Mother's Day Special

In Australia, Mother's Day is the second Sunday in May. We wanted to get this offer out to you in time for you to make something special for your mother. If you're in another country and it's not nearly Mother's Day, we won't hold that against you if you want to take advantage of the offer.

We're offering a FREE FRAME with every one of the following kits - that means you get TWO frames with every kit and that means savings of up to $12.40.

The Barrel Purse is a cute little purse that you can hold in the palm of your hand.... but is surprisingly roomy. You will receive a FREE 90mm frame with every Barrel Purse Kit purchase.

The simple square purse frame kits are a great place to start if you've never made a framed purse before.... and with two frames to play with, you've nothing to lose if one of them is a "learning" experience.

The 75mm, 90mm, 150mm and 200mm purses are all included in this offer - an extra frame thrown in for nix.


A handmade case for glasses or sunglasses is a great gift.... and each Spec Case Kit will include a free 75mm frame. You can make one for yourself as well!

The 200mm Chunky purse makes a great clutch purse or a roomy make-up purse. With your spare 200mm Chunky frame you can make one for each purpose!!

The Poppet is a very cute little wristlet or make-up purse, and is the perfect "next step" for anyone who has already tried the basic square framed purse styles. It fits the 150mm frame and you'll get an extra one free with every kit.

And the Puff purse is super-sweet. You'll receive a free 100mm curved antique brass frame with every kit.

If you were thinking of trying something new, making a gift or sharing the sewing love with your mother....or WHATEVER the reason.... you have just over a week to take us up on the offer.

We'll be closed over the Easter break this weekend (Friday until Monday) so we're giving you a few extra days to get in on the deal. We'll be closing the offer next Thursday (8th April) at 5pm.

If you already have enough kits but are looking for some cheap frames*, we're discontinuing the Black Nickel Square purse frames. They're on sale at 30% off until cleared.

*The black nickel frames look lovely, but there may be minor flaws on the plating (although most of them are fine). They make excellent OFM ("only for me") practise purses.

Still a bit fuzzy...

I used the last of my Winterwood felt stash today. It's such a joy to sew. I was also using the 90mm Flex Frames.

The wee one now has a spec case for her sunnies and I have a new camera pouch (stuffed wth paper for the photo because I was using the camera).

And I've nearly perfected the pattern for what I was actually trying to make.

Product development is never a waste of time, but some days it takes longer than others.... and it's often the simplest shapes that need the most tweaking.

Better...?

A few yo-yo's later....

And I'm still not sure. I think these fabrics work better in different proportions.

Leah, the wee girl and I are all hoping to be better soon, too... A dreaded lurgie has descended upon the studio.

...

Oh, and if you're in the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne and looking for a (FREE) school holiday program for sewing, look here....

That Baggy Pursey Thingamy-whatsit....

Ah yes, folks... the saga continues. We're getting closer to having a finished pattern but still have no name for this one.

Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions (and I'm sorry that personal responses to comments are very few and far between in these last frantic days before the Stitches and Craft Show). There were some great ideas and I really appreciate the time you put into offering them up.

I have a shortlist of snappy names - but may need a bit MORE help to choose the winner...

Is it a Kiss purse?

A Party purse?

A Date purse?

A Jazz purse?

Or.... ummmm...a Pop purse?

...Or a Poppet?

I'm waiting to hear the lowdown (and adjust the pattern accordingly) as my trusty team of pattern testers sew up a storm this weekend. We're racing the clock.

Edited to add: We have a winner! The pattern is ready to go... unfortunately my computer isn't. I shall do the big announcement at the next available opportunity. In the meantime, thanks for playing.... and we don't need any more name suggestions!

xn

Making a spectacle of myself...?

Or making a spectacle CASE for myself..? What the hell - I'll make a few of them.

I'm editing instructions on the directions of a few pattern testers, and we should be ready to hit "print" as soon as they're proof-read again. So.... that giveaway draw is looming! Are you in it?

I'm still refining new techniques on this purse (read: making more instructions to write). I'm also playing with earlier patterns and using a few newly-learned tricks to make them better. A great leap forward, indeed.

I think my Advanced Purse Frame Class will be better than I initially planned it to be.... there are two places left on the course. Any takers...?

Feeling a bit clever...

Loving this new-found structure technique.

(Not too fond of working with beaded, reverse-pintucked silk... but the results would make a bride happy, don't you think?).

I've been working through techniques for varying this one. Making notes, taking photos....

150mm barrel clutch pattern on the way soon... yippee!

The Great Leap Forward

Most of the time I feel like I'm climbing a greasy pole (or walking through treacle)... so many ideas and things to do and not enough time for one busy Mum to do it all. I spend more time doing laundry and setting up "cwaft activities" than patternmaking or sewing. But still, I chip away at it... little by little....

Occasionally I break through to a whole new level, and I almost burst with excitement. YOU can only see purses here, but I see a whole new way forward with internal structure!!!

I can't stop smiling to myself. People will think I've been up to something (other than sewing).

PS. Don't forget about my GIVEAWAY.... there's still time.

300th post... with thanks (and a giveaway).

Last night I was lucky enough to have been invited to a wonderful blogmeet organised by Lara. Great Thai food and warm conversation with like-minded souls and friends. I gabbled on about how wonderful blogging has been for me - the connections and friendships forged with wonderful people around the world - and very much in my own hometown (and it seems, particularly in the Northern suburbs of my home town!). I meant every word of it.

And so... on my 300th post (!!) I'd like to thank you for reading, for commenting, and for making me feel like what I do is worthwhile. I'd also like to thank you for your creativity and the inspiration you share with us all. The generosity of the craft-blogging community never ceases to astound me - and it warms my heart.

... and of course you want to know what the giveaway is.

I've mentioned secret patterns, mad deadline-bound writing, half-finished projects. This is one of them.... nearly finished. The finished Spec Case kit should be ready within two weeks.

If you'd like to win a kit hot off the press, leave a comment here with a short introduction to what your blog is about... sewing, crochet, family, food etc. Think of it as an opportunity to connect with a few more bloggers - introduce yourself to new friends at a virtual blogmeet! If you don't have a blog, you can write about the types of things you like to read about on blogs.

I'll random-number thingamy it when the kit is finished and ready for sale.

What will we do next Thursday night...?

The Better Bags course finished last night. After 6 weeks we all kind-of got used to coming to our little sewing group each week. What'll we all do next week?

Here are a few of the bags that were present at the end of last night. Unfortunately, the previously-finished ones were not there for the photo. Thanks to Beccasaurus and five other (blogless) gals for lots of fun Thursday nights - lots of chatting, laughing, sewing and chocolate biscuit consumption.

Places on the rest of the year's courses and workshops are filling up. We're still taking names for waiting lists in case of booking cancellations (or scheduling of more classes - as we're doing now to cater for some of the larger waiting lists).

We still have a few places on the Advanced Purse classes - where you get to make your choice of these purses. (Intermediate sewing skills will get you by in this class, because it's a small group and you'll have lots of guidance from me.... and quite possibly chocolate biscuits).

More details here...

Six new baby purses...

These gorgeous kids arrived today. Six great sewing gals came to a purse frame class this morning and this is what they took home this afternoon. It's always a very satisfying sight!

'Twas a grand day, altogether - lots of fun sewing, great company, warm conversation and Tim Tams (the new hazelnut chocolate ones....mmmmmm).... and of course, the beautiful purses at the end of it all. A special thanks to Alex who flew down from Canberra for the day.

I think we still have a place on the 7th November Purse frame class available, if you'd like to join us next time.

There might also be a place left in the following if you get in quick. I only take six people in a class so they fill up fast.
Bags for Beginners 13th July
Advanced Purse Frames – 23rd November
Patternmaking For Bags 1 & 2 - beginning 8th Oct
Hats for All the Family - 11th & 18th Oct

For all details about the courses see the Courses page on the website. For enquiries or bookings please email us on sales@nicolemdesign.com.au or phone (03) 9940 1533.

Flickr Favourites Friday

Vintage du jour purse
Originally uploaded by plus1design

Isn't Kirrily clever?

You can read all about the creative processes behind this little bit of gorgeousness... or just head on over to Etsy and buy it!

Convertible strap tutorial

Did someone mention convertible straps? Detachable straps? Here's a little how-to...

1. It doesn't really matter what form it takes, but first you need to attach a loop or ring to the inside of the bag. You can use a small four-fold strap (follow the directions for the strap below or see this button loop tutorial).

The loop can go between the lining and the facing...

or on the lining itself...

2. It's important to make sure (before you attach the lining or facing to the bag) that the loop or ring can be hidden away inside the bag when it's not wanted. When the bag is finished you must also remember to anchor the seam allowances of the lining to the seam allowances of the bag. This will stop the strap from pulling the the lining out.

3. FOR THE WRIST STRAP - Measure and cut a straight grain strap that is four times the width of the strap that you need. Make it long enough to double over your wrist and the swivel hook - with a little room for movement.

4. Fold the two outside edges in to the centre of the strap

TIP: I use a 25mm bias tape maker.

5. Fold the strap in half again - sandwiching the outer edges inside.

6. Topstitch several lines through all layers to flatten the strap.

7. Loop one end through a swivel hook.

8. Stitch the folded end back to the main strap.

HOT TIP : Use a tailors awl to hold in the raw ends of the strap as you sew. If you don't have a tailors awl... well, you'd better go and get one! They're like the small pointy finger you need when you can't get your normal finger under the presser foot to hold things in place. If you're really stuck for one you can use an unpicker or a darning needle.... but really - if you intend to make a lot of straps, the few dollars an awl will cost you is a worthwhile investment.

9. Fold under the other end of the strap and press it.

TIP: Pressing will help it to stay put (one less thing to try to control) while you sew.

10. Stitch the folded end of the strap over the top of the raw end, encasing all of the raw ends (USE THAT AWL!!!).

11. You can either stitch very neatly or use the subtle art of disguise on the join of your strap. A vintage button..

or a yo-yo works a treat.....

And don't forget you can also add a purse chain as an optional extra. Use pliers to prise apart the last links in the chain and close them around a swivel hook at each end.

Enjoy the versatility of your new purse!

The Morning After...

Now it's safe to show some of the handmade gifts.

For little girls - denim purses with badges (pins? buttons?) from a local craft market. We put money in them for the older girls the littlies received books and stickers instead of cash.
For Miss 2 - handmade pants and... ummm... K-mart tops. I had visions of applique but ran out of time on this one. I managed it for Mister nearly-1 though (below).

I opted out of giving the document wallet to my Kris Kringle relative and bought a book voucher instead (!!). I've been using the wallet myself, and it's great.... if a little small. I plan to re-jig the whole thing and make another one at some point.

I made a whole heap of these Christmas shopping bags to use as wrapping... and they took a little longer than I'd anticipated. The red ones are French-seamed and pressed carefully but by the time I got to the green ones I was sewing with reckless abandon on the high-speed industrial machine ...with mis-matched threads (no time to wind bobbins!).

All wrapped up - with gift tags made from last year's xmas cards and as much recycled ribbon as I could find... and a bit of new (ahem.... Ikea) ribbon. We were handmade in patches this year, which I guess is better than not handmade at all...?

I hope that everyone is enjoying the holidays.

xx