A rucksack for Amy

I was fortunate to be given some old curtains, vintage as well. My daughters friend fell in love with some William Morris ones and somehow I offered to make a rucksack for her for when she goes to university. We drafted up some ideas. I had some leather samples, just liitle squares so she asked if I could make pockets with them one blue one green  a zipped pocket on the back for security and an inner zipped pocket.

I must admit it  came together like a breeze. It was so good not to use a pattern and let my creative juices flow. I didn't want to put it down I was engrossed.

 I wish I get more creative with my dressmsking. You know embroidering, appliqué even patchworking pieces before cutting out. I once saw a lady who had a marvellous pea coat and each piece was a different fabric they were like curtain fabrics. It was inspiring, crazy and fun all at once.

  I made a shoulder strap  and interlined it for comfort and more support. I only needed to purchase the straps and fasteners. Everything else was available which was great.

As you can imagine she is delighted with it.

The rucksack from a pair of jeans

Well I was so keen to get the rucksack completed, I decided to get the bike out and ride to the next town.  It was a beautiful day, the sun was on my face and my skirt was blowing in the warm breeze, and for a moment I felt carefree like a teenager.  I just love cycling, of course only in the warmer weather.

The denim has been a pain to work with, especially as I have a nail dropping off, I kept catching it OUCH.

Please  DONT LOOK IF SQUIMISH

The inside first 

  Check lining, with a pocket, keyring holder  and a drawstring cord.

The Coco Cola logo was on the waistband, makes a great handle

The only thing I am disappointed with is the pocket on the right.  Which is too high, maybe I should have unpicked it and put it lower down. However its a great place to hold a umbrella. I may buy some poppers so it closes

The  front pockets have gussets 

Well DD is more than happy with it. The house however is another story. Now I must tackle the kitchen pots.

Update.  DD finds the pocket on the right very handy.  She keeps her foldaway brolly there, and the bottled water on the other.  Just thought Id let you know. louise 

A rucksack in the making

The sewing bug has really got a hold on me at the moment, I have very sneakily bought my machine downstaris so I can sew in front of the patio doors, bliss.  My daughter had been eyeing this bag up for when she starts college in September priced at £32. from Top Shop.  For once a sensible bag.

 Being the lovely Mummy that I am I offered to make one like it.   to my surprise she  accepted the offer.  So we set off to our next largest town looking for something simple like Denim, not a tall order.  Of course we came back empty handed, so just when I was resigned to purchasing some on the net, my sons partner offered me a couple of  pairs of jeans (different weights) so I used mostly one pair, apart from the buckle strap.

Now I personally dont like the different shades, but DD does and thats all that matters.

Ive used a back pocket for one side and a front pocket for the other side the two main front and back pieces are made from  the lower leg sections, hence the colour difference.  The buckle was on the back above the pockets so I cut it off and added to the front bag flap. I had to remove the other back pocket, so I had enough fabric to make the straps.  

The gingham lining I have had for ages and I have added a casing for a drawsting cord to be inserted. I need to purchase some popper fasteners and a few other things, also I need to topstitch.  I hope it will be finished in the next few days.  

Of course the bigger the jeans and wider the leg the more fabric you have to play with. I avoided the Knees and the frayed hems, One of the side panels, the front one is a little  stretched, but it will do.

Thrifty Patchwork Quilt Part II and a bit of Fabric LOOVe

Well at last I can show you the biggest Ta Da, Ive finished yet.  But first sit back this Saturday Evening and enjoy abit of fabric loooove♥

Ok a trip to the charity shops and a bargain find is an instant delight,  Ive been searching sometime for some furnishing fabric to finish the thrifty quilt.  For those of you who have not heard of my Thrifty Patchwork quilt.  It is a quilt made from fabric samples kindly donated from my local painter and decorators shop, also my first attempt at proper quilting (so be kind to me).  So on Thursday I was thrilled to bits when I spotted this

2 pieces of Sandersons "William Morris Water lily" fabric for £1.00, and I have enough to make a cushion with whats left over.  Wow what a bargain.  But I havent finished there is more.  Because next to it with a price tag of £2.00 was this fabric, 1 door curtain and two short curtains.
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William Morris "Blackthorn"
I do believe this colourway is discontinued, its so 60s/70s retro, so of its time. I love it.
Im normally  drawn to chintz, Cath Kidston fabric pinks, greens, yellows,   But isnt this the most beautiful pattern. 

So back to the quilt.  Its finished, not perfect but Im very pleased for a first attempt. I wont show the back because it has a few small creases. I was inspired by Small hands one of the very first blogs I found, she no longer blogs but keeps a flickr account here  http://www.flickr.com/photos/56058041@N00  I love her quilts, they are so and fresh, colourful and intricate.

By cutting the fabric samples into strips and mixing them, it enabled me to  use all the colourways.  As you can imagine some of the samples were incredibly dark or  too bright.  Otherwise I wouldnt have been able to use them all.  I think it worked out well considering..




Hope you like it.

A Vintage Day

Whilst out in the garden the other day, my son called "You do know there are vintage cars going through the village" I quickly dropped everything I was doing and dashed out to the front of the house. This time with my camera ready for action.

One of the plus sides of living on a main village road is 3 or 4 times a year we have vintage cars, or motor cycles pass by our home. Now anyone who follows me or drops by my blog will know I LOVE VINTAGE.


Here they come!!

 A Rolls Royce



For old bangers they were whizzing past at an alarming rate











I love the contrast between new and old open top cars here



They were waving away

Such fun I love them.

Later a stint at the local charity shop where I volunteer, then a walk to the main shops always has its rewards. Today I bought home .

This delightful leather suitcase (sadly with different fasteners) for the pricely sum of £2.00

Battered but a bargain.

and these pocket opera glasses with complete packaging £3.00.  Which I think are very quirky. No idea what I shall do with them.  Hubbie said "I hope this doesnt mean you want to go to an opera"

and this is our little vintage car (not ours) on our wedding day, it was one of the highlights for us both.

Blooming Weather!.. Ideal for a spot of sewing

An April shower wont last half an hour.  Well Im not to sure about that one.   It has rained, now for about a week with just the odd hour of sunshine. 

at least the water isnt coming up onto the pavements, since we had the new pumping system put in, no more episodes like  this  (touch wood)


Even the cat doesn't want to go outside.

I'm waiting patiently to plant these potatoes, that have been on the  sill for what seems an eternity.

The tulips are looking nice though.  So whilst the weather  stops me from finishing sorting the garden out,  I continue to sew. 

Ive discovered the trick is to have a cutting out session.  So the other week I cut out three items to sew. I shall show you the first one today.  I had seen this pattern on another blog   




New Look 6808

I realised I had something similar in this Vogue pattern. I thought I could recreate  the above from this and add a collar.

Vogue 8667
Id made this pattern previously  but wasnt happy with the princess sea, it was way too high for me. So with the help of a friend I redrafted the top changing the princess seam into a vertical seamst seam.  Then I just added a collar, self drafted.



Isnt this fabric Soo beautiful. 
A petrol blue with large blossoms, I love it.  Its  36" wide seersucker, vintage and incredibly light.   I had just over a metre. Just enough to make a sleeveless top, I had to use bias on the seams binding and a contrast material under the collar.

How do you all take photos of yourselves I found it impossible, especially in my tiny cottage

At last with the help of someone, a really quick and easy top with so many options.




Knitting Mitts

Many thanks for the comments on  the old back, it  seems to come and go.  After a visit to the docs  he was a young and very thorough student doctor who kept looking in his book,  (not reassuring).  I came away with no conclusion,  feeling 101 and told to take lots of painkillers.!!!

Mustard Seeds the small cafe I volunteer at  had a makeover, over the Christmas peiod.  How it shines.  We continue to go from strength to strength.  I thought I would share some photos.

This beautiful original fire looks wonderful

We sell a wide range of fancy coffees with free biscuits and toasted teacakes

My long awaited deliveries arrived.  Yippee!!!  The printer is marvellous, I have been printing off lots of free knitting patterns from Ravelry and Garnstudio, getting me motivated, including this one

The wool I am using is Lima  wool, which came with my other wool.  They are  for my mother in law.  I have altered the patterned throughout as I thought the hearts and pattern were lost in each other abit,  Im very pleased so far,  but I think I need to use shorter needles if Im to do some more of these.

Not bad for a first attempt at stranded work

This is the wool for my sons cardigan, its so soft.

 actual colour Royal blue

I know I harp on about Drops wool but it is such good value, Im not an acrylic fan at all, but wool can be quite costly.  The Drops range is very reasonable and good quality, please check it out, Id love your opinion and recommendation if you've used any of their range, Im always on the look-out for quality wool at the right price, so any links would be appreciated.

Ive also been bidding on Ebay again.  As usual I am never lucky with Ebay, and this recent win wasnt without its hiccups, but Im drawn to Ebay  like a wasp to an open jam jar.  I shall show and tell you more when my new baby arrives!!