A CARD MAKING SESSION

I am so glad yesterday is over because I felt really rotten all day. No energy at all and I just wanted to curl up in a corner. Could have been the vaccination I had on Wednesday I suppose but what a difference today. I could run a marathon- in my head at least LOL!

There are several friend and family birthdays coming up soon so I set to and began to make a few cards. Following some amazing workshops last year with Birgit Koopsen, I already had some backgrounds in my stash so I found one which cut into 3 nice sized pieces. 

I roughed the edges and inked them. The colours are just lovely on these. I planned to use 6" X 6" cards and these backgrounds were just a tad too small to cover all the card so I decided to stick them to one side. With that done I could get on with some colouring.

Decisions, decisions. Can you tell I'm in love with my Distress Markers #timholtz.

An extremely generous and special friend bought me the Crazy Birds accessories stamps and dies and I can't get enough of them. They make me smile just looking at them and actually using them is so easy.

So, I coloured, smiled, coloured a bit more, smiled a bit more, die cut everything and then laughed my socks off because the end result was so funny.

So there you have it, 3 completed birthday cards. HAHA! You didn't think I was going to show you them before they had been sent out did you.......

I BOUGHT A TOGGLE BUTTON

The last little bit is now complete. I had a lovely button, or so I thought, for my rag bag - 

But when I came to sew it on I realised it was just a tad too small. This morning I had to go for a pneumococcal jab so while out I went in search for a better button. I found a black toggle one which, apart from the one fastened to the lid, was the only one in the tube. At 98p quite pricey but it turned out they wouldn't be re-ordering them so the assistant gave me the one from the lid. Two for the price of one, happy!

It's now stitched in place making another little project completed.

I need to make some cards next before I decide which sewing project to either start or continue with. 

I NEED A BUTTON

The little rag bag is finished except for a button. The one I put aside to use is too small so next time I go out, which will be tomorrow, I'll get one.

I left off yesterday having sewn the straps etc together.

The next task was to turn them through the right way. I HATE that job.

A little bit of almost midnight oil plus a glass of, helped get the job done.

That was as far as I got last night. This morning was a 'fit a new bathroom sink tap' morning. Hubby got the job done quite quickly but obviously he needed my help!! Glad the water is back on plus the heating.

Once everything was cleaned up and tidy once more, I set to finishing the bag. First off, I plaited the straps.

Then the awkward bit of sewing them on and covering the ends with the little material patches.

All in all, it's not looking too bad so it will do for me. 

If you want to have a go at one for yourself, I followed the instructions in a little book called ' purses bags and more by Pearl Louise Krush, www.thimblecottage.com 

NEARLY FINISHED

Only the finishing touches to do to the little rag bag now but I won't get it completed until tomorrow.

I continued clipping the seams until bed time just to get a head start today. Not finding any 1/4" cord in my stash, I made another trip to Abakahn and got some there. While I was at it, I bought a pair of snips and new Bodkins, watch me find mine now!!

The snips are really sharp and work a treat as there is no thumb hole for my ever increasing in size arthritic thumb to get stuck in.

I threaded the cord through the casing and stitched up the gap then put the bag into the washer to wash and rag the seams. It's drying as I type so I prepared the straps for sewing.

There are 4 little patches and a button loop too. These are all sewn now so I'm just about to turn them all through so they will be ready for when the bag is dry. 

Until tomorrow then......

A TRYING TIME TODAY

I've had a 'trying' time today as you can see by this photo.

The little rag bag reached some awkward sewing moments and the inevitable happened whilst I was sewing the base to the sides. Always makes me jump out of my skin when I break a needle. 

The whole thing has now become quite stiff due to each block having been quilted prior to assembly, so manoeuvring it was a challenge. I got there as I always do.

The edge around the top had to be turned over and sewn to form a casing to accommodate some 1/4" cotton cord. I suppose it's not only to neaten the edge but to give it some body. Anyway I don't have any nor can I find my Bodkin so there's another shopping list in the making.

I've just started the tedious task of clipping all the seams after which and once the cord is in place, the bag has to be washed in order to 'rag' it.

The clipping bit will take me ages so I may not be around for a while!!!!!!