November 3rd in Pasadena, CA. It looks awesome, and I’m seriously bummed I can’t go. Maybe next year?!? (hint hint JC).

Just because I can’t go doesn’t mean I can’t look at, and dream about, all the awesome stuff that will be there. So If I Had Unlimited Funds to go the Designer Con 2012, I would buy…

1 - 6″ RAAR! by Gary Ham /// 2 - I Don’t Wanna Grow Up print by Brett 2D Bean

3 – Florene & Talbert print by doubleparlour /// 4 - white resin ovok sculpt by Odd Fauna

5 – Ghost Larm by Sawdust Bear (I have been eying these for awhile now, you should check out the entire site, there are so many neat “specimens”)

6 – Curiosity Resin by Nathan Hamill (via Pretty in Plastic) /// 7 – Yummy Face Coin Purse by Jupey

8 – Owl Tote by Crowded Teeth(one of my all time favorite artist!!) /// 9 - Narwhal Plush Art Doll, Norbert by Nonesuch Garden

10 - CrappyCat Tuf-Fluck by Crappy Cat /// 11 – Bronze Polkadot Cavey by A Little Stranger

12 - BOOMBOT1 LAZ-E BLUE by Boom Botix (It’s a wireless speaker that looks like a little monster! how cute!)

So these were the first half of all the things I thought were super cute!! I just couldn’t narrow it all down, everything is so neat looking. Check back tomorrow for the rest of my favorites!!

If you’d like to see all of the other vendors, check out the list here.