Making Amy Butler's Weekender Bag

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Making Amy Butler's Weekender Bag

A while ago (actually 4 years to be precise) I made a ‘Weekender’ Bag from Amy Butler’s pattern. It was not an easy make, especially for someone like me who had never used piping before and is not all that comfortable with zips. It actually turned out remarkably well and I have used it plenty. It is not brilliant though and I have often thought about making another one …. with hindsight. Recently I saw on Instagram, a beautiful version made by ‘a.crafty.fox’ and was suddenly inspired to try again - helped by the fact that I am just finishing up my second ‘Shoreham’ quilt, I had a million scraps left over and figured the two were a match made in heaven….or is it hell.

So here we go again - a text print weekender bag…..take 2.

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Winter solstice embroidered project bag

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Winter solstice embroidered project bag

If you are a maker, you probably have multiple projects going on and having bags like this are wonderful to keep everything together. It is pretty thing to take out and about with you if you are travelling or holidaying and want to take a little handwork with you. It is also a lovely gift for someone, either as a kit or made and customised for them.

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Adventures in Bag making - The Shoreham beach bag

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Adventures in Bag making - The Shoreham beach bag

Designing and writing a new quilt pattern is not an easy business! Especially when the project concerned is a seaside quilt and it’s October! Of course I know this is completely the wrong time of year to be popping out a design that is all about summer holidays - but then…just as this project has taken me much longer do than I ever intended, I figure that all you stitchers and quilters out there need time to plan. What could be nicer on a dreary winters day than making a project for the summer days to come.

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'Stitched with Love'

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'Stitched with Love'

If like me you love anything in the genre of ‘Sewing things’ you’ll know how hard it is to resist when a new pattern comes out that is just perfect for the wall of your sewing space. And so it was when I saw Camille Roskelley’s new little mini quilt pattern ‘Stitched with Love’. I decided immediately that it was on the to do list and ordered the pattern. It arrived last week, along with at the equally irresistible, gorgeous bundle of the ‘Rifle Paper Co’s’ latest bundle of fabric - ‘English Garden’ and an autumn wind that just set the tone for my weekend.

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The Nutcracker Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern

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The Nutcracker Christmas Tree Skirt Pattern

It has been a bizarre week!  Despite the unusual heatwave that has been with us for quite a while, I found myself rummaging around in the garage, lugging boxes of Christmas stuff into the house, putting up the tree and decorating it...taking photos and then putting it all away again - even Basil the cat thought I had lost the plot.  However, it was totally worth it because now I can bring you my new pattern....a Christmas tree skirt.

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Adventures in Bag making - A lollipop flower tote

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Adventures in Bag making - A lollipop flower tote

Recently I bought a couple of beautiful little Japanese embroidery books on Etsy and was totally inspired by them to make an embroidered bag.  I knew before I began that the embroidery would be the easy bit for me....the bag making...not so much, but I also wanted to challenge myself to make something a bit more upmarket than the few patchwork boho type bags I have made before.

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An embroidered Wildflower Garden Project Bag

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An embroidered Wildflower Garden Project Bag

I may have mentioned to you before how much I liked the bi annual magazine 'Making' and this week I got the new spring issue.   As usual, it is to swoon over....indefinitely.  Packed full of beautiful, contemporary makes, both knitting and sewing, it is just gorgeous.

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The Abbey Embroidery Pattern

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The Abbey Embroidery Pattern

So I have a new embroidery pattern to introduce today and I am really delighted with this one.  It began because we took a long weekend in Whitby.  Have you ever been there?  You should....it really is an absolutely lovely place.

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A little patchwork elephant

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A little patchwork elephant

We have a new little one just arrived in our extended family and I wanted to make her something special.  Hot on the success of my patchwork Santa, I turned to my Tilda books for inspiration.   This time it was the a little elephant in the Tilda Studio book that caught my eye.  Her books never fail to entice me into making something as they are so beautifully presented.

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Tilda's Patchwork Santa

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Tilda's Patchwork Santa

I mean, seriously....isn't he just darling?!?!?!  In fact, this statement would apply to just about anything in the book that he came from -  the latest book from Tilda's Tone Finnanger, 'Sewing by Heart'.  I think the only way to describe it is 'divine'.  Glorious photographs of beautiful hand made things with a Scandinavian flavour - it is an all year around book, with projects for every season.

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A handcrafted, perfectly matched Clutch Bag

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A handcrafted, perfectly matched Clutch Bag

I can't tell you how thrilled I am with this.   It is exactly how I imagined it would be - pretty, useful and completely unique.   It has all the feel of a vintage piece...a handcrafted perfectly matched accessory. 

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New Embroidery Patterns - Bloomsbury Squares

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New Embroidery Patterns - Bloomsbury Squares

A whole new batch of pdf embroidery patterns are now up in my Etsy shop.   Take a little wander back in time with my Bloomsbury Squares designs as they chart the dramatic changes in fashion during the 20th century.   

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