I’ve just finished the biggest bag I’ve ever made! It was a commission and the brief was for an extra large tote to rival the big IKEA bags with a double handle! I made it as big as the piece of this wonderful Emma Bridgewater “Dresser” fabric would allow and it ended up 27” across the top, 20” tall with a base of 19”x8”, so it’s humongous! Logistically it was a challenge to manipulate on the sewing machine but I relished the challenge and it came out well! I put the usual pockets inside and also the usual wadding and interfacing, but being so big it doesn’t support itself. It does have a reinforced base to give a bit of structure for loading it up, tho’. The client is a real lover of textiles and will enjoy the fact that I’ve left the selvedge showing down the side of the bag to show the designer’s name and I’ve included it on the inner pocket too just for fun!
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Remember that rather sad looking vintage natural fibre bag without a lining? She’s looking much happier and pretty enough for an outing now! She has a new elastic fastening, a double cotton lining with soft wadding in between and two useful pockets, one elasticated, one zipped, with a beaded zip-pull. And a pretty vintage rose appliqué to finish her off!
£60 (+p+p) -please message me hello@tootstotes.com to purchase. Profits (50%) to the Alzheimer’s Society. Thanks! In my quest to live more sustainably I want to extend this to my creative activities. As you know, I use foot power on my old treadle machine rather than electricity and I already use small pieces of fabric from others’ larger projects, but to take things a stage further, rather than making completely new items, I’m now looking to revamp vintage natural fibre bags, that are in good condition, but just need a bit of tender loving care to make them purposeful once again. What do you think? Come back soon to see what happens to this one!
A lovely lady approached me at the Vintage Weekend in the summer, saying her mother-in-law had made her a travel jewellery case 30 years ago that was now looking a little worse for wear and could I make her a replacement? Of course I was more than happy to oblige and it's given me another little shape to offer that I have named "Jacinta", should you ever wish to order one!
My lovely French teacher is in his eighties. During the course of our lessons he often asks what we've been doing la semaine dernière (last week) and my stock answer is J'ai fait du coudre (I've been sewing!) He purports to be a typical man but is very up to date with current thinking. However, due to his masculine world view, he has said that he is unable to buy his wife gifts as he never knows what to get. You know what's coming don't you? 😀 Yes, he had a brainwave and asked me to make her a bag for her birthday in October! Mind you he wouldn't discuss details-he said 'you're feminine, so you know what she'll like!!' So that's my latest project. I've chosen to use a William Morris fabric, as everyone loves those designs, so fingers crossed he'll earn some gold stars in October. I'll post a pic when it's complete. And here it is finished at last. I’ll let you know how it is received! 🤗
Update: It was very well received, but I will change the strap and beads to black on request as this was felt to be more appropriate to coordinate with the wearers wardrobe. I’m more than happy to oblige to satisfy the customer and ensure the bag will be used! I'm using another of Diana's fabrics! Come back later to see what it becomes.
Now SOLD
I couldn't wait to get started with my new Diana Tregaskes fabrics, so here is my first make. I'm calling it Grande Rosa as it's a couple of cms bigger than my standard Rosa, so as not to waste any of that beautiful poppy design! It measures approx 46 x 30 x 10 cms, has leather handles, interior zipped and elasticated pockets in a practical cotton ticking lining with a zip top closure. I have been very fortunate to acquire some beautiful exclusive fabrics from a talented water colour artist, Diana Tregaskes who is based in Newton Abbott, Devon.
I first discovered her work when trawling Etsy looking for unusual greetings cards. She has a fluid flowing easy and vibrant water colour style that results in wonderful captures of small animals, birds, insects and native flowers. Do give her Etsy shop a look when you have a minute... You're welcome! :} Anyhow, she posted a pic on Instagram showing some fabrics she'd found during a clearcut of her studio and offered them for sale to her followers. I quickly snapped up a few, as I love her work and could imagine how fabulous it would look on bags. Later on she very generously gave me the remainder that hadn't sold. Needless to say I was delighted. So now they are available to you. Once they're gone, they're gone, never to be repeated so have a browse here and see if there are any you fancy to make an real one-off item. I have added a pound coin to each picture to give you an idea of scale. Some of the pieces are only 18 x 12 inches so we'd need to discuss your bag style carefully, so make contact and we'll start from there! An announcement!You can now shop direct from my website. I am gradually winding down my Etsy shop, due to their fees not being viable for a small hobby based concern. So please explore "Shop" in my top menu or if you've seen anything you like on Social Media that's not there, contact me direct to purchase at hello@tootstotes.com. Thanks!
And here's a taster of what you'll find! Now SOLD
I'm trying to do my bit in the quest for more sustainable living. I seek out sad wicker baskets that I can clean up, refurbish and pretty up with a lovely lining. The latest was a little big to use as a handbag, so I decided to make it into a sewing basket. I used some preloved William Morris "Briarwood" fabric and with padding and pockets a-plenty, I think it works quite well. I will be taking it to the Vintage Day Out in July, but it is listed on Etsy if you'd like to purchase it first! |
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Hello, I'm Ruth Overton. My nickname as a child was 'Ruthie Toots' which is how the name Archives
March 2024
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