Finally finished May's Folksy challenge.....my Jubilee bag!

OK - so maybe I'm a few weeks behind everyone else, but I've finally finished my Jubilee messenger bag and I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. I'm not sure I can quite bring myself to part with it, but it's already attracted quite a bit of interest so hopefully it will sell quite quickly.

for sale in my shop

I really enjoyed the challenge of making the Union Jack and using a slight twist on the traditional colours. I'm thinking a tangerine and turquoise Union Jack next maybe??? (no idea why this bit of text is highlighted white!!!)

This months Folksy challenge is Wimbledon. Have a few ideas, but haven't started yet (no surprises there!)

Not that this month's rain has been getting me down but.....I've started thinking about winter. Hubby has just taken delivery of one of these cute little woodburning stoves in baby blue - I'm thinking it might be time we had a change in our lounge. I just can't resist the unusual colour.

AJWoodstoves

And maybe if I get a new wood burning stove now that will be a good way to guarantee a heatwave for the next few months! Why not pop over to Handmade Monday to see what everyone else has been up to.

PS. For those of you who asked on my last post about what an ironing friend was.....it's a small cushion that you can insert into corners and other tricky areas. It means you can iron your bag after it's finished being assembled. I've not heard it called an ironing friend, but it has a nice ring to it doesn't it!?

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Multi-coloured Swap Shop

OK - so there's no Noel Edmonds or Keith Chegwin, but I am showing my age! This weeks Handmade Monday is a big THANK YOU to the lovely Tracy at Mad About Bags for the lovely swap we did last week.

It all started with a plea for a pincushion! Perhaps like most folk, most of my crafting is done on the kitchen table, in between it's other functions. Maybe not like most people, I'm also a bit of a clutz! So inevitably most of my pins ended up on the floor and then either i) up the vacuum or ii) in my dog's paws! Something needed to be done.

I know, you're thinking why doesn't she just make one! Oh, I don't know - i just never seemed to get around to it. So i put out a plea on facebook - would anyone make me a pincushion in exchange for a small purse or bag!?

To my joy, Tracy was up for a swap - and what a fab swap it was. I am now the proud owner of not one, but two, lovely pincushions. She also made me a matching ironing friend, which is already being put to good use in preventing me from burning my fingers when ironing round corners and difficult bits.

And what did I swap? I made this little boxy bag in one of my favourite fabrics. I hope she finds it useful!

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Patchwork bags and an unfinished Jubilee!

It's been a long time since I last took part in Handmade Monday, but it's been a bit quiet around here this weekend so I seem to have a bit of spare time on my hands! Even my Facebook Friends seem to have disappeared. I guess everyone is just off enjoying the Jubilee celebrations and making the most of a long weekend?
I seem to have lots of unfinished projects at the moment. Most frustrating is my Jubilee bag. I made the patchwork Union Jack ages ago as part of the monthly Folksy challenge. But I made my strap the wrong width for my fitting. Rather than re-do (because i was rather please with my stitching!) I tried to order some alternative metal rings - that was 4 weeks ago, and they still haven't arrived. However, since patience isn't my strong point, I'm going to share it with you anyhow...

I seem to have a bit of a patchwork bug at the moment, because I've also made this lovely lilac and green bag.

I have another variation currently in progress, but that too isn't yet finished - I'm spotting a theme here!!!

I really must get down to some finishing-off today because I've signed up for two craft fairs over the next few weeks. One is online...

The other one is Eccleshall Street Market on Saturday 23rd June. Maybe see some of you there...???

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Summer in the air!??

It's been a really busy weekend, but have managed to find time to post some pictures for Handmade Monday. On Saturday I finally managed to finish two bags which have been in progress for a while. But I ran out of fusible fleece and have been waiting for more to arrive. If only I could find a cheaper source of this - it's often the most expensive item which goes into making a bag, but using it gives a much better quality finish!

Anyway, I'm a bit anxious about these two....but the fabric was so lovely and cheery I just couldn't resist. What do you think? Are they a bit too bright?

Today has been just as hectic. But not from bag making - I was actually do my "day job", but read on and you'll see there are some days when doesn't feel like work!

This is one of the woodland sites I manage.....

The coppicing was done this winter by some lovely, lovely volunteers! And today we had a bit of a public event to try and get people to visit the wood. Meet the lovely Hermes from HorseForce logging (she's the one with four legs!) who has been doing a bit of work for us today, dragging logs out of the wood.

And then there was the Fairy Trail with these amazing sculptures from FantasyWire.

So you see, sometimes it's just not like a job at all! How lucky am I!!?

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