Harpenden Carnival 2016

This was such a great day, just as it was last year.
What made it great?

• Fantastic organisation.
• A (mostly!) sunny day.
• Great footfall.
• Plenty of stall space.
• Wide variety of stalls.
• Fabulous sales!

See you again next year, Harpenden!

Ollie

I think this must be an Ollie rather than a Lollie owl. 

Definitely male, and very sure of himself! Ollie does have a soft heart, despite appearances though - he is pure cuddle material!

A bundle of backpacks

Rather than spreading them out as separate posts, here is a "group shot" of my latest backpacks.

All have different trims, and I enjoyed placing jeans pockets as well.

An African themed bag

I had fun using up some lovely animal applique patterns for this bag. I made it in three different colourways, and each side of the bag depicts different African animals.  I'm tempted to keep one for myself...

Old favourites

Elephants and giraffes have featured in my range previously, with elephants being a very popular choice throughout last year.  This year I have found a way to create the giraffes as doorstops, which I hope will be well received.  Someone did comment that they were not as heavy as the elephants; I had to point out that there was less space in a giraffe's spindly legs for the sand!

Piggies!

This is a bag which, in my opinon, you just have to smile at!

 These pig are just so much fun - and it is a bag which sells very well.  Some along to a sale if you would like to own one.

Latest batch of doorstops

This cute trio of friends (left to right, Mitch, Fleur and Larry) are the latest to join my doorstop range.  On my first sale this season the doorstops massively outsold the cuddlies, so I know it is worth making more, even if they do weigh my car down disproportionately!

Another backpack

Here is another of the new-style back packs. 

I particularly love the fabric I used for the trim and linking here.  I was lucky enough to be given a massive stock of fabric by a friend who was moving, and it has been such a joy to work with a range of beautiful patterns.

Ollie - or is it Lollie?

Ollie and Lollie are described by the pattern creator, Funky Friends Factory, as "laid back owls".  They are fairly time consuming to create, because of all the top-stitching on the wings and tail and because of the amount of hand sewing which is needed.  However, I do feel they are delightful.  One sold on their first outing, so I need to complete more, and cut out more, as rapidly as possible.

New shoulder bag design

This is a lovely bag, and I made ten versions of it.  However, it did prove quite time-consuming to cut out, sew and finish.  That is due to all the features - a zip, side pockets with a false binding, a long adjustable strap, and the magnetic fastening for the flap.  The effort was made worthwhile by the fact that I sold two on the very first occasion on which I had them for sale.  I may have to bite the bullet and prepare to make more!