A spring in my step!

 

There's nothing like a few sunny days to lighten the mood, is there?  I don't know whether it's been all that rain we had, followed by the sunshine, but the hawthorn blossom is looking especially beautiful this year.  There's wild garlic popping up in the grass verges - 

and Jack-by-the-hedge too. 

Soon they'll be joined by masses of the tiny cream coloured flowers that belong to cow parsley.  Apart from country walks I've been indulging in a couple of my favourite occupations - crafting and picking up bargains in charity shops.  One of my bargains being this bag.  

I've been wanting a small informal bag with a long strap that I can take with me on those walks.  For when I just need the essentials.  Phone, house keys, tissues, lip balm.  This bag's a Fairtrade one by Earthsquared, and it's got separate compartments inside and a zipped pocket and is in very good condition apart from the mangled bit on the strap.

But that's easily repairable with either Bondaweb or fabric glue, and at £3.00 I wasn't going to turn my nose up at some minimal damage.  

On the crafting front I finished off this boro inspired triangular coin purse.  The ribbon fastening might change as I reckon a narrow red ribbon would look better than yellow, but it'll do for now.  I also made a variation on another style of mini purse.  I'd watched this YouTube video by Annie Claxton (a.k.a. Arty Farty Annie), and she'd made something she christened a yo-yo caddy.  It's essentially a fabric tube with a yo-yo (also known as a Suffolk Puff) to make the base.  I decided to make my version of this, but with outer pockets.  So let's call it a Pocket Purse.  

I chose two complimentary fabrics and cut out 1 large rectangle of the Indian block printed material and 1 large rectangle of the yellow.  (There are no measurements for this, by the way.  Just make whatever size suits you.)  Put them right sides together, sew all around but leaving a inch or so gap.  Turn right sides out and hand-sew the gap closed.  I did a few lines of running stitch using embroidery thread at what'll be the top of the Pocket Purse.  But you could cover the whole thing in lines of slow stitching if you like.  

Then I cut out a rectangle of yellow fabric the same length as the larger piece.  Next, I folded the yellow fabric in half lengthways, right sides together, sewed around the edges except for a gap.  Turned it right sides out and hand-sewed the gap closed.  I added a few lines of running stitch to this too, and again you could slow-stitch the entire surface if you'd prefer.

Pin the yellow fabric to the block printed piece and sew it in place.  I've then used lines of running stitch and embroidery thread to divide this long pocket into three separate ones.  

Neatly join together the side seams of your Pocket Purse, so you're making a tube shape.  That join will be at the centre back of your completed purse.  

Your purse needs a base.  This was trial & error, cutting circles out of thin card until I got one that fitted nicely.  I glued a circle of yellow fabric on to the card before cutting out a large circle of the same material to make my yo-yo.  

Before I gathered up the yo-yo, I slipped the smaller circle inside it, fabric side showing through the yo-yo's opening.  You could cover this opening with a large button or bead if you'd rather.  

The yo-yo's sewn firmly on to the base of the Pocket Purse.  Then it's simply a case of adding the fastening.

 A length of ribbon is sewn on to the back of the purse, where the seam is.  I've covered it with a button, to neaten the appearance.  Another button's sewn on the front of the purse, and the ribbon's wrapped around it to fasten the purse together.  A bead's added for decoration. 

Or you could use a popper instead as a closure.  Maybe even some Velcro?  

Apologies if my rather basic instructions don't make a massive amount of sense!  But watch the video as that's probably more helpful.  I reckon there're lots of variations that could be made to this simple design, and I'm going to try a few.  Maybe the next one will have a hidden pocket on the inside?  

Okay, I'll say goodbye for the time being.  Tea and chocolate are needed, and I've a good book on the go.  Phillipa Gregory - always reliable - and another story of turmoil in Tudor England.  'The Queen's Fool', set in King Edward's court of 1553.  

Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend, and hope that you'll stop by my blog again.  Maybe even leave a comment?  I'd love to hear from you.