Rory Mullen
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rorymullen.bsky.social
Rory Mullen
@rorymullen.bsky.social
630 followers 430 following 600 posts
Demon #Sewist of Skeet Street.
Cat in a human suit.
#AuDHD GenX lurker.
SoCal #bagmaker @ MakeBelieveThreads.com
Single parent thru adoption.
Butler for 2+ kitties.
Actually Progressive.
Emoji (ab)user. 🤪
Former: IT (for UCLA) & hair blogger
Posts Replies Media Videos
rorymullen.bsky.social
A quick video of my (finally!) completed corset handbag. 🫶🏻

Tiffany blue faux leather and bonded nylon lining: Fabric Therapy
Polar Bear faux leather: Tulip Bee
Edge coat base: Mojo Sews
Gift box leather paint: Angelus
Pattern: Paintyee Designs

#handcrafted #sewing #sewist #bagmaker #bagmaking
November 21, 2025 at 3:21 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Completed the exterior of the corset #handbag. Attaching the base was the most difficult thus far. 😩

I’m modifying the pattern to make the bag fully lined for a more polished look to the non-leather interior. Hoping that goes as planned. 🤞🏻😬 🤞🏻

#bagmaking #bagmaker #sewing #handsewn #sewist #WIP
November 7, 2025 at 5:43 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Corset #handbag update: I’m thinking the actual corset part of the bag was the “easy” part—or at least not as time consuming. The frequent need to use pliers to pull the needles thru has really slowed me down….

#WIP #bagmaking #bagmaker #sewist #sewing #handcrafted
Photo of the back of a Tiffany blue saddle-stitched corset with ivory accents and silver corset eyelets. The bag is unfinished, as the hip area is clipped and only a few stitches have been completed.
November 3, 2025 at 7:21 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
The more chaotic the world gets, the slower and more tedious my work becomes.

These pieces will eventually become a #handbag. At least that’s the plan in my head. Even though I’ve never before punched or saddle-stitched a damn thing. Because coping. 😬

#sewing #bagmaker #bagmaking #handcrafted #wip
Individually cut pieces of a Tiffany blue corset with some saddle-stitched together. Two of the pieces have silver eyelets installed for the corset lacing.
October 31, 2025 at 5:06 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Everything is terrible so I'm focusing on things I can control: Like this WICKEDly zippered creation. I'd been waiting on the midnight rainbow zipper tape to complete the front panel. Hoping to finish the rest tomorrow! 🫶🏻

#sewing #sewist #handcrafted #wicked #bagmaker #bagmaking #unlimited
Close-up of a handcrafted front panel from a sewing work-in-progress. It features a base of black faux leather, with pink and green zipper tape joined with midnight black zipper teeth with iridescent rainbow. There is also a front pocket with black iridescent rainbow zipper tape and a matte rainbow teardrop zipper pull. At the top is the featured piece: An ornate matte rainbow metal magnet with silhouettes of Glinda and Elphaba centered inside a bubbled outline.
October 11, 2025 at 2:24 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Topstitching and grommets will have to wait til tomorrow—cause I still have to get a workout in before bed 🤪

#bagmaking #bagmaker #sewing #sewist #handcrafted
A nearly completed handcrafted hobo style bag with grey faux leather and antique bronze hardware sitting on wooden table top in a messy sewing room.
September 30, 2025 at 8:06 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Spending the morning finishing this LOTR convertible bag (shoulder/crossbody/backpack).

Still working on my shop site but really just needed to make something. ANYthing. For sanity. 🤪

#bagmaker #bagmaking #sewing #handcrafted #sewist
September 20, 2025 at 7:01 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Show me a picture on your phone that has your energy. Not a selfie.
A black cat laying on her back on green grass. The cat's face is in full focus, yellow eyes staring directly into the camera with her arms and legs outstretched, front paws motion-blurred, claws fully extended.
September 20, 2025 at 2:21 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Got to see the weather actually… weathering! Not an everyday occurrence here. View from my backyard in coastal north San Diego county. We had a few drops of sky sweat overnight—nothing compared to that light show to the east of us this evening!
September 19, 2025 at 4:49 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
circling back because this might more broadly encompass what you're asking
September 13, 2025 at 7:39 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Drop an old person you are going to turn into in the future
A 4 photo collage of Lily Tomlin as the character Frankie Bergstein from the Netflix series "Grace and Frankie."
September 2, 2025 at 3:12 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
For no reason whatsoever, here are a couple of bags I've made. 🫶🏻

#bagmaker #bagmaking #sewist #sewing
A quilted denim-like vinyl backpack with a flap that reads "Swiftie" photographed on a stone wall in front of a wooden fence. The side of a denim-like vinyl backpack photographed on a stone wall in front of a wooden fence. The side shows an opened expandable side gusset with revealing a nylon canvas print of Taylor Swift icons. A guitar-shaped zipper pull dangles at the bottom the black and white striped zipper tape. A shimmering pink textured wristlet pouch with rainbow hardware and a featured nylon printed front pocket with Taylor Swift icons. Photographed on a stone wall in front of a wooden fence.
August 26, 2025 at 9:55 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Haven't posted much here because I've been pouring 99% of my pics/writing into my new shop site.

However, I just snapped this pic of Cocoa next to a cat-themed wristlet and, well, #Caturday.

Of course, she had to get nice and dirty first! 🤪

#bagmaking #bagmaker #sewist #sewing
Photo of a pouch (made with black glitter vinyl on the bottom and a collage of Disney cartoon cats on the top) sitting on a stone wall next to a dirty black cat, who's staring just over the photographer's right shoulder.
August 24, 2025 at 1:59 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Pretty sure delivering my new chair on #Caturday was not on accident. 😹

Don't ask me how it is, I've spent more time at the cutting table facing it rather than sitting. Which may or may not have been a conscious choice. 😻
Photo of a gaming chair designed to look like a black cat, with purple cat eyes on the head rest and fuzzy cat ears that snap to the back. The chair is backlit from the window behind, from which you can see a pull deck and trellis covered in creeping red flowers.
August 10, 2025 at 2:19 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you joy and happiness:
Two characters, Harry and Sahar, from the television series "Resident Alien." Harry is on the left holding furry, colorful boots and looks curious. Sahar is on the right, wearing a green headscarf, holds a labeled spray can and appears serious.
August 7, 2025 at 5:29 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
I liked the modifications I made for my daughter's crossbody bag so much I made one for myself, along with a tiny card wallet. Both feature my favourite custom cat café print. 😻

They're purrfect for me! 🫶🏻

#bagmaking #bagmaker #sewing #sewist #catlover #handcrafted #handmade #catcafe
Photo of a small crossbody bag and smaller card wallet on a stone retaining wall in front of a wood fence. Both the bag and the wallet feature a cat cafe print with cats doing various feline activities (grooming, clawing, climbing). Close-up image of an opened card wallet featuring a cat cafe print with cats doing various feline activities (grooming, clawing, climbing). The wallet has 3 slots that can hold up to 3 cards each. It coordinates with the handbag behind it.
July 18, 2025 at 6:50 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
The crossbody bag in the wild. My daughter had a great time and, as a delegate for her chapter, got to vote on several key issues. NGL, I missed her tons and am glad she's back home. 🫶🏻
Photo of 3 Black young women wearing purple shirts and blue jeans posing together at the NAACP National Conference. Centered is my daughter who is wearing a crossbody bag I made for her for the event.
July 17, 2025 at 10:09 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Completed another #handcrafted bag for donation--my first Gaia by Knotted Threads Co--a month ago, then took forever choosing the right webbing for the strap: Matching--or even just coordinating--pinks is next to impossible! 🤪

But it's done. Yay! 😅

#bagmaking #bagmaker #handmade #sewing #sewist
Photo of a square-shaped crossbody bag sitting on a beige stone retaining wall in front of a ash brown wooden fence. The bag is charcoal-coloured vinyl with bright pink trim and webbing. Pink, blue, yellow, cyan, and charcoal plaid forms the front pocket. The hardware, including a bag tag on the front that reads, "handmade" is all nickel. The picture is watermarked with my logo that reads "MakeBelieveThreads"
July 17, 2025 at 6:49 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
My daughter (17) is flying cross-country for the #NAACP National Convention so of course she "needed" a sporty crossbody bag that could easily squish into a suitcase & come out fresh on the other side.

Finished this #handcrafted WPC bag for her just in time. 😉🫶🏻

#bagmaking #bagmaker #sewist #sewing
Photo of a black, red, green, and yellow handbag with no handles. Instead it has a black crossbody strap, embossed with the word "handmade." The front of the bag has a gold metal bag tag that reads, "handcrafted." Photo of a black, red, green, and yellow handbag from above. The black crossbody strap is attached on the sides with matte black hardware. A zipper placket closes the bag on top with a matte black heart zipper pull. Photo of the interior of a black, red, green, and yellow handbag. There is a slip pocket one side and a zipper pocket on the other. My sew-on label reads, "MakeBelieveThreads" and carries my logo.
July 9, 2025 at 5:52 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
If you see this, quote with a robot who isn't from Star Wars, Star Trek, Dr. Who, or Transformers.

[My husband in my head. ♡)
Image of Isaac, a robot from the TV series "The Orville."
July 7, 2025 at 1:10 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
10 years ago today: I was about halfway thru installing my daughter's #locs. Can't believe she's had them a whole decade already. 🤯 #naturalhair #microlocs
Photo from above of an African American 7-year-old girl's head. She's wearing a red shirt and looking down. The focus is on her kinky-curly hair, which has been freshly microlocked and gathered into six sections held by white terrycloth pony O's.
July 6, 2025 at 4:51 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
#Caturday eve.

So. Over. The 4th.
Photo of a torbie cat sitting on a blanket in front of a window at night. She’s in a loaf position but with her face downward, her forehead pressed into the blanket.
July 5, 2025 at 5:09 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Post your favorite Doctor Who. Wrong answers only.
Animated still of an anthropomorphized rat (Justin, captain of the guard) holding a sword and facing off another animated rat (the villainous and scheming Jenner) in the the Don Bluth classic film, THE SECRET OF NIMH.
July 1, 2025 at 3:03 AM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Video of my daughter's Prom Queen crowning! ♥️

Fun facts about the king & queen:
•African American (at a school with 10% AA population)
•Have locked natural hairstyles
•Won an MLK Jr. college scholarship from our city the night before prom
•Have names that start with Z
•Are data Filipino partners
May 27, 2025 at 11:17 PM
rorymullen.bsky.social
Prom. QUEEN! 🎤💥
Photo of two teenagers dressed in formal clothes standing in front of a sunset backdrop image. On the left is a Black male with shoulder-length locks styled into two-strand twists. He’s wearing a gold suit with a black lapel and bowtie. To his right is a Black female with locs cornrowed into a high bun. She’s wearing a fitted periwinkle lace dress with taffeta pleats across her chest. Rhinestone crowns sit atop both their heads.
May 25, 2025 at 5:08 AM