New Year, New Items.

Is it too late to say Happy New Year? It feels like it, but anyway, I hope you had a great festive season and are now back into the swing of normality. My family and friends have been gallivanting all over the place, whereas our Christmas was relatively calm, so it's not been difficult for us to get back into work again.

And in saying that, I have a few new things to share with you, so without further ado:

 

You may remember that I made some of these Covered Notebooks last year, but this time I have added a closure and pen/pencil holder in one, to make it more user friendly. I looked at them and realised that it would need a writing impliment and yet there was nowhere to put it, so this is what I came up with. It's a lot better to have a pen with the book and hopefully they will be even more appealing to when it comes to sell.  I have found that if people don't need to think too much and items are 'convenient', they sell better! 'Tis true.

On a similar theme, I made this: 

This is actaully my diary, that I covered using the Freehand Machine Embroidery technique (which I love) and I used denim and cotton; an all time favourite combination of mine. This is an A5 size diary, whereas the notebooks above are A6 and I am really pleased with the outcome. I used a press-stud for the closure with a button sewn on top. I always use a pencil for my diary and so slotted one of them in using it's little clip and hey-presto. What do you think?

Next up:

The next in the line of Mobile 'Phone Cases, this one decorated using Freehand Machine Embroidery and this time I made a front pocket to house ear-phones. Like the book covers, it occured after thinking "where can I put...?" Like the cases before hand, these mobile cases are fully padded, made using quality materials and lined in smooth cotton to protect your 'phone and can be made to measure. There are many more to come in this style as they have had the thumbs up from those I have shown it to already....

Next up is a re-do:

These are the Mini Lavender Bags again using the above technique and filled with French lavender heads. My workroom always smells wonderful when I am working with lavender and I feel strangely calm... These are a re-do that will continue to be done as they always sell well at the fairs :)

And finally:

This was an order... Ceri, a great pal from the fairs who has a Phoenix Trading stall, saw a lady walking around a fair last year with a bag that had fury cats on it. Ceri, being a cat lover, came straight to me and asked if I could make something similiar. Of course I obliged! There was a bag already on my stall that she liked the style of and asked for it to be bigger, with a zip closure, internal pockets and fury cats. Ceri drew how she would like the cats to be designed which I copied with the material and we agreed it would look like they are sitting on a wall. Once complete, I took it to her and she liked it so much that she used it right away! What do you think? I really like it actually. And there is no other one like it in the world...

Just before I go, do you remember this?

This is The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop designed by myself and made using Freehand Machine Embroidery, well I have made a few and one lady from Birmingham in the USA bought one. She messaged me a few weeks ago saying that she liked it so much and that she would like a companion piece! She said she has visited the UK a few times and she was impressed with it's charm so after a few messages backwards and forwards about what she would like, she settled on Chatsworth House. Wow! I know it will be a challenge but as always, I am up for it and at present I am up to the drawing, colour/materials choosing and tracing paper template stage. Watch this space...

That's all for now, thank you for reading, please leave a comment if you wish as I'd love to know what you think and/or head over to my Facebook page for a more regular hello.

Take care,
Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2015

New Items

Evening all,

I have a few new creations to show you, so first up:

I still don't exactly know what to call these...I'm thinking 'Creatures' or 'Wonkies' or something else tacky so do you have any idea? I blogged about the one on the right last time and next to it is my next in line. Please see the previous blog for more details.I think they're great!

 

Next up:

This is my new design of shopper/tote bag, named the Large Linen and Vintage Materials Shopper/Tote Bag (funnily enough). The upper material was gifted to me by a friend and is so lovely in texture and colouring that it just screamed 'bag' to me! I teamed it with modern heavy weight navy linen and matching shoulder straps and used the upper material to make several integral internal pockets and a hanging mobile pocket too.

It has a large flat base so it gives a roomy internal section for all your shopping or goodies and on the above photo, you can see the different styles of pockets. And, this bag also is big enough to take a soft cover A4 folder so it could be used as a student bag. :)

I really like this bag! Do you?

And finally for this evening:

These are two really cute Hand Sewn Patchwork Coin Purses. I have been making quite a few hexxies recently and thought how nice it would be to make them in to a purse, so I hand made quite a lot, joined them and made fronts and backs, and made these padded, covered zip ends coin purse, which I am really pleased with!

 

 

If these don't sell at the next fair, I am DEFINITELY keeping at least one, I simply adore them.

That's all for now, thank you for reading and let me know what you think please :) And don't forget I have a Facebook page if you want to view it or Like it. Thanks.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2015

Canvas, Cushion and Cosmetics Bags

Hi all, long time no blog...

I have a few things to show you today, so without further ado:

I just finished this, about an hour ago, so we couldn't get more fresh, this is a Small Handled Multi-material Hand Bag. There will be a matching purse too but I so wanted to show you this, that I haven't made the purse yet! EDIT: See below.

It is made using different kinds of upholstery materials, there is a grey suede feel and beige, cream and brown stripe canvas exterior, a light grey interior and mixed grey handles. It is made with a flat base so it stands up easily and the materials have been interfaced for strength and durability. It stands so nice, doesn't it?

Plenty of room inside

Flat basde to stand easily

There is plenty of room inside for multiple items, and it just looks so cute!

Next up:

These are three pretty Flat Cosmetics Bags, similar to those I have made before with gorgeous cotton materials, covered zip ends and big enough for plenty of make-up items or toiletries. These bags go really well at the fairs and they seem to be a constant make of mine; they are lovely though, aren't they? You can click on the pictures to make them bigger.

Third today:

Here are three rather bold floral print Roll Up Shopping Bags. These, like the cosmetic bags, are a great seller at the fairs and the more people get into using their own bags instead of plastic ones, the more they are in demand. I came across a mass of this material recently and my first thought was shopping bags, so these developed.

The material is a strong duck canvas, the stress areas are re-enforced and it rolls up easily to be secured with a bobble, supplied with the bag as well as a picture of how to roll!

How to roll up!

They really are a thing of need and have masses of space to fill with groceries or otherwise, being 14.5 inches wide by 16.5 inches tall, plus the handles are of such a length that the bag can be worn on the shoulder or held at arms length. Perfect.

And finally for today:

This is my Upholstery Patchwork Throw Cushion made using some of the materials used in the bag at the top and other upholstery materials, plus some suede. This is an envelope back cushion, it is 16" square and is decorated with three little buttons and a hand made label. All the materials compliment each other and with the colours being neutral, it will fit into many homes. It's just a case of who buys it first...!

Button detail on suede

Hand Made tag

Envelope back

 What do you think?

I have two fairs coming up this weekend so all these items will go to them, details of which coming up soon.

That's all for today, thank you for reading and please leave me a comment below.


Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2015

EDIT:  Here is the purse I have now made to match the bag at the top of this post:

One side is the same as the top section of the bag

The other side is the smooth grey same as the bag

Plenty of room for change

The lining of the purse matches the lining of the bag

It first perfectly inside the bag with other goods

Cute hey? :)

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2015

Freehand Machine Embroidery Bag & Double Craft Fair

Long title, huh? Yep.

So, I'll get right on with it, here is the Freehand Machine Embroidery Bag I mentioned:

One Side...

...Other Side

Sorry about the 'not so good' pics, the light is poor here today...

As I have mentioned before, I simply LOVE freehand machine embroidery and for those who may not be aware of what is it, it's using your sewing machine like a pencil, like drawing onto the material. You drop the feed dogs - the bits that push the fabric over the plate - and so you can move your material in any direction you please. You also either remove the needle foot - the bit that holds down the material whilst sewing - to add to the freedom or use a machine embroidery spring foot which gives a little support (I do). And then, wow, once you've found the right thread tension and speed, you just go mad! You can use your imagination to 'draw' whatever you like, in any place, in any direction, any how you like.

This time I designed and made this bag which has many lovely features, nameley 6 flowers of different kinds (3 on the front, 3 on the back), sewn onto cream Romany style material, it has a sturdy denim material base that is boxed and detailed with pink piping, it has padded handles that give comfort to the user and have denim patches added for stability and durability, it is lined with cream calico, it has two internal denim pockets and an exterior key ring. It has a lot going for it! Plus, it is approximately 14" tall, by 13" wide and has 10" long handles. I just love it. What do you think?

Flat Base to hold lots of shopping

Pink Piping detail, perfectly aligned ;)

Internal Pockets for mobiles, cash or cards

I have a double fair this weekend and will be taking it to that where I hope it will go to a good home.

Speaking of which, the fair is Saturday and Sunday 6th and 7th December, at the Bakewell Town Hall from 10am to 4.30pm. If you fancy a day out to Bakewell in the beautiful Peak District, just do it as I know there will be festive cheer in the air and a great atmosphere at the fair. Plus, Saturday is Small Business Saturday and so it would be great for you to do just that and show a little love for the small businesses, like my own, who have had a testing year and would appreciate an easier Christmas.

This weekend there promises to be stalls of all kinds selling textiles, jewellery, photography, paintings, food items, cards and lots more. Craft Fairs are not just about knitting and tea-cosies these days... Come on, you know you want to.

Anyway, that's all for now, have a great weekend and leave me a comment if you wish. Remember I am on Facebook too if you would like to Like me :)

Thanks for reading,
Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014

And oh yeah...

I finished this today (I made 5 of them actually):

A Mini Christmas Bag! It is made using a printed PVC material, like a laminated cotton and stands approximately 9" tall by 8" wide with handles about 7" high, with the cutest robins and Christmas puddings!

I designed this with the thought in mind that it can be used as a gift bag to hold Christmas presents - a gift bag that can be re-used, or as a bag for children, or even as a shopping bag for someone of any age!

I just fell in love with the material and knew I had to do something with it... Do you like it? Please let me know your thoughts. :)

Have a great day,
Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014

I have been busy!

Evening all...

I have been busy! Apart from exhibiting at a billion fairs recently, most of which I forgot to advertise on Facebook but there you go, I have been working really hard thinking up, designing and making the following items, I hope you like them:

Christmas Reindeer Cushion

Yes, I know, but it is only 81 (ish) days away! ARGH! Sorry. Anyway... I haven't made cushions before and so I thought I'd just experiment a little and I am really happy with the result! The material is cream cotton and the decoration is made of felt, beads and gold thread but the best bit is that it is made using freehand machine embroidery. I am really into that at the moment...more in a future blog.

Next up:

Hand Made Lavender Bags

As the title suggest, hand made lavender bags! These are made of a satin/silk material and filled with French lavender heads and closed with a beautiful lavender coloured ribbon. These are a true classic and always sell well at the fairs.

Pink Heart Divided Purse

Strawberries Divided Purse

Yet again the titles should say it all but to add to that, they have cute little aplique felt pictures on the front, they each have seperate pockets that fit cards and cash as well as mobile phones and so they are pretty, versatile and durable. Plus with an added keyring they are even more inviting.

And next we have...:

The Reversible Mini Shopping Bag

This is such a cute little bag that is made of strong canvas materials that has no pockets or closures that get in the way making it perfect for reversing. I only made a couple but one sold on the first fair they went out at.

You still with me? There's more:

Country Kitchen Print Tissue Box Cover (and tissues)

Olive and Black Tissue Box Cover (also with tissues!)

These are something I have been wanting to make for quite some time and get asked for the most, I had just never tackled them - until recently. They actually took me a long time (and multiple efforts) to make them to fit and each have ribbons underneath to tie around the base of the box.

And finally...

Upcycled and Vintage Beige Shpping Bag

This is one of my favorites that I have earmarked for me - I have said that if it has not sold by Christmas, I am keeping it myself! The material is a hesian/calico/muslin type (found at a market), the handle is an old leather belt, the doily is from a vintage shop in Bakewell that I have decorated with vintage beads and the metal findings came from an old leather rucksack that had seen better days. I made it with a cream lining and a hanging internal pocket that fits a mobile phone or cards/money, the belt adjusts to any length you like and it has a magnetic snap to close. I LOVE this, if I do say so myself...

You will find these items in the Etsy Store soon or if not, pop along to a fair I will be exhibiting at. I promise to try and keep my Facebook page up to date for these...

Thanks for reading, leave me a comment if you wish :)

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2014