U-handblog

Expandable 'Reading Under a Tree in the Park' Bag

Had a simple easy going weekend.  Other than getting a few groceries and walking the hound in the woods we have stayed in the whole time.  He's studying like the clappers for his finals (which are exams on everything he has learned over that last 5 years ERK!!!)  and I have been pootling around the garden and sewing a new bag.  I dreamt up the design during a picnic we had in our overgrown garden. I wanted to make a nice beach/holiday/reading under a tree in the park kind of bag that can carry loads (if you need to) or it can be adjusted to be a neater niftier size for nipping around town.

Zippered front pocket for your sunnies and camera.  The bag handles are piped with Flexi-tube which make the handles a bit posh and much easier to grab then floppy fabric handles.

You can cinch in the sides with the ties which not only looks pretty; the ties make the bag adjustable in size. The ties have eyelet openings (even though you can't see them in the pic). 

Softly rounded and gathered bottom.  Yep girls, we're all headed that way; I know my bottom is :)

Inside is another pocket for the wallet, phone and keys.  Fastening is a mag snap.

This bag can grow on you - ties are undone to show expanded side.  You can chuck in loads of beach gear, food, books and/or craft gear for a nice day out in the sun.  Or take it shopping instead.

It's those scruffy jeans again!  Just so you know, they have been laundered since I photographed myself in them last time.  One day I will wear clothes as (reasonably) smart as the bags I sew...

Sadly I can't keep this bag (or give it to you) because it is a birthday present for a lovely friend.  Hey, I said no peeking!

What do you think folks?  Would you like to see this design is as a (paid for) PDF download?  I wouldn't charge much - I never will for my own pattern designs - I don't think it's very nice (or very helpful to charge loads).  So yeah, I'd love to know what you think :)

...and the winner of 'Name that purse kit' is....

Thanks for your kind response to my new purse kit.  Putting these kits together is great fun.  Thanks to everyone who had a go at naming the purse.  I really enjoy reading your suggestions, (I know I always say this, but) you folks are soo much better at coming up with names than I am. 

 

The Chic Chain Purse Kit now available here.

There were loads of great names, but in the end we settled on the one above so will Alice T (who suggested it) please step forward and claim your Chic Chain Purse!!

An open letter to Uncle Ben

Hello Uncle Ben,

After viewing your latest (UK) TV commercial for your Sweet & Sour Sauce product I felt it necessary to open up a dialogue with you regarding a number points in the advert that don't quite hit the mark for me and (I hazard a guess) thousands of other persons of Chinese origin, and not to mention Indian,  and Mexican persons who have been parodied featured in your advertising campaigns. 

You see (perhaps I am putting my humble neck on the line by nominating my good self as spokesperson (at least for those of Chinese origin), I feel you need to know that:

1. We don't all do Kung Fu.
2. We don't all ride bicycles everywhere
3. The girls don't really wear those long cheong sam any more (and we don't all have long plaits either).
4. The boys don't really wear those pyjama style clothes any more.
5. We don't all mix up our "R" and "L" letters.  In your latest ad the Chinese pyjama style clothing clad (see point 4) high kicking Kung Fu men (see point 1) are clearly heard to exclaim "Rondon!" instead of "London".  I might be showing off my own personal grasp of the English language by saying out loud  "Linda Lovelace Loves her Luscious, Lollopy, Long Legs", but I just wanted to show you (as a Chinese female myself) just what is possible!  Amazing innit!
6. Oh, and I myself wouldn't eat your poo poo Sweet & Sour sauce let alone serve it to anyone I love (Chinese or otherwise) for fear of being laughed out of my kitchen.   Perhaps your other sauces might be quite palatable, but I won't be sampling them as the taste of your Sweet & Sour sauce and your accompanying tv ad have combined to leave a (dare I say) sour taste in my mouth - sorry ha ha!  I couldn't resist :)

Yes I know Uncle Ben, you are not the only organisation to revert to lazy lame-ass stereotypes, but Uncle  Ben, this time I choose to vent my 5 foot temper on you because each time I hear that Chinese Kung Fu bloke say "Rondon" (see point 5) it's like a cheese grater running across my nips, Hiiiigh-Yaaaaooouch!  Anyone for Pizza tonight?

Sewing World Bag July 09. The Princess Purse

The theme for Sewing World Magazine Jul 09 is the colour blue and pink.  It just so happens that I had some delish fuchsia coloured dupion silk in my stash and some vintage Moda fabric. It might be tipping down with rain today (well, this is the UK), but weddings, evenings out and prom balls are on the horizon.   So, ignoring the the crappy wet weather; I present The Princess Purse! (I've never been too hot at naming my creations; hey ho).

The bag was inspired by these lovely Silver Ring Handles.  I wanted a striking, but simple design so the handles are the main focus of bag.  Sounds like a job for (what I like to call) 'architectural silk' (it sounds grand, but it just means that silk looks nice when you scrunch it up).  I love the way that light bounces off ruffled or pleated silk; it means that you can just use one plain colour for the entire bag and things still look interesting. 

Side view

Inside view; a nice piece of vintage romantic Moda doves and flower fabric for the lining.

Me in my unlady-like jeans sporting a very lady-like bag.  Yes of course I would wear a pretty bag out with my scruffy jeans; I mean I regularly wear my slippers to the post office and the supermarket.  Wait until it's summer; I'll go out in my pajamas too.  I have no shame :)

Name the Purse Kit, win the purse!!

Yes, I know; it's all a bit contest-tastic on U-Handblog lately; it's just the way that my blog cookie is crumbling at the moment, but I am in the middle of writing up a decent freebie blog bag making tutorial so I hope that will help make up for it :)

So here is my latest Purse Kit design all pretty and sewn up, with somewhere to go (your house!), but alas she has no name.  This is where you come in because you are so much better at naming my patterns and kits than I am...

Yep; she's a cutie (even though I say so myself).  Perfectly proportioned; she has an attractive softy gathered top edge, curved frame and a hand chain that is just the right length to swing prettily in your hand (or slip over your shoulder).

Side view.  I love her shape; there's something that's so girly, proper and 1950's about her don'tcha think?

Bottom view - (heh! always makes me giggle).

Inside view.  She may be neat and tidy, but she is suprisingly roomy too.

Contest Details (please read carefully)

Okay, hopefully you know the drill by now :)  I'll send this finished purse to one winner.

To enter all you have to do is comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST by:

• Picking a name for this PURSE KIT (you can suggest as many name as you like).  As a couple of pointers I tend NOT to name my items after girls names (such as 'Alice Purse' because IMHO that has little meaning...), instead I tend to lean towards names which in some way describe the item. 
• Please DO NOT focus on the fabric of this purse as these fabrics will change over time.  Ta!

SORRY, THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Contest Official-ness :

1. I'll select the winning name in 4 days time - 19th April and announce the winner the following day-ish.  Good luck!
   
2. I'll need to ask the winner to make a donation for the postage.
   
3. Sorry I can't notify winners, so please keep an eye for the winner announcement.  This is made easier for you if you subscribe to this blog so you don't have to keep checking back, although it's always great to have you pop-in for a read :0)
4. Prizes which are not claimed within 3 weeks of the winner announcement will be carried forward to the next draw.
5. Sorry I can't reply to contest/draw comments, but I do love reading every single one :)

...and the winner of Sewing Green is...

Lots of entries for this lovely title and some really fab suggestions in your entries.  It's great that you are so resourceful and smart.  I mean, it takes a bit of imagination to turn something older into something entirely different and new!

Up for grabs was a copy of Betz White's Sewing Green.

Okeycokey!  There were 181 entries and Mr Random stopped on the number...

3!

So will Kristina who said:

"Any broken furniture in our house is always looked at for any uses it might have before we let it go to trash. When we moved the movers broke the side legs off of one of the shelving things that's suppossed to go over your tiolet in the bathroom, so I repainted it and now have the shelving part sitting on top of a small bookshelf to add more shelving to my craft room.

I also reguarly keep old pants/shorts to do patchwork on new pants/shorts that have gotten holes in them. More often than not I can find an almost exact match in color from an old pair."

Sorry to all those who didn't get lucky this time.  In my next post I will be posting details of another draw and you can also try your luck to nab a copy of Sewing Green on the following sites:

Tuesday, 4/14, Crafting a Green World, Review and giveaway
Wednesday, 4/15, Freshly Blended, Review and giveaway
Thursday, 4/16, Etsy Storque, Announcement of Etsy Lab Tyvek project
Friday, 4/17, Make Grow Gather, Q&A with photos, giveaway
Tuesday, 4/21, Philly Etsy, Review, Q&A, giveaway
Wednesday, 4/22, Whip Up, Applique tips and tricks, giveaway
Thursday, 4/23, Wardrobe Refashion, Thrift shop savvy for sewing, giveaway
Monday, 4/27, Morsbags, Review and giveaway
Tuesday, 4/28, Heart Handmade, Inspiration and ideas, giveaway
Wednesday, 4/29, House on Hill Road, Organics for baby, giveaway
Thursday, 4/30, Craft Sanity, Q&A, giveaway

Good luck!

Something old and something new.

I hope you all had a smashing Easter everybody.  I didn't have any chocolate myself as I'm on self imposed ban, but I didn't' feel left out.  I rewarded myself by doing a spot of stash shopping - which all in all probably amounted to less than would've been spent on choccy and not to mention less guilt (from stuffing my face), so a win win situation I think :)

One man's junk is a bag maker's stash. Here are some fruits of my bargain hunting on Ebay (hence my mac mighty mouse in the background) and an unbelievably un-stressful (yep you read right) visit to IKEA.  My mum is still making very good use of her vintage stash so I can't get my mitts on it so I've taken to collecting vintage sewing gear from other sources.  Vintage wooden cotton reels (with names like "Lt Pomegranate" and "Almond Green") and thread that has the most beautiful sheen that is too pretty to use; some old vintage buckles and cute fabrics from IKEA destined for a bag that has yet to be designed.  I think I might also be devleoping an obession for vintage buttons...

Isn't crafting just wonderful in that there's no time limit as to when you should use the stash and there's also no real limit as to what you can do with it either.  Isn't that just sooo liberating?

...and the winner of '400th Post Mega Giveaway' is....

Wowsers!  Thanks everyone for entering my 400th Post Mega Giveaway Draw.  I'm really chuffed that so many of you entered (BTW in case you were asking; 'chuffed' is another word for happy.  I think it's a word that the Brits are more likely to use - I might be wrong of course).  Your precious feedback is worth it's (virtual) weight in gold and I will be sure to use it responsibly :)

The mega giveaway.

Okeycokey!  There were 351 (some by email) entries and Mr Random stopped on the number...

327!!!



So will Em (who's entry is dated: April 7th) please step forwad and claim your prize.

Sorry to all of you who didn't win :(   There is currently a craft title giveway that ends on the 13th for you to try your luck in (if you haven't already).  Good luck!

Sewing Green - Sneak Peek & Giveaway!!

Yep it's another craft title review and giveaway; it's just that time of year :)  So here's a sneaky peek inside Betz White's yummilcious Sewing Green.

Sewing Green: 25 imaginative and pretty sewing projects to create from organic or repurposed materials.  Inside the photography is gorgeous and the approach is fresh, modern and attractive (without a scrap of cheese cloth in sight).  Also included are full-sized pattern pieces (which always makes life easier). 

I LOVE this leafy scarf; it's such a statement piece.

I do actually have a knackered old pink and red stripey wool jumper (that Al used to call my prawn jumper) which would make ace slippers.

Do double duty with this cute reversible wrap skirt.

An old ribbed jumper will make a much-loved soft toy and cheerful hat.

One of several bag designs.  See more yummy project pics here.

Draw Details (please read carefully)

I'll send Sewing Green to 1 lucky draw winner.

To enter all you have to do is comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST by:

• Telling us about your crafty recycling endeavours.  What items did/will you recycle and what did/will you make?
  

Contest Official-ness :

1. I'll randomly draw the winner in a weeks time 14th April and announce the winner the following day-ish.  Good luck! 
2. I'll need to ask the winner to make a donation for the postage.
3. Sorry I can't notify winners, so please keep an eye for the winner announcement.  This is made easier for you if you subscribe to this blog so you don't have to keep checking back, although it's always great to have you pop-in for a read :0)
4. Prizes which are not claimed within 3 weeks of the winner announcement will be carried forward to the next draw.
5. Sorry I can't reply to contest/draw comments, but I do love reading every single one :)

Weekend Knitting - Sneak Peek & Giveaway!!

Here's a sneaky peek inside Melanie Falick's new soft cover version of the very popular craft title: Weekend Knitting.

 Now available in soft back: Weekend Knitting. A lovely and varied collection of 50 beautiful knitting projects that (hopefully) won't take months to complete.  Inside are projects for bags, slippers, clothing, home ware and children knits.  The photography is pretty and the instructions are clearly laid out and easy on the eye.

Pretty snuggly lap blanket - a TV viewing essential.

Groovy Argyll pattern slippers.

Feminine and glam lacy top.

Pretty stripey purse.

 One of a selection of cute knits for children.

This book is part of a Super Duper Prize and the draw closes at the end of tomorrow.  To enter this Mega Draw please read and enter on this post (NOT on this post - ta!)