Meet the new girls....

I'm in the final editing stages of the instructions for the new purse... getting ready for the final round of pattern-testing (yes, I test and edit and re-test...).

It's a versatile little purse, with the options of a smooth, gathered or pleated finish. It can sit flat like a fan or rounded and barrel-like. It has a 100mm (4") frame but is roomy enough to carry all you need for a special occasion (or coffee date).

You can also choose to add (a rouleaux or flat) wrist strap or handle and there are even instructions for making the strap detachable. The possiblilities for variation are endless and the design is multi-purpose.

I'll introduce you to my crew.

Meet the wedding girls..... all silk and stylish simplicity. The cute and clever crafty chicks.... in a colourful splash of quilting cotton.

The uber-cool urban gals in sleek designer silk satin.

And the school formal (prom/debutante) girls, having a riot in a bit of polyester razzle-dazzle.

Now.... what do you think I'm going to call this pattern? As always, I've chosen a state-the-bleeding-obvious single word title for this one. And - as nearly always - I'm running a giveaway to launch it.

Leave a comment with what you think the name is and you might just win a copy of the pattern when we launch it. I'm sure that more than one person will guess the name, so I'll random-number pick a winner from all correct entries. GOOD LUCK!

*****

Did you know that I give my patterns very basic, descriptive names so that you can impose your own personality and designs on them? I read a comment on a blog once that criticised the lack of flair in my naming of the "200mm Square Frame Purse" and it made me realise that people don't get it.... I leave the space blank so you can fill it with your imagination.

New kid on the block....

I'm working on projects for BEGINNERS...

I know that not everyone can come to a class in Melbourne on a week-night*, so I'm re-working my beginners workshop notes into a self-paced "How to sew" course.

*Yes, I know... they've been thin on the ground lately, ayway...

Beginners Sewing Class 1 is all written up and on its way to be tested by some lovley people. (No pressure, dear testers, but....) I hope to have it all finished and ready to go in about a week or so.

Trivial fact about this bag #1: I've noticed that everyone who makes this bag in a beginners class, subsequently uses it to carry their gear for every other sewing workshop (with me) that they attend. Fancy that.

I think this project would be a good Christmas present for anyone wanting to learn to sew, accompanied by a yard/metre of cute fabric (or a new sewing machine?). Just thinkin'....

The bag is simply the focus of the learning process. The "lesson" takes you through all the sewing processes and jargon you'll need to make it and most other simple projects. And at the end of it, you have a very useful carry-bag (with reinforced straps and boxed corners) and a whole lot of new tricks up your sleeve.

(You may also remember that one year I wrapped my xmas presents in shopping bags instead of paper...? )

If all goes well in the final stages of lease negotiations on the new digs, I will be quickly scheduling some real-life pre-xmas workshops in swanky new premises. Please keep your eyes on this blog, Facebook, Twitter to be kept informed. (And if you're on the mailing list, keep checking your junk mail folder!!).

If you'd like to win one of these beginners kits for yourself or as a gift for someone, leave a little coment here and I'll draw a winner when the kit goes onto the website.

And while you're waiting on that one, here's a sneaky-peek at what's coming up next.

Purse Frame Kits

Revised packaging, revised pattern prints, swishy cello bags.... and all ready for WHOLESALE!!!! You may soon be able to buy these from a store near you!!! (If not, perhaps you could suggest they get them in...??!!).

For now it's just the 75mm, 90mm and 150mm kits and spare frames... but we hope to expand the wholesale range.

I'm pretty excited.

Purse Frames and Workshops

Lots happening on the purse frame front at the moment. Lots of yet-to-be-revealed excitement in the making.... and some news we're ready to tell.

In Sydney last week we tested the water with a few kits using Lara's beautiful Kirin & Co fabric. They'll be on the website soon - wholesale and retail enquiries are welcome in the meantime.

We've also scheduled a few purse frame workshops to reduce the waiting list for them, but the dates don't necessarily suit everyone ON the waiting list. If you're interested in doing this workshop on 20th September or 18th October, let us know - THERE ARE STILL PLACES AVAILABLE!!! You can contact Leah or send in a booking form.

New Designs and a GRAND TOUR!!!... well, a trip to Sydney.

For those of you who missed it (or are in need of an update) here's the NEW design from Nicole Mallalieu Design. It's the 200mm Teardrop Purse and it's AT THE PRINTERS as we speak.... We'll be packaging kits and uploading details to the website later in the week.

It's a lovely little handbag size, with a sew-on black frame. If you want to make MORE than one, we have spare frames in both black and antique brass. We also have purse chain handles in the antique colour (on the website soon... promise!).

You can see the results of Lara's test-run with the pattern here. I think she did a great job with it (and her feedback was very positive!).

WE'RE GIVING AWAY A KIT to one lucky person.... leave a comment over here and we'll be drawing out a name on Friday 8th August.

Oh - and for anyone near Sydney around the 22nd to 24th August, YOU MUST come to see me at the Stitches and Craft Show at Rosehill Racecourse. I'll be with those lovely folks from Living Creatively. The show actually starts on the 20th, but I can't get there any earlier than Friday afternoon.

More Purse Frame Purses!

Another lovely six people made another lovely six purses today in a Purse Frame Workshop. You'll see the 6th one here. Christie had to dash off as soon as we finished so her purse wasn't in this shot.

FAB fabrics ...and a few little purses

A few weeks ago, the lovely Lara of Kirin & Co dropped in for a visit. How lovely is she..? She gave me some beautiful samples of her gorgeous new fabrics, and stayed for a cuppa and chat. She's a very talented gal.

I finally had a chance to try a few samples in some little purse frame purses.

Lara and Bianca are doing fab things over in Kensington right now. Both are fabulous textile designers and really REALLY nice people. I'm wishing them all sorts of good things for their new venture.

Thanks to all who've stopped in for my current giveaway. If you're wondering what the inside of a purse kit is like, see here... (Although the current giveaway kit is for a bigger purse, and has more stuff in it).

I'll be back to post a few more tutorials soon. Just have to work on the website a bit...

On My Desk.. work table again, really.

All the action was on the trestle tables again, today. Cutting and folding lots of interfacing, wadding, calico, Fast2Fuse etc for the NEW kits!!! Yes, folks... it's about to be unleashed!! Just waiting for some final tweaking instructions from our testers, and we're away!!!

...AND WE'RE DOING ANOTHER GIVE-AWAY!!!
If you'd like to WIN one of these babies HOT OFF THE PRESS, just leave a little comment here and we'll do the draw next week, as soon as the kits go up onto the website. Probably sometime around Wednesday to Friday....

More On My Desk Players can be found over at Kirsty's....

What do you get....

When you let 6 people choose a purse kit each... Give them a bit of instruction and inspiration... And snacks, tea and coffee...
Answer: SIX FABULOUS NEW PURSES!!!
All in a day's work! I love the purse frame workshop . It's always a fun day, and so satisfying to see lots of lovely finished purses at the end of it. Well done to all who attended!!


...And I was feeling much better today, thanks anyone who asked. The cold has eased off quite a bit, and I'm always on a bit of a high when I'm in the classroom, so didn't feel the back pain. There was too much fun and craftiness about the place to bother with feeling pain or sickness!! Tomorrow I'll be taking it easy, regardless.
xxn


PS. We had to schedule another purse frame class next weekend to take in the waiting list people from this class. We're now on to our next waiting list, but haven't scheduled a date. If you want to do this workshop before the end of the year, it's probably not a bad idea to send us an email and let us know your contact details. We'll keep you posted with available dates. Oh - same goes for "A Sharper Edge" classes. They tend to book out before we advertise them.

On My Desk..

Kits to pack... Names in a bag....

I accidentally grabbed TWO names (locked together) and looked at them both before I thought about it.... forgetting that there was only spposed to be ONE winner!! Having seen them both I couldn't play favourites.

Rather fittingly for On my Desk Wednesday, one of the winners was Kirsty!

Colourdejour ALSO wins a purse frame kit.

If you email me your postal addresses I'll pop the goodies in the post to you!!! Thanks everyone for playing!

PS. The bag I used as a name-drawing "hat" is the big Daddy of the little Puff Purse. You've seen other versions of it, and one of the earlier samples is in the post below. The pattern still needs some subtle tweaking and the instructions need a bit MORE work, but it's coming together.

Puff Purse is ON THE WEBSITE!!

Just uploaded the details of the new Puff purse kit here. Stay tuned for details on the givaway on Wednesday!!!

I've been stuck at home today trying to find someone to fix our central heating. Very frustrating when I have all this to work on at the studio....Can't seem to find anyone to fix the heating before Thursday!! BRRRR!