Saturday, 12 June 2010

Bin doin' a bit of stitchin'

When I was in town I popped into Waterstones and came across this book by Jenny Rolfe and as it had quite a few machine embroidery techniques I just had to buy it. Using some of her ideas and some of my fabric scraps I made these two purses. I wanted a small purse I could just fit in my pocket with a few coins in when I pop down to the local shop, so necessity drove my creativity.
 
They are 'crazy patchwork' scraps bonded onto felt and then machine stitched. I discovered varigated quilting thread so I had to play with that too.

I lined them and they have a pocket for a credit card - or bus pass!

 
They fasten with a button and cord. I had such fun making them I think I shall make another pair. (I can get two out of one piece of felt. Even Mr T was impressed (Practical, you see) but he felt they were not for him.
Marvin was being photographers assistant, but I did manage to persuade him to pose - reluctantly!
Hope you are enjoying your weekend,
Jill

16 comments:

ju-north said...

Those look great and very collectable!

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

The purses are lovely, they would make great C******** pressies. But we mustn't mention the C word before you've had seaside fun and frivolities ;o)

Heloise said...

These are lovely. I love using variegated threads too. Enjoy your weekend too.

webb said...

Those you could sell - if you felt like doing that much work! Happy weekend.

Emma said...

Well, I can relate to these! I should turn my postcard colors into purses:) I had some denim gingham look mad stitching purses out at craft fairs last November, they did ok.(I think I need tidier edging)

Jane said...

Lovely purses and lovely Marvin. (Even if he wasn't impressed at being photographer's model).

Leenie said...

Great work on the little purses! Wow! Art with a practical use is hard to find.

LOL at Marvin's grumpy but obliging pose. He should be proud of his likeness so finely done. But cats are painfully honest. My big fuzzball thinks my watercolor paper is a place to wipe his feet.

Sandra Hall said...

Oooh Jill these look gorgeous, just looking at them here makes me want to touch them so I can admire the detail up close!
Marvin seems to have a sulky look at being made to pose - classic!

LAC EMP 2020 said...

These look great Jill. Your eye for colour and design shows through even in the scraps you've chosen. I wish I had your productivity! Lesley

JP said...

clever stuff - pretty and useful!

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

They're wonderful and such a great idea :-)
Anne x

AeFondKis said...

Jill, very pretty purses and clever little design. Bet you could make alot of these and loads of dosh to go in them!
Your new sewing machine is working up a storm for you!
Linda x

Kathy said...

love this

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the one with Marvin on it!!!

Charlotte said...

Hi! I love your patchwork purses! Think I might have to try and get hold of that book! Your blog looks great at the moment as well! Now, I think it was your blog where I saw some Shabby style fabric flowers a while ago, and a tutorial you did to go with it. Just wondering if you could direct me to it? Thanks, Charlotte.

Amelia said...

Jill - these are lovely! Have you got an on-line shop like etsy (apologies if you have and I am too fatigued to notice it - this has happened to me before now!!)? you must get them up for sale.

I love the look on your cats face too - hilarious!

Amelia.x