New Tote Bag

 New Bag Inspired by the fabric

Another batch of fabric arrived a few days ago. This purchase was late being delivered and when I opened it I was disappointed as the fabrics were all stretch fabrics. As I was looking for fabric to make bags, stretch fabric was of little use. I sorted out a couple of large pieces that I could use for lining, and a couple of other prints I did not like I put out for the charity bag. But in amongst the last couple of pieces was a metre of green frog print. It was quite pretty and I thought it could be used for a little girls bag. 

Thinking about the fabric I considered the design, the size of the frogs and the colourful print, and decided it would not show it off well if I made a drawstring bag, which is the usual young persons bag. Instead I thought it would look good as a type of tote bag, but instead of cutting the corners I thought I would try an oval base and then add the height of the bag with a single piece of material attached to the base. I made the base piece with a 17cm oval and the main fabric 20”W  x  12H and then a matching liner. 

When I put the bag together I did not like the dimensions but realised it would work if I made it a little shorter. 

So I cut the next bag with the same base size but with a 20” x 9” piece for the sides.

I really liked the finish on this.

If you see the 2 together I think you will agree the shorter size works better.

It makes a lovely  bag for a little girl.

The design was all my own and I now have a cute little tote so that when I make more totes in the spring I will make the adult version in the standard way with a finish of 18 x 18 and a 5” base.  Where the fabric is suitable I will make a matching junior version using my new template. 

Back to Christmas crafting for now.

Happy Crafting

Dee

Letting the Fabric decide the project

New small tote bag for a little

Recently I purchased a couple of lots of fabric on Ebay. As remnant boxes you just get a description of the types of sizes you will get and a weight. 

The first box arrived very quickly and when I opened it up it was a bit like Christmas, not knowing exactly what you were going to get. It turned out to be velvety soft furnishing fabrics and some lining fabric. The pieces were good size and good quality fabrics. At first i was a little disappointed as I use mainly prints to make colourful bags. But the value was definitely there so I packed it away to consider what I would make with it. 

A few days later I suddenly thought about the fabric again and realised the density and backing on the fabric meant it did not fray and therefore any bag made from it would not necessarily need lining. So to prove this theory I went out a cut a quick shopper bag and stitched it up. Just one piece of fabric 18” x 36” and also cut 2 handles 4”x 20” . The handles were made very quickly by folding into the middle and over again and stitching both sides.

Next i sewed the handles either end of the fabric, then stitched the sides. Turned the bag in the right way and top stitched the top of the bag. A very basic shopping bag but super quality and designed cut and sewn in less than an hour and half. 

Here it is 

It’s a lovely shade of blue and a great shopping bag size. 

This cheered me up and i then decided the fabric was too good for shopping bags,  I would use it for tote bags, I would line them and add pockets inside for a useful everyday bag. I don’t actually have time to make these totes yet as I am concentrating on Christmas makes at the moment. 

But I did make some jewellery purses to add to the patterned purses I had made previously and, which, I used at the August Craft Fayre the jewellery gift items I sold (which are sold with a selected jewellery pouch). All the customers chose the velvet purses over the patterned fabric purses,  so I will need to make more for the next Fayre. 

Here is a selection of the jewellery purses used for jewellery sales . I display one of each fabric I have and replace after each sale. 

So what I had thought was a disappointing batch of fabric has turned out to be lovely quality and a pleasure to use.

Back soon with another surprise item.

Happy Crafting 

Dee

 

Getting Ready for the Christmas Fairs

 Christmas Shopping Bags

After the August Bank Holiday Fair I came home and packed everything away, doing an inventory of stock at the same time and then sat down to plan for the 2 Christmas fairs I have booked.

It may seem a little ahead of time, but both fairs are early November, and I have 3 weeks between then and now when I have have other commitments, so it was essential to plan time to make for the tables. 

During some fine weather a few weeks ago I had set up my outside table and used the good weather to cut out fabrics ready to sew. Last week I cleared the dining table and set up my sewing machine and started work on the bags cut out. I try to use a production method, but as I wanted to check through the cut out bags and see what I had I went ahead and made up one shopping bag to get an idea of layout. It’s a basic tote bag design. 

Consisting of 

Outside fabric piece are 18” x 30” 

Lining fabric pieces 18” x 30”

2 handles 4” x 20’

And a Christmas embellishment ironed onto a 6.5” square piece of fabric

• I had six already cut for me to make and it took about 1.5hours to make up. 
• First I prepared the embellishment and sewed it onto the outside fabric 
• Then I made the handles and placed them onto either end of the outer fabric
• Next I sewed my label onto the lining fabric
• I then sewed the lining to the the outer fabric top and bottom only
• The joined fabric is then pulled out and the top and bottom pieces lined up at thr sides so that the outer fabric is one side and the lining the other side. 
• I sew down the 2 long sides leaving a gap in the middle of the lining on one side only, making sure the gap is not too far down and has left room for the corners to be cut out.
• From the four corners I cut a 2.5inch square, allowing for the side seams 
• These corners are then pulled open and and matching up the centres I sew across then making sure to back sew well either end. 
• Then using the gap I turn the bag out, sew up the gap and push the lining back into the bag.
• Lastly I set the stitch length for topstitching and sew all around the top of the bag to finish it nicely.

The bag came out lovely and I sat back very pleased with myself until I turned it over and found a tiny pin-prick hole in the back of the bag, the fabric must have had a tiny flaw in it before I started sewing and I had not noticed it. So this bag, lovely though it is, cannot be sold. 

However the good news is I have my own Christmas Shopping bag. 

Not too downhearted I kept sewing for the next couple of days until I had made another 5 shopping bags which have now been added to the 10 made earlier. 

These are the 2 prints used a lovely fine tartan print and a red star print. 

The other bags cut out and put together over the next few days were gift bags . Perfect  gift wrap that can be re-used year on year to present your gifts . 

These are a good seller and are made in the same way as my tote bags but smaller. Lined and with a 3 inch base and sides.

These bags are so cute and another eight have been added to the stock. 

I need to pack my sewing machine away for a few days to tidy up a little, but I will be thinking about my next makes very soon.

Happy Crafting

Dee

Updated Trinket Boxes

 Origami Trinket Boxes

Tidying my boxes in the craft room the other day I came across some folded papers I had prepared for the bases of my Origami Trinket Boxes. 

The trinket box is not my idea, I saw it originally on YouTube and made it with 8 x 8 papers. Then I saw another YouTube video where the crafters made a lid to fit the 6 x 6 paper version. I worked out how to size the lids up and could make the trinket box with 6 x 6 papers, 8 x 8 papers and 12 x 12 papers, and add lids.

I made quite a few and sold a couple and gave a few away, keeping 2 of the larger sized boxes to store my beads and jewellery parts that I use to make my journal embellishments. I have had them for a couple of years now and they are wearing well. 

A few months ago I had a eureka moment when I realised I could line the base box, and if I folded one sheet with the pattern on the outside and one with the pattern on the inside the box became lined. I then had to work out how to place the lining inside the box. 

So when I found the 3 folded sets of trinket boxes I decided to make them up to add them to my Christmas Craft Fayre items or o give them away as gifts with some chocolates inside.

They take about an hour to make, the bases come together quite quickly but them the hot glue gun is fired up to add the embellishments before constructing the lids which are formed from a box base with a flat top. For a box made from a 12 x 12 paper the aperature is 7.5cm. I make the box lid with a piece of card 13cm square scored on all four sides at 1cm,2cm& 3cm 

The three boxes were made from K & Co papers.

They have been added  to the other three in my box 

Happy Crafting 

Dee

Bank Holiday Craft Fair

 August Craft Fair

Feedback from my August Craft Fair

Happily the weather was good and the day went well.

I had 90mins to set up and the show started at 10am. It started slowly but soon picked up, as the weather turned fine and hundreds turned out to enjoy the stalls inside and outside as well as the Car Boot and games organised in the grounds. The Craft Fair is part of a large Fun Day held in the Community centre and Cricket Club .

  

                                           

The footfall was very good but you have to remember that a lot of the people attending are nott there necessarily for the Craft Fair, and are therefore not your target customers. I was situated in the main hall and overall had a good spot. A few people showed interest as they wandered by and I made my first sale early after the opening. 

 As this was one of my Gift Centre Items that was a new section for me I was pleased with this first sale. The middle of the table was set out with a selection of jewellery , displayed in individual stands, and alongside a stand of jewellery purses. You could select a piece of jewellery and a jewellery bag so the gift is ready to give. Next I had a customer who was looking at my Journals and went onto purchase 2 of them, a gift bag and tote bag. I continued chatting to her after she had made her purchase and she then went on to purchase one of my Pad bags. 

The rest of the day was steady and sales were up overall on the March Fair. This was not necessarily due to the number of people through the hall as many came to have a look but were not necessarily there to buy, but they helped to add to the atmosphere and the cake stall sold out by 1pm. The crowds meant it was difficult to get a drink as the queues were long all day, but as I was manning the stall on my own I had brought a flask of water. 

This fair was interesting for me, as sales were quite different from previous Fairs. I did not sell one of  my best selling item (the Craft Bag ), and instead sold several items that had not sold before. Journals, Pad Bags and the new Gift Bags, and this has given food for thought for the Christmas Craft Fairs. I am wondering if the sales were down to the layout of the table, my talking to customers, (certainly I think the new gift bag sales were made once I explained the concept of the bags. They have multi-use as they are big enough to hold a variety of items. So if you want to gift make-up, toiletries, chocolates they can all be presented in the gift bag, which can then be used for practical purposes after the gift has been used. Ideal, also for teachers presents, thank you gifts etc as they make a simple gift look thought out and more special, as they cost an average of £4 it would be good to have as a handy stand-by. 

Here is a sneak preview of the Christmas gift bags. 

This style of flat bag can hold all sorts of gifts and would make perfect re-usable selection boxes. You can fill them with the persons favourite chocolates and sweets at a great price, and the bag can have multiple uses. 

I also have a christmas gift bag that is more like a tote bag with handles, and Christmas shopping bags for the festive season. 

Overall the day was lovely, I chatted to some new customers and some customers who had seen me in March, I chatted to other crafters, Craft Fairs are a great place to catch up with new ideas in the craft world a well as new craft fairs coming up. My Sum-up machine proved very useful and I took almost half of my sales on card and half with cash. 

The day did not finish with the craft fair, as you have all the packing up and sorting out when you get home. All the stock has been packed and put back in the bag ready for November, and I am happy to add more to my charity pot. This year’s charity is the local hospital. I sell my paper crafts and “Sew Useful Bags” for charity, it is a lovely hobby that has helped me through the difficult times.  

Happy Crafting

Dee

Summer Sewing

 Preparing for the August Craft Fayre

As i have mentioned before on the blog, I am now sewing bags, it has become a larger  part of my craft life, as I sell my bags at a couple of craft shows a year, as well as to friends and family, and donate any profit to Bridgwater Hospital. My selection of bags that I make has expanded and contracted as I try different ideas to see how they are received. I am narrowing the items I make to an amount that sits nicely on a 6ft table, which is as much as I wish to take on. 

The Craft Fayres I attend are relatively small, sometimes this is reflected in the footfall, and other times the footfall is good as locals turn out for a family day with the craft Fayre being a part of other activities on offer. This can reduce your buyers, as they are not really there for the craft. Sometimes all the stars align and you have a great day. I do the Craft Shows as a an outlet for my bags which has been both a hobby and therapeutic, with the profit going to charity I can relax, enjoy the day, meet other crafters and hopefully learn a little as well. 

I have decided to take you along on my journey with my enterprise “Sew Useful Bags”. So when I am preparing for a show, launching a new project or learn something new I will share it with you. 

My 2nd show this year will be on August Bank holiday Monday. This is one of the Family Fun Days, I was telling you about. The grounds around the hall are used for games, Car Boot and charity stalls, while the hall is a Craft Fayre for the day. Only hand made stalls are aloud and the organiser is careful not to have too many of one type of craft. 

It’s a lovely day and I get to meet other crafters, see what’s new and an ideal opportunity to try new things before the busier Christmas Fayre in November. 

I will set out my dining room table as a trial for my stall and play with the outlet, this way I also get to check the labelling on my stock and do a stock check before packing up the bag ready to take.

This is the start of the process, several different layouts were tried and stands moved around to get the best view of the products. For me it is worth taking the time for this process as I am not great at the merchandising side of selling, in fact selling is not my forte. If I can talk to people visiting my stand I usually make a sale, but that is an art in itself. 

Back soon, to let you know how the Bank Holiday Craft fair went. 

Happy Crafting 

Dee

Envelope Gift Box

 Another tidy up item

This idea comes from Sam Calcott on YouTube. I spotted it a few months ago, and whilst tidying the craft room I remembered this project and decided to try it on some of the 12 x 12 papers that needed using up.

Sam had made this to give her nan a selection of her favourite Cup A Soups, but you could easily use it to give hot chocolate sachets, or different ephemera all ready for your crafty friends. 

As you can see the outer box has a Velcro dot fastener on the top, which opens out to reveal 6 envelope sleeves that will hold the sachets

The Blue box is made from Sara’s Signature 12 Days of Christmas, while the cream is from the Vintage Diary pad The Vintage Diary box has been finished with a cluster of matching coloured beads attached to the handle, while the Christmas papers box has a wooden `Christmas tree embellishment . 

I made my version of this with different size envelope pieces for the sachets so here is the link to Sam’s version. 

https://youtu.be/THRUHcGz_24?si=FRA7QmNrnjB0-GWY

I love this type of construction project and will be doing quite a lot more for Christmas.

Happy Crafting 

Dee