That Time Of Year

Yep, it's that time of year when all the hearts come out and its time to remember those we hold close to our hearts. In celebration of my love of hand screen printed fabric I have been finally been able to make good use of some small pieces of Pippijoe's Daisy fabric that I just knew one day I would find something special to use them for. Presenting..... my heart garland. Available in my etsy store now. I just wish I had a bright, breezy widow to photograph it on (all my widows have ugly security screens) to show how pretty it is. But anyway I made do with screeching at the girls to hold the garland still while I photographed it against a boring old wall. Doesn't quite do it justice though.

And keeping with the whole heart theme is a pretty heart purse that is also in my etsy shop. The fabric is the heart fabric by Carly Schwerdt from Umbrella Prints. The colour is Storm Boy Blue. I think it is the whole name of the colour that I love too as Storm Boy was one of my favourite books as a child.

Christmas Red

Lots of red in my preps for the BrisStyle Indie Designers Market. Below is a little look at some of the new red items that I will have with me next Saturday.

Messenger bag made with a lovely indigo denim, featuring Lara Cameron's Roof Top hand screen printed fabric.

New little purse made with Flower Press's new Rick Rack screen printed fabric.

Babushka Doll Purse in red. Fabric from Miko Design.

Ok, so I know the two photos aren't fitting in with the red theme. But this is one of the large purse I have made with the fabric from Blue Ginger Designs. I was so happy with how these turned out. The print is so funny and cute and texture of the fabric has such a lovely natural feel.

The Small Ones

Well they're finally ready - my new collection of small purses. Theses purses are just a little smaller then the others that I traditionally make. They close with a 10 cm zip instead of a 12 cm zip. I've also sourced some new hand screen printed fabrics. It is amazing how talented these textile designers are. I've had so much fun working on this new collection to add to my etsy shop.

Blue Doll Purse - fabric by Mikodesign

Little Red Flower Purse - fabric by Hollabee

Small Spring Purse - fabric by Melbomba

Olive Doll Purse - fabric by Mikodesign

Small Blue Bird Purse - fabric by Melbomba

The last two photos are of the the little coin purses I've been worked on too. I'm still tossing up wether I will pop these on etsy or leave them for the next markets I do. They looked so sweet all standing up together.

Clever

"There is something you always must remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." 

(Winnie the Pooh)

I had to gently remind my eldest of this just recently.  Making this little purse this week made me think of Cait.  We all need to be told how clever we really are now and then.  Have a lovely weekend!  

Loving

I love the new fabric I received from Western Australia designer of paper and thread.  I really adore the red trees on the cream hemp/cotton blend.  Just so lovely to work with.  This is all the sewing I've gotten done in two days as the littlest moo has a real yucky virus that has induced tears on a very regular basis.  So I've been subjected to spending my days off watching the High School Musical trilogy with the wee one.   

This week I was also very lucky to receive a beautiful order from Thea & Sami but more to come on that another day when my brain isn't humming along to cheesy lyrics.  

Pretty in Pink

So I've never been much of a pink girl but I do love the very sweet musk pink used in the textile designs from Of Paper and Thread and Lara Cameron.   As Mother's Day is approaching I thought these might make a nice addition to my etsy shop.

This purse above is the Birch fabric from Lara Cameron.  The colour way is an exclusive to Kelani Fabric.  I love shopping at Kelani.  The service is above excellent  and  Kelani has the most wonderful range of Australian textile designers.  

Sewfest

Yesterday was a full day of sewing.  I made six purses and one laptop bag.  The purse above with the red print (Pippijoe fabric)  and the aqua blue bird purse (Lara Cameron fabric) are for my sister for her birthday.  Mum and I are taking her out for lunch today.  I am so looking forward to a lazy lunch with lots of yummy food and a good giggle and a much needed catch up.   My brother in law has kindly offered to wrangle my children and my niece and nephew so we can really have a grown up lunch.  Yay!  

On another sewing note, a friend of mine has three girls as well who are all early teens.  We share a lot of babysitting and always seem to be swapping kids back and forth but somehow it always seems to work.  Her middle daughter who is 13 wanted to come over to my place and learn to make a bag on Thursday afternoon.  Now this was the first afternoon of the holidays.  I have to say I was pretty chuffed that she wanted to hang out with me and sew on her first afternoon of holiday freedom.  Her two sisters were jibbing her that she wouldn't be able to make a bag as she is more sporty than crafty.  Well she did a beautiful job.  We kept it really simple, no pockets or clips or flaps but she made it all except the handle.  A  dark denim with a pretty pink stripe inside.  It was so nice to see how happy she was to have something cute, unique and funky to use that she can can say she made herself.  It is also nice to see handmade being cool in the teen age group.   

(photo from etsy listing)

In truth all this sewing has just been a way to curtail my strong desire to pop on over to another BrisStyle shop - Wheres Beckybean to buy the Macchioto Shoulder Bag.  I'm loving these bags made with recycled coffee sacks from Merlo coffee in Brisbane.  The colours, the style, well really everything.  

On another great BrisStyle note it is lovely to be able to go and hang out at the very fab new blog of Ruby 2 Go Go.  This blog will sure to be a fave among many a crafty blog reader.  

Happy Easter to all, may it be full of lots of chocolate and hot cross buns.  

The Bug Has Bitten

Well my esty store crafting has been brought to a little bit of a hault due to having to share the sewing machine.  Little Moo has been totally bitten by the sewing bug.  This was Little Moo at 7 am on this morning - Sunday and all fed and showered, teeth and hair done (this can be a wee bit of a battle) all so she could get back to the machine.  So I think I have finally found my bribe.  

Little Moo is into making pillows at the moment.  For some reason this has also co insided with the decrease in the amount of toilet paper available in our house.  Apparently toilet paper makes great stuffing because one can't wait for their Mum to make a trip to the shops to purchase some more appropriate means of stuffing a pillow.  

I did however manage to edge my way onto the machine and make this little purse above.  I've never used Pippijoe's Orchard fabric for a purse before just the bags.  I have to say that I am quite please with how it has come together as a purse.  

Starting to Feel Like Home

Today I finally got to dig my sewing machine out and make these two little gems for my etsy shop.  I have a beautiful place to sew with huge windows on three sides of the room.  Lots of lovely natural light.  Nice to get some normality back into life.  

Newbies

These two purses are now in my etsy shop. I finally purchased some fabric from Ink & Spindle. Both of the fabrics are from Hollabee. I do adore the textiles that are being created at Ink & Spindle and I am sure we will see many exciting and original designs come from here. It has been very interesting watching the progress of Ink & Spindle. Pop on over to their blog for a fantastic insight into some extremely talented Australian textile designers.

Wee Ones

These wee ones are about to find a home in my etsy shop. I have to say I am liking Japanese fabric more and more. I love the sweet characters, the feel of the cotton and how the fabric can hold its structure. I was lucky enough to buy this fabric from Tokyo Mommy. What a lovely little etsy shop and such a pleasure to shop with.

Messenger For Mary

This sweet little cat purse has a home currently in my etsy store. Pippijoe's fabric is much to lovely to be relegated to the scrap bag, so I fused a cut out of one of her designs onto a denim purse.

This purse makes me giggle a little as last weekend at my Mum's there was a rather large cat stuck up a tall gum tree that the fire brigade couldn't rescue so the RSPCA had to come and get it down. The poor love. Every time I look at the print it reminds me of it. Why do cats do crazy
things like that?

Above is a picture of the latest bag I have made. It is a very simple denim messenger bag, but with the delightful Pippijoe orchard fabric on the flap it came up a treat. The off white of the flap with the rich red ink on the denim looks so lovely. I liked it so much I was a little naughty and made one for myself.