Polka Dots, Flowers and Butterflies Tote

Handmade bag with polka dots, stripes, butterflies and flowers.

All fabrics used are 100% natural lightweight cotton. 

There's a magnetic snap to keep it closed and two inner pockets: one with a zipper and one without.

The combination of fabrics is a jumble of some of my favourites.

It's a bonus that the bag itself is also very light and practical.

You can find it here.

Octagonal Green Floral Origami Bag

This is the reverse side of this green floral octagonal bag.

The fabric used is a fairly heavyweight cotton with discreet green stripes in an almost sage hue, with superimposed floral details in a more vivid green.

You can see the floral fabric of the other side peeking through in this picture.

Nautical Beach Bag - Red Stripes

This is the reverse side of my Nautical Beach Bag in a more eye-catching red and white cotton. It's octagonal, it's large and it fits in much more than you'd think!

The wide denim handles have a charming deshabile paint-splattered detail. (No, it's not a result of an accident, that's how the fabric came...)

To see the other side of this bag as well as more details, click here.

You can find it listed here.

Linked to:

Annemarie's Haakblog

Nautical Beach Bag - White Stripes

Large octagonal beach bag in nautical stripes in a combination of red, white and blue -with a touch of black. The bag is fully reversible and all fabric used is natural cotton.

The handles are denim and wide, so that they will remain comfortable on the shoulder even when they're carrying quite a bit of weight.

While it doesn't look that big, it fits in all your beach essentials and more: a beach towel, purse/pouch/clutch, sunscreens, extra swimsuit, magazine or book, water bottle, etc. 

You can find it listed in my OnePerfectDay shop.

Cotton Market Bag

Another reusable market bag I've been working on lately. Also in natural cotton.

This one is mine. I've already started using it and it's very practical. I keep it folded in my bag at all times until I need to use it. 

It takes up so little space and I love this grey and black striped cotton.

Linked to:
Annemarie's Haakblog

Etsy Favourites - Spring Blues

Clouds Nature Photography

Blue Star Decorative Pillow Cover

Large Hole Blue Czech Beads

Handmade Nautical Flat Shoes 

 Abstract Blue Painting

Keyring Flower Charm

This is a gift I made for a friend who doesn't wear flower accessories. 

Not as brooches, or hair clips, or rings or earrings.

So she got a key ring -or bag charm if you prefer- with a flower she admired in a sweet, muted lilac.

You tie it around your key ring or your bag handle.

I use a version of this on my car key and home key sets and never have to waste time any more fishing into my bag for either set of keys.

It used to be a particular pet peeve of mine to have to manically search for those elusive keys.

Now I use the tell-tale leaves or flower to quickly fish it out of a pocket.

I've been making and using these for at least a couple of years and I'd vouch for their effectiveness.

Plus I get to carry a couple of my flowers around all day.....

Linked to:
Today's Creative Blog, Chase The Star

Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day - Fabric and Vintage Lace

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THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY.

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It's that time of year again!

Time for the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway Day -which, as you probably know by now, is actually a whole week!

So here is the first of the giveaways I'll be joining with.

This is a selection of some of my favourite spring fabrics -thus the abundance of stripes and the obligatory polka dots- plus some lovely vintage lace and daisy trims that were recently given me.

They're all wonderful, natural cotton except for the red one which is a luxurious linen-cotton blend.

The dimensions of the pieces vary and so does their thickness.

Here's a birdseye view of the fabrics laid out.

If you would like a chance to win this little bundle of fabric, please leave a comment below telling me what your spring sewing plans are.


Just in case you'd like an extra entry or two, you can like my flower accessories shop Fairytale Flower , my fabric accessories shop One Perfect Day or you can even follow this blog.
Please leave an extra comment saying that you did one -or all- of these and they will be counted as extra entries.
(Please make sure there is a link to your comment where I can reach you if you win.)

International entries are welcome.

Giveaway ends on May 10 and post will be updated with winner by May 12.

Thanks for participating.

You can see the numerous other giveaways on the Sew, Mama, Sew blog and please come back to see the rest of the giveaways I'll be posting soon.

Monday Moodboard - Intergalactic

1. Misty Aurora

2. SugarDollShop

3. SilksByUmf

4. Jugosa

Monday Mooodboard is a game played by the members of the European Etsy Team every Monday. The moodboard is a selection of items from the team that reflect your mood on that particular day. Anyone in the team can join in. Just link your very own moodboard to the host of the game Star Of the East.

Bow Hair Clips

This was by far my favourite fabric this season: pretty, red and white striped, soft to the touch, natural cotton.

(I also made my Absolute Beginner Scarf Tutorial with it.)

While it reminds me of Christmas candy cane this close to the holidays, red and white  is one of those classic combinations for throughout the year.

 I sure loved making these little bow hair clips with this cotton.

Bows are one of those things that have been on my -very long- to-do list....

I've been dreaming of some in other pretty, girlie fabrics but also in tulle.

Now all I have to do is find the precious time to make some more....

                                 
                                         Linked to:
               Annemarie's Crochet Blog, Petite Hermine, Tatertots and Jello, Six Sisters Stuff, Nifty Thrifty Things, It's Overflowing, Polkadot Pretties, Or So She Says, Today's Creative Blog

How To Make A Simple Scarf - a DIY for Absolute Beginners

This step by step instructions tutorial on how to make a simple scarf is for absolute beginners. 
While the scarf in the photos is a small square scarf, the steps are the same for any shape and size you would like to make.

1. Decide on your fabric and shape.
(This tutorial is basically for fabrics that fray, like cotton, linen, etc when you want to have a neat, stitched finish.) 
If you want a perfectly square scarf, and you don't want to get out your tape measure, just  fold your fabric over until you make a perfect triangle. 
Cut. 
Open it up, it's a perfect square.

 2.If you're pretty new at this and are not confident of your sewing skills, or if you just want everything super neat and tidy, it helps if you use an iron to flatten out all your seams before you stitch them.
This is how you do it.
Fold over a thin strip of fabric making sure that it's the same width all the way down. Press this down with your iron untill flat. 

 Once you've done this, fold it over again, in the same way, and press it flat with the iron again.
Do this for each side.

3. Stitch over all sides paying attention to the corners.

 Use pins to keep the fabric in place and help you make them align perfectly.

Tip: When stitching something that will see a lot of wear, backstitch a little so that you don't have unravelled stitches later.

4.Congratulations!
You have just made your very own scarf!
Now you can go ahead and make some more for your friends and family! 
 They make for cute Christmas gifts.

Linked to:

Threading My Way, Annemarie's Crochet Blog, My Creative Space

Supergirly Clutch Purse - Project 2 - Umbrella Prints Trimming Competition

Here is my second project for the Umbrella Prints Trimmings Competition. (Here  is the first.)

It's a clutch in the supergirly pinks and reds of this trimmings pack.

I love the fabrics I had to work with. 

Pinks and reds together are my latest addiction and the touch of white is just perfect.

The abstract flower circle with the leaves is basically my circle brooch turned flower. It's an idea I've been working on this past week and I'm very pleased with it. 

I toyed with the idea of making it detachable, and I was very tempted, but I went for the sewed-on version in the end.

I have never made a lined clutch or pouch before and since they aren't the same as bags  I had a bit of trouble figuring it out....

I'm so thoroughly smitten with it that I think I'll keep this one for myself.

Now I have to go and finish project number three.

Linked to:

Today'sCreativeBlog, Homework