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...
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15 comments:

  1. Sue in MelbourneAugust 17, 2011 at 10:02 AM

    Oh how I LOVE them Nikki! So cute.

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  2. CathieAugust 17, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    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 ♥

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  3. maya =^o^=August 17, 2011 at 10:43 AM

    love your work!!!! :))

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  4. UnknownAugust 17, 2011 at 11:25 AM

    I love that first purse.

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

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  5. AnonymousAugust 17, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    Oh my! They are just beautiful!

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  6. nicoleAugust 17, 2011 at 5:38 PM

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

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  7. Buy DesignAugust 17, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    Truly Scruptious x

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  8. TheaAugust 17, 2011 at 5:55 PM

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

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  9. SewandthecityAugust 17, 2011 at 6:55 PM

    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.

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  10. annaAugust 17, 2011 at 9:27 PM

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

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  11. UnknownAugust 17, 2011 at 10:01 PM

    fantastically beautiful purses!

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  12. ashleyAugust 17, 2011 at 11:03 PM

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

    theinspiredlens.blogspot.com

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  13. TasAugust 17, 2011 at 11:16 PM

    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...

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  14. KatherineAugust 18, 2011 at 3:55 AM

    Lovely!

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  15. FerAugust 19, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    Gorgeous. ♥

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I LOVE to read your comments and they brighten my day. I can't respond unless your profile has an email address attached, though... And some days I simply don't have time to respond.... but I respond in a telepathic sort of way to each and every comment.
xxx Nikki