Welcome to The Creative Thimble
This website is the home site for Laura Martell's designs. We feature patterns to
sew customized totes, handbags, and cases with easy to follow directions for the
beginner sewer on up. We also offer top grade
cotton webbing for your handles.
Carol's Convertible Purse
This purse is a shoulder bag that instantly turns
into a backpack by pulling on the side handle
straps. It has a magnetic snap closure, 2 front
pockets and a back zipper pocket.  Inside there
is another zippered pocket and a patch pocket.
You get 2 purses in one. I love the backpack
when I am grocery and mall shopping because it
allows me to shop hands free.
Buy the Patterns
You can browse all of
my patterns and webbing
for the handles online
using
Shop buttons or
look for the stores that
carry them under the
Retail Stores button.
Retailers can contact us
through the Wholesale
button.
Take the classes
Check out  Laura's
class schedule. Get
your picture on the
Show and Tell Page
when you take her
class.
(You can click on the
images to see a larger
picture)
Carol's Convertible Purse
Shoulder Bag View
Carol's Convertible Purse
Backpack View
Professional Tote
Front View
Professional Tote
Back View
New Webbing
COLORS !!
I have  added a
1"
Milk Chocolate
Brown
and 1" Maroon
webbing to the line.
Click here to see
the new colors!!
Let's Go "Green"
No more paper or plastic bags for
grocery shopping!!
Here is a pattern to get you going.
These bags sew up in about an
hour for your first one and faster
after that. They're so fast to make,
you will be making them for all
your friends.
FREE PATTERN
Fabric Grocery Bag
click here
It's Here!
"As You Like It" Purse
I am very excited to announce my newest purse
pattern.

The "As You Like It" Purse has a personalized decorative front flap
that is a great way to showcase your creativity. Make one bag and
change the removable flap to suit your mood or outfit. Are you
feeling traditional today? Add a quilted flap to your "As You Like
It" Purse. Feeling wild? Put on your beaded and fringed decorative
flap.  Make a new flap for the next holiday or showcase a new
sewing technique.  The panel is your blank canvas for creative ideas.
The “As You Like It” Purse comes in three sizes:  small
(handbag size); medium (purse size); and large (tote size-big
enough to hold a notebook or laptop). The purse has two
zippered outside pockets and two side pockets that are great
for keys, cell phones, or eyeglasses. Inside are two large patch
pockets that can be divided into several smaller pockets.  
Choose the size that's right for you and then customize the
front flap to make this purse your very own.
Two Decorative Panels, one purse.
No more changing purses, just
change the panel.
U.S. Troops Drawstring Bag
Join in making Troop Bags. This is a national 501C3 non-profit charity that fills
and sends the filled bags monthly to our troops.  The request is for a 14”
drawstring bag, it holds a filled gallon baggie.  The troops can use the bags for
personal use, and some pass them on to the children in Iraq.

No special holiday or color is needed, everything goes. This is a great project for
youth groups and those just starting to sew. Volunteers across the country will
gather in their local communities to make the bags.
When finished send to: Operation Care Package
                                   611 Wilcox Street
                                   Joliet, IL 60435
Click Here
for free
14" US Troops Drawstring
Bag pattern