Wednesday, August 17, 2011

The Roses of Success

One of the things that I love about making purses, is just how little fabric is required. The scrap bag is full of treasures that can be transformed into useful, beautiful objects. I've been a bit obsessed with scraps of machine-knitted experiments and disasters. Waste-not-want-not and all that....

I'm also enjoying the challenge of working with new materials within a familiar form. It's a magical mystery tour of design decisions, based on what the fabric will and will NOT do. I moved on to felted woollen jumpers (and stayed with the purse frames).

The green boucle was particularly thick, so I had to re-think the construction process somewhat. The seams are blanket-stitched (by machine) and exposed. The lining is attached to the outer fabric in the same way. I didn't reduce the seam allowance, so the finished purse is bigger than the usual Shell Purse. I like it.

Cue: The song from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Occasionally (...ahem...) I'm still inspired to buy new fabrics, because they speak to me about the potential of future projects.... I dropped into GJ's on Saturday and found lots of inspiration... Stay tuned...

15 comments:

Sue in Melbourne said...

Oh how I LOVE them Nikki! So cute.

Cathie said...

i absolutely LOVE these Nikki!!!
why don't you just sell me one instead of wanting me to make one on my own.. ;p

hugs ♥

maya =^o^= said...

love your work!!!! :))

Unknown said...

I love that first purse.

I'm getting inspired by that bird fabric in the last picture.

Unknown said...

Oh my! They are just beautiful!

nicole said...

oh my goodness i love these!
no scrap is too small!!!
xo

Buy Design said...

Truly Scruptious x

Thea said...

LOVE the rose purses, particularly the first one. Fabulous! x

Sewandthecity said...

I love the bags and the roses, they are stunning! I would like to appliqué an old knitted jumper for my daughter and was wondering if there are any tips when machine stitching knitted garments.

anna said...

Always inspiring and looking at new ways to expand your repertoire.

Unknown said...

fantastically beautiful purses!

ashley said...

I love the outline behind the roses on the top purse.. so cute!!

theinspiredlens.blogspot.com

Tas said...

Wow, that first purse is *sigh* gorgeous!

I have some of the fabric from your last pic; same colourway and all. Keep changing my mind about what to use it for and can't bring myself ot cut it yet...

Katherine said...

Lovely!

Fer said...

Gorgeous. ♥