Uptown girl...

Via the magic of technology, whilst you are reading this, dear hubby and I will be gadding about that there London, as our anniversary treat!

So in honour of the big day, I made myself a For Pleat's Sake Tote.  I am not the only one to have fallen for this free pattern, and by all accounts not the only one to have fallen foul of the dreaded pleats!

A word to the wise... when you make the two marks for each pleat, do not fold and match the marks together; they indicate where the fabric folds.

So here's my bag...

Lush Uptown paired with some Random Pencil Check in linen (good brown!).  I got my handles from Bag Clasps - super fast, and added a magnetic snap for a bit of mental security.

I stitched the handles in matching dark brown thread, which may, or may not have looked better on the inside if I had gone lighter, but I prefer the thread-less look on the outside, so be it...

It's a great size; big enough for all my usual gubbins and a bit of extra rummage room; and so quick to make, after that first set of pleats!

So love you and leave you, I expect I have shopping to do!

I knew it would be dangerous!

I worked today, but now I am off until Monday, as tomorrow there'll be the school Harvest Festival and Autumn Feast, and it was just easier to be off all day, and on Friday hubby and I will be doing the anniversary day-off together thing - hurrah!

So after I finished today I needed to get some Vilene from Eclectic Maker; I even told Jo that was all I was in for.  Famous last words...

Half a meter of Stof linen, and the lush Lush Uptown birdies!

I have bag-making plans, which I am blaming on this lady and this other one!

Watch this space xxx

Mad Hadder's Tea Bag!

When I was putting together my Mum's birthday Grace Kelly Bag last night, the thought of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party kept popping into my head.

Not sure if it was just the teacup fabric, the pale Alice-blue outer, or the glue, but if the hat fits...

The photos are making the blue look a little psychedelic, it really isn't.

The spots are Clarke & Clarke home deco weight, so I skipped the interfacing and just used fusible fleece; it could possibly do with a little more structure, but as it is, I think it makes a lovely summer-weight handbag.  (All together now... "A haaaandbag?")

I will deliver it next weekend, and in the meantime I need to start ticking off the oodles of projects that need to be finished in the next couple of weeks, including a couple of annoying-for-you 'top secret' ones.

***There's still time to enter the giveaway to win my blogiversary Walk In The Woods frame purse and a copy of Fat Quarterly's Shape Workshop For Quilters***

60 minutes of sanity...

I have managed a whole hour of stitching and gluing so far this week.

Last week, I cut and interfaced all the pieces for a U-Handbag Grace Kelly purse; that's purse in the American sense of the word, as this is a proper big-girl's handbag size affair.

On Tuesday a parcel of frames arrived and in the briefest moment of relative calm and me time yesterday afternoon, I managed to finish it, all bar the glue picking from the frame.

The fact that whilst the glue on the second side was 'curing', I had another call to collect a poorly child plus siblings from school, an hour early, did not make me smile.

This is all mine, FMF, Momo Scissors and some bright pink lining; I will make another for my Mum's birthday, I had to be the guinea-pig, that was only fair right? 

Following Lisa's pattern, I can honestly say there is nothing I would do differently, it worked just as it should have done, even with interruptions, brain half-distracted by a husband unexpectedly in hospital overnight, (all OK now), and a thunder storm flashing outside.

I haven't had the chance to test it yet; I'm guessing a family-size pack of Maltesers will be OK.

And just because I am feeling the Lisa Lam love right now, I got this with my latest TopCashback Amazon voucher...

Bags of fun xxx

Sunday again...

This week has gone way too quickly, half term has been a washout and I'll be back to work tomorrow and I'm not looking forward to that at all.

So onto the cheerier things that have been going on round here this weekend...

Mail...

My delivery from U-Handbag arrived quick as a flash, even arriving before Lisa offered 15% off until tomorrow, (so be quick); I think I am all set to receive my partner details from Nicky and her trusty sidekick Helen.

Today I pulled the fabrics for my next challenge in the Stitch Tease Bee; this time I am making 'curves' for Annabella, and as before, it's all top secret, but I'll give you a sneaky peak when I have this one stitched up.

And finally, especially for those feeling that there is a London-sized gap in their lives after last weekend, the kids made these for the Reception class's Little London that will be displayed at school next week...

Happy days xxx

I've been framed...

She made me do it!

Nicky was so quick to set up a frame purse swap after our foray at Retreat, there was no way I was going to miss out!

I think sign ups may have closed already - there's a desperate select group of 30 swappers all eager to get busy with the glue.

Last night I put together my 'likes' mosaic...

Follow the link here to see the full details on flickr.

I may also have spent a little time and money at U-handbag to boost my supplies, although that may have been a dream - I'll see what the postman comes up with tomorrow!