natural leather handbag

I have made a leather handbag, the hand stitching was a challenge that my fingers aren't going to forget in a hurry but it was so worth it.  I was scared I wouldn't be able to turn it right side out, but after applying a leather conditioner it turned with just a little force. Hubby turned the wooden balls for me, it's actually wood from a tree in the back yard.  On the inside I stuck a little pocket in for my phone.  So happy...

a visit to Leffler (what an amazing array of leather) - a piece of leather for $60 (with left overs) - 2m leather for the handle $6 a metre - some linen thread - quite a bargain for a new handbag.

slow project :: hexagons

Something slow has to be in the works, so I've started making a whole lot of hexagons from what's in the stash.  Lots of bits & pieces from other quilts too.

one for flip :: finished

Did I mention I was going to go with a striped border - I changed my mind - spots.
All finished.

gift bag

This is for my sister, it's her birthday tomorrow, I needed to make something today and here it is - a little gift bag for a card, some scissors & some cash...  I made the card with my very limited amount of photoshop skills.

this one is for flip

The plan was to have a another project to keep me occupied, however, the charcoal light denim that I have used is a little too heavy for hand quilting (the way I would have liked to) so I have already put this one together and machine quilted it.  My sister gave me the denim years ago and I've finally put it to good use.  I'm thinking of a black & off white striped binding, but I could change my mind once I'm in a fabric shop.  As this one will be finished quite soon looks like I'm going to have to start on something else...

Before quilting I cut some holes in the top, put some backing behind and did some stitching around them with sashiko thread.  The edges were left raw so they could fray nicely after a couple of washes.

 

sashiko all over :: finished

It's been 8 months in the making & it's finished - sashiko all over.  It's quite weighty which I like, there's a whole lot of sashiko thread in there.  Another quilt suitable for the couch, I think it could be my new favourite.

pic taken standing on a chair

The binding is just the backing folded over and stitched down, where there are patches of calico on the binding, that's where the backing didn't quite reach around.  I didn't have a clear plan at the start but I'm so happy with how it looks now. 

On the weekend I had to start something new, it would seem I have to have quilt on the go at ALL times - even though it can remain idle for quite long periods.  I don't like the feeling of nothing 'in progress' hanging over the chair near my sewing area, it's a little empty.  The next one is for 'flip', he asked if he could have the next one - more to come...

crafternooning

on the weekend bell's & I did a little crafting from this book:-

we made a spinning pin wheel with some double sided printed paper

as well as some cloud & raindrop window hangings 

along with an owl birthday card for her cousin which I don't have a photo of...

next on the list is some of these paper beads