Penguin phone cases

The embroidered eyes from the owls extended to the penguin phone cases I needed to replace.  I have found that this flap version is popular with many.  I can see why - I like the idea of the added security of the closure.

These little guys look out of place in the summer which has (at last) descended on the UK.  I am sure they will soon find personal homes.

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Penguins

Amid a fairly frantic restock for a fairly frantic week of sales (four days with stalls within a "normal" working week!) I made some more of my character bags.  I was a little surprised to find that somehow I had only completed two of the penguins, given that I seemed to spend ages sewing penguin eyes, but the rest are all awaiting having the pieces joined together.  There is something of a temptation to come up with names for each one - maybe to be written on the price labels?! - but I have resisted so far.

 

This first one looks a little manic, I fear.  Maybe Polonius would be a suitable name

As for this chap - well, he looks as if he has been at the Guinness!  Padraig perhaps?!

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Return of the penguins!

I sold out of penguin phone cases at my Christmas sales.  This set includes one variation on the pattern - with the head as a flap with a velcro fastening.  I hope to discuss with customers whether this is a variation they like.

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Penguin bags

I have finally completed a restock of some popular lines, in time for the new sales season (my first sale of the year will be in Flitwick in February).  These penguin bags sold well last year.  Ideally I would like to have matching bag, phone case and purse sets, all lined with the same fabric, but I don't think that is going to happen!  Nonetheless, these have come out well - part of me hopes they will sell well, but another part knows how long it has taken me to complete this set!

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Penguin purses

Another novelty coin purse design - I have been catching up on these while the embroidery machine is out of action.  These are simple to make. They have a basic construction of three 4" squares each of denim and lining.  I curve the base of one of the squares to make the head / flap.  Before starting construction I applique eyes and the white body and add the velcro for the fastening.
I then sew round the sides and curved edge of the flap, sewing it to the lining. I clip the edges, turn it the right way out and topstitch.
I then sew together the body part with velcro and one lining along the top edge.  sandwiching the head between the other body pieces (same fabric types facing). Open these out and put the two pieces together, same fabrics matched.  Sew round the resulting piece, leaving the bottom edge of the lining open for turning.
Turn right way in and sew up the lining before pushing the lining inside the main body.
There's a tutorial with pictures for the monkey purse (made in the same way) here if these instructions don't make sense to you!

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Penguin phone cases

I had fun playing with the expressions on these.  I made ten in all, but unfortunately struggled to photograph them clearly.  These four give a representative sample, however.

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