handbags at dawn!

well not quite! I was inspired by another blog to make a handbag. I downloaded a pattern which looked quite straight forward but never having made one before I did have one or two issues. No surprise there hey! Checking my stash of fabric I found a Laura Ashley fabric I recently picked up, reduced, for the exterior of the bag, and some pretty quilting fabric I had left over for the lining. Once I had everything needed I was on my way.

Partly constructed with iron on interfacing to the exterior to stiffen it and fusible fleece attached to the lining to give a little bit of bulk. ( I originally tried normal fleece and attached it to the bag with spray adhesive, but that failed miserably as the spray stained the fabric fortunately I had enough material to cut another piece )

Now looking like a bag with the handles pinned in place. You can't see it but the zip is in place and a pocket  made from the outside fabric has been fitted to the inside.

et voila...this last pic is a better one for the colour. The only thing I am disappointed with is that once I pulled the exterior through the opening in the lining it became creased and I had great difficulty in getting the creases out. I don't know whether it is because of the stiffening or the fabric. Something to bear in mind if I make another one!

silk lampshade covers

Managed to pick up some gorgeous silk fabric in the Laura Ashley sale. It is a pretty eau de nil colour and I knew exactly what I was going to do with it - make an attractive cover for a very boring lampshade and this would be perfect. I remembered I had seen instructions in one of my many craft books. It was very simple to make, basically enough fabric to go round the shade twice plus allowances for the gathered top and the hem and voila!

Chucky didn't like it ( a bit too fussy for a six  foot Northerner me thinks!) but I love it! The lamp is standing on a wooden pot stand that I found in a charity shop which was a bit tatty. I rubbed it down and put on a couple of undercoats and then two layers of Farrow and Ball emulsion green blue paint I had left over from some paintwork I did in the bathroom, and it looks great.

Wasn't the weather fabulous at the weekend and again today. What a difference a bit of sun makes! It is so nice to get some summer gear out and go strolling in the sunshine as though it was a summer day. I  must have known that the weather was going to be summery because earlier in the week I had finished making this dress which will be  perfect for summer.

I have not made a dress since I was a teenager and did wonder whether it would look any good. I was pleasantly surprised! The bodice is lined, which I had never tackled before but it was fairly simple but I couldn't quite get to grips with the bit about understitching the neckline because I couldn't get all of the fabric under the needle to stitch round in one go, eventually I had to resort to the internet where I was assured it was ok to stitch what you can, which is exactly what I did! Just what would I do without the internet! The zip was a bit tricky but managed it in the end, not perfect but it will pass muster, hopefully will be better next time!