Gone To Earth

A bag...of the times....

I don't often make bags with metal frames but I've succumbed.

What do you think?

This is a brooch ....

It's been lousy light for photographing today - but if I wait for sunshine (or even daylight) it could be next spring before I get to share anything. This is made using Lacework and the covered button is made from Woodfern - just in case you wanted to know!

I'm told that this style of bag is the ultimate in economic bag making..... go on you want to know why ... don't you?

It isn't because it's small. It really isn't small. True it doesn't take long to make involving two exterior pieces, two lining pieces, two pieces of fusible interlining plus the excitment of sewing of everything together. You could probably make quite a few of these in a day but of course you would have to buy the frame unless you're into smelting and smithing, or however they are made.

Still thinking, well I'll tell you.... because it made me smile. At a vast stretch of the imagination I could just see etsy/folksy sidelines in this, particularly given the doom and gloom of the economic news we're being treated to at the moment. It's because you buy one bag frame and then make multiple bag shells and because the frame uses rods and small bolt type screws to fix it together, you just swap the frame between bags. All those different looks from one frame!

Can you see wardrobes and closets up and down the country with bag shells neatly stacked - one for every occasion - No! You do surprise me. It made me smile anyway. That had definately not occurred to me before ..... but it might be the 'germ' of a new idea, a new approach?

The fabric is Starflower Tiles From Amy Butler's Nigella home decor range.

Brooch and bag united in Amy Butler fabric, designed to be together...... Ah! (By the way - I still have a sale on Rowan fabric.) I'm going to make another one, slightly smaller than this and compare them to see which size/shape I like the best. If you're interested in the pattern just let me know. It's my very own, so I can share.

A little giveaway...

Goodness. I always intended to have a giveaway when I reached 50 posts. A nice sort of milestone I thought and then what happens I'm so busy chatting about this and that, I missed it. Anyway what do you think of Hilda?

I'm not quite sure what kind of thing she is but she makes me smile nestling there amongst the flowers. So, just for a little bit of fun, if you think you'd like the 'Hilda' - sewing pattern from Melly & Me then just drop me a comment. I'll enter the numbers of the comments into the 'random number generator/selector (we've gone all high tech - you know) and the number that's selected will receive Hilda. It's open to anyone who wishes to take part and you've until 6.00 p.m on Wednesday 3rd December to do so.

Because I worry about you ....

Just in case you've lain awake at night wondering what a pile of thirty-ish yo-yo's looks like. It looks like this...

...

tiny... tiny .. made the old fashioned way using a tin lid as a pattern. And then I didn't have enough so I had to make even more.... bit of a miscalculation. Note to self : remember to double check the adding up......

So, if a group of geese is a gaggle, a group of crows is a parliament (not forgetting that a group of Ramblers out in the rain is a 'Misery') what do you think the collective noun for a heap of yo-yo's ought to be ? All answers gratefully received...... I'd like a smile. (I haven't really lost it - it's just it's Friday and there's a definate shortage of chocolate around here!)

Have a good weekend and stay warm!

Something nice and cheerful....

In this part of the world it's depressingly dark this morning. It's raining the kind of rain that drenches you to the very bones and the leaves that aren't superglued to the pavements and verges are being whipped up by the wind, curling and spiralling around and basically smacking you in the face. Yuk! Folk are scurrying off to school and work hunched underneath dark, dripping umbrellas. Winter has it's charms but today isn't displaying any of them, thus far.

So, I thought I'd share this absolute blast of colour and outright cheerfulness.

It's an excerpt from a new magazine that Amy Bulter has put together, which she calls her 'Fall Look Book - Fashion Afield!' which you can download for yourself and see what it has to say. Link. You'll have to scholl down a little to find it.

Whilst I was nosing browsing around I noticed that under 'Free Patterns' there's a button called 'Me Holiday Crafts' (that sounds so like my local dialect I felt embarassed typing it!) and listed here are some interesting projects, given that Christmas is doing that sneaky thing of creeping up behind you! There are patterns for napkins, felt stockings to hang, Snow Mum pillows, which look gorgeous, a christmas tree forest and patterns and designs for cards and bows and ...... loads of things.

Not particularly linked to yukky weather, the lack of light or to Christmas is another, link I thought I'd share. It's a free bag tutorial from ohfransson. It's called a 'Margaret Sling Bag' and I just love the shape of it. The pattern is a downloadable PDF which is great. Potentially a gift idea for some lucky person? or maybe just for yourself? 'Ohfransson' is a fantastically busy, active, and crafty blog if you haven't come across it before. Loads of inspiration to be found there.

Well, look at that! Would you believe it, it's stopped raining and the sun has come out! Perhaps now is a good time to go to the Post Office before the weather changes it's mind again.

Sew Christine....

Look I won a giveaway ..

Pretty, don't you think. I won it from Christine Sews blog. She has just taken that brave step into selling her bag creations on her own website. Go take a look.

The bag is made out of gorgeous upholstery weight fabrics which compliment each other perfectly. It's lined with with a pretty, flowery cotton and has a magnetic snap closure. The handles are faux leather. I always admire that about Christines creations her way of mixing and matching fabric. It's beautifully put together. Quite lovely.

So, this Saturday after dropping children off at various club type meetings I can retreat to our favourite coffee shop and watch the world go by for a few peaceful, tranquil uninterrupted minutes and be the mysterious woman in the corner with a very distinctive bag.

So, thank you very much Christine.

Today is Armistice day

This is the boy, Arthur Raymond Peacock, who signed up for the Northamptonshire Reserves on his eighteenth birthday, 6th January, 1909, to serve his King and country.

Certified copy of attestation - joining the Reserves for six years service.

Arthur Edward Raymond Peacock

This is the friend who had fun with his mates.... "we have to go bathing at half-past six in the morning and the waves dash into your face....". played practical jokes and complained of six to a tent "...there's hardly room to move..."

This is the son who wrote home to his Mum and Dad.

..."I can't tell you when we shall come back, I don't think it will last long, but I suppose we shall stop till it is done. Of course there's nothing to bother about.....

... who sent love and kisses to his younger brothers. The reserves were amongst the first to go.

Like so many countless others this young man never came home from the fields in France where the poppies grow.

His were the parents who wept. His was the mother who never again locked the front door ... just in case... in desperate hope that it wasn't him.. her first born son.

These and many like him are the ones we should remember

A present.....

Dearest husband does occasionally bring me presents..... little gifts of tenderness ... an odd plum... a few grapes and his latest is this;

Any ideas? It isn't one of these lovely little lavender bags from here and it isn't part of these fascinating kitchen diaries many of you are participating in at the moment. No. It is a 'tea temple' from teapigs. How evocative a name is that? Does it conjure up wondorous, rich and exotic images of China, Japan the mysterious east? It's a beautifully made little thing for what is essentially a tea bag. Silky to the feel and the aroma is amazing. Just look at the light reflecting off of it. (Yes - we have sunshine. Horray!) I wish I should share it with you. (The tea and the sunshine.)

This is a herbal 'tea temple', 'Super fruits', and it could almost double as a herbal drawer sachet. But no, I'm compelled to do the cruel but rightful thing and pour boiling water over it to get the true benfits of this health giving tea. I quote "Good if you’re feeling: Slow and lifeless. The antioxidants in our super fruits will help stave off “Squashed Hedgehog Syndrome” (i.e. “feeling run down” – get it? Sorry)." (copyright - www.Teapigs.co.uk) Is husband dear trying to tell me something? Should I be offended or flattered by his concern? Yes, I've been struggling along this week, but how romantic is it to be accused of "Squashed Hedgehog syndrome"?

The entire Teapigs website has an informative, energetic and fun feel to it. It has it's own blog for 'tea fans', where it all gets more serious and you should see the gadgets they have for making the tea in. Not just you're Aunty Edna's big brown teapot I can assure you.

(image copyright - Teapigs.) Eva solo teamaker - it comes with a wetsuit(?) For the pot you understand. Not the user.

The varieties of teas are intimidating interesting too. There are the usual candidates; jasmine, darjeeling, english breakfast type teas but are you brave enough for 'chilli tea' ("This tea looks light and innocent, but hiding behind the delicate Ceylon is a zesty orange and a surprising chilli kick" ( - from Teapigs)),or how about 'chocolate flake tea' ? The herbal teas sound just as enticing. This one smells good enough to be dessert. The best news for me is that you can buy them online. So I may just treat myself, afterall who wants to go through life with something as awful as 'Squashed Hedgehog syndrome"?

New Patterns ... to me!

I've decided to extend the fabric sale for now and I've added other Rowan and Freespirit fabrics, which includes designers such as; Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, Valori Wells, Martha Negley, Joel Dewberry and others. I've also been busy adding some new patterns to the shop .

.. there are these and these....

These patterns are designed by 'Melly & me', otherwise known as Rosalie Quinlan and Melanie Hurlston, who happen to be sisters and who both have quite a background in quilt design and stitchery. Their bag designs have pretty patchwork details, buttons (love buttons!) and little bits of embroidery (nothing too arduous) which add interest and texture, making them just a little bit different. If you wish to see more of what they get up to, 'Melly & Me' have their own blog which is an active source of 'crafty' inspiration and activity ( a lot of sewing, fabric, quilting and 'crafting'....)

The patterns themselves are printed on paper ( not tissue) and include pattern pieces, fabric cutting instructions where appropriate and making instructions (absolutely appropriate!).

Requirements, listed on the pattern sleeve, detail what they've used to make the bag, toy, or quilt so that you can reproduce exactly what they've made or of course use your own fabric favourites. Some items use quite small fabric pieces so they may be a way of reducing that fabric stash you're hoarding (you are aren't you?) and have something beautiful instead. (Or an excuse for more fabric!)

I so need that monkey.

Just look at these soft toys, aren't they the kind of toy which children fall in love with forever. I've spent so many (intensely stressful) hours retracing steps to find my childrens' lost but deeply loved 'cuddlies'. They've turned up in supermarket drawers, on stiles. I think we even tied my daughter's 'doggie' to her when we boarded a ferry once. Can't remember what we tied her too ... Happy days!

Remember this?

Do you remember this ?

Well, after I'd added all the names into the 'bowl of possibility', this is what popped out...

So, congratualtions Andrea . It you e-mail me your address, I'll get this sent off to you.

... I really enjoyed this little giveaway so thanks for joining in and I know it's a shame everyone can't win. But I do have an idea for a next one, which I'll post at the end of the week. So, if you feel like a bit of sewing drop back then.