I feel the need for tweed

I've found it very difficult squeezing in any crafting lately, you see I'm one of those people who can't say no, which inevitably means I have neglected my poor blog whilst suffering terribly from 'crafting' withdrawals.  And so to correct this I managed to throw caution to the wind yesterday and made my 2nd tweed bag. 

I'm rather chuffed with how it turned out.  Due to time constraints I find myself sticking to the same old pattern, as I know it like the back of my hand, however I did make a couple of subtle changes.   

I used two different colours of material, making panels for the front and back of the bag before I could begin sewing it together, which I find the most exciting part.  the other alteration was to the pleats, which are inwards instead of out.

The brooch is removable, and I couldn't decide where on the handbag it looks best ... top left  or bottom middle ... oh decisions, decisions. :0)

Tutorial: make a Nintendo DS pouch part one

Little Miss and Master World have saved up (since last Christmas) for a Nintendo DSI.  Through gritted teeth I let them buy one.  Argh! I swore I wouldn't let them have game consoles, however there are rules to when and where they can have them, and I'm SO proud of them for not grumbling or questioning the rules.  They've recently been on holiday and I wanted to make them each a pouch for carrying their DSI's in.  Now this is the first tutorial I have written so please forgive me if I've not been clear enough or on the other hand over explained.

Please be kind and only use this tutorial for your own personal use and not for selling, I work hard creating things and although I love spending hours at my sewing machine, please remember these are my designs.

I started with using a fleece, which Master World had outgrown, and some interfacing to stiffen the fabric.  Now I don't know if there's a right or wrong way to do things but this is how I constructed the pouch.  Cut 2 pieces of interfacing 19cm x 13cm and 1qty 11cm x 13cm.  I ironed these onto the fabric and then cut out.

Take the 2 larger pieces and 'right sides' together, stitch around the outside, cutting away any excess.  Next I made the strap from 2 pieces cut from the arm, stiched them together to form one long piece, roughly 70cm x 7cm.

Iron the edge in from each long side of the strap, to make two 'good' edges, fold in half and stitch together using zig-zag stitches.  Position one end of the strap to the inside of the pouch, and fold down the edge whilst sewing to keep the edges neat.  Stitch the strap to the pouch in a rectangle shape.

Stitch both sides of the strap to the bag, and thats the main construction of the pouch.  Next part is to create the lining, and following on from that is attaching the front flap with button closure.

If you fancy having a go, let me know and I'll show off your pouches at the end of tutorial.  I'd also love to hear your comments on the tutorial.

Part two of the tutorial will be posted next week. 

As I have already made my kids pouches I shall giveaway the pouch I've used for this tutorial at the end. 

Happy stitching.... Marice :0)

Can't get enough of those funky brooches...

I was stuck in bit of a rut for a while there.  I seemed to be on auto pilot for the past few weeks, neither happy or sad, just functioning day to day.  I didn't even make a Folksy Friday treasury for the past 2 weeks - shame on me, I know - especially as I was featured for the first time ever!  I was very excited to receive a lovely message from Viv of Poppy Sparkles saying she'd picked my peg bag to include in her Folksy Friday.  Although she doesn't know it, she was the last link in my recovery - oh dear I'm beginning to make it sound like I was on deaths door or a former alcoholic LOL - neither of which is true by the way.

But all is not lost .... I've come out the other side of my black hole and I'm delighted how my bag brooches have turned out.  They really help to make my bags unique.  I'm loving the black button I used in the black and red brooch - another oldy from my Nana's collection.  I think they give a fab finishing touch and I'm positive Nana would be pleased they are being admired instead of sitting in a jar - even though I'd really like to keep them all, button obsession alert!!  All my back orders have been fulfilled and I can now finally concentrate on stocking up on Folksy.

Catching up...

I've finished the bag that was commissioned, and I was so excited to hand it over I'd forgotten the finished project photographs - gggrrrrrrr I'm very annoyed with myself.  Luckily I have some work in progress photos.

This was the last picture I'd taken, I hadn't finished the side ribbons, or tidied up all the loose threads, but I think you can get the 'jist' of what I was making.

Having always stayed away from inserting zips, I found it a good challenge for myself, and was pleased with the results.  I'm not one for following patterns, I like to figure things out for myself, and do the old trial and error.  I made a prototype first and then had a bash at the new design.

I love making the finishing touches, here I'd used felt, a button from my late Nana's collection I'd inherited and micro dot ribbon from Patch Fabric & Haberdashery.  I've made this a removable brooch, it's amazing how a simple change of accessory can transform a bag.  So I handed it off to a very happy customer - much to my relief !! and promptly announced I will not be making any more of this style...as much as I enjoyed the challenge, and it certainly was a challenge, I found it took up too much of my time.  I know what your thinking though - with practise it's become easier - yeah that's true, I just don't have any spare time to practise at the moment.

Oh what a beautiful morning....

YIPEE!!!... blue skies are here, the temperature is rising...it can only mean one thing - no, no, not topless gardeners like in desperate housewives - seriously ladies thats wishfull thinking and I'm a respectable girl!!  It's time to pull the plug on the electricity guzzleing tumble dryers and get the washing out on the line...

If you saw my teasing sneak preview earier this week...did you guess what i was making?  Pat on the back and a HUGE swig of wine if you did,  oh maybe you're psychic? (any chance of the lotto numbers? I promise to do good with it - honest) ...anyway back to my shamless plug...introducing my new peg bag, if you fancy it, you can get your hands on it with just a click of the button, hmm okay 2 clicks, cause you'd have to 'add' it to your cart :0)  

And so to Mother's Day...I made my Mum a card ages ago but she saw it, so i pretended it was for my Folksy Shop, bit of surprise laugh tomorrow then when she opens it.  I've also made her a bag, Mum picked the material, so i know she'll like it.

I used a different part of the pattern for the reverse side, kind of jealous now - with all the nautical fashions available, navy and white are going to be a big part of the summer trend...maybe Mum won't notice if I just give her the other items I bought to put inside...LOL.

So to all you Mummies have a fab day and to all you daughters / sons, treat your Mum like a princess for the day....go on, it's only happens once every 365 days.....xxx

Every cloud has a silver lining...

Every so often I seem to start faffing around and not knuckling down to what I should be doing, or at least plan to be doing.  This weekend, for example, I had the whole weekend to myself...oooo hours of sewing I thought but it didn't quite turn out like that.

Maybe because the new bag I was working on had to be unpicked, (argh!!!)... worse than that though, it had to be unpicked TWICE...now you probably sitting there thinking, yeah one mistake it forgivable but to do 2 HUGE mistakes on one project is just stupid!!! 

But, as 'they' say (whoever 'they are? I've never worked that one out??)..every cloud has a silver lining..well it sure did for me as I've now ended up with a little red handbag for myself, as well as larger bag for my shop...of course the twice unpicked one being mine now.

I rarely get the opportunity to make things for myself, infact i should re-phrase that to; I rarely make the time to make things for myself, I'm a people pleaser...love making for others.  I'll leave you with a sneak preview of something new I'm working on...just to keep you in suspense lol =O) x

Busy week sewing

It's been a busy old week for me, i had birthday cards to make and handbags to sew.  I seem to have an endless list of orders at the moment but i'm certainly not complaining!!  I do thrive on being kept busy.

This is a custom bag in the making, using new material...I'm not really one for black, I try to avoid it at all costs, especially in the clothes department, although one does have a LBD of course.  My customer asked for black and white - i hope she likes it, I think it's turned out rather well.  Sadly I don't have any more photos of it - I was so excited packaging the bag that I'd forgotten - whoops - won't be doing that again, lesson learnt.

Little Miss World had out-grown her favourite pink denim skirt and to say she was sad about this was an understatement.  I only notice the other day when she put it on...hmm it looked more like a belt!! I must be getting old LOL.

I let her loose on an old pair of jeans, kindly donated by Mr World, cutting out squares and so with a few stitches and some pretty pink gingham everyone was happy again in Marice's World.

Leaf prints

I've had a limited amount of this gorgeous leaf print fabric for a few months now, in black, red and duck egg blue.

So recently, after almost resigning it to the 'too nice to use' pile (yes i know that sounds ridiculous) I made some new bags with them.

Red is my favourite colour, but this time I think the blue one is nicest...i especially like the lining.

Anyone for tea? This was part of my nana's tea set, tea always tastes better in a 'real' cup don't you think?