A New Bag♡

 

Hello lovely lovelies♡ So, so delighted for your sweet visit to my little autumnal place. Thank you♡ I wonder, how has your week been?? Here in my little autumnal place, it was a pleasant one. The days have been pearlers with sunshine shooing away chilly mornings and hanging around until it disappears behind the mountains with dusk settling in. I have spent a good part of my days in the fernery soaking up the warmth of the sunbeams, dancing upon me and the flower pots. Here inside the fernery I feel as if I am in a little glass cocoon away from the cool autumn days, with the beauty of nature just outside the windows. So, so delightful.

Sitting in the fernery, basking in the sunshine, I have been playing with twirls of ribbons, doilies, needlepoints, vintage Italian coverlets and whatever other pretties nudged me to capture my attention; for I was in the mood to fashion a new bag. I never tire of playing with all my pretties, and if they morph into a new bag; then all the better. It's always a good idea to fashion a new bag....well at least I think it is.

Though my favourite style of bag is a crossbody bag, this time I wanted to stitch a big carry-all, kinda bag with cane handles. When out and about shopping I am sometimes in need of a bag which will carry all my purchases. I hate carrying lots of individual bags for each purchase. It can sometimes be a bit of a pain when one has to check that one has everything. So, a big carry-all sounded like a fabulous idea. And I must say I am delighted with what is the finished result. My new carry-all ain't too shabby at all.

So, as I am wont to do when fashioning a bag, I chose a remnant of an Italian coverlet, a needlepoint (as it seems every bag I stitch demands a pretty flower needlepoint)  and played with doilies, ribbons, braids, little leftover flowers from past projects and began to play; design and then stitch.  When happy with what was before me I then sewed the bag together. For the lining, I used the reverse side of the coverlet fabric, stitched an over-big pocket to one side and then inserted the handles, hand sewing the flaps down. The flaps had to be stitched by hand as there was such a lot of bulky thickness. My sewing machine would have thrown a hissy fit and refused  to sew through all the fabrics. I stitched a rectangular flap for closing the bag and then embellishing said flap with a blousy flower from ribbon which I ruched. I then stitched this onto some lovely green, wired french ribbon to skip around the ribbon flower. Then, just because I am that gal who considers more is never enough I fastened a pretty vintage brooch which I have had for yonks. Care to have a bo peep at happy snaps of the process?? Why, of course you do. =)

I love my new bag. It's roomy and will carry all those bits and pieces that one accumulates when out and about shopping for the day. The wonderful thing about this bag, and for most of my bags actually, is I never have to step outside my door to find the required pretties needed to fashion a bag. Everything can be found in the plethora of suitcases sitting in my sewing room, in readiness to be showcased into a new pretty. Love having my own little haberdashery shop inside my home.

It is late Sunday evening here. My bed is calling out and who am I to resist. I am supposing your Sunday in the northern hemisphere is just beginning as mine here at the bottom of the world is nearing its end. It has been a long day but a lovely one. I jumped crawled out of bed very early this morning  to continue working on my bag which I finished within a couple of hours. Then it was off to lunch at some beautiful friends' home which is always a highlight in my days. So, so thankful for lovely friends, delicious food, delightful conversation, a beautiful bunch of flowers from a beautiful friend, blue sunny skies, sunny cocoon of a fernery, pretty ribbons and laces to fashion pretty new bags...and so very thankful for you♡ Why, I have so very much to be thankful for♡ Have a beautiful day, lovely lovelies; with sprinkles of sunshine and love♡ Let your light shine in your little corner of the world♡

Until the next time..........

Linking up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching.

Hydrangea Blue

 

Hello lovely lovelies. A beautiful welcome to my little place. It is a place where hydrangeas have put on quite the show, these past summery months. Big, beautiful, lavish hydrangeas, all delighting in shades of blues to purples.

They are my favourite flowers, just in case you did not know. =) I haven't chatted about 'my' hydrangeas this summer, so today is the day when I beam a little hydrangea blue to your place. From what I have seen on the TV this week, some of you could do with a little dose of summery hydrangeas. I do hope all is okay in your little corner of the world.

The hydrangeas this year have been spectacular. I don't know why but they have decided to pull out all stops and show off to all who drive by, indeed, to all those who visit my humble abode. So, so many words come to mind when trying to describe these gorgeous blooms. Elegant, bosomy, bold, extravagant, generous, bountiful, happy........and just so long-lasting. Why, the hydrangeas here bloom from December to May. For months they are happy to glow with the gorgeous blues, mauves, purples; and as they age and the nights begin to get colder they morph gently into glorious antique hues. Though the days here are still warm the hydrangeas are whispering to me that soon it will be autumn. Ever so slightly the  petals are beginning to change into shades of wine, lilac, plum, currant, to the prettiest softest greens. Truly, they are all gorgeous.

 

As I am chatting about the hue blue  this week, I have been fashioning a bag....a blue bag.  It is for a friend.......a 'just because' gift. As I always do, I hunted and gathered ribbons, velvet leaves, laces, doilies, vintage pretties, fringing, braids.......and a portion of an old tapestry I unearthed at a market a little while ago. This tapestry hasn't been completed but I always love the look of a little threadbare. My sweet friends loves the look of a little threadbare as well. All the swirling and ruching of ribbons, embellishing with vintage pretties; and the hand stitching has been finished. This week I will sew up the bag; well at least that's the plan.

As it is Sunday, I am going to join in with  slow hand stitchers from all around the world, and enjoy a little stitching. My applique flower garden quilt is making an appearance once again. As summer inches its way to autumn I have decided I would love to re-acquaint myself with this pretty. Gazing upon my garden of applique flowers once more I am reminded just how much I love this pretty. I have psyched myself to begin the begin, the designing and stitching of the wisteria vine tangling it's away across the top. So, as I watch TV in just a little while I will happily stitch and embroider leaves onto the vine. Oh, and stitch a little birdie, too.

Thank you for visiting my little place where blue hydrangeas and pretty blue embellishments abound. Where wisteria vines begin to grow and sweet little birdies sing songs of praise. May your week be filled with many beautiful moments that inspire you, and cause you to smile❣

Until the next time...........