Yes! Probably THE most important step of them all... For a fun beginning, begin with fun :)
Throw your new year's resolution out the window and grab a reasonably sized box/bag/carton/basket of your fave chockies... and start eating. In moderation if you must...
Note - At this stage size isn't important... unless your name is Ratty
and you need to be able to squeeze into the box/bag/carton/basket that once held your chocolate stash... MAD!! He is twice the size of the teeny basket he's squeezed his little toosh into... makes me giggle!!
A 24 box of Ferrero Rocher does it for me - you'll be using this to stash your bits... threads, needles, hexy papers and a scribble pad for sketchy doings and marvellous ideas
This time around I'm working on some new doings from much loved fabrics and some preloved beauties. If you feel the need to create right along with me, I'll share some of them through the year
Are you squinting and trying to work out what we're up to?
Don't worry, the mush will clear... imagine linens and gentle embroideries, softly lined baskets, market totes, baking and other yummies that make you want to press your coffee and nibble a pastry
Firstly, you'll need to sift through your old doilies, or your new doilies :) to find some that will be suitable to do this with... you choose the size...
Throw a few of your doileys (or is it doilies?? who cares, you know what I mean) into a lusciously dark broth of hot tea/coffee. I use a blend - a few tea bags and a few teaspoons of coffee into a heatproof jug, top with boiling water and mix. Smells yuk but gives just the right shade of 'old and loved'... Leave them overnight then squeeze them, rinse them and leave them to dry. If they need to be even more 'older and loved-er', do it all again but this time use a stronger brew and maybe don't squeeze quite as much out
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Find one of these (click on the 'books' tab) and if you don't fall in love with every page I can't be your friend anymore...
Seriously, I mean it... go away and leave me while I reminisce...
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All right... I'm back. Let's take a squizz at the first finish for 2011
~ The Market Fresh Tote ~
You'll need your favourite tote bag pattern with a 'boxed' bottom. Talk to your local patchwork shop, they'll head you in the right direction... choose one that's large'ishly simple. Or you can check out this one at the Moda Bakery It has a pieced pocket on the outside... mine doesn't... you're the designer, you choose :)
Go through your Frenchly inspired fabrics and find the bits that make you smile. Select one of your newly vintaged doilies and embroider a couple of simple words. Mine reminds me that my bag is for ~ 'Baguettes... Market Fresh'. The font is French Script (my bag, for my own use. If you make these to sell, consider copyright rules) and the thread is Cosmo Marble number 19 which is short for ultra delicious dusty lilac/sage/shell pink. It feels like the right mix of faded gentle/rustic/pretty and we love that at the moment...
Make your tote... according to the instructions of the pattern designer. Make it bigger or smaller... according to the instructions of the bag maker... i.e. you
The newly vintaged doiley is sewn in place with a teeny zig zag - natural coloured thread - with the stitches only just zigging and zagging across the edge of the fabric... (width 1.5, length 1.0)... so it can hide. Remember to do this after you've quilted the layers but before you sew the bag together!
Attach a couple of carry handles - a good length to throw over your shoulder if need be
If your fabric bits aren't sufficient to make 'throw over your shoulder' carry handles, join two bits together. No rules... just fun. My handles are sturdy, if you unpicked the (dusty pink, refer to the previous rule) stitching you'd find strips of fusible bag batting. And then I'd frown at you for unpicking my stitches
Put a piece of solid templastic or similar in the base for support and there you have it! A 'Market Fresh' tote, specially made for toting fresh baguettes home from the market. And maybe some fromage and jambon... and a bottle of pinot noir. Hmmmm, time for a picnic... PS - baguettes taste different here
What's coming next is anyone's guess... the hexies are looking pretty damn hot. Check out the points!
but I'm also in love with this bit of nonsense
Not sure of it's final resting place just yet. It screams 'hang me off a lined basket' so maybe that's what I'll do
You might also like to visit Allie and grab her 'birdcage' design... thanks Allie!
I just love this one. I've stitched it twice and will use it again in coming weeks - cute
seeya soon
Cheryl xx
ps - our lovely home is now my dear friend Debbie's lovely home... so it's time for a new banner. what to do.... not sure... don't really want a collage... might have a play... stay tuned...
