New line - door stops!

This is a new idea for me - I seem to be growing beyond simply bags and pouches.  Door stops were suggested to me some time ago, and they do seem to be a sensible idea.  This adorable pattern came from the wonderful people at Wee Folk Art and can be found here.  They have very generously given me permission to make and sell these to raise funds for Utange - thank you again!  My owls are significantly different to their originals, but I am pleased with how they came out.  I already have further versions of these wonderful door stops created - look out for them in future posts.

I will be sharing this post at these wonderful link parties:

Sew Darn Crafty	Sunday Funday	Submarine Sunday
Bouquet of talent	Sundae Scoop	Sew-licious
Just something I whipped up	Petite Hermine

More pouches

These are based on my popular pocket purses, but slightly larger and lined.  I am a bit over run with pockets at the moment, and searching for ideas of how to use them!  These will use up some of the front pockets from larger jeans. The pouches are 7" across and 5" deep before sewing, with a zipped top.

 I think these would be useful for storing lipsticks, or an emergency handbag makeup kit.

This post will be shared at these link parties:

Serenity Saturday	Polkadot pretties	Saturday Sew and Tell
Sew Crafty Saturday	Strut your stuff Saturday	Once upon a weekend

Keyrings

I have been busy making key fobs in preparation for this year's sales.  Now that I have a sensible way to display them, I am stocking up on different designs for initials - which have already proved popular at the sales I have done.  Here is a selection from the first set:

I do have a complete alphabet of these - a pretty floral set.

I'm sharing this post at these link parties:

Happy Hour Fridays	Find a Friend Friday	Anything Goes
5Days5Ways	30 Handmade Days	Flaunt it Friday
Can I get a Whoop whoop	Diana Rambles

March makes

Well, a bit belated and rather a break from the previous post.  I can only put it down to overwork and illness (which may not be unrelated!)  I am, fortunately, on my way to recovery now, and hopefully can get back to both sewing and blogging.
Here are last months makes in collage form:

A very quiet month, apparently, at least sewing wise.  Ah well...

A bit of a change from the usual....

... but we have a visitor at the school where I teach.

Pastor John Kahindi, who oversees the orphanage and feeding programme which I support with my bags, is visiting the UK and our school.  It is courtesy of a British Council grant, and today was his first day in school (of four).  The weather welcomed him with his first ever experience of snow - just one among a plethora of new experiences!

Mini keyring purses

I found this design here and have had it stored on my pinterest pages for some time!  I finally got time to make (or adapt and make!) it.  A lovely little design to make, and a great addition to my purse range I think.

This post will be shared at these link parties:

Sew Darn Crafty	Sunday Funday	Submarine Sunday
Bouquet of talent	Sundae Scoop	Sew-licious
Just something I whipped up	Petite Hermine

Cambourne Craft Fair

As ever this was a lovely, friendly event, and very well organised by Laura.  I had lots of new lines to show, and (as ever) too much stock to display.  One of these days I will figure out what I need to take, but I haven't got there yet.  Part of the trouble is that I want to take everything, part is that I am never totally sure how much I need.  I am now keeping a list of what I sell at each fair in the hope that, in time, I will be able to work out stock needs and plan better.  However, my findings so far are that different sales are very ... different!
I didn't sell a massive amount today, and that was a bit of a disappointment, but I did have some great conversations.  I'm hoping that some of the people who took my card will find their way to my blog.  I also got a lead for a new venue and have booked a sale there for - wait for it - December!  This new venue holds a monthly sale, but December was the first date for which I do not already have another booking on that date.  My intention was to do one sale a month, but I have already booked far more than that.  Oops.  Still praying for someone else to come alongside and take on some of the dates.

Reworked pouches

This is one of the alternative versions of the pouch I posted a few days ago, which was far too time consuming to make in large numbers.  I am not convinced that this was entirely successful - it depends if a flat pouch will be needed, I suppose.  I'll just have to wait and see.

This post will be shared at these link parties:

Happy Hour Fridays	Find a Friend Friday	Anything Goes
5Days5Ways	30 Handmade Days	Flaunt it Friday
Can I get a Whoop whoop	Diana Rambles

Kindle cases mark 3

This is the third of my designs.  This has a flap closure and an external pocket.  The pocket can go on either side of the pouch, as shown in the picture.  On one side the flap is denim with a patterned trim, while on the other the lining fabric shows.  Open to the preference of the user!

I will share this post at the following link parties:

Catch a glimpse	Things I've Done Thursday	Link it Up Thursday
Hookin up with HoH	It's Stinkin Cute	Make it Wear it Thursday
I gotta create