busy, that’s me at the moment : )

Just thinking about everything makes me feel busy! I know that once Handm@de is done everything will be much calmer, but so much needs to be done prior to that! I think the thing is that Handm@de is pretty much under control, I just need to get all my stuff done!

This arrived in the post, and now sits on my table waiting to be used,

It is so lovely, and I can’t wait to use it, just finding the time to sit down and use it creatively : )

This week I should have a bit more time before the last crazy week prior to Handm@de, so I will try to post at least something interesting this week, just ordered some new merino blends to make felt for corsages for the fair, so maybe some photos and chitter-chatter when that arrives : )

it seems like a long long time since I updated the shop, I think it is 6 weeks! So at long last there is some new stuff in there for you to see, and think, oooo I really like that : )

There are 8 new bags in the shop including the two above, so there are my standard tote (maybe I should name that style?), then there is one across the body bag, and 6 larger gusseted linen totes.

I didn’t get round to doing the corsages, and I need to sort them out, more than anything so I can see what I need to make for Handm@de.

Yesterday I went down to Winchester to give out postcards as it was the Farmers Market. I managed to give out about 100, and I was very polite, I did ask everyone if they would like one, I wasn’t just shoving one into their hands!

It is now less than 3 weeks, and things are really hotting up!!

More soon : )

very sunny today, definitely Pimms o’clock weather, so I had a couple while at the local school fair, which was fun, because I know loads of people there, but only sold 2 corsages!

But I was next to a couple of ladies who were basically selling tat! But look at how great my table looked!

So this was my dry run for Handm@de, and I think it looks sunny and just right, it will of course not have two lots of Johns photos (don’t how we are ever going to sell them even though they are completely fab!), and where they are I will have some of my framed felt, so all good : )

This week it has been manic, doing stuff for Handm@de, doing my new job (more about that another time!) and working on a new range of bags!

This is one of five, not all blue, but all made from Linen, with an adjustable strap, zipped pocket inside, and a padded flap, woooooo! I’m so pleased with them, and I can’t wait to show them all to you. They will be finished later this week, so they won’t be in the shop for at least another week, sorry! But tomorrow there will be a new shop update, at least 8 new bags and some corsages, keep your eyes peeled : )

oh yes, less than a month now! And today I collected these,

This is one of the postcards that have been printed to advertise Handm@de. These will be going into shops, school, libraries etc. I also have posters that will be going up in places all over Winchester, yay!!

I have been very quiet on here for about a week, mainly because I have been so busy! This weekend I have a school fair, which will act as a test run for Handm@de, and I’m working on a new range of bags, going ok so far!

Hopefully I will have something to show before the weekend : )

ps John designed the wonderful postcard, he is a top boy!

ok, I admit it!

This year I have tried really hard not to buy anymore patterned fabric to add to my hoard, but I have, ok! And more is coming from Japan! But this arrived today, yay!!

This of course is from lovely Lucie, and the fabric is from her Etsy shop Summersville. I have wanted to get some for an age, and well it just hasn’t happened, but now I have it and it will go lovely with some dark denim I have. Lucie was a featured seller on Etsy recently, if you missed it, please have a look : )

I have been very busy with Handm@de, it is only just a month away, and I’m looking for a final seller, someone who is lovely please! No textiles, or jewellery please as we are fully booked on those, if you are interested, please mail me at handmadewinchester @ raspberry . co . uk
(just remember to remove the spaces!)

Garden still looking good, so I’ll leave you with one of our over the top poppies!

ps when the fabric from Japan arrives I will show you!

all over the place,

all around in the garden, lots of white and green,

and some stuff growing out of my desire to finally create a bag that will fold down into a pouch!

It is now finished, but by that time I was so distracted by the eldest kid being slightly out of control that I never got round to taking a finished shot! Tomorrow maybe : )

We have had a lot of crying and screaming today, I wish I could explain it all away, but sometimes when it doesn’t make any sense to the rest of us, I’m sure it doesn’t make any more sense to him either : (

I’m worried that we are about to enter a slightly more difficult phase with Edward, and I think it is going to be hard on all of us, and for him it will be very tough. One problem is for us is to work out why it is becoming harder, is it just ‘him’ and what Aspergers brings to him, or is it maybe hormonal? He is 10, when do things really start to happen?
The other thing is school, he does seem unhappy, and I am going to have to make an appointment, because I don’t think I can ignore it for any longer. Though saying that, what is going to happen, he can’t go anywhere else, but he needs to have something to look forward to. Maybe we can try and find out if he will get to go to the secondary school of our choice, oh well, tomorrow is another day, and lets see if we can have fewer tears and more smiles : )

somethings I make are a real pleasure, from beginning to end, everything goes smoothly, no grumbles, just nice, and these two bags clearly for me come under that category : )

A few days ago I was asked via an Etsy conversation if I could make a bag for a special occasion based on a jacket that had been bought, I jumped at the chance because it gave me a chance to work with the more muted colour palette I was talking about yesterday.

So I have made two bags, the one she has chosen is the one above, with the three leaves, and the other one will go into the shop very soon, here it is,

I really like both of them, they are across the body bags, and sit on the hip, but have fixed length straps, suitable for someone 5′6″ and up probably : ) It is £12.50 plus £1.60 P&P (UK, international would be a bit more). If you are interested in the one above, please let me know via the comments and I will get back to you.

As I said it has been a pleasure making them, so more bags soon, and probably lots more works in progress too!

Ooo, almost forgot, I will have to be raising my prices on Etsy after the weekend, I was shocked when I checked the converted prices!! So get in there quick because from Monday they will all be going up a little!!

I have recently been having selling problems, ie not selling anything since 1st May. Now I know I have had a shop commission, and I’m currently working on another commission of which you will see a bit in a minute, but…..

But the big thing for me is selling my work directly to the customer, and after a successful April, May has been a big damp squib! So of course this has of course led to many discussions between myself and my beloved : )
Also when making my bag for myself I really discovered that I personally don’t want bright flowers all over everything, and I would like some subtlety, which of course then led us to thinking about my designs. (by the way, thanks for all the feedback on that bag, and the adjustable strap, now thinking about that a bit more!)

Should I really be making designs that I would not personally use? Are my designs too childlike? Am I just being a tad dramatic? : )
So I have decided that I’m going to make some bags, ready for Handm@de, that will be more subtle, and the sort of thing I would use, not just stuff I hope people will buy and like!

So you can expect some brightness next, as I have about 8 half finished bags, but then, maybe a bit more subtle!

The two images I have used are from the commission that I am currently working on, when they are finished I will show you, and one will probably be available to buy in the shop!

Also I’m not going to change the prices just yet in my Etsy shop, even though with the pound getting stronger the true price of my creations has gone down, so get in there quick, before I change my mind!!

I will admit, I do have much more than just a corner, almost a whole room, even though it is the smallest room in the house, but this corner is now pretty much complete : )

John has now put up my magnetic noticeboard, which has been hanging around for years, and my rail and tubs from Ikea, a much more recent purchase!

I have also got two printouts of some of the bags I have created, this is really useful, because I have been able to refer back to designs, see what I’ve really been happy with, what has worked, and what I have loved making!

I also have now almost filled both of my sewing spool racks, just need more bobbins now!

The one thing that I would really like to get now would be a larger cutting mat, I have quite a large one already 17″ x 24″ but one that would cover at least one half front to back of the desk would be great, and so useful.

So that is the corner, other stuff, busy busy in the garden this weekend, cut grass, another 3 hours also dug up large dead shrub, and put in new shrub from my mum, it won’t flower this year, but at least it should have a head start for next year : )

Very tired, been up since 5.25am, so I will bid you farewell…

well I guess that would be a little bold, it is a variation : )

I don’t often make bags as prototypes and then use them myself, I guess because I’m a ’stick in the mud’ and like what I already have, but I wanted to make myself a bag to take to ATP, so I made this new hip bag.

It is lined and padded, including the strap which was really comfy to use, the flap almost completely covers the front of the bag, so I did not add any extra fasteners. I’ve lined it with a lovely fabric from Ikea and taken the influence from that to produce the embroidery on the front.

It worked really well all weekend, felt comfy, and so I’m happy, but would you buy a bag like this? It sits on my hip nicely and I’m 5′ 7″ so would I make a standard one like this, or maybe two lengths? I don’t want to get into adjustable straps because i don’t think I could do the padded strap then.

So any feedback would be gratefully received!