Monday, November 8, 2010

What's new...?

Well... for a start, the new SEWING CLASS 1 - Shopping Bag is in the shop!!
You may have seen it HERE... or HERE...or HERE... and you may be waiting to hear who won the giveaway....? Mr Random-Number-Generator picked out Shell. Drop me a line Shell, and we'll pop a pattern in the post to you!!

I'm hoping to schedule a few real life Absolute Beginners classes as soon as we move to the new building - watch this space!!!
I've also been working on another QUICK project - the Fan Bag. This one is suitable for beginners (although it isn't a sewing class one, it'd be a good follow-on from the Shopping Bag).

I'm in the final-tweaking stages of the instructions, so it's a matter of days before this one is ready to go. I'll try to get it up on the website for pre-ordering as soon as possible so that if you want both of these patterns, you can save a bit on postage by getting them sent out together.
It can be flat (like a fan) or have boxed corners (which makes it sit up like a cute little parcel). It's also fully reversible.
Like the Shopping Bag, I think it'd be a cute way to wrap small presents for Christmas.
It's also the perfect Christmas party purse. Simple, and hands-free... (and you can rummage in the bag without having to fully open it).

Or open it up and have a good ol' look around in there (while ignoring the fact that I haven't slipstitched the base seam closed.... oops).

Yes - that's a plastic grommet, which the strap pulls through to close the bag. That will come with the kit. You can then buy extras to make more bags.

If you can make a bound buttonhole, I think a large one would make a really interesting alternative to the grommet (bound buttonholes are not a beginners technique, so the instructions are not in the kit).
The Fan Bag tarts up quite well with a bit of razzle-dazzle fabric and a bias-cut rose*, too...

*There's a book coming out mid-2011 that will show you how to make things like fabric roses, among various other fabulous tips, tutorials and projects....

Anyhoo - it's so quick to whip this one up, you'll be able to make one to match every mood or outfit.

In other news, I'm still waiting for the lease contract to be drawn up for the new digs, I'm still getting last-minute rewrites to do for Le Book and it looks like we'll be moving to a house where we might be able to get a new....

....

...PUSSYCAT! (woohoo!)

13 comments:

CurlyPops said...

You have to move house as well???

rachelmp said...

Lots of exciting things happening with you Nikki!

Unknown said...

Working on a book, moving studios and moving house as well? My head is spinning!

Kate said...

You go girl Ms Sew Girl!
You sure do have lots going on right now.
Congrats on the release of the shopping bag pattern Nikki, its a winner for sure. The new little one looks pretty cute too.

Tania said...

Enjoy that ride fabulous Bag Lady!

A Peppermint Penguin said...

you are moving house too.

:faints at the very *thought* of how much you have to do:

and in your spare time you are practicing for a world record attempt at something?

trash said...

New house? New premises? New cat? This means if the old saw is true it might be triplets!

Gillian R said...

Well now, we wouldn't want you to be bored, would we Miss Nikki?! Remember the breathing thang and you'll be fine. xxx

KFerg said...

Hey Nikki, good luck with all your moves (and the cat, of course)! :D I'm excited about the new Sewing Class shopping bag, and want to go out and start browsing for material (can't possibly use any of the stuff I already have stashed away!) and was wondering if you could give me a hint as to how much per bag the pattern uses... :) I'll see if I can hold off on buying it until the Fan one is out. Cheers!

Kim
(Half the fun is picking the fabric) :P

Fer said...

Gosh, what a whirlwind you're living in at the moment!! Have your feet touched the ground yet? ;)

I love the fan bag, it's the cutest little accessory!

Cathy {tinniegirl} said...

Moving house? Just trying to keep it interesting hey!!!! A new pussycat sounds pretty exciting. I bet the wee girl likes that idea.

Baa-Me Kniits said...

Hooray for a new pussycat!!! I am getting mine this Friday, can't wait! Love that fan bag....will have to wait for the pattern so I can get both together :-)

Cass said...

the fan bag is very cute