The finished bag

Here it is, with no time to spare! My entry in the Hillary's Blinds  Country Crafts Competition

The bag is finished I have a couple of the intermediate steps to show first.

The earlier steps are in a couple of other posts.

The lining with a little pocket stitched in place, I've attached some stiffening material to the gussets of the lining. This is a tip for people who, like me, don't plan very well, stitch the stiffening in before you join the gussets to the front and back of the lining, stitching it in afterwards was not quite impossible!

Here's the lining showing the stiffening tacked in

I've put a little beading onto the largest flower on the bag's flap so here's a closeup of it.

The bag has a magnetic fastener, these are really useful and very easy to fit, I've put a double layer of stiffener behind the section fixed to the bag itself to give extra support.

The bag with the lining stitched in place

A view inside the bag to show the pocket.

After a lot of hand stitching and top stitching here's the final thing with a little flourish on the handle, this was inspired by watching a programme about the royal ballet, I wanted to suggest a tutu. I cut out one of the largest poppies and backed it 4 layers of red chiffon, recycled from the wrapping around a box of chocolates I was given for Christmas one year. (Never throw anything away!)

 I'm really pleased with it, I sort of knew what I was going to make as soon as I chose the fabric, I'm glad it worked, lots of work and a few mistakes, very difficult to un-pick such a loose woven fabric but I had to do it several times!

Very enjoyable to do and a lovely fabric, thanks Hillary's

Next step in my Hillarys Blinds entry.

Here's the front of the bag I'm making for Hillarys Blinds Country Crafts Competition

I'm doing  a bit of beaded embellishment. Should be nice when it's finished, but I'm working in my usual 'make it up as I go along' way so it's a bit slow.

Hillarys Blinds competition

I've entered a competition run by Hillarys. They're giving away 100 x 100cm squares of fabric and giving a prize for the best craft project made with them. The competition is called Hillarys Blinds Country Craft Competition
My piece arrived the other day and I've been mulling over what to do with it.

 This is the design I chose, there are three others to choose from.

Here's my scruffy workspace, it's in the process of being turned back into a bedroom, hence the stepladder, I've picked out some other stuff to use in my design, watch this space.
The cat is supervising of course.

The box and some wonderful sunlit flowers

Here are some pictures of my lovely box. It needs a lining inside the lid to finish it completely




Jay's website

    The pieces of wood are the supports for the lid when it's a display box.
The photos aren't very good I'll have to take some proper ones in a properly lit space. I think its wonderful. I may line the compartments with felt as well.


I came home from work today to be greeted by this beautiful poppy, just opened and perfect.

By tomorrow it will be wide open and blowsy, We have a lot of trouble with these, quite a few of the buds never open and just shrivel up for some reason, if anyone knows why that happens let me know. The other plant is more prone than this one.
These buttercups are further up the garden among some herbs and wild strawberries.

I'm something of a haphazard gardener, for one thing I have no time and for another I haven't a clue what I'm doing. This is the front garden which does at least resemble a garden slightly!

The new online edition of the UK handmade magazine is out now