River Crossing

 I posted off a special parcel today, complete with my new logo.

 

It was the first shipment of my pieces to go to a new stockist, the Cetra Studio and Gallery over the water in Heswall. The shop is part of a larger business providing photography services for weddings and other events. 

Some of the beautiful work on sale at Cetra already from their Facebook page. I love this tealight holder by Karen Turner.

I was very excited to be asked if I'd like to display my work there, and 

got together a mini collection of bags and purses just for them.

 An oversize envelope clutch in ecru ticking with a Liberty needlecord flap.

3 little a-symmetric purses with vintage button fasteners.

 A trio of shiny gold framed coin purses.

 A trapeze clutch in vintage Liberty wool.

And another little clutch in pink, pure wool tartan.

Of course they are all completed with my surprising linings!

I think my stitching has found a happy home at Cetra. If you're over on 'the other side' why not stop by and have a look at all the beautiful local work on offer!

Work in Progress

 

Stripe-less party ring. (as if being without electricity for the day wasn't bad enough)

Always there when you need him.

Blackout.

One Of A Kind

  Just thought I'd share my newest creation with you all.

 

It's made from a beautiful screen-printed floral furnishing fabric and is lined is silk duchesse satin. I think it's the most luxurious thing I've ever made!
I've only made one bag with this sort or large frame before, and I wasn't 100% happy with it, but this one has turned out exactly how I wanted.

I love the shape of the bag, and the way the metal complements the colours in the flowers. I had a little of the fabric left too so I made a coin purse to match!

 Both the bag and the purse are available at the Made Here Pop Up shop in Liverpool One, opposite Topshop.

As One Door Closes...

 A couple of posts ago I told you I'd lost my job. With the intention of scraping by on a combination of crafting and whatever benefits I could blag I didn't really bother looking for a new job. Perhaps I was being a little too optimistic but luckily I never had to find out. A mere 12 days after losing my job my friend spies a tweet from a local fashion designer looking for a seamstress, the next day I have my first piece of work.

Lucky eh?

Now I spend my days working at home, taking as much or as little work as I like, managing my own time and drinking copious amounts of tea. An unexpected advantage of this new job is that I've been allowed to keep the offcuts of the fabric I'm using, and was also given 2 bin bags full of other fabrics. Here's the first result:

 I love the mustard yellow drill, it's perfectly suited to this more constructed style of bag, and I knew it would look great with one of my new Liberty fabrics.

The magenta silk was already sewn into a scarf or belt so it was the perfect instant strap.

As I'm now sewing virtually everyday I'm definitely sharpening my sewing instincts and understanding cut and construction a lot more, which I think is already feeding into my own designs.

So, lets hear it for redundancy and eagle-eyed friends!