The Accidental Bag Maker

Some things just happen by accident.

For me, it's making bags.

Having fun hunting for reclaimed fabric. 

Even sold a few too. 

Ever just stumbled into something? Picked it up and loved it?

Sure is a great feeling. 

X 

More Bloody Fashion

Cowl neck shirt.

Distressed.

Grungy.

Love my over-locker.

Yoshimi Love

Loving Umami bags with sewing patterns by Yoshimi Ezura. 

Perfectly balanced.

Tote bag in industrial upholstery fabric.

On Etsy too. 

Bags are my new 'bag'. (at least this week)

New Shirt / Off Work

 Off work. Time to sew. Office clothes suck.

Make clothes. Hang in lane ways. 

New wool jersey asymmetrical shirt. Less work, more play!

Bag Man

Back to the sewing this week for a slightly different creative pursuit-handbags. 

White canvas and old canvas belt tote

Teamed up with grrl + dog for this project. As she said, a girl can't have too many handbags- a principle that guys really don't follow. I have a man-bag/ courier bag to carry sketchbook, phone and camera but only one. Serial bag owner.

Leaf pattern handbag with gold satin lining

The Unami books by Yoshimi Ezura are packed with page after page of bag designs and most can be followed without knowing Japanese.  This etsy shop sells the books. Yoshimi only makes one of each of her bags and only sells them at her once a year exhibition. 

Industrial felt tote with spots

When you see how many designs there are you will want to make all of them-I do, and will.

Lined handbag made from commercial use curtain material

I still only need one but I'm having fun making these. How many bags have you got? 

Back to Basics

Back to basics and back in the studio saddle. 

Thought I should make some earrings. 

Never made them before.

Purist Steampunk.

oh, and who was the lucky devil to win the giveaway on The Beading Gems Journal? Me! Thank you Pearl! Check this blog for interesting jewellery and practical tutorials.

XXX

Umami Designs for a Dreamer

Its mid summer here in Australia but I'm daydreaming of the streets of New York, Melbourne or Berlin in Autumn.

In preparation, a scarf from wool remnants is made to keep me warm from icy winds.

Bias-cut suiting in my favorite winter hues of grays, coffee and chocolate. 

A variation on the design from the most wonderful Japanese books.

Almost lion-mane like in masculine colours.

Seriously, you have to get these books.

Oh well, back to shorts and t-shirts for now.

X

Metal, Rubber and Junk

 'Heavy Metal' (Necklace for Mechanics)

The metal-work bench has been neglected. The saws have been collecting dust. Drills have been idle. Fingers have been clean.

'Shift' Ring

The sewing machine is not really a power tool. Is it?

 'Black Spine' 

Thought I should get back into the swing of things this week. Make some noise and get down and dirty. 

As a warm-up, scrap metal becomes a 'necklace for mechanics', typewriters loose their parts to become rings and bicycle inner-tubes pose as bracelets. 

Hands are dirty now.

X

Twenty-Eleven Here I Come

 'Earthquake'

I have hit the ground in 2011 running with some new looks and some new jewellery.

 'Ice Queen'

These are made from heavy duty industrial felt left over from another project I'm working on.

Each piece has hundreds of random cut felt pieces threaded through a leather thong. 

 'Hellraiser' 

I was going for something a little bold and dynamic. Well, it is twenty-eleven after all. 

Are you planning on being bold and dynamic this year? 

What's your plan?