Aaaahh, the children are off school and playgroup with bad coughs. They are not ill enough to be immobilized in bed and frankly I was all for sending them today (they were off yesterday too) but my kinder hearted husband thought I should keep them off another day, he seemed concerned about them spreading germs. Well really, where does he think they got their coughs in the first place? What's more, I thought we were supposed to encourage sharing. So, here I am stuck in with children who are already a little stir crazy following days of wind and rain, fingers crossed they are fit to return tomorrow as Friday is a teacher training day.
I have been planning on making friends with my sewing machine for some time. I have always had a machine and would hate to be without it but it really only gets used for curtains, blinds and cushions. I have been lusting after the Japanese Craft books I see popping up on blogs and having sold some bits on ebay thought I would treat myself. This arrived a couple of weeks ago.
I love this book, I love it so much I have now ordered a couple more. I don't read Japanese which is a bit of a problem but I get the gist of it I think and I knocked this little bag up just to help me get my head around the whole thing. The outer fabric is Laura Ashley, remnants from a friend, excellent remnants actually as I have so far used them to make a blind for Tilly's room, matching cushion and now this. I lined it with some Amy Butler fabric which I snatched up on my last visit to the local bargain fabric mill. I am pretty pleased with how it came out and the next one will be something for me. Hopefully I will get to grips with interfacing for the next one. 
Something that particularly caught my eye in the book was this lovely use of embroidery. It reminded me that for ages I have liked the idea of using one of the children's' pictures in this way and yesterday I actually started to play around with my machine a bit and might try something soon.
I love this bag too and have some gorgeous linen stashed which might be just thing, it would look lovely with the linen trousers which I began making two years ago and still haven't finished.
One problem I always have with sewing projects is committing to cutting the fabric. I have decent little stash of fabrics but find it hard to actually decide to use them, I'm always worried that I'll regret it because the next week the perfect opportunity for that fabric will present itself. I am determined to stop being so precious and just start going for it. I cut some of this up to make a very easy skirt pattern, yes OK, a very loud skirt but I think it will be fine with a plain tee?? It just needs a zip now, (yes I know, like the poor old trousers) but hopefully mentioning them here will shame me into pushing on with finishing these things. 
Comments
Love the bag and the Japanese craft book. I have been eyeing some of those myself. They are so beautifully presented.