I Heart Paris

I think I've gotten a bit carried away with the making squashy hearts thing. I've made 3 in this pattern alone (which I am pleased to say have all found good homes!). As you can tell by the Eiffel Tower, the fabric has a Parisian feel to it, and because the grahpics aren't too large, it really lends itself well to making smaller items. To make these hearts extra special I added 2 cinnamon sticks to each, and when the scent fades a bit, I just break a section of it, which doesn't affect the overall shape of the heart at all, but releases a wonderful new burst of the winter spice.

New Knitting Bag

This is a really simple, really quick drawstring bag I ran up last weekend. I wasn't feeling well and I didn't leave the house, so naturally I got really bored and had to do something. I grabbed a few lumps of fabric I had in my box: linen, Japanese 'music town' fabric (from Matatabi at etsy) and some yellow gingham. I didnt even measure anything. I just cut out two rectangles of linen, cut the music town fabric in half, and sewed up the edges. Then I made a yellow gingham tube, turned it inside out and sewed along the top and bottom, making sure to keep the ends open for the cord to fit through. Simple. I now use it as a knitting bag, to keep all my wool and needles together, but it would be also perfect to bring on holiday as a small laundry bag, or flip flop bag.

Gingham Hearts

I started making these initialed gingham hearts for Christmas yesterday. I know Christmas is still miles away but I want to be a bit organised this year, and I didn't know how these would go, I thought it might take me 8 weeks to get it right! As it turned out I think they're coming along really nicely. The one with the letter 'T' is for my sister-in-law and the one with the 'R' is for her son.

To make the hearts I cut out 2 heart shapes from the red gingham, then I cut out a large letter'T' from the navy denim (leftover from the denim tote I made). I then cut out a smaller 'T' from the red felt, and sewed a white heart shaped button onto it. Then, because I used denim which is stretchy and will fray (unlike the felt), I sewed the 'T' onto one of the heart shapes using zig-zag stitch. Next I sewed the red 'T' onto the larger denim 'T', so the navy denim becomes a boarder around the red letter helping it to stand out more against the red and white check fabric. I then sewed the two hearts, and the hanging ribbon together leaving a gap to stuff it with cotton wool. I also stuffed a few cloves in there too to make it smell Christmasy, before stitching up the gap. They're really simple and fairly quick to make. If I'm not completely sick of them over the next few weeks I might make some more for around the house for all year round. I might make one for the kitchen adding coffee beans instead of cloves, and a nice change to the usual lavender hearts.

Linen Bag

I made this lovely linen bag about a month ago. It's made from biscuit colour Irish linen (which I nabbed on sale), accented with pretty Japanese fabric showing autumn trees. I used simple cream coloured fabric for the interior, and more Japanese autumn trees for the row of pockets. I made fabric buttons in two different sizes, a large one on the front for the clasp and 4 tiny ones for the base of the handles. I also stamped the words 'apple..leaf' on sewing tape and stuck that on the front too.

This bag is great because I made it extra big. I could carry all of my groceries in this, or stuff a blanket and some food in it and go for a picnic in the local park. Autumn is my favourite season and I think the autumn trees will look fab this season.

Tissue Covers

I love these tissue covers. They are so quick and easy to make, plus you don't need much fabric to make them. They're great to keep in your bag, your desk drawer, your car, anywhere really. They look so much better than the plastic wrappers mini tissues usually come in when you buy them. These are all made from Japanese fabric (I just can't get enough), with contrasting interiors. The pink blossom and clocks one is lined with linen, the french kitchen one is lined with blue gingham, and the navy one with the trees is lined in yellow gingham, and is a perfect match for the denim bag I just posted about. If I make my sewing really, really neat, they can even be reversible.

It's really amazing, since I made one for myself, everyone wants one, so I've now made quite a few, but I don't mind because they don't take much time and you can just shove them into an envelope to post on to someone.

New Denim Tote

Well, finally, here are a few pictures of the denim tote bag I have been working on for the last week. I brought it into work with me today, and it was great. I made loads of pockets inside for my phone, ipod, keys, train ticket etc. and it also had plenty of room for my book, tissues, yoga magazine and all the other junk I lug around with me every day. In short, I'm really quite pleased with it. I'm particularly pleased with the bright yellow gingham interior, I hate when a bag has a dark lining and you can't find anything in it. Nothing will be able to hide in this yellow neon cavern! I'm also really happy with the covered buttons on the front, one for the clasp, and one stuck on the front yellow pocket. I cut out 2 trees from the Japanese fabric and squashed them into my button mould, it's so easy, but it looks great.

However as I said before, my camera is acting up and I'm not too thrilled about the photos. They came out really blurry. I could photograph a close up of a bird in a neighbour's tree, but it refuses to capture anything remotely close up, it drives me crazy, but it's probably user error!

Ooops

I know I haven't updated this blog in a while. I've been really busy sewing, ripping out stitches, and re-sewing all over again! At the moment I am working on a really cute dark denim tote bag with bright yellow gingham lining, with loads of pockets of course. I also recently finished a really large tote bag using lovely Irish linen and some Japanese fabric I bought from Matatabi at etsy. I've been trying to take photos of everything to put up here but my evil camera is really acting up, I hate it, so I haven't been able to photograph anything I've been working on.
I've also discovered the joy of making tissue covers, you know the little pouches to put mini handbag sized tissues into? I've made a few so far using Japanese fabrics and some linen leftovers. They're so pretty and of course functional as we prepare for autumn colds and flus. One of my aunts saw one I made for my mam and asked if I would make her one two, so I'm thrilled. I have 2 to give her, but I want to photo them before I lose them forever, but I can't photo them because of the evil camera....
It would be so great if I didn't have to work, then I could stay at home in front of the fire completing my sewing and embroidery projects as I listen to audio books, pure bliss. oh well.

Zakkattack

How fabulous are these pictures? These images are taken from a book called 'School Bags and Zakka Goods' it's a Japanese craft book I have recently ordered from Chocolateswirl on etsy. Apparently it has been shipped and I cannot wait to receive it! According to Chocolateswirl it has 57 patterns for the cutest 'drawstring bags, bags, shoe bags, lunch bags, place mats, bottle bags, tote bags, pouches, towels, tissue cases, and more! Some extra patterns such as a smock, apron, backpack, towel dress, pool cap, and pen cases as well.'

I already have a small collection of fab Japanese fabrics that I've blogged about before, and I've been wondering what to do with them, I think this book will provide the answer. I intend to make all manner of tote bags, mini purses, and even tissue cases. I'm really loving all things zakka at the moment. Zakka, if you dont know is a type of crafting from Japan. According to Wikipedia, Zakka goods must be ultra cute, and commonly feature unusual fabrics perhaps sporting animal motifs, such as elephants, hedghogs, ladybugs, bunnies and (prefarably cycling) polar bears, or even mushrooms. French motifs are also popular, displaying images of the Eiffel Tower, and cups of coffee, or pastries. However for a good to be considered Zakka, it is not enough to be incredibly cute, oh no, it must also be practical and easy to use. You must be able to fit a decent amount of groceries and personal junk into your tote, your wallet must be able to contain all of your credit cards, coins and train tickets, your tissues must be encased for their protection, and your lunch bag should be compartmentalised to keep napkins and drinks and food all separate.

It is this marriage of aesthetic beauty, enhanced functionality and striking individuality (Believe me you will never meet anyone with the same customized cheque-book cover as you!), that makes Zakka so endearing and guarantees that this Japanese craft is here to stay. Needless to say etsy (I know, I know, I'm obsessed) is crawling with Zakka style crafters, like the fabulous Florspace, as well as sellers who trade in Zakka supplies, like Chocolateswirl who sells pattern books and Matatabi who sells fabulous Japanese fabrics, so go on, Zakka up your life!

Buttons

I made these cute blue check buttons today. It was so simple and quick. I bought a pack of buttons and the mould (as seen in the before picture) on a whim really to see if it was really as easy as it looked, and it was. I used some fabric scraps left over from making cushion covers.
You cut out a rough circle, bigger than the size of the button, put the fabric over the mould, place the boutton on top, then push them into the mould, then push the button back on top. Easy peasy.
Once you have the basic button, you can stick on pins to make badges, magnets to make magnets, hair slides etc. I might one of these as a clasp on a bag I'm going to make.

New Super Cool Labels

As I mentioned the other day, my new Summer Rain labels arrived in the post. Here is a photo of one, on a blue gingham cushion I made. I think they're fab, and I'm going to stick them on everything!