A place for my pens! [Recycling + crocheting]

Oh, yes, of course, I'm still alive!

:)

I had a lot do far for the blog and also my crafty life is a bit neglected right now, but all is ok. 

I'm fine, I'm happy, I'm still walking in my self-expressione journey!

I'm dedicating myself to some quick and easy projects these days.

A lot of crocheting involved in them!

Mum visited me in the first days of april and crocheted some Moleskine covers and pencil cases for my shop and I've completed them with fabric, zippers and/or buttons (if you are curious... peach Moleskine case with floral flap - red Moleskine cover with gingham flap - red pencil case).

But I was also feeling the urge to crochet something by myself (I looooove to crochet!!! So relaxing!) and I decided to make something useful for my bedside table, always covered by my things (do you remember it in 2012?).

This is what I did:

• saved from the trash can a little glass bottle (it was for black pepper and I like its shape) 
• removed the plastic dispenser from the top
• washed
• covered with three stripes of crocheted yarn in colors I like

Ta-daaa, finished!

:)

Now the pens I use to write with while I'm in bed have a nice place where to stay! Nothing so important, but pretty!
You know, I like covered bottles!

I also finished some sewing projects recently.
The only one I've photographed is the bag I've made for Vera's birthday!

Vera bought two of my bags in the past, the sand tulip bag (pattern by me, altered a bit) and the grey tote (designed by me on her needs).

She liked my work so much, that her boyfriend decided to order me another one, totally new, designed by me.

He was in love with two Ikea fabrics, so I mixed them to make something unique for my sweet friend. 

I know she appreciated; this is the most important part of my work :)

*     *     *

Bags are not quick and easy projects like covering a tiny bottle, but I enjoy a lot the process.

I have a long list (in my brain) of new bags to make soon, mostly using recycled fabrics. And of course I want to sew other bags like the one I've made for Vera, because I like the result and having a new pattern designed by yourself, you know, is amazing! :)

But I still need some quick and easy to fill those 15 minutes I have here and then in my busy days.

Probably I'm going to find new projects in my Pinterest boards "things to try" and "inspirations".

But first I'd like to hear from you: what do you make/do if you have no time for big projects, but feel the urge to create?

Black and charcoal: new accessories for the shop!

Recently I worked a lot with black and charcoal fabrics (+ light grey) and made new accessories for the shop! 

Not very summery colours, but probably perfect for autumn (it is very close, although here in Sicily we are having super hot summer days).

I was in the mood for sewing with some leftovers from this bag I made last March for my friends Vera [**] and also with some scraps of a beautiful Ikea fabric (colorful nature elements on black background... lovely!) [*].

I started from a tote bag, altering a bit a pattern I drew by myself two years ago. I decided to add a recessed zipper instead of placing it on top (I'm totally in this kind of zippered closure this summer!); I've also opted for a wider pocket (thanks to darts on the corners).

This is the finished bag:

More technical infos here.

You know that I like to make small things, so I used the same fabrics for a small crossbody bag, too.

Also this design is 100% by me. I've drawn the pattern for this bag three years ago and used different times with satisfaction.

I like the dimensions if the finished bag and the inner space, but also some details like the closure and the contrasting flap:

I couldn't resist and I decide to make a wallet to match with these bags!

Do you like it?

I've already written about my passion for making this kind of accessories!

All my wallets have two pockets for cards and paper money and one pocket (closed by velcro or a zipper) for coins. They often have a little strip of recycled leather for closure, as in the case of this grey wallet and of the following one, the black floral wallet:

Love the stylized flowers and the little bird on top :)

The light blue inner pockets are made of leftovers of a beautiful eco-friendly fabric (organic linen + bamboo), given to me by Manuela, the owner of Retro eco à porter, an italian organic line of clothes (you can see the fabric "in action" on her Malva top).

While making the wallet I cut the fabric for a Moleskine cahier cover, too.

It matches perfectly with other two accessories I've made in the past with this fabric and still available in the shop: a pencil case and a little pouch. They both are zippered and have recycled leather bottoms.

I'm very happy with these new items!

I don't use very often this kind of tones in my creations. I used to think that grey and black are boring, but I was wrong. They are very elegant and modern, expecially if you mix them with other colours.

Let me know which item among these is your favourite :)

[*] I can't find this beautiful fabric in italian Ikea shops anymore. I'm looking for it on-line, but I even don't know its name; if you know it, please, write it in the comments!

[**] I wasn't tired after all this sewing  and made a second bag for Vera: a tulip bag with a side band to increase to inner space. Very summery bag, thanks of its light sand fabric!

And now... rest time! :)

New in the shop: bags with crocheted bottom

In my last post I mentioned my plans to make bags with crocheted bottoms. 

I worked on them in the last two weeks and now I can show you the final result.

I think mixing fabric and crochet is an interesting idea, expecially if you are interested in something informal, quite rustic, strong enough to carry your essentials, but with the romantic accent given by crocheted details.

I don't now why I've abandoned this idea after my first (good) experiment more than 4 years ago.

Anyway, I made two different bags, starting from two similar (in their shape) bottoms. I like to be various when I create :)

The first one I finished is this shoulder bag:

It has a crocheted plastic button + a strap for closure.

Inside I've fully lined it with a vintage striped fabric (it comes from an italian tailor's shop closed in the 80s).

Here a close-up of the bottom made by AuntFran:

Then I made this tote:

The peculiarity of this bag is the white fabric used for the exterior parts: a recycled upholstery fabric, saved from the workshop of a friend here in Sicily (he was going to throw it in the trash can, because the pieces were too small for his work).

This fabric has a pattern of leaves you can see if you look closely at it:

Do you like the stitches used by AuntFran? 

I do, I do. This pattern is probably my favourite. She often uses it, expecially for her pencil cases and pouches.

This bag's design is quite simple: a "regular" tote with two straps. 

But I gave attention to some details, like the zippered closure and the inner pocket:

Very proud of me and of the skillness I've reached after years and years of sewing bags! :)

My plans are to going on making complex bags, with pockets, zippers, adjustable straps and other details that make the bags more "professional" in their look (although I want to save also their handcrafted peculiarities).

AuntFran made for me a crocheted bracelet, too!

I added a recycled mother-of-pearls button and voilà... listed in the shop, ready to be matched with one of the white bags!

*     *     *

I'd really like to hear your opinion about these bags in the comments.

Someone said me they are beautiful, but look too delicate for everyday use.

What do you think?

I do not agree, because I know how the fabric and the bottom are strong. And the white surface can be washed without problems in tepid water by hands and then ironed. No difficult manteinance!

Leave me you thoughts in the comments!

I'm visualizing a young woman with one of these bags on her shoulders while having a short holiday in the country, this summer. Or having it as a good company while exploring little ancient villages in Europe...

Ready to restart

Hello!

I'm here again after more than two months of no blogging!

I'm fine! The reason why I've abandoned this lovely (to me) place is that I worked a lot. I had two jobs as a teacher in two different schools and I've been quite busy. I've also spent a lot of free time with family and friends and worked on some issues at home. A very busy and happy time.

But summer is here, I haven't a job now and I'm ready to restart sewing and blogging (and drawing, writing, taking photos... all things that are part of my creative journey).

Yesterday I took some snapshots of my sewing table covered by the new things I'm working on: some crochet+fabric bags and purses.

They all will be in cream and made of a mix of crocheted cotton and fabric parts.

During her last visit here in Sicily, AuntFran help me in finish some crocheted bag's bottom and other things (like this bracelet) and now I'm adding the fabric to it.

I've bought some supplies in a local shop and I received that beautiful paper bag by the famous brand Gutermann. It had different vintage images of seamstresses at work on both sides. So lovely!

I liked so much those images that I've glued them on two blank pages of my Moleskine.

I've completed a bag last week, too!

It's for mum! 

She crocheted the whole bag (love those flowers!) and gave it to me to add a fabric lining.

I decided to sew a recessed zipper to make the bag safer:

This is one of the way recessed zippers can be fixed into a bag. I can say it's not difficult at all, now that I've tested it, so I think I'm going to add this kind of closures to all my next bags, eh eh!

I have a lot of things to tell you about new supplies I received and about my sewing projects for summer. But this is not the time for it! I'm studying some historical notes about the village of Savoca, Sicily, because I have to work as tourist guide there next week!

See you soon!!!

New products in the shop - mad for wallets making

A lot of sewing for the shop recently! 

I've made some new products and I discovered I'm mad for wallets making!

Oh, how I love those little fabric accessories! 
They help me in using some little scraps I have in my stash (only small rectangles and squares needed!) and are little projects to work with when you have only short time for craft.

I design by myself my wallets. Sometime they are embroidered. Some are made of recycled materials, some have leather straps. Inside they have pockets for paper money and for coins, closed by a strap of velcro or by tiny zippers.

I like to vary :D

These are the wallets recently added to my shop:

Black wallet with birds and leaves

Mini-wallet in recycled upholstery damask

African print wallet

I liked so much this wallet that I decided to use the same materials for a fabric Moleskine cover.

The risult is this African print Moleskine cover:

And of course a new bag!

I made another Josy Clutch (pattern by Ithinksew) to offer as an alternative of a Tulip bag made of the same fabric.

Do you like it?

Jusy clutch in sand

That's all!

Pattern review: Bonsai bag by MadeByRae

Do you read Rae's blog?

You should!

It's full of sewing ideas to be inspired by, expecially if you are interested in sewing mum&kids clothes and bags.

In this page Rae shows all her sewing tutorials, included the one to make "Angel tops" I followed to sew my very first one handmade piece of clothing.

Some years ago I've also made a couple of "Buttercup bags", using her pattern, like this or this. 

I still wear this bags, because their medium size is perfect for me and because, well, they have a beautiful design.

My experiences with Rae's tutorials and patterns, as you can read, are great!

They are well written, full of clear images and instructions and easy to follow.

And Bonsai bag pattern is very good, too!

I waited so long to make one! 
I bought her "Bonsai bag" pattern some years ago, after making my buttercups bags, but something didn't coinvinced me (probably I was scared by all that pleats and the sewing around the central panel).
I waited till this october to make one.

But, hey, the final result is this beauty:

I listed it in my shop. Follow the link to read more informations about the bag (only one note: it's a very eco-friendly bag) and to look at additional photos.

What to say about the pattern?

Let me write down some thoughts about it:

- it's very well written, clear, rich in step-by-step photos (24 pages!!!).

- it's not a paper pattern. You will receive the instructions to download it and then you have to print and cut it at home. I like best this kind of pattern, I think they are more eco-friendly (not shipment involved, not wasted paper, also because I usually don't print all the pages, but only the pages I need) and most of all you receive it very quickly (almost immediatly).

- it offers two possibilities for the closure (and consequently two variations in the pattern): closure by magnetic snap (that I choosed) or by inner zipper

- the pleats and the central panel are not too difficult to make and put together; what you will need is a big amount of pins. And of course ironing the pleats before sewing is a good idea (I did it)!

- the pattern gives you a licence to sell the finished bag (with some restrictions) and this is very good for crafters in bussiness like me.

- in my opinion this bag is not for beginners [*], but a person with some basic skills in sewing and some experiences in bag making can realize it without problems.

- the design is lovely, the final dimensions are just perfect.

- the straps designed by Rae (and shown in the pattern) are different from the straps I made. I decided for very simple straps, but Rae's idea about them is more interesting, because it involves plastic rings and knots (as you can see in her blog).

- the central panel can be decorated by ricrac, trims, pompom thread... Rae shows you how to do this.

Making this bag was a pleasure, so after this very good experience I made a bonsai bag for me, in black, because I hadn't a black bag in my closet:

Of course I know it's not so charming as a bonsai bag with a contrasting central panel, but it's perfect for me and my informal look.

[*] If you want to test one of Rae's bag patterns, but you are a beginner in sewing, you can start with Lickety split bag. I haven't tested it yet, but I can see by the photos that it's not too difficult to make.

But I think my next Rae's pattern to buy is to one to make Showoff bag. I really like the shape!

Hope this post will be usefull for other people looking for good bag making patterns.

Recently on my sewing table: monogram bag

Hello, sweet MadameRenard's readers!

A new week is starting today and I hope to have the time to write some blog post to share with you all the things I'm working on during these first autumnal days (too much autumnal, probably, because we had rain rain rain and even a hurricane near our coasts. omg °__°).

But today's post is all for sewing and for a special bag I finished recently.

Monogram bag for C., the birthday girl

My niece C. turned 7 at the end of october.

She has the right age to wear a very "girly" bag, so I made one for her as birthday gift. 

After some (ehm, very long) pondering of what kind of bag is a good choice for a little person like C., I decided for a crossover clutch.

When you are 7 years old you need to have free hands and a safely closed (and not too big) bag, don't you think?

But my intentions were also to give her a very special present, a "just for her" gift. So I put her initial on the flap, cutting a C out of a constrasting fabric and sewing it by hands.

Uh, of course I've picked up a special fuchsia fabric! 
All little girls love fuchsia!

Design by me. 
I used the pattern I've designed to make three bags for my shop (sold out) because it has good dimensions for a little girl, but I've altered it a bit and made a longer flap to make space for the C.

I'm quite sure C. like the bag.

She used some italian words that sound like "Aunty, I love it tooooooo much!".

:)

I'm an happy aunt.

Giving brings you more joy than receiving, expecially when kids are involved!

Two new rustic bags for spring

Spring has officially started!!! :)

Here in Sicily it's warm and sunny, after some weeks of bad weather I spent sewing new things for the shop.

Today I want to show you two bags I realized with a sturdy cotton fabric with a simple and funny floral pattern, printed on cream background.

They are quite big and roomy, with a rustic style, perfect for spring adventures!

The first bag I made is this one:

Design by Ithinksew.com ("Melody bag"), pattern available on their website, but also on Etsy. 

I tested this pattern, new to me, making this bag and it works very well, like all the patterns of this company I've used before.

The things I like most of this bag are:

- the circular bottom and its pleates:

- the elastic pockets inside (so roomy!!!):

- Some details like the closure (vintage wooden button + cord):

I've uploaded this bag in my shop; it's listed as a bucket bag or a satchel, because it's shape it's particular and it's different from the flat totes I use to sew.

Making this bag required a lot of fabric, but some of it left and I decided to use it to make another shoulder bag:

100% designed and made by me.

It's a simple tote with some pleates on top and a pocket inside (closed by a metallic snap):

It's large and leightweight. You can find it here.

Probably I like best this tote, although Melody bag has a lovely design, too.

Recently I'm also working on some projects which involve the use of very tiny scraps of fabrics. Are you interested?

Shop update: fuchsia and little birds!

You probably know that I'm on new routes right now, that I'm trying to work on new things that are out of my confort zone.

I' ve experimented with new bag's models and I made some bags bigger than (my) usual.

Autumn suggested me to try something in a color I'm not used to: fuchsia.

 

It's a strange colour for me.

I don't wear it, because it looks too much on me, too strong and shocking (in Italy we call it "rosa shocking" = "shocking pink"), but I'm attracted the same! It's so joyfull and feminine!

 

So I've pick up a very soft fuchsia canvas received by Francesca and started to work for the shop.

 

Fuchsia bags!

 

The first bag I made is a Tulip Bag (pattern by me):

 

 

100% fuchsia canvas for the exterior parts and a romantic fabric for the lining:

 

Yes, they are angels playing trumpets! Lovely fabric!

As the previous Tulip Bag, it has two wide pocktes inside and it closes thanks to a magnetic snap.

It's in my shop here.

 

Quite satisfied by this first fuchsia bag and supported by the lovely and enthusiastic comments I received about it, I went on.

I decided to couple this new thing (fuchsia) with another strange-to-me thing: colour block!

And this is the final tote bag:

 

 

Fuchsia bottom, central panel in organic linen, upper panel in white with cute birds! (Love birds!)

 

The things I love most about this tote is that I've embroidered some details on the birds with the same fuchsia of the bottom:

 

 

I'm really happy about my idea to couple sewing and embroidery (not only in this bag!).

 

Insied there is a beige lining (cotton fabric) and a birdy pocket closed by a metallic snap (you can see all these details in my shop's page here).

 

About pink

Making a quick research into my shop I noticed I have 16 items in pink, and 5 are fuchsia. 

And it's so strange for me, because I use to say it's not my favourite color!

But for some (mysterious) reasons it is in my creative life much more than my favourite colors (green and brown). Interesting!

 

The fuchsia items I love best are the Felt bunny with fuchsia crocheted heart and the crocheted earrings by AuntFran.