Chocberry Bag

As soon as my new Chocberry colourway arrived, I couldn't wait to cut into it to make something just for me.

I have about eleventy-billion handbags... lots of really little ones, and lots of really big ones, but I never can seem to find one that's just right in the middle.

I auditioned a few different lining fabrics...

... but the gorgeous swirly one that Cathy bought for me won hands down.

This is the perfect size for my everyday bag. It had a maiden voyage to NCB Wednesday night, and today it gets to come along to pulmonary rehab, and then for a coffee and red velvet cupcake date.

I can't wait (for the coffee and cupcakes that is)!!!

A Jenaveve Bag

I think this might be one of my favourite things that I've made lately... (oh, and look - it matches my header and sidebar)!

This photo not true colour as it has been instagrammed.

Emma from Ballarat Patchwork sent me this stunning fabric so that I could create a custom handbag for her.  It's from the new Jenaveve Range by Valori Wells for Free Spirit (this print is Floral Birds).

It's a linen/cotton blend which makes me love it even more as it has a really beautiful textural look to it.

It worked perfectly with this gorgeous bright orange drill from the stash...

... and I even had the perfect complementary lining fabric on hand.... 'twas meant to be.

Oh, and doesn't Emma have fabulous taste in fabric colours (as they completely match mine *ahem*)!

Banishing the UFO pile - Specimen One

I've seen quite a few crafty peeps confessing their *UFO sins in the past few days, and considering there was another day of hibernation from the heat on the cards yesterday, I thought I should join in.


But, I didn't want to just join in and show you what was unfinished, I wanted to take the opportunity to finish them!

I'm hereby introducing you to specimen one - a dodgy bag for my mum.

I think I started making this bag in about 2006. It was while I was still working full time, and trying to work out how things were constructed. I wasn't using any reference materials or patterns at all.

I made the outer shell from a skirt that I'd picked up at the oppy, and the lining is some fabric from the Spotty remnant bin.

At this point, I had zero clue about straight grain/bias grain, or fabrics that had some stretch, or how to join a bag outer shell and an inner lining together. So when I found it still lying in the UFO pile, it was a bag outer which was sort of cut on the bias, and an inner lining using a cotton fabric with a slight stretch, and I'd already attached a magnetic snap to the lining, after sewing a piece of vinyl to the back to add some strength. Can you tell that I was just making it up as I went along?

Notice that I didn't even bother changing the thread colour either!

When I found it yesterday, I could have just chosen to throw it in the bin, but I think it's a perfect lesson to illustrate that anyone can learn to sew, and with lots of practice and perserverance, you can only get better and better!

So after sewing together my mismatched outer shell and lining, and making a new adjustable strap with some lovely antique brass hardware, I can now pass along the dodgy *OFMM bag when I go to Colac tomorrow.

The best thing is that my mum won't take any notice of the dodgy bits, she'll love it anyway!

*Un-Finished Object.... thankfully not Unidentified Flying Object
*OFMM - Only for my mum

A Very Special Collaboration for Charity

Anna from Shiny Happy Art and myself have been working behind the scenes on something very special...

We wanted to do something to support our favourite charities this Christmas, and decided to combine our arty/crafty talents for this completely unique Shiny Happy Art / CurlyPops handbag.

The handbag will be auctioned and the highest bidder will be the winner. 100% of the proceeds will be split evenly and donated to our two chosen charities.


Charity 1.

I've chosen to donate to the Margaret Pratt Foundation Heart Lung Transplant Trust.

This one is quite obviously quite close to my heart, as I'm waiting for a double lung transplant.

After my transplant, the major problem which I'll face is organ rejection. The foundation provides funds for research grants via the Alfred Hospital to improve the outcomes for heart and lung transplant recipients.

I'm hoping that the more the scientists can research the causes of rejection, the more likely they can provide treatments so that my new lungs will last as long as possible!

Charity 2.


In Anna's words....

I've chosen to donate to Scarlett Kisses Project.

This project gifts small photo frames to mothers in hospital who have just lost their baby to stillbirth or neonatal death. The frame is wrapped with a SANDS brochure and tied with a sweet tag. My second baby, Caitlin, was stillborn so it's a cause close to my heart.

My friend Jen, who I met through SANDS, thought up and started the project herself, saving up and buying frames when they were on sale, in memory of her stillborn baby, Scarlett.

It's just a little project now, but I'd love to support it and help it grow. When your baby dies it's a very lonely grief. The hospital staff will usually take photos for you, and maybe hand and foot prints ... whatever they can. This frame gives the mother somewhere special to put that first photo, honouring that little soul.

I have a Scarlett Kisses page on my website about it,  and I recently started a Scarlett Kisses Facebook page.

The hankies that I sell all support the project.

About the Flying Hearts Painting

In Anna's words...

The painting is my favourite from my "Flying Hearts" series.  The original is a mixed media piece, using screenprinting, acrylic painting, collage and shiny shiny varnish on canvas. This artwork is also available on a cushion, in my current range.

About the Handbag

The front features Anna's gorgeous Flying Hearts panel. I used a plain black cotton drill for the rear and the straps as I really wanted the Flying Heart to 'sing'.

The handbag is a large size - approximately 36 cms wide x 36 cms tall.

The interior features a double pocket and a magnetic snap closure.

There are two straps measuring approximately 70cm long each.

Auction Details (ie the fine print...)

1. Bidding begins right now at $40 - just leave your bid in the comments (please ensure you have a valid User ID or leave your email address for contact).
2. Bidding ends at 8PM AEDST Saturday 17th December
3. Highest bidder wins
4. Paypal payment is preferred so that the handbag can be express posted to the winner on Monday 19th December  (in time for Christmas)
5. Please start bidding!

PS - here's the code if you would like to pop a little button on the side of your blog....

<a href="http://curlypops.blogspot.com/2011/12/very-special-collaboration-for-charity.html"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7028/6501759549_0d3c3b42cb_o.jpg" />

In preparation

With less than two weeks to go before my next market, it's probably time to get sewing to make sure that I'm fully prepared.

One lovely 100% linen tablecloth + straps = handbag.

The other half of the story

I almost forgot - I haven't told you the other half of the story
 
There was a very good reason that we used such bright colourful fabric for Nikki's new Shopping Bag Pattern test.

It was made to match this new bag!

This bag is for a family friend of one of my friends (who is an ex-work colleague). She recently moved into aged care (and you may remember that I was very generously gifted some beautiful supplies from her craft stash).

The blue handbag is one that she'd made for herself many moons ago, so the request was to make her a handbag in the exact same style, except larger, with longer handles, and using something very bright and colourful.

The shopping bag can be folded up and popped into the pocket so that she has it on hand when she goes shopping.

I didn't like the way that the handles had been attached on the original, so I wanted to come up with a better solution.

I managed to attach them twisted around not once, but twice, so there was a little unpicking here and there, but I like the way that I've managed to insert them in this way - something new to me!

She still had her Bulldogs membership attached to the old zip so I swapped it over....

I'm hoping to drop it off to my friend next week so that he can pass it on to her. It's a bit of a suprise so I really hope she likes it!

PS - My new floors for the dining room and craft space should be getting delivered today - yippee!

Serene Sunday

Yesterday was one of those perfect days.... no plans, nowhere to be, no-one to see.
Time to just potter about the house, listening to some tunes.

Amongst the pottering, I spent some time admiring my busted stash, where I just so happened to find a lovely hand screen printed tea towel that I bought at the Design Market in 2008.

It's now a super swanky handbag, just as I'd originally planned....

This one is heading to my next market, and there may be a few more too!

What you might find

Today is officially clean out day at CurlyPops HQ.

I have boxes and boxes of junk that haven't even been opened since I moved house 15 months ago, so I figure that it's about time that I let go of some of the clutter.

Amongst the clean up, I happened to find this handbag that I whipped up a few weeks ago. There was a long skinny piece of this vintage floral print amongst the goodies that I received from a friends mum a little while ago. The piece wasn't large enough to make my standard design, so instead, I made this wider gathered style.
Perfect for those who like to carry lots of things in their handbag!

Now it's back to the cleaning for me....ugh

Belated

We don't really celebrate Mothers Day with presents in my family. In fact, when I called mum yesterday, I asked her when we were going to celebrate Daughters Day.

I know that she needs a new handbag, so I spent a couple of hours of my lazy day yesterday whipping this one up.

Mum likes quite plain handbags..... but I don't really do plain!

Hopefully this one fit the bill.

My creative space

In my creative space.... one final handbag for tonights market, still needing some straps and a magnetic snap. I love the print, which is actually a vintage kitchen curtain that I found at Vinnies in brand new condition. I'm using it sparingly - the other side of the bag is turquoise.

As per usual, I have absolutely no idea what will sell. It seems to change each time, so fingers crossed! My sister helped me pack the car yesterday so I'm nearly ready to go.


Of course, I also have some other new completed handbags that I'll be bringing along.

More lovely vintage fabric goodness...

.... and another with the lovely vintage floral print. This time I've teamed it with red.

....and this very spring inspired fabric. Another from the vintage stash - it's a really thick fabric with a textured effect. I hope someone falls in love with the colours.

Make sure to check out all of the lovely creative spaces right here.

Dear Gladys,

I've been busting to tell this little secret for an entire week now.

There was little bit of a hint yesterday... 

I've been hiding away for the last week, searching through the stash looking for vintage loveliness, cutting fabric, and stitching it together to create some wonderful new pieces that I delivered to a shop thismorning.

I now have my first ever retail stockist in Melbourne - Dear Gladys,

Can you tell that I'm just ever so slightly super excited?

Dear Gladys, is a Vintage and Contemporary Boutique which stocks beautiful and unique clothing and accessories.
 

All profits from Dear Gladys, support Fitted for Work.
You can find the shop at 296 High St, Northcote.

You can also find a brand new batch of brooches in pretty summertime colours....
 

Just in time for a spot of Christmas Shopping!

Lunch Break

I've been very very busy and I have some very exciting news.... but I can't spill the beans just yet, well, not until tomorrow anyway!

In the meantime, while I'm having a late lunch break (lastnights leftovers), here is the first Vintage Girly inspired bag from last week.

 Lunch break over - it's back to the sweat shop for me.

My Creative Space

This week it's all about handbags again. I have a request for some Vintage Girly Inspired handbags, so I've been searching through the stash (and making a mountain of a mess) looking for appropriate fabrics.

This lovely vintage floral is from the same stash that I received from my friends mum. It's the perfect summer accessory.... especially with this heat.

I'm nearly finished but I've only now just realised that I've completely run out of magnetic snaps. I'll have to buy some on my travels today. One vintage girly handbag down, five more to go.

Have a wonderful Thursday and don't forget to check out the hostess with the mostest for all of the creative spaces of the day.

Shopping in the stash

I'm trying really really hard to use what I have at the moment (just don't mention that sneaky little trip to Amitie a couple of weeks ago)!

Sometimes, whatever I find in the stash dictates what I decide to make.

Case in point - this beautiful vintage placemat set which was still in the original packaging. I've made a very simply styled handbag so that the focus is drawn to the placemat.

One placemat down, three more to go....

Doodling

It seems that lots of lovely peeps have been doodling lately..... just making things for fun and frivolty - no rules apply.

Here's my latest bit of doodling - placemats from the oppy made into a sweet little clutch bag. I loved their shape so I decided to keep it. Just big enough to keep phone, keys, purse, and lippy - the perfect size for me!

Blogtoberfest Day 10: One is the loneliest number

One lonely little placemat found at the oppy....

Is now a sweet little handbag.

Newsflash - Handmade Heaven

I have very exciting news today.

I've decided to take my first foray into retail, and I've sent a big box full of goodies up to Liesa at Handmade Heaven.

If you'd like a CurlyPops Handbag, Flower Brooch or Crochet Brooch, you can now just drop into the shop and pick one up!

While you're there, you can also check out the amazing handmade goodness from lots and lots of other super talented crafters..... how I wish I could jet up to QLD and check it out.

Handmade Heaven

SHOP #11, The Old Flour Mill

231 Brisbane St, Ipswich

Ph: 0422 87 6154

email: handmadeheaven@optusnet.com.au

The Birtskag

Liesl came up with the name Birtskag earlier this week..... and I haven't been able to get it out of my head ever since, just like those rascally robots that have been singing Stayin' Alive on high rotation inside my brain.

This was a longer skirt with a sheer embroidered overlay.....

I love the combination of purple and red together....

So I decided on red stitching on the purple strap.

More birtskags are on the horizon....