Louise Gardiner

I'm a big fan of Louise Gardiner and her work, and this is a really good description of the creative process connected to the sewing machine. It's not all turning up hems and darning socks .

Louise Gardiner, You Blow Me Away from Crafts Council on Vimeo.

EXCUSE THE ABSENCE but I've been moving house. We have moved to the beauty that is Bridport. and now most of the boxes have been unpacked, the creative muse has been stomping around demanding to be heard. So what have I been up to? well we had the wonderful Hat Festival..

and these I made for the wonderful wool shop http://bridportyarn.co.uk/ do visit if you are Bridport, they are so freiendly and helpful

and if you want to keep up to date with the day to day goings on then nip over to here: https://www.facebook.com/MissTallulahBlue

hats

Miss Clara

The Devine Miss Clara

the process...

Select one silk square scarf

Cut and stitch in lining

Voila, a bag

Now fill it with important "stuff", and shove it into another bag!!!! all very technical this!!

more bags....

A sneeky peek at my scarf stash waiting to be made into bags

I wonder what a collection of pouch bags are called? A Bouquet of Bags?

Busy Busy........

Sometimes,you just don't see the wood for the trees. !! Having done a post about making a new bag prototype recently, I then realised there was a vital part missing. I have made so many of these missing parts over the years that I forgot about it. When I was a teenager, in the distant 1970's and 80's, I loved old films and developed a love of the clothes worn by the likes of Joan Crawford and Bette Davies. At the same time I adored Jumble sales, usually held in the local village halls. I would patiently wait with the steely grey haired dears out side, ready to run in and with sharpened elbows, and fight for my 10p bargins. This meant that I ended up with a wardrobe full of , what are now considered, "vintage". Original 1920's & 30's silk lingerie, 1940's suits and 50's frocks. But one of the consistent pieces I collected, and still do , are the beautiful silk square head scarves. I love them!! but I don't just wear them as scarves. I've made them into sun tops and dress, dressing gowns and bags. And it's the bags that I forgot to include in my recent post. I made my first scarf drawstring pouch bag at the age of 16 yrs old. 30 yrs ago!!!!! and I always have one. Over the years I've made loads of them, for myself, as presents for family and friends, and commissioned from others for gifts or to use themselves. this one I used for my wedding, not made from a scarf. but a drawstring bag.

This is the one I use for evenings, small enough, but big inside and it can be carried around the wrist , leaving hands free. The lining is made from a scarf.

This one I've been using for the past few years and is now rather tattered and sad. it's small enough to fit into a larger bag, and holds the essentials, so you don't loose them .

A flash of the red lining.

some newer ones, recently made and will be on the website soon.

Excuse the awful quality of the photo, but this shows the size better.

Eliza Rickman

Eliza Rickman Just adore this woman,

WHAT DID YOU DO TODAY?

One of the difficulties with working for yourself , is finding that fine balance between, commissioned work (someone else's designs, and to pay the bills) and your own designs,( great for the creative soul, but takes time to develop)

But today, I spent the day trying out a design for a bag that is for my own specific needs and as a prototype to sell on the website.

Great fun and now I have the perfect bag!!


Pattern cut , now cutting out the grey pinstripe outer fabric and the diamond lining.

All done!
Dark burgundy pipping, button for front pocket closure, braid on the inner top edge, the straps are pinched from an old bag( I do like to recycle).
it looks a bit flat! lets fill it with stuff

A peek inside. I love this lining fabric

The green line is a zip on the inner pocket.

The question is..... can all this fit in?

Of course it will!!!

An A4 note book?

No problem!!!

And my laptop/notebook :)

A good days work, and now I have a new bag.