plump pudding

The bags are up for Sale - hope you like them!

That's me done for the day.  The bags are all finished and listed.  Hope I have managed to add a link as since Typepad introduced all these new fangled things, I have been a little lost!

 

I have had so much fun making these.  And I kid you not when I say that I have hoarded some, well all, of these fabrics for years.  It was a scary moment cutting into them.  A moment of no return.

Each of the bags is unique.  So no one else will have a bag like yours - which is always a plus in my book.  A little bit of bag snobbery going on there!

Sailing Boats: SOLD Thanks!

They are also fully lined in a cream cotton.  Which adds a little extra strength to the bags.

Poodle Bag: SOLD Thanks!


So if you would like a bag, you can just pop over to my Etsy shop: 
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12173772 And that gives me the perfect excuse to look for some more fabric when they are sold! x

I've started so I'll finish

My latest "must have" is a dresser for the dining room.  After a clear out and new coat of paint for the dining chairs and table, I decided that the room was lacking something.  And that something was a dresser.

So I turned to e-Bay.


And ended up winning this pin dresser.  I was careful to measure the size before it arrived, and it fits - just.  Slightly larger than I imagined, but I was thinking the best cutlery and crockery will fit in here and free up some kitchen cupboard space. 


Whe  the dresser arrived it was a rather orange pine - of course there's no way it's staying that way.  So I started painting.  What a mammoth task.  So far, it has received two coats of undercoat and there are another two top coats to go.  It feels a little like painting the Forth Bridge.  But I have started and can't leave it halfway through!   So I think we'll call it a work in progress.

Apart from the painting, I have been making some more pleated tote bags.  I have even been brave and used vintage fabrics that I have had for several years.  Here's a sneak peek.  If you are interested, I think I shall have them ready for sale on Friday.

New Ventures

The weather is so awful here today, that it's meant no car boot sales and rather than rampaging round the village the boys are sat watching a DVD. 

Which means that I am sitting trying to do a little work whilst I can.

A friend has approached me with the idea of running sewing workshops.  As you can imagine, I am all for anything to do with sewing and textiles.  And this is where I ask your advice, once again.


The first workshop will be to make a reversible tote bag.  But we don't know what day to offer: weekday (whilst the children are in school) or a Saturday.

What would you all think?  I know there are pros and cons to both, but please let me know what you think!

Thanks
Samantha

A little of what you fancy

I spent an enjoyable few hours last night making cushions.  I has such fun choosing the fabric combinations and was pleased with the end result of the cushions.


I should have bought more of the rose print fabric.  As you know I have used it to make peg bags and also trim my new shopping which - which I have used twice this week!


I may have to order some more, as I have such a teeny piece left that I am going to have to think long and hard about what I can use it for.


The second cushion I made was also using vintage style cottons and I have had the striped cotton used on the bottom for so long, I think it qualifies as vintage!


Unintentional, but there seems to be a red and polka dotted theme running through the cushions.  Two down and two to go, as I had four feather pads waiting for cushion covers. I think I'll tackle those next week.

And for Tracy from Cupcakes, here is a photo of Arthur gatecrashing my photoshoot - I think I'll forgive him as he looks so adorable!

Ditching the Plastic

I have to confess to not being too green when it comes to carrier bags.  I don't want to use them, but keep forgetting to take a bag out with me.  That and the fact that I only have one tote bag which invariably is full.  Determined to be a little greener, I took myself out to the studio and made myself a tote bag last night.

Sticking to the being green theme, I used a mixture of vintage fabric and fabric that was left over from my peg bag. 

I didn't line the bag as I am envisaging taking it out with me to check out the charity shops etc - no heavy items in it.  I think I may make some more and line them for extra strength.

And of course, it's so pretty that I had to hang it next to the peg bag.  Now all I have to do is remember to take it out with me!

Hanging Around

Even though I sew for a living, I don't sew much for me.  After painting and waxing the vintage French coat rack that I won on e-Bay, I decided that it needed a new peg bag to hang on it. 

I just couldn't resist this cheery floral print and teamed it up with striped vintage cotton.  I have so many pegs, that I decided to line the peg bag for extra strength. 

A vintage wooden hanger inside provides extra sturdiness. 

Luckily there was just enough fabric to make two peg bags.  So if you want to hang out your washing in style, you'll find one here.

A new lease of life

The half dresser is finally painted and hung on the wall.  I love it.  Unfortunately Stephen is not of the same opinion, but men.  What do they know eh?

I ended up using Farrow and Ball oil based eggshell - it took 2 coats after a coat of primer and a coat of undercoat.  So no was was needed, but I did end up using it on the coat rack that I painted in emulsion.  Still no photos - will remedy that soon.

I kept the handles as they were - as they would only get chipped anyway.  No distressing, I kept that for the coat rack.  I am intending on using the drawers for those jars of spices that are crammed into an old pyrex jar in the kitchen cupboard. 

My next task is to find some items to display.  I dug out some of my (forgotten) 1950s china, but they're not quite right.  I do love my Roberts radio on it - and it's out of the way of naughty boys who change the station from Radio 4.  It always takes me ages to find it again!

Hopefully the weather will be good at the weekend and I can find some vintage china to put on it.  I am thinking a plate or two and a jug.  Floral of course!

Now that this one is crossed off my list, I am after a round wooden dining table and a dresser.  I'll just have to keep an eye out for a bargain.

Not exactly a bargain - but I couldn't resist, was this beautiful orchid from Tesco.  A girls needs to have the odd feminine touch here and there.  Doesn't she?

Glossing Over Things

Poor Stephen, there he was in bed and the next moment he gets up and I am painting the kitchen and talkng about having won a dresser top for the walls - which, by the way, will need to be collected, painted and hung on the wall.

It all started with the cat string holders in the last post.  I was all set to pur them up, but decided that the walls were too grubby.  You can guess the next.  As well as the walls, the ceiling and woodwork needed painting.  One very long day later, they were all finished.

I just couldn't leave it that though.  Hence the next two purchases from e-Bay.

(Not my photo as I am going to collect it tomorrow).  I decided that this would  be fabulous instead of the giant framed Breakfast at Tiffany's poster that is above the cooker.  Thankfully it isn't too far and will fit in my car - that's a relief for Stephen!

I also bought a vintage French coat hook/rack.  I'll have to take a photo of that when it's painted.  Nothing too big, just large enough to go on the kitchen wall and hang my peg bag on.  That's once I've made the peg bag!

The other item that has been painted it the mirror that I bought from the boot sale last weekend - originally from a dressing table.

I snuck that into the bathroom when everyone was out!  To keep this paining theme going, I also have my eye on a display cabinet on e-Bay.  I haven't quite worked out how to "sell" that one to Stephen.

But I would like some advice, if anyone can help.  I have painted the items in Farrow and Ball waterbased eggshell.   Obviously these need to be protected and am sure that I have read something about putting a wax on them.  I just don't know where I saw/read/heard this.

Does anyone have any suggestions/tips or pointers please.  I have to make these look as good as possible: for Stephen's sake and mine!