Arm Candy!

Hello there.

Not one but two new bags to share with you today!

I had such fun designing and making these two beauties.
And yes, I do feel justified calling them 'beauties' lol.

Lovely fabrics

Pretty vintage buttons

Special stitches

Pretty trims

Lots of machine embroidery (this is the back, isn't it wonderful! It's a secret that only you and I have seen, safely hidden behind the pretty lining fabric now)

Here's the front.

And the front of the second bag.

I do like to hand finish. It makes all the difference, much neater, a way of adding a little bit of love and care to each project.

I nearly forgot to show you the inside! I'm quite a practical girl, I like pockets and a long ribbon tape to secure my keys. (long enough to unlock my door with out removing the keys.)

Here's the back of one of the bags.

And the back detail of the other one.

Hmmm...floral goodness.

A bit of recycling, a bit of vintage, some re-purposing and a lot of pleasure (for me making)

Ta-daa!

One front, one back

Ta-daa! again,

both fronts.

Thank you for letting me share my art.

Love Fi x

Ta-daa! I made a...

Hello my lovelies.

How are you doing with your 20 Minutes a day hmm?

I must say I have found it difficult some days, but on the whole I'm pleasantly surprised at how much I'm getting done. I know if I hadn't become the 'ringleader' in all this, I would only have managed about 2 days sewing so far this year! Lol! Having to answer to you lot really has made me get up and get my **** into gear.

Any how, I said I would show you what I made with my applique didn't I?

Here is rather a big clue. A magnetic snap fastener!


Yes, a handbag!

Here is the back with my little MarmaladeRose label. It's the same shape as the CK bag only I made this one 2 inches wider.

Ta-daa! The front!

I also made the strap narrower and shorter, stitching it on this time with the buttons just for decoration.

I put some strong card in the bottom so that it didn't sag. (I wish someone could do that to my bottom.) And lined it with a pretty floral, including a couple of little pockets.

Sorry about the wishywashy photos, no natural light!
Do you like it? I'm really pleased with it, but I think I'll have to have another go - I prefer a rounder, squishy shaped handbag.
Here is a little taste of todays sewing session.

I'm afraid I can't show you anymore just yet as it's a little gift for someone special.
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I think I'll take you to Aysgarth Falls next time you pop in, then I should be able to reveal my new applique after that.

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Till next time

Fi x

CK bag and applique.

Helloooo.

Today is a bit of a catch up. I keep checking in on all of my 20 Minuters (there are over 40 of us now!) to see your progress and get some inspiration. So I thought I'd show you what I've been sewing.

As you can see, one of my Christmas presents was the Cath Kidston book, 'Sew'. Inside the front cover of the book there was a packet containing pattern pieces for the projects in the book and fabric pieces to make the bag on the front cover.

I had a little difficulty with the button holes that you make on the strap, but I didn't give up. I got there in the end. All I can say is that it's a good job I practiced on scrap fabric first!

I swapped Caths button fastening for a magnetic fastener. (Don't ever buy these new. Buy cheap toilet bags from charity shops and cut out the magnetic fasteners. It's quite easily removed...and it's recycling.)
I also lined my bag with some pink spotty fabric.

It was very straight forward to make although I was a little disappointed with the finished size. It's quite square but on the front cover of the book I thought it looked more rectangular.
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For one of my daily sewing sessions last week I was at a bit of a loss as what to do. Well it was late at night and I was just trying to fit some sewing in so that I didn't let the side down. lol. I sat at my sewing machine and attached the new darning foot that Santa brought me. The little square below was the result.


Not very exciting in itself, but that then inspired me (remember we talked about this) to experiment a bit more.

Obviously this meant rummaging in nearly every box of fabric I own, and making the biggest mess possible on the spare bed. As my wonderful man says, "You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs!" Very true.

I started to sew. As I turned over my work to trim the end threads I was pleasantly surprised with the reverse.

I used some old embroidered linen that had seen better days.

some ribbon, I love ribbon.

And I cut (after a lot of deliberation) into and old pair of Sanderson curtains that I found in the Charity shop. The base fabric is the softest needle cord with a lovely girly, floral print that I bought at last Novembers Knit and Stitch Show in Harrogate.
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And I have to say...

I'm was very pleased with the end result.

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Next time would you like me to show you what I've made with this piece of free motion, raw edge applique? (Sounds impressive when you use the technical terms doesn't it. Teehee!)

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Happy sewing.

Fi x

Bake or Fake!

Hello Ladies, first things first. I would just like to say thank you to Lyn at Everyday Life for giving me this award.
The 'Lemonade' award is for "seeing blessings where they're not obvious and make lemonade instead if complaining about sour lemons"

Thank you sweetie.

And talking of lemons... This is lemon layer pudding.


This pudding is all mixed together in one bowl but then during baking, separates, leaving sponge on the top and lemon sauce on the bottom!


Pure genius! No need to make custard!
I need to find a chocolate recipe!
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Well that was the real deal and now for a little 'fake baking'

Mince pies!
All made from fabric of course.

A little bit of sticky mince meat oozing from under the lid.

Hmmm..... can you smell them. Tee hee!

I love the little red berries, three different red beads.

It's no good, I'm going to have to make some real ones!

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Stitching Christmas Pudding.

Hello ladies,

I'm sooo excited and I couldn't wait to show you my latest project. I'm soooooooo pleased with the way it turned out. I'll try and calm down a little bit so that I can type without having to backspace every other tippity tap!

Look! Look! Look at that little pool of thick cream that has trickled down the pudding and gathered on the plate.

Juicy red berries and prickly green holly leaves
and lots of delicious trickily, dribbily, thick cream.


Hmmm... smell that cinnamon.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

Sorry about all that, but I'm feeling terribly, terribly smug. I wasn't expecting it to turn out so well. In fact I wasn't sure I could do it at all!

Thank you for letting me share my excitement with you.

Hmmm... I wonder if I can remember how to make another one?