Barbie Tote

It has been a while in between projects, but the other night Tori and I decided to make something for her friend Hannah who was turning 5 this week.

We had got her a doll for her birthday and Tori wanted a bag for the doll. So having previously lusted over the Nicole Mallalieu Craft Tote in Homespun 13.06, I decided to take a look at the project and adjust it so that it would fit a few dolls with pockets for clothes.

Nicole's instructions, as usual, were wonderful. Lots of detailed and tips and hints on how to do things better. But I did have my challenges, having a seriously fractured foot in a support "boot", and having to use my left leg to operate the sewing machine. Tori picked out the fabric for a bit of stash busting on the front. I sewed together a length of patching and then cut out the shapes for the zipped panel.

 

I only had black zips on hand, but I think that it makes it easier for a kid to see ... I didn't add in rings on the lid of the box, just a big handle that can go over someone's arm.

  

As you can see, Belle fits beautifully inside the "Barbie Coffin" (as a friend coined it on Facebook) and the pockets around the outside can be used for clothes.

My next task is to make one for Tori for her Barbies. I will probably put in the lid pocket that Nicole includes in her tutorial  in clear PVC for shoes and tiaras (as you do).

You can get a hold of the pattern by purchasing it through Zinio for $3.50 electronically and the pattern pieces can be downloaded here. I love the physical magazines, but I just done't have room for them. Electronic ones are good to bookmark and print off the pages that you want to work with for the projects you are doing.

How do you get your craft magazines? Physically from a newsagent, subscription or do you use Zinio as well?

Sewing up a storm

For my birthday I decided to give myself a present. I booked in for the "Customised bag in a day" workshop at Nicole Mallalieu's Northcote Studio.

 

I chose the large Tote or satchel to work on as my base pattern. Echino front flap, cotton drill outside and a yummy purple inside. We focused how to make professional looking bases, variations on straps and also inserting gusset zips. But along the way all sorts of tips and hints about how to get more effective results with our sewing. In between the sewing, lots of conversation about crafting communities and the trials and tribulations of running small businesses.

For me it was a whole day to focus on sewing and technique, something that I have not had in a while.

 

I am already coveting the Zippers for bags and Interfacing workshops, I just need to find an excuse to buy them for myself! I also love the idea of the pattern-making workshops, but time is my only enemy.

Thank-you Nicole for a wonderful day, and whilst I didn't get my bag finished I did walk away with lots (read too many) ideas for how I can make my Konstant Kaos bags look more professional.

Stolen Bag from ACQ needs to be returned

 

I was speechless when I read that someone had the audacity to steal a sample bag from the Nicole Mallalieu stand at the ACQ.

 

If you see this bag on the street, with the very special button that was used to make it, ask the person where they got it from and then let them know that it is a stolen product.

And if you are the thief, and you read this post, pop the bag into a post-it bag and return to sender please ...

Help spread the word by getting the html for this wanted poster from Curlypops blog.

You Sew, Girl - the book!

As part of my travels I paid a visit to Nicole Mallalieu's new shop/workspace this week and was thrilled to have the chance to flip through her new book published by Harper Collins.

She has written a whole book, not a few piddly little chapters like I wrote a while back ...

It is jam packed with tips, hints and lots of projects. One project that caught my eye was the baby hat project which looks so cute!

I am very much looking forward to getting my hot little hands on a copy as soon as I can! Keep an eye on her blog for details of where to purchase the book.