Day: 4 March 2008

bags, craft, sewing

Belle bag

I have been wanting to make this little bag for ages!  Actually, it’s not so little, and it looks way better in three dimensions than it does in the photos.  So cute!

This is the Belle bag by Nicole Mallalieu Design. The fabric is from the Amy Butler Nigella line for Westminster Rowan fabrics.

The top of the bag closes with magnetic closures – one from facing to facing between the handles, and another on the side tabs.  These give it that puffball shape.  It is actually very roomy inside.

The pattern lined up nicely underneath the bag to give this lovely star effect.  More good luck than good management.

The bag outer has light-medium weight woven interfacing and a layer of thin fusible wadding.  This fabric is a beautiful weight to work with.  I don’t have any more of it left now, but wouldn’t hesitate to get more – such good quality in beautiful designs. 

The handles & magnetic catches also came from Nikki.

I had my first visit to Brown Owls last night – it was such a terrific evening!  Great company, lots of giggles, very well organised, terrific venue, lovely projects, and overall a wonderful group.  Now I need to book in to attend more!

fabric stash, yarn stash

(to the Aeroplane jelly tune) “I like Z&S fabrics . . .”

Z & S fabrics for me!  They had another sale.  Thanks Nikki for enabling that one for me!  Two little parcels, each tied with fabric (I have been piecing together the fabric used to tie the parcels – when it’s a large enough piece I hope to make something interesting from it).

In this stash, from left to right:

Tina Givens for Westminster Rowan; Freshcut by Heather Bailey for Free Spirit; Iota by Robert Kaufman.  I have one yard of each of these.  The Freshcut will become clothes for Stella.  The Iota fabrics may become incorporated into my Brown Owls tote or uniform somehow.

This range is Utopia from Free Spirit.  I have two yards of each.  A few different plans floating around in my head for these ones.  And to finish off, yarn swatches from Live 2 Knit.

This Melbourne lady does beautifully dyed yarn on different fibres and weights of wool.  They look so gorgeous on her website, I couldn’t resist getting shade cards.  I have way more plans than I could ever make real!