Toots Totes
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Sunny days...

31/8/2017

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Sunny days are reflected in this lovely 1970's Pat Albeck fabric, called 'Spot and Friends'. My previous tote bag in this fabric had been pieced together from a small remnant, patchwork style, so I was really excited to obtain such a large piece from MrsRocksBackRoom on Etsy.
A curtain in its former life, this genuine vintage textile is in excellent condition and it's taken a while to decide what to make! I found this yellow ric-rac fabric at Swedish Fabric Designs, which gives it a modern but retro feel and I must say I am quite pleased with the finished result.
Now available on Etsy for Pat Albeck fans or dog or cat lovers maybe? It has a choice of strap colour: yellow, brown or white.
Update: SOLD! in a flash!
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Gaining Gainsborough

15/8/2017

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A friend who has recently moved to Sudbury has been educating me on the marvellous history of silk production in this lovely Suffolk Town. Additionally the town is also the proud custodian of Gainsborough's House where the artist spent his childhood, returning as a young man for some years until his  search for patronage took him to Ipswich, Bath & London.
There is to be an exhibition: Silk: From Spitalfields to Sudbury at Gainsborough's House 17th June - 8th October 2017 and furthermore a Silk Festival in 2018.
One of the current Sudbury silk producers, Vanners, exhibited at the recent Braintree Textile Fair and I was able to buy some lovely pieces at a very reasonable price. I'm going to make some snap frame purses , some with gaudy coloured bead snaps and some more elegant versions!
I then plan to offer them to the Gainsborough's House Gift Shop, as they'll fit it nicely with their exhibition theme. I'll let you know how I get on!

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Red Heads...

5/8/2017

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The red barkcloth 'Beaujangle' bag sold very quickly so I've been asked to produce a limited edition. This is no. 2 of 5!  (Images of 'Heads' fabric by permission of the Henry Moore Foundation)
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Of the more recently acquired vintage fabrics, this cauldron effect flat cotton also sets off the stark design of the 'Heads' fabric very satisfactorily.
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Thirdly the giant fingerprints of the David Whitehead fabric coupled with a matt black top results in quite a awesome threesome, wouldn't you say?
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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 Shop or the gallery, if you prefer - I won't mind!

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