Toots Totes

Tree Peony...Take Three!

14/12/2022

Yep I made another-I'll tell you a secret-I'd already cut it out for my client who ordered one for her conference (see below), but then decided it wouldn't be deep enough to hold her papers, so abandoned the pieces I'd cut out to make a bigger version.
I rather like this one now completed in its own right, with the additional cream stripe that frames the 'Tree Poppy' fabric nicely along the top, and the pretty lining that echoes the colours of the outer.
Available on Etsy or a little cheaper if you buy direct from me: hello@tootstotes.com 😉

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Markshall Estate Christmas Market

8/11/2022

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Most honoured to have been accepted to exhibit at the Markshall Estate Christmas Market, which is on Dec 3rd and 4th. I'll be there with my bags on Saturday 3rd. Come and say hello!
The Arboretum will be opening to the public that weekend, free of charge, so everyone can get to see the stunning grounds and beat the winter blues!

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Tree Peony…take two!

30/7/2022

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Then a second client fell in love with the Sanderson Tree Peony fabric and requested a summer backpack. I didn’t have sufficient fabric to make the straps but the plain red worked just as well. Any more requests?

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And a hairband

23/6/2022

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I met a lovely lady at the Textile Fair in Braintree who fell in love with this Sanderson Tree Poppy fabric and asked if I could make her a bag. So here it is: a Toots Totes “Rosa” (and matching hairband) commissioned to be large enough to hold papers for a conference and to include a pocket for a water bottle. That was certainly a first! She was very pleased with it and asked if I made dresses too as she needed a new one for the conference! Sadly not, my dress making days stopped when fabric became more expensive than ready-made clothing, and I am seriously out of practice. Unless she wanted a zip top dress with leather handles she was out of luck!

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Production Line

11/6/2022

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In preparation for a long awaited visit to family in France, I decided to make three little bags to take as gifts. Rather than making them one at a time I decided to do the production line thing, which I've found in the past works quite well and saves a bit of time. I chose two William Morris fabrics: 'Strawberry Thief' and 'Snakeshead' (named after the fritillery not the reptile!) and a 50's reprint of a classic mid-century modern design 'Mobiles'.

Strawberry Thief

Mobiles

Snakeshead

Shows the wadding tacked on to each piece

I cut out two "Poppy" cross body bags and a variant of that design that allows for the cross body strap to be clipped on the side along with a partner strap the other side, to convert it into a backpack. I sewed the zipped pockets onto each front and then tacked wadding on to each piece.

Next I sewed the side and bottom seams, attached some plastic mesh to strengthen the base, and turned them right side out. Eight fiddly loop holders were sewn and attached to the top sides of each bag with two extra at the bottom of the backpack.

Just the linings to do now with their inner pockets and a zip top closure!

All done, so ready for when restrictions are lifted.

Un sac a dos pour ma belle-fille, un sac pour sa maman et un pour sa tante!
(A backpack for my daughter-in-law, a bag for her Mum and one for her aunt!)

Just need to make something for grandmaman now, but that's for another post!

Update: Now back from our french holiday I can now report the bags were well received!

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Cross stitch obsessions...

11/6/2022

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I used to wonder how my Mum was so prolific with her cross-stitch creations! However I’ve found out that it’s strangely liberating to stitch without a design to follow, making it up as you go along...and although I haven’t perfected the art of random flower forms (mine are a bit odd!) it’s extremely compulsive...you just have to keep going! I’ve lined the resultant little purse (or maybe it’s a glasses case) with a sumptuous silk and it will be a gift for grandmere en France! Hope she approves!

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Sunflowers - a symbol of hope and solidarity.

12/3/2022

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I am making pretty little sunflower purses, measuring 9x6 inches, with a contrast cotton lining, zip and beaded zip pull. These are £9.50, £5 of which will go to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal. (The rest just covers costs and my labour is free!) Please contact me HERE to order yours. Together we can make a small contribution towards helping the people of Ukraine in their hour of need. Thank you.

PLEASE NOTE: Lining and zip and bead colours may differ but the outer will always be in the sunflower fabric.

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Wicker Work...finished!

2/3/2022

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Remember how forlorn the little wicker bag looked a few posts back? So here we have it washed and brushed up, cleaner but still with that lovely aged patina. I found a way to attach a new leather strap (the old strap was beyond redemption) so no more turning upside down! I tacked the pretty lining with an elasticated pocket inside. Wielding a hammer in such a small space proved tricky, and I bent as many tacks as I used! It was a satisfying task, to make it lovely and useable once again. What do you think?

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Wicker Work...Part Three

28/2/2022

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I've made a little boat out of cotton fabric-well that's what it looks like! It has an elasticated pocket one side and a little bit of wadding between the layers. I decided to use tacks to fix it into the bag rather than attempt to sew through the slats. It was fiddly trying to place the tacks and keep them upright and then hit them with the hammer (Not my forte!)

A little cotton boat with a pocket.

I used vintage style tacks to echo the tacks on the side of the bag.

Lining tacked in place

Just the lid to do now, plus solving the little problem of how to attach some loops for the new handle to clip on to. Please come back for Part Four!

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Wicker Work...Part Two

23/2/2022

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Firstly I took it into the garden and removed as much dust as I could with a stiff clothes brush. It then had a gentle wash with an old washing up brush. I let it dry then carried out a second wash. It certainly looks brighter, but its difficult to clean between the individual canes. I decided that would do, as a certain amount of patina is expected on vintage items.

I then tackled the brittle leather strap, applying first a neutral then a brown polish. It has become more pliable, but I think would still eventually break with use, so I'll ditch that and use a shiny new adjustable cross body brown leather strap instead!

I then made some paper patterns for the lining, which will be double sided so that I can sandwich a thin layer of wadding between the two sides and it won't show from the outside. Come back later to see what's next!

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Author

Hello, I'm Ruth Overton. My nickname as a child was 'Ruthie Toots' which is how the name
Toots Totes'
came about!
I come from a family of artists and artisans and the creative gene has resulted in a desire to make stuff. There's nothing I love more, than to sit at my old treadle machine, sewing. It was handed down to me, through the family having been bought by my Grandad for Grandma in the 1930's. (See my blogs about the machine here.)
More recently I have turned my attention to designing and creating bags and 'Toots Totes' began.
I'm going to blog about how ideas for bags come about and how things happen in the sewing room, so join me there if you want to, or bypass this to go to the store or the gallery, if you prefer - I won't mind!

Tree Peony...Take Three!

Markshall Estate Christmas Market

Tree Peony…take two!

And a hairband

Production Line

Cross stitch obsessions...

Sunflowers - a symbol of hope and solidarity.

Wicker Work...finished!

Wicker Work...Part Three

Wicker Work...Part Two

Author

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