Handbag

About a year ago, I started trying to make a handbag. After much trial and error, I've finally found a pattern that I like. And I've really enjoyed getting back into my sewing room - although it's in a terrible mess and I have to do some serious re-organising.

Gumnut Baby

I have been organising a conference for the last few months, which didn't leave much time or energy for any textiles (note to self: always make time for playing with fabrics). However, I did knit this jumper and beanie for Emma from a Paton's pattern. I finished them a few weeks ago but she didn't like them at first. Fortunately, she seems to have taken to them now.

Dragonfly bag

This bag looks like a simple design but it was a little more complicated to put together than I anticipated. I expect that it would get easier with practice. I stenciled the dragonfly on using a Shiva stick. I was quite please with it and it soon found a new home. My hairdresser has left the salon and now goes to her clients' homes. I had just finished this bag when she arrived and she wanted to buy it - I gave it to her as a tip.

Winter warmer

Although the days are mostly warm and sunny, the evenings are getting cooler and winter is definitely on the way and I've been knitting most evenings. Emma liked this cardigan, mainly because she loves buttons. (She also likes sitting on the window sill because it's just the right height for her.)

Double Trouble Adventures

Last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to do a workshop with Jan Beaney & Jean Littlejohn. Their techniques, working on soluble backgrounds were interesting but I was more inspired by their generosity, friendliness and the wealth of advice they provided for developing pieces, including gathering and developing ideas. I learned a lot from them and enjoyed looking at their journals and samples

I still have to finish this one. The threads are laid onto a sticky soluble backing, Guliette laid over that and then I added the stitching. When I eventually finish the stitching and possibly add some beads, I'll dissolve the backing and Guliette and it should end up as a piece of lace. (The odd looking thread in the bottom right-hand corner was added by Jan to show me how to do a tie and I'll remove it later.)


This piece is made up of pieces of organza needle-felted together in a variety of ways, cut and joined. The waves of colour through it are from a piece of scrim at the back, needle-felted selectively from the back to force the colour through.


This piece was made by working large, messy cross-stitches into solusheet, then the daisies (I'm really not very good at making neat daisies). I then needle-felted the whole piece and added the beads in the centre of the flowers before dissolving the solusheet. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get the various soluble backings here but I managed to buy some solusheet from Robyn, who arranged the workshop.

Keepsake purse

I have ended up with a lot of my mother's things and finding homes for some of them has been a bit of a challenge. I thought one of my nieces would appreciate a pair of her rosary beads as a memento of her grandmother. However, I then decided that it would be nice to make a little purse to store them in. A year or so later, I've finally made the purse - it's machine quilted using one of the built-in stitches on my new machine. I'll post them off on Monday - I hope my niece likes it.

Knitting

Late last year, I decided to dust off my knitting needles and try some knitting. This basket weave rug is the result. I knitted it in one piece on a circular needle, so it wasn't the best project for a hot summer but it was very easy to do and very relaxing while watching television.