A Laundry bag

So I thought I kick of the 2014 sewing year by sharing with you a (not so little) secret Santa present I made for a good friend.

It is a Lady who travels frequently and who requested a Laundry bag from me to make her life while traveling a little easier.

I had fun making the bag and it turned out huge. It is fully lined and I created the word 'LAUNDRY' that I "wrote" on the front and back.

The letters are not appliqued but pieced as it is a little more durable and I just fancied working it out that way although it is certainly more work. The fabric is all from stash and mostly 'Architexture' and 'Girls at Play'.

But it might not be the ideal traveling companion after all as it admittedly turned out on the large side and it being lined makes it rather heavy too. I hope she still likes it and if it is not ideal for traveling then it will certainly look good at home.

The shocking pink bespectacled make-up pouch

And another pouch (and plenty more to come as I am on a role)....

This one is made from lovely Echino linen and shocking pink with a bespectacled deer.  Another cuty in my opinion. This one is even larger than the 'ouch pouch' from a few days ago as the frame is slighter longer on the side. So even more space for make-up or sewing equipment or.....

In the shop under this listing.

Sold.

The ouch pouch

Recently I have started to make a few frame purses again and a few other beautiful yet practical small craft items that are ideal gifts for the upcoming Christmas season. You know the sort of stuff I did for the craft fair that I attended in 2012. I was going to be at the Kew Christmas fair but had to pull out due some family related issues.

But that isn't going to stop me producing a few things that I will be putting into my Etsy shop bit by bit.

So meet the 'ouch pouch'.  This has got to be one of the cutest things I ever made and it is not only lovely and funny but also practical. The idea though isn't entirely mine but stems from Nova from 'a cuppa and a catchup who a while ago made a draw-string bag embroidered with 'ouch-pouch' for one of her relatives who went of to university.

For my 'ouch pouch' I used really strong vintage linen that I have still from my grandmother and appliqued a red cross on one side and embroidered 'ouch pouch' on the other side. 

This purse is made using one of my larger frames (6" by 2.5") and is just perfect for a small travel medic kit because you can put quite a bit in there due to its wide opening. 

And I thought a cotton lining with a scissors pattern would work well with the 'ouch' theme.
You can buy the 'ouch pouch' in the shop under this listing.

Christmas gift classes

Well that special time of the year is approaching whether you like to think about it with joy or with dread. And actually there is no reason to dread it if you start early with a few homemade gifts !

I will be teaching at the Village Haberdashery on Wednesday the 16th of October and on Wednesday the 6th of November how to make fabric baskets, purse frames, drawstrings bags, i-pad/kindle covers of laptop cover.

You choose your gift of choice and together we will create some wonderful presents for under the Christmas tree.

Annie always provides some cupcakes and who knows maybe I will actually bring in some homemade cookies. We will make is a fun and relaxed evening.