A rather productive weekend

Well, I may have skipped a week yet again, but I’ve made up for it with my industriousness today! Firstly, the black bag with flowers is finished (do you like it, Yvonne?)

Apologies for the poor quality of the photographs: unfortunately I've had to use the camera on my phone as the good camera is having a funny five minutes, You can't see the ribbon with wooden beads to draw it closed.

I’ve been in a bit of a funk; although I had lots in my head, there was a definite lack of motivation. But the sun came out today, and I was allowed to do what I pleased; so I did!

Yesterday this gardening apron was done for a friend's birthday. I've made a few of these now. There's a little button hole at the top of one of the pockets to feed string out of.

Now, you might notice a pattern of fabrics here! A handbag (my own pattern) baby blue cord for the base, adjustable strap, internal slip pockets and a clip for your keys. This one is destined for the shop.
Now, this one has been hanging around my workspace for weeks. A nice-looking bag and a straightforward pattern, but don't ask me to make another one! I had difficulty lining up the handle openings and it's not quite right.
Looks cute and I'm sure someone will take it off my hands (cue daughter...!)

Had a go at mitred corners and they didn't turn out so bad! That's something I will be repeating :-)

A rather nice cushion. Sadly, the photo doesn't show the centre of the flower very well; it's a yo-yo with 2 stacked buttons.

I hope that whatever you have planned for this week, it's something you want to do.

Well, it's nearly finished.

Sorry about the skipped week; not sure how the last two weeks have got away from me (apart from the worky thing; always a pain!)

So, very little accomplished in the crafty domain, so decided to knuckle down and have a play!

Some weeks ago, I visited Reading and found Fabric Land. Naturally, I purchased a little (!) fabric, amongst which was some black 'coating' fabric. It has the feel of felt and behaves as felt does, not fraying when cut, and the label indicated some wool content.

Yesterday, my Aunt asked for a new bag. After her description, brain went into design mode and the following is the result. Now, Aunt, this is probably not what you had in mind, it's just what came into mine. This is not necessarily yours - unless you want it to be!

So, cut out two pieces like this, plus a bottom.

Flowers sewn on with freee motion machine stitch; pearly beads added to the centre

Pieces of fabric added to the triangular flaps (left one before embellisher, right one after)

And the almost complete bag

Almost completed because - and this will beggar belief for those who know me! - I don't have any black-based fabric for lining in my stash. None. Zip. Zilch.

Plan is that this will be a drawstring bag like DD made for her textiles exam, with the triangles gathering. Hmm, not sure how this will work in practice.

If Aunt doesn't want it, it will be in my shop as soon as it's done!

June already!

A nice start to 'flaming June', but the weather has turned a little today.

We had a wren disaster; the nest fell completely out of the centre of the wreath. I picked it up and the 5 babies were fortunately still under it, but they did a very good impression on kangaroos! Fast as I put them back in the nest, they jumped out again, but weren't quite ready to fly. It took a while to round them all up again

I found an old semi-circular hanging basket, put the nest and babies in and hung it back on the wall. Within 5 minutes, parents were back and feeding. They flegded 2 days later. Phew!

On the crafting front, I've made a bag for a colleague:

Lisa asked a while ago if I would make her a red bag. I don't do red usually, but I saw the fabric in Lexi Loves in Cirencester and immediately though of her.

Lisa wanted a bag to take on holiday that would hold all those bits you feel you have to take with you for the day - especially when you have children. Medium length handles means she can arry it in her hand or over the shoulder and the handles have padding to make them more comfy on those day trips.

Inside a slip pocket and a D ring with a clip for her keys, because I don't think there is anything more annoying than scrabbling around in the bottom of your bag for your keys. Guess that little point is comes from personal frustration (please tell me I'm not the only one who can't find her keys..........) .

Oh, and I made the pattern myself - yay! Not even based on another one; drawn all myself, so I'm feeling rather pleased with myself!

I knew I'd left the wreath up for a reason

I just didn't know what that reason was until this morning!

I came down this morning to make a cuppa; up before everyone else as always at the weekend. Staring aimlessly out the kitchen window, I caught sight of movement on the porch. I looked but couldn't see anything. 30 seconds later, out flew a little wren and started to pull bits off my clematis - and promptly returned to the porch.

The wren has built her nest in the middle of the evergreen wreath I put up by the front door at Christmas.

Magic! With luck I'll be able to watch her raise her brood. I put some of Cassie's hair out this morning to assist with the furnishing.

Used the embellisher for a project today - a glasses case for my Mum (shhhhh, don't tell!).


The flowers were created by twisting chenille into loops and needle felting the centre, adding a little silk for lustre. Stem was machine embroidered as were the leaves. And in case anyone thinks of appropriating it for themselves, it has her inital on the back..........

Another bag ready to put in the shop:

The flower was made using this tutorial

Happy birthday, Cassie-dog! 2 today!

Added:

I've been doing a little reading on the wren and apparently HE has been building the nest. He builds several and the female chooses the one she wants to lay her eggs in.

Oh, please pick this one!

Hope it's worth waiting for.....

Finally, I 've managed to take some photographs in focus. Amazing!

My new toy is.......

........a Pfaff 350p needle felting machine. How cool is that? Well, I guess that depends on how much of a gadget queen you are - and that is my other name ;-)

And here are some things I did at the weekend with it:

A pin for my friend Valerie to say thank you for Saturday night
another little flower

and a flower attached to a hair grip (beautifully modelled by Beth!)

Stop Press!!

I've sold my very first thing online!! A handbag! Yippee!

First listing!

Well, after much angst and trepidation, I've done it.

I've listed my first item for sale on Misi! A little bag made from my own pattern, from Japanese fabrics.

So now I can officially say that I have something out there. It's scary and exciting and worrying and nerve-racking and - well, it's an awful lot.

Visited Ikea today; got a few odds and ends that added up to more than you imagine! It was very busy and I didn't enjoy the visit as much as I thought I would, but got the things I needed.

Very quiet here with all the family away or out, but I quite like that. Just me and the dog! Gert lush!

Hoping someone might help......

well, I have a problem. (well, some would say I have several, but now is not the time or place...).

I've been asked to make transitions bags for children. These are bags that contain activities for children who are going through a period of change to help them through it. I'm not filling the bags - people far wiser than I will be doing that - just making the bags to hold the activities and adding a simple applique image to decorate.

Some are easy to put images on - first day at school, new baby - but some are not.

Any idea how you can add an image for bereavement or divorce? And not make it instantly tacky?