More Back Packs!

Two more backpacks! First one is a commission in glowing reds. Made half the normal size so more of a handbag backpack!
Made from red and raspberry satin jacquard and chenille with gold tone buttons and eyelets.
Red satin padding on the shoulder straps and a tan leather base. Red satin cording with fabric tulips.
This one is for me!!!!!!!
Lots of patchwork in sumptuous green and plum.
Quilted with gold metallic thread.
Pale green satin cording finished with fabric tulips.
Padded shoulder straps.

Pretty gold norwegian clasp, gold tone eyelets and buttons.
Tan leather base.

Very Retro Very Green ...

Another fabric that has had me struggling for something to do with it! On it's own it is almost psychedelic shades of green but teamed with denim with the very slightest hint of purple in it, I think it looks fantastic!

Two bags here - one a large messenger bag, 13" x 14", the other a handbag at 10" x 10". Both have a 36" shoulder strap.

Both are lined with a glazed cotton in bright green and have two internal pockets and one external pocket under the flap.

The 10" x 10" bag:

Reverse of the smaller bag:

Front of the smaller bag:

The larger bag - inside.Pocket under the flap, vintage green button fastening.

Reverse of the large bag:

Vintage green button flap closure:

Front of the larger bag:

Poinsettia Tote Bag

I've been looking at these fabrics for ages and not knowing what to do with them! I just knew that I liked them and wanted to do something BRIGHT with them! I put the patchwork together first, then sat and looked at them for a few weeks before I decided what to do next!
In the end, the patchwork was finished with some metallic gold thread zigzags and a little corsage in my favourite pink chenille.
A little gold tone button on the corsage finished it off.

Finally some plain, emerald green cotton for the lining and pocket for a fabulous, festive contrast!

This is such a vivid bag - perfect for adding a bit of spice to your christmas shopping trips!

Roses are red backpack

I fell in love when I saw this fabric - deep red chenille in a lovely sculpted rose pattern. Just right for this back pack pattern.
Gorgeous fabrics set off with a pewter Norwegian clasp.

Adjustable, padded cushion web straps. Tan leather base.

Four external pockets fastened with vintage burgundy buttons.

Red drawcord top, navy and burgundy stripe lining with two internal pockets.

This bag is as practical as it is gorgeous!

Recycled Denim and Patchwork Backpack

Made for a commission, I've been wanting to have a go at a backpack for a while. I'm pleased with the result!

The pockets and top flap were the fiddliest bits, making up the patchwork and doing the quilting,but it was worth it for the finished look.

I couldn't find any buttons that suited the colour and style so had a go at self cover buttons. I also couldn't find any cord stops to suit so I made little fabric bobbles to cover the knots. And I got to play with eyelets!

The base is spotty oilcloth for protection against dirty floors.

I wasn't keen on plain polyester webbing and managed to find some cushion web on ebay. It's used to make horse headcollars and lead reins and is much softer and more comfortable in the hand than plain webbing.

Fully lined with a zipped internal pocket (recycled jeans zip!)

All the fabric was recycled - jeans, a tablecloth, a pair of curtains and a few offcuts.

I took these pics before I'd added the clasp. It took me a while to find what I wanted - I'd never heard of a Norwegian Clasp! But thats what I needed!

It just finishes it off perfectly!
This is going to be my next one. I bought a jelly roll of these gorgeous olive greens and plums. The whole thing will be patchworked - these are the pocket pieces, quilted with gold thread!
I have a nice piece of soft leather that I plan to use for the base. I might have to keep this one for myself!

Scented heart bunting

*whips the dustcovers off the furniture*
Phew, it's been a while since I've been in here, hasn't it! The sewing machine has been sitting idle over the last few weeks due to family holidays and school holidays (it's hard to get on with sewing when the children want to use the dining room table for THEIR craft work!)

Anyway, although I haven't made much recently, I did finish a comission for a birthday present before I went away, and as the birthday has now been and gone, I can safely show it!

Seven lightly padded hearts, scented with Crabtree & Evelyn's Nantucket Briar fragrance. The three plain coloured hearts have a letter on each that spell out the lady's name. Two little glittery heart shaped beads separate each fabric heart. I loved making this - I hope the lady in question was delighted with it, I was certainly impressed by her boyfriend comissioning it for her!

I made quite good progress with my quilt before the holidays, but that has also ground to a halt at present. But here it is so far. I just have the centre section (that piece running diagonally top left to bottom right) to wad, back and quilt. Then the three sections can be joined and the whole thing edged. I struggled to find a good colour for the sashing, one that would tie all the blocks together. But in the end settled on this soft blue. As the blocks are such soft colours themselves, I didn't want to overpower them, and I wanted to keep that feel of a scrap quilt made from vintage fabrics. I think it succeeds in doing that! The back of the quilt is even more vintage - I've used old and many times washed curtain linings. The old cotton is soft from washing and stained with time - definitely has a vintage look to it! Anyway, with the three sections laid out together, you get a bit of an idea how it will look!

The individual blocks were quilted using the walking foot, and a fairly regular pattern reflecting the block's individual design. The corner patches were free hand quilted in a swirly pattern to try to complement to floral fabric. Far from perfect, but a great introduction to quilting and very good practice!

My Funky Red Gazebo!

Well we had lovely weather for the Fleckney Fest day on Saturday, if a fraction windy! But my glorious red gazebo did the trick - I put two sides on as the little windy gusts were just enough to tip things off my stall!
It was very eye catching amongst all the boring old green and blue gazebos on the field!

Here is my latest bag - a plain black messenger/laptop bag with a subtle navy and cream check lining. Made as a commisson.

Craft Fair Goodies!

It is Fleckney Fest tomorrow! I have a stall on the field - my new red gazebo will be put up for the very first time, I can't wait to see how it looks!

I've been busy building up my stocks this week. I find it's the little things that cost a couple of pounds that sell the best, so I've been trying to make a few more things in that price range.

Here we go:

More crocheted flowers! Plus some crocheted wrist wraps and fabric bangles. If nothing else they will look pretty on the stall! I will post photos of my stall on Sunday.

Luscious Lime

I've had this fabric for a while, but not known what to make with it. Inspiration struck yesterday and within the space of a couple of hours I had two new bags and two more on the way. First a couple of tote bags - these are slightly smaller than the normal (I wanted dainty not voluminous!) and the pocket is on the outside. This one is finished with a rosette and vintage button. The other one (not shown) is finished simply with three little vintage 'crystal' effect buttons on the edge of the pocket.

Then a couple more slouchy bags (I've given up on snowy bags - it just didn't sound right!)

No fancy embellishments on these, just that gorgeous lime linen and a couple of vintage maroon buttons back to back as a fastener.