From bags to bowls..

 

 

 

Just a quick one this as it's now half term, so not much time for writing posts....but I just wanted to share pictures of my bowls that I collected from the ceramics studio last week.

 

Friday morning, fresh from the kiln, waiting for me on the benches were all the bowls I've been working on so far this term. My first proper 'collection' of ceramics!!!

 

Here's just a few of them in detail:

 

 

 

 

 



 

I loved every minute (even the frustrating ones) of designing and making these pieces...and even though they are far from perfect and I have SO much to learn, I feel like I am making little tiny steps in the right direction!

x

Birthday Bits (yes, more bags!)

For the past couple of days I've been working on some new birthday gifts. Now, this is where I have a problem with including these things in my blog because if anyone who these items are intended for sees this before they see their gifts, well then, the surprise is a little ruined! On the other hand, however, if you see it and don't like it..at least you can practise your 'delighted' face!!  Not sure how I'll play the run up to Christmas as I'm planning to have a very 'handcrafted' Christmas this year, which means either lots of sneaky peeks at gifts, or a lack of posts during the weeks before the festive season. Hmmmm, something to think about....?!

 

I'd really like to share what I've been up to this week at least, so first up is the lovely Tilly (Matilda). The youngest daughter of family friends of ours.  Being the youngest, Tilly has at her disposal most toys, clothes etc that a little girl could possibly want. Therefore, it's always a bit tricky when it comes to gifts for young Tilly.  This year, I thought I'd make something personalised for her....something that is just hers and not a hand-me-down from big sister or brother. I decided I'd make up a little 'activity pack', consisting of a named toy bag with some pens and activity pad/stickers/book for her to have when out and about/travelling/in a restaurant. The bag is made with a natural shade cotton/linen base fabric and then features lining and applique using Michael Miller's very cute 'Forest Life' fabric. I've also made an 'owly' themed card to match! I hope Tilly (& her mummy!) like it......

 

= 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up, is Eli.  A good friend of mine asked me to make a toy bag for a little boy, Eli, who is about to turn one. It was suggested that the bag be quite neutral to fit in with whatever colour scheme Eli's bedroom might be over the years...and so he can hopefully use this bag for some time to come.  It has indeed turned out quite simple and neutral, featuring the same base fabric again and then a lovely natural/blue 'ticking' stripe for the applique, contrast band and lining all of which should blend in with most interior styles and tastes...a 'timeless' design, I hope.




  

....and last, but certainly not least, is my good old Dad. Now, dads are notoriously difficult to buy gifts for (at least they are in my family), and I was struggling to come up with something handmade that would fit the bill. Reluctant to get him a 'nice bottle of wine' (again!) and wanting to make him something with my own fair hands, I struck on the idea of making one of my favourite 'zippy pouches' but in an oilcloth fabric and lining, therefore making it suitable for use as a wash bag or wet bag. The reason being that since my parents fully retired a couple of years ago, they are giving the likes of Judith Chalmers (of 'Wish You Were Here' fame - yet another 1970/80s reference - I really MUST stop doing that!!) a run for her money, with the amount of holidays and travels they are constantly embarking on...and what can possibly be more useful when packing for holidays, than plenty of zippy bags?!

So, I ordered some oilcloth with a bit of a 'nautical' theme about it (Dad likes boats and I didn't want to go for just plain navy or something..bit dull!) and made up a selection of bags.  They are all lined in a linen-type cloth that has a PVC finish, but is quite light-weight, so the bags aren't too bulky.  I love the shape as you can have them quite 'tall' and upright, or more 'boxy' and squishy.  These ones measure about 30cm across and 20cm high..which I figure is big enough to hold shower gel, shaving cream, toothbrush/paste etc...or whatever else one might wish to pack in them. Of course, I can make these to order...bigger or smaller...or in different oil cloths.  I'm thinking I'll make a MASSIVE one for myself for all my gym stuff...and T could do with one for putting in his wet swimming shorts, goggles and hat after his swimming lessons (he's already got his eye on the red stars one).

 

So, there we have it....yet more bags...all sizes, great and small. Let me know what you think, or if someone in your life might like one too xx

 

Being a bit of an 'old bag lady'

Firstly, a huge thank you, again, to all those who are checking in regularly to view this blog.  I've been blown-away with all the lovely comments (and my increased work-load!)

That increased work-load has been partly responsible for my lack of posts over the past fortnight but I've managed to get organised this week and factored in some time for uploading photos and writing about what I've been up to. I think I might even do a couple of posts today otherwise things might start looking a little crowded on here.

So here goes....

Last week, alongside making a few bits & pieces for people, I wanted to try out some new bag designs and decorative finishes.  Some weeks ago, I mentioned my new obsession with  'free-motion' embroidery which I've been meaning to actually try out on some products rather than just playing around with on scraps. Bags seemed like a good option as there is a large amount of 'space' to experiment with designs.  Apart from nearly attaching my finger to the sewing machine by way of the needle (ouch!), it was pretty successful.

First up was a little calico tote bag. I've made loads of these (they're those really useful bags that fold up really small & you keep in your handbag to save you needing horrible plastic bags...except, I always manage to forget to put mine back in my handbag, or leave them in the car and all my good 'green' intentions are lost as I shamefully admit to the cashier in Boots that, yes, I do need a bag....!)

I had a piece of Lucie Summers 'Summersville' fabric that I wasn't really sure if I liked (it came in a 'bundle' pack of her designs but it was my least favourite). However, I cut out a little mother & baby bird template (I've been using this sort of thing in some ceramics work recently which I shall share once The Kiln has done it's job!) and appliqued it on using the manic, mad, free motion embroidery technique & was actually pretty pleased with the results...although it does use up ALOT of thread and takes ALOT of concentration (hence the near miss with the 'needle through finger' incident when the postman rang on the doorbell!). So, here it is....a new shopping bag....destined to be left behind when I most need it!!

I think I could have zoomed in a bit more on this one to show the embroidery outline a little better, but hopefully you get the general idea (as well as the idea that I hadn't pressed it very well before taking the photograph...tut...tut..such impatience!)

Ok, so encouraged with my success on the calico fabric, I thought I'd give it a go on some heavier weight unbleached canvas which I've had in my store for sometime, crying out to be made into a boxy shopping bag.  I used a design that I originally tried out on a piece of linen when I was first playing around with the technique and some small scraps of furnishing weight cloth....

 

 

 

 

 

and all finished off with a sage green floral lining.

 

Finally, on 'bag day', I tried another basic tote bag, but wanted to line it with a fun fabric which then would make it into a reversible bag. Again, this uses the Lucie Summers 'Summersville' collection fabric, and although I do like it, I think perhaps much more appropriate for spring/summer - maybe a beach bag or something (seems like a long time off though doesn't it, given that we're just getting in to autumn!)

So, there we have it...bags of bags.  I know there are so many of these tote bags available these days ( and very cheaply too..far cheaper than I can produce one for!) but I just wanted to create some that were a little different and individual, whilst trying out some new techniques...

Done! x

A random 'Dukes of Hazzard' reference (& a couple of cushions!)

 

I'll come back to the bit about The Dukes of Hazzard in a minute...(!) but for now I want to tell you about this cushion I've made for a little girl, Beatrice.

 

It is Beatrice's Christening on Sunday and her Auntie is one of my oldest and bestest friends.  Said Auntie asked me to make a Christening gift...we agreed on a cushion and that it was to be personalised.... a few sketches later & I came up with this design. I didn't want to make anything too 'baby-ish' as I think Christening presents should have a bit of longevity about them. Hopefully this will grace Beatrice's bedroom for many years to come.

 

It uses my favourite natural cotton/linen base fabric and then incorporates lots of lovely Tilda floral, stripes and spotty fabrics for trims and applique, with a bit of ribbon thrown in to finish it all off.

 

 

Having made a girls cushion, I thought I'd better redress the balance and design/make a style for boys...It's quite different from the soft, gentle shades of the girls' version....it is, indeed, a bit bright.....!

 

I do love a bit of orange for boys. It makes a refreshing change from blue, green and brown and is an alternative 'bright' to red, which always feels a bit 'school-uniformy' to me....Plus, it actually looks great as a 'clashing' colour.  I had some orange linen-type fabric and a small piece of this blue star fabric which was a bit 'busy' just on it's own...but with the orange, works much better I think. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So this now brings me to that Dukes of Hazzard reference......whilst making this cushion, I had a nagging thought in the back of my head that it reminded me of something...struggling to place it all morning and then suddenly, of course...'The General Lee', the car from that fantastic (maybe I'm being a bit nostalgic here thinking it was fantastic?!)) 1980s U.S show.

 

 

 

 

See what I mean?...sort of??

...and whilst I was looking for pictures to reassure myself that The General Lee was what I was thinking of, I came across these:

 

 

 

How brilliant!...original Dukes of Hazard lunchboxes. Sort of wished I'd had one of these for my school packed lunch in the early 1980s instead of that pink plastic 'My Little Pony' one!!

 

 

Anyway, I digress...back to cushions.  These make lovely, personal gifts and I can make them to match any colour scheme/theme (including Retro 70s/80s TV Shows, it would seem!), so give me a shout if you fancy one for someone in your life.....xx

 

Keeping 'tags' on it...

Yes, I know that the saying is 'Keeping tabs on it' but that doesn't work in the context of this post, so excuse the bad pun.

Just a quick one this...had lots of small pieces of fabric leftover from various makes, so thought I'd try out some personalised key rings/ book bag/luggage tags.  They measure about 9cm/7cm and feature a printed fabric reverse with applique on the front.

 

I've noticed that it appears to be a big trend in the playground (at least at T's school anyway) to attach as many key rings as possible to ones book bag...which I do quite like the idea of - it adds a bit of individuality and personality to an otherwise dull piece of school kit.  These tags would perhaps make a good addition to anyone's collection..personalised with an initial or a little motif...or even just plain featuring a favourite print.

 

Might be a nice little gift for adults too, in an appropriate fabric, to attach to luggage(or obviously, keys!)...?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, one last thing before I finish, this is the first time I've written since I 'went public' with this blog and whilst I was feeling rather self-conscious and embarrassed about it all, I've received some really lovely compliments and reassurances, so a big THANK YOU for the positive comments and feedback xx