the postie brings little parcels of joy

Some fabric has arrived, well a lot really, but I was only actually able to contain my self to photo this before ripping open the parcels. I am very impatient.

This is just the tip of the iceburg, I have a pile about a foot high (no joke) sitting waiting to be put away.

Oh and by the way for those who check-in from time to time, you are not going mad they did appear at the same time, publishing problems.

I must get back to some wrapping and tidying.

Fabric Purchases

I went on a bit of a fabric splurge today.... and bought loads. Which looking at the current state of my kitchen I clearly don't need, but anyway, now I just have to wait and see if it arrives before christmas. Fingers crossed. Back to custom orders, boy am I tired.

Craft Fair

I did get them all framed and I survived the craft fair, as well, but only with a little help from some friends. It was the most fantastic 2 days, we had great craic, drunk lots of coffee and indulged in a little cake.


It was a very early start on the Saturday morning, about 6am, after a very late finish, about 2am. We got all packed up said goodbye to the dog and set off. We arrived at St Georges Market at about 7.30am and went and located our stall. We had a good spot, a little of the main path through the market. We set up.....



and waited...

After I had made my first sale I felt much better. The thought of going, putting all that effort in and selling nothing was very stressful.

After the 1st sale was the next and next. In total we sold about 50 bags on the first day, I went home very happy, but a little worried as I had only brought 92 bags with me, so I made some more that night. I was quite lucky I had some bags that were 1/2 made so just needed finished, while others had to be started from scratch. In total I was able to make and finish over 20 more. It's amazing what you can do when you backs up against it.

Sunday was not quite as busy but brisk enough. We sold another 40 bags, including all of the ones I had made on Saturday night.

So all in all it was definitely worth it. On Sunday my husband & I were able to chill out for the first time in weeks. I was asleep by 9pm.

Craft Demo, why oh why?

Why did I agree to do a craft demo? I feel very under prepared, I still have bags to frame and so much to organise and it is on Wednesday night!!!! I still feel under the weather and seriously under slept. I am at the stage when I can't see the wood for the trees.

Grrrrh......oh and my sewing machine has picked today to be "difficult". Woe is me.

I must think positive and write a list, I am a list person and that has to help. So make a list of things to do and go to bed, it all has to be better in the morning. Ta for listening, it was therapeutic just to vent a bit of stress.

A bag for a bag-lady

People often think because I make bags I must have a lot of my own bags. Now while I do have a lot of bags, very few of them have been made by me. I often get the rejects, that don't quite pass quality control.

On Friday evening I was attending a formal and I decided late (and I do mean late) on Thursday night, that I fancied a new bag. Normally I would just pop out and buy one, however time was going to be tight on Friday, so at about 10.30 I decided to make a bag. I was wearing a cream embroidered corset top and a black ballgown length formal skirt.

So I settled for a cream silk with black embroidery and I lined it with bright pink fabric. Here is what I ended up with.

It was just perfect and I was really pleased with it. It got plenty of admiring glances and a few people were hoping I might make one for them.

Oh Christmas Tree

Last week when I was cutting out some christmas trees, I got a little bored and cut a new design. Here's what I come up with.

I really like the long skinny design, now all I ned to do is create more hours in the day to sew and to be honest a few more days in this month would be great.

I finally got a gingerbread boy finished and tagged so here he is.

I've popped him in my Etsy shop, so more people can get to see him.

Christmas is Coming Part 1

I just love Christmas, it's not really the presents , it's all the other things. I love the meaning behind it and the general feeling of goodwill. I adore the colours and the lights, I like to wander around with coats and scarves on and feel the cold air on my face. Most of all I like the endless opportunity to make things.

Ribbon in Proper Christmas Colours

I like to make little decorations, not really just for trees, but for anywhere you can hang them. Here are two of my little Gingerbread Girls.

Almost there, just waiting for the all important bow and buttons.

Here is a finished girl, she just needs to get a little hanging ribbon.

Just in case you think I have a girl only production factory, I do make little Gingerbread Boys, but none are currently cut out. I will post one soon. Traditionally I only give them away, to good homes of course, this year I am toying with the idea of selling them at my Etsy store.

While I was digging around in my felt box I discovered these little stockings.
I started to make these the first Christmas my husband I were married with the intent of stringing them together and making a garland, with the J & K in the centre. It appears I never got around to finishing them, so on my to do list for before Christmas this year is to finish the garland.

A New Design

My new 8 inch frames arrived a few days ago and I was happily waiting until the weekend for a chance to design a new bag for the frame, when I got a request for something a bit different. After a bit of thinking I came up this

It's perfect for notes and cards instead of a wallet, a stylish make-up bag or just as an ultra slim clutch for your mobile, lippy and cash. I haven't definitely decided on name for it yet but I'm thinking ......"Baguette Bag" - chic and tasty but not crunchy.

It wasn't what I had bought the frames for but when it was finished I just loved it and really wanted to keep it all for myself, but it's not to be and it has to go to it's new home, but I think more will follow soon and I might just have to keep one for myself :0)

Rainy Days

I ordered this fabric, among others, from karaku on etsy.

I just love it, it's so cute and arrived in record fast time, I have already created this

Rainy day clutch

It's fab and very appropriate for the current weather we are having over here. It is a slight redesign of my medium clutch and it worked out really well. Unfortunately, or fortunately from my point of view, it has got snapped up. Look out for more Japanese fabric clutches in my shop.

Mini Clutches

I have been working on new mini clutches for a while now, they look great especially in some great new fabric.

Red polka pvc

Black and white spots

Heart to Heart

Multi circles

Now that I look at them I notice they all have red interiors and there is a strong spot theme going on.

Parcel Packaging

Imagine my joy when I checked into my ETSY store and discovered 3 sales tonight. I had just turned out and packed 3 custom bags, so I had to start to do more parcels. Here is what they look like when packed.

First each bag needs to get its little hanging tag.

These are from moo a great place for fun cards.

Then they get wrapped in tissue paper and get a little MOO sticker

Then they get put in a plastic baggy (to keep them dry in case the box is damaged)

with a handwritten note and some business cards.

All nicely boxed and taped ready to go to a new home.

New Things

I am always up for trying new things, so this week I decided to give PVC a go. I came across a lovely bit of red polka dot PVC in Laura Ashley which I just couldn't resist. I thought it would be really odd to sew, but it wasn't and it made a lovely little number.

I think it's just fab, great for a day at the beach as one needs to look stylish at all times, or for makeup at the gym. The possibilities are endless but we will have wait and see if the world shares my love.

weekends

What did you do last weekend?

I did.....






I cut all weekend and will have to do more this weekend :0(

What will you be up to?

My favorite bags

Every so often I make a bag that makes me go oohh! Sometimes it's something I have come up with, sometimes it's a request that gives me ideas.

This is a fab clutch made from Black Monkwell, everytime it hits Etsy it sells and it also goes through non-etsy sales, only a few more limited bags are left in this material, it will be a sad day when the last one is cut.

This was a custom order that I made during the week. I would never have put these two colours together, I always line this material with orange, but I think this will make an appearance in my shop.