UP CYCLED BAGS

At the beginning of this year I decided to ditch my oilcloth bags and concentrate on a range of up cycled ones.  I felt like a combination of up cycled clothing and plastic was a bit of a contradiction! Here are a few of my unique bags........available on the website (if they haven't sold already) but I'm making more all the time. 

This bag is made from unwanted tweed from a Scottish waistcoat maker, leather from a local shoemakers, denim from a pinafore dress and striped fabric from an old cooking apron.

Found a huge pair of mens camouflage trousers in a charity shop, and managed to make two bags, this is the first. I added some denim,  leather butterflies and trimming 

Various pieces of unwanted tweed and leather stars for this one.  Lined with striped ticking. 

This huge tote was made from various Scandinavian fabrics left over from dresses and unwanted denim.

Left over superhero fabric and some denim jeans 

Denim and tartan, incorporating jean pockets

Lots of different little remnants of Scottish tartan

Faded jeans, leather, tartan and handles made from leather belts.

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WORK & PLAY

Half Term week saw us taking a trip to Brighton to visit friends and wander the streets taking in its vibrance, and reminiscing our 5 years there.  I love Brighton and miss its quirkiness!

Mabel under a piece of graffiti

Brighton Pier 

Choccywoccydoodah a fabulous Brighton cake shop

Rare family photo in the Pavilion Gardens 

Brighton Museum

Events of the day taking it out of the girls 

Brighton wheel

An original Banksy now covered and protected with perspex

Nice hat Mabel!

New makes for this month have been

 Short sleeve grey and white polka dot dress with contrasting huge pockets

Pop Art Style fabric short sleeve dresses

Love this Scandinavian fabric 

Orla Kiely Stem Print Fabric 

 Spiderman 

February has ended with My Sister Mabel featured as Brand of The Week with  Junior Style 

and a few other very interesting opportunities on the horizon.  All in all a good beginning

to 2015.

JUGGLING IN THE HOLIDAYS

First week of the two week Easter break and my multitasking skills are really kicking in!.  On the one side I want to do as many fun things with the girls as possible and make the most of our lovely surroundings, which means on the other hand I have to work late into the night to catch up......buts it's possible!

The first of this weeks makes were six new dresses (3 shift, 3 short sleeve) made from a lovely piece of Scandinavian fabric, the pattern was in a circle which wasn't easy when trying to cut out.

First day out was along the coast to Lyme Regis in Dorset (French Lieutenant's Woman country) didn't realise quite how narrow the Spit was to walk along so Mabel and I stayed back on the beach. 

The other make of the week was a collection of dresses made with VW Beetle fabric. I made three little shift dresses and one for the ladies 

I may not of mentioned before that Bella takes four dance classes a week. Ballet, Tap, Jaz and Muscial Theatre at The Torbay School Of Dance which is a good half an hour each way,  as a Mum of girls you would expect this to happen at some point, and she lives to dance right now and she does it all day.  

This week she took part in a competition with her musical theatre group and came first so all the hard work paid of and she was very happy.

Another trip to Dartmoor on a lovely sunny day in our Bongo "Betty" lots of rock climbing, sausages for lunch and the girls played for ages in the roof. Even managed to fit a Devon ice cream topped with a delicious topping of clotted cream.

Inspired by our trips to the beach and my left over oilcloth I came up with this bag which we've named My Big Fat Devon Beach Bag, but it would also be great for festivals, picnics or any occasion where you have to traipse lots of "stuff" about. It's lined in green and white canvas with two huge pockets and fastens with a magnetic clip.

Finished this week being featured in Folky's Weekly Picks
Http://folksy.it/1edKsD4

It's always nice to get a bit of recognition for your  mult tasking and late nights!

WORK, REST AND PLAY

Have made a little range of dresses in some lovely Scandinavian fabrics 

The first was some lovely Moomin fabric and the other a simplistic retro print in shades of brown and cream. As always they were small pieces,

I only managed to made three in each, and the chances of me ever coming across them again are pretty slim, but that's what makes them that bit more special

Another new line this month has been my new infinity scarves for children, although I did make a couple of adult versions on request. Made with soft cotton jersey they can also double up as a headband and for just £5 I think they are a great little cheap accessory or gift

At the end of the month I was very lucky to be able to a 4 day break with some friends from London.  We all headed off to the http://www.trenython.co.uk/ a spa hotel near Fowey in Cornwall.  We had a wonderful time and managed to treat ourselves and visit some of the very picturesque towns nearby.

Fowey

 Mevagissy

 Sams On The Beach -http://www.samsfowey.co.uk/sams-on-the-beach/ was fantastic and well worth a visit (I will hopefully return soon with the family) Because it was out of season we managed to get a table in the window for the evening watched the sun setting whilst drinking wine and eating one of the best sea food platters I've ever had......heaven!!

The view from our table