Free Pattern - buttons & bows...

A few months ago Lecien Fabrics sent me a bundle of next year's Flower Sugar and made me one of their fifteen "Flower Sugar World Ambassadors" (HERE)...

...and after carefully considering how to make best use of these pretty prints I'd decided (HERE) to update some of my old designs. Now believe me, choosing which designs to be updated is no simple feat, but a handful were eventually selected and on Saturday one of my most popular non-stitchery patterns of all time came to life in a Flower Sugar dress!

Originally the "Buttons & Bows" Bag was made using French inspired fabric, but this new one is a brighter and prettier version...

 

 

 I was so chuffed when I finished it, which was just as well because it's a Christmas gift for one of my dear friends.

And because it's Christmas all around the world I thought I'd give it to you also.

Well, not the actual bag, but the pattern to make one for yourself.

After all, we've still got a few days left of...

 

...so why not make one for yourself and one for a friend?

You can download the free pattern HERE.

You know, if you're pushed for time and you have some sewing friends that you need a gift for, why not print up the pattern and make up a kit from your stash?

I'm sure they'd be very happy with a project all ready to make in the New Year!

bless you heaps

One sweet bag and a phone sleeve...

You saw the early progress on my Dove Garden bag here on Monday.

Today you can see it finished and ready to be swung over my shoulder...

The outer bag is lined with leftover cotton quilt batting which I hand quilted using green and red Perle #12 thread.

After cutting two lengths of fabric to make the handles I went rummaging through my supplies cupboard for cream twill to sew along the inside of them (adds stability and strength) where I discovered a pair of forgotten red leather handles!

I'd used them years ago on a bag that I never really liked so early this year during a declutter I threw away the bag but unpicked the handles and promptly packed them away for another time and another bag. 

So thank the Lord I went hunting for twill in the right place to find them because they were perfect for this project and added a bit of class (according to Blossom)...

The bottom corners of the bag are boxed square so I made a fabric covered rectangle from template plastic to insert inside and stabilise the base...

Happy with all the elements of the bag I decided to make one more thing - a sleeve for my mobile phone.

Using a scrap from the Chez Moi print, one pretty birdcage button and a piece of olive green wool felt from my stash, this turned out sweet as can be...

Tiny seed beads became the eye and the flower centre...

There's a deep sense of satisfaction at completing a new bag for myself because I rarely make bags.

Do you like it?

The pattern for the "Dove Garden" stitchery featured on the front of my bag is now available as a PDF pattern HERE...

...and if you'd like to sew a simple sleeve for your mobile/cell phone follow my tutorial over HERE.

The Stitchery Club patterns for June (which include 'Dove Garden') were emailed to all members today.

For those who are not members but would like to purchase the individual stitchery patterns, they are now available HERE in my shop. 

One of those patterns is "Sleep Tight Owl"...

I think it's time I took my bag out for a road test shop test, don't you?

hugs