U-handblog

Name my new bag and win the kit for it!

It really is time we added to our Purse Making Kit collection isn't it?   Yes?  I thought so :)

I confess this bag was made with the help of Mabel's fab Grandparents (whom my darling is visiting at the mo).  Mabel now wants to touch pins, markers, the iron and she wants to press sewing machine buttons - this can (scare the hell out of me and) slow up the work flow, just a tad.   Thanks Mum & Dad - I love you!

One of the things I love about my designs is that I have an instant audience downstairs - and if the needle on our Squeal-ometer™ doesn't more or less fly off the machine I can go back and make adjustments to the design.  I'm pleased to report that our Squeal-ometer™ is now broken!  :)

So this beauty is very proper.  She'll do for the Madmen typing pool, yet she'll also do for the rockabilly chick or even the job interview.  You choose the fabric for the occasion and the bag shape will tell 'em: 'I'm a lady!'

Things we love:

• She has a roomy front pocket (of which the curved pocket top edge nicely echoes the curved top edge of the bag).  
• She is very roomy, her sides and bottom are generous - just the way we like it it!
• She has a lovely boxy pyramid shape
• The leather handle finishes off the bag puuurfectly - it strengthens the bag's boutique-bought looks.
• Wear the bag over your shoulder, swing her in your hand or crook of your elbow

 

This bag will be available as both as a PDF pattern and a Blank bag making kit.

Click on the pics to enlarge:

Roomy and very lady-like (just like me - well, the roomy part).  This bag would also look sooo good in solids as well. How about some charcoal grey wool and a plum/lime/turquoise coloured corsage?  Yes please!

Measurements: (H) 23cm x (W) 25cm x (D) 11.5cm (9in x 10in x 4 1/2in)

The purse frame I've used is a great bag sized frame.

The useful front pocket is also nice, deep and roomy. We're able to pop an umbrella inside ours!

She's unapologetically wide - and all the more lovely for it!

You must always treat yourself to a pretty lining! 

 

See, the leather handle tops everything off just perfectly - it ramps up the: "What, you MADE it???!!" factor.

 

The bottom is stuctured (with an internal bag bottom) and there are even bag feet included.  Cute and practical.

 

 

So I hope you dig my new design as much as we do. Thing is we can't start offering the pattern until it has a name. Can you help?

 

Contest Details (please read carefully)

To one lucky winner I'll send a BLANK bag making kit (with pattern) for this bag.  It will contain all you need except fabrics, thread and glue.
 

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

• Picking a name for this bag design.  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 bag as this is a pattern only.Ta!
• Enter as many times as you like.

 

Contest Official-ness :

1. I'll select the winning name in 2 days time - 27th Sep (GMT) and announce the winner the following Tuesday.
   
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 :)

(Silly) Shop Talk

It's not just Tesco, they're all it!

Daft words used to jazz-up stuff in the hope that we will buy it; 

1. Farm fresh - I'm sure this product has been no where near a farm.
2. Artisan - oh please!  Pretentious nonsense.
3. Finest Ingredients - oh goody!  That's nice!
4. Heritage - see #2
5. Hand picked/finished - it's sad that the human touch is an extra that we're charged extra for.
6. Selected - well of course it's been selected (by the shop), who else selects the product for the shop?  Elvis?
7. Jus - see #2
8. Aged - what, like cheese and meat are supposed to be (and have been for centuries)?  Well done!
9. Deli - you mean that this supermarket is just like my local indy deli?  Nice!  
10. Salon-style - just from using this shampoo on my hair? Cool!
11. Revitalising - see #10
12. Miracle - yes it will be if this does what it says it will on my hair/cellulite/wrinkles
13. Radiance - see #10 & #12
14. Essential - to what and to whom?

 

These are just a handful that I could think of off the top of my head.  I'm sure that are squillions more. What ones have I missed?

Happy year and a half birthday Mabel

Happy birthday Mabel, you're most beautiful thing in my life.

Mummy X

 

Pleased to meet you Mabel Mk.2

...well that's what the dummy be called for the time being anyway. 

At home we mainly call my baby girl by her pet name: 'Bug' or 'Mabes'   I'm sure that Mabes will in the fullness of time (as her chatter vocab increases) give the dummy a better name.

You might be wondering what the dummy is for and what I am going to be doing with the oddles of contraband fabric (all courtesy of my good friends Freespirit).  Well some of you might know that I am a proud mum (who sews bags) and that mum has decided to turn her attention to designing clothes for her baby. 

I'd like to introduce you to Mabel.Mk 2, my non-wiggly, very patient, very still toddler dummy.  The cardigan that she wears is a gift to Mabes (my wiggly-giggly baby) and it was knitted by my lovely friend Helen.  Thanks Helen, it's adorable. I know that Mabes loves it because the first thing she did on presentation of said cardigan was give it a deep sniff and then she rubbed her face in it's fluffy softness. Xx!

Hehe heee! I love sourcing fabrics for my writing - the fabrics you see are only part of the contraband, there yet more on the way!  Hahahaha! 'Alan despairs, but I don't care'.  Lalalalalaaaa

 

My patterns will be released as of S/S 2014 in a very very exciting new format - that I have to keep quiet about for now. The publisher and I have cooked-up this fab pattern format.  They mocked it up and everyone I have shown it to has been blown-away!  Wheeeee!   It's safe to say that this format will not only look delicious, but I intend for it to be appealing to even the most nervous of sewists.  I think sewing from instructions should be fun and relaxing; you should be able to chat, sip a nice brew and enjoy the process - you should not have to rip hair out over unfriendly and 'garden-path' type instructions.

Yep, I have designed items of girl's clothing - all of which (IMHO) are pretty (though not overtly in-your-face-girly, versatile and quick-ish to whip together. Each design will have 3 pleasingly different variations (because I'm all about value for time and money). 

So I'm back on the writing wagon again - well, as winter draws in what else would I be doing in the evenings?  Getting my CRAFT ON of course!

 

What craft action are you looking forward to this winter?

Free Purse Pattern : The Fondant Fancy

Since we started stocking these delightful colour bobble bead sew-in purse frames (we have 3 delicious sets to choose from) they have flown off our shelves and LOADS of you have requested a pattern for the frames.

Our Sundae Sprinkles sew-in frames (there are 2 other colour sets as well).

Try combining these frames with this yummo stack of linen fabrics.  There! That's super stylish birthday and (umm...Christmas) pressies all sorted!

 

 

...so in answer to your requests our amazingly talented Skye has drafted this super-adorable purse pattern for you.  The finished purse looks just like a Fondant Fancy cake-ette (yes please!)

 

I love how poufy the purse is, yet thanks to it's cute and fat little bottom it'll sit sweetly on the table whilst you sip your cafe mocha.  This dainty purse will store your money, keys and even a lipgloss.

These purses are quick and easy to stitch up and are perfect for using up your stash. You won't believe how nice an old scrap of fabric looks when teamed up with a colour bead frame!

 

Click on pic to enlarge.

 

DOWNLOAD THE FREE FONDANT FANCY SEW - IN PURSE PATTERN HERE.

You'll find the hardware and interfacings needed for this bag in the shop.  Click on the links inside the PDF pattern to find the necessary supplies.

Please pop your U-Handbag tute/kit/pattern bag pics in here - I love checking 'em out :)

 

We hope you enjoy the pattern, looking foward to seeing your Fodant Fancies!