And then there were 3

Just a quick peek though!! I've thoroughly enjoyed myself this week sewing away. Still a few bits to finish for my second swap......and my head is buzzing with new ideas.

Now for a bit of news.....don't want to say too much yet as I don't want to tempt fate but....I've been asked to write a 'How to' book (on bags of course) the contract is all signed and a meeting scheduled :) cant wait to get stuck in and get going now.

....keeps bagladee smiling

As the first bag pictured in yesterday's post is now in the mail on its way to the recipient, I can now post the second item for my second swap. Again no giving away just yet, it would spoil the surprise. I love making things for swaps, it makes it all the more fun knowing that you are custom making something for someone. I've also been busy sorting out a little package for a friend as a huge thank you for being so super!!

See you tomorrow for a sneak peek at bag no.3 and a little bit of news.

A bag a day....

Last weekend was a little bit of a sewing marathon ;) for me. There were 3 bags completed as well as some other bits and bobs. Can only post a sneak peek as this one is for one of my swaps but as soon as the recipient has it and the other goodies I will post photos.
See you tomorrow for bag no.2

TTFN xxx

Posting Prizes

Just in case you were wondering, Grey Parrot (aka Correna) who won my anniversary give away chose this bag as her prize. Wonderful choice Correna, this one is my favourite too :) All the prizes are in the post and on their way to all you lucky winners. I'm not going to show the additional prizes as it will spoilt it for the recipients.

Even though I've been feeling a little bit rough for the past few days (horrid lingering flu/cold...hate the things) there was quite a substantial amount of sewing going on yesterday. 3 bags (new designs), more swap goodies and ANOTHER new project. I'm going to finish a few bits and bobs off today and then I will photograph them and show you tomorrow.

I've also just signed up for Claire's Monkey Swap, its official I LOVE SWAPS!! Although I will be making the monkey swap my last for a while, I have some pretty major projects coming up soon so making things off the cuff will have to go on the back burner for a while. Hopefully in the next week or so I will be able to fill you in a little bit more of what is going on behind the scenes. Its exciting!!

Feeling felty!

OK so I've been to Hobbycraft 2 weekends in a row......do I have a problem? No, am I addicted to buying supplies? That would be a yes.......

This yummy selection of felt was on special offer so I couldn't resist going back this week and getting more. This felt is a strange mix.....not sure what kind but its quite thick and rigid and the colours are lovely and vibrant. I have a plan!!!!

Sarah if you're reading this, don't worry I'm still buying felt supplies from your lovely shop......this stuff is for a side project.

Cant reveal just what yet.....I've just realised that there are a lot of secrets going on with me at the moment. Lots of things are moving really fast and I'm still pinching myself on a daily basis, checking to see if its all real.

We're all going out for a meal tonight for the other half's Mum's birthday and were going here. Its lovely the food is gorgeous and the surroundings are very sumptuous. So its off to get dolled up ~(for a change) and I'm not driving tonight!!! Yes, wine for me please and make it a large one :)

Worn out and weary

Its 9:15pm and I've only just come in and got changed from work......I've got a booming headache, my tummy is rumbling and I feel like I could sleep for a week starting now. I love learning new things and taking on challenges and don't mind going to meetings off site. But today was definitely the longest by far. It started out by being at work extra early, a long car journey there......very long meeting, then the long journey back.

I've had to carry Nell around like a baby whilst I put tea in the oven (nothing exciting, just whatever I could be bothered to shove in) as she was in the huff that I wasn't here to feed them at tea time (the other half did).

I did have some sewing and cutting out fabric planned (as I didn't think today was going to be so long).....but now I plan to eat my tea, read some blogs and veg out in front of the TV........BLISS!!

Off to the ever so wonderful 'Hobbycraft' tomorrow!! Oh how I love thee!!! :)

Progress of the plasterboard kind :)

I'm still smiling from all of the nice comments that you all left on my giveaway post, I cant thank you all enough. (YEY I have new blog friends Hi **wave**).

I thought it was about time for an update on the sewing room/loft conversion. So 2 weekends ago it was looking like this, floor completed no plaster board up and one of the back boards were removed to add some cables and pipes.

Lots of tools lying around.....

Then after lots of stretching (by me) holding up plaster board (by me) and complaining that muscles were burning (by me) they were all securely screwed into place by the other half.

After it was all up there I felt like I had done 24 hours of Pilate's.....I ached in places I didn't know I could ache!! But when we stood back and took stock of the past few days labour it was all worth it. I was shocked at how much it is already starting to feel like a room now.

As you can see we've left the main roof beams exposed as they were just too lovely to cover up, they need a lot of love and attention though. Due to the house originally having coal fireplaces the attic was full of black soot when we first ventured up there, meaning that the beams are a really dark brown colour. My job is going to be sanding them down and giving them a well deserved coat of wood stain (don't worry I will be using an electric sander!!).

Another weekend of jobs ahead of us....hopefully we will have some more photos soon.

Winner Announcement

Thank you to all of you who entered my anniversary give away....I was totally overwhelmed with number of comments - who'd have guessed my little ol' bags would generate such interest. As a wonderful blog birthday gift I received lots of new followers and met lots of new lovely bloggy friends, I do hope you all come back to visit from time to time. I love being part of the blogging community :)

OK down to business, I decided to do it the old fashioned way of names in a felt bucket.........

And I'm pleased to announce the winner is:

GREYPARROT

Congratulations!!!

Since there were so many entries I decided to pick another 4 names out, which are:

Klaudia

Dianna

ElenaMelena

Dolly

I will send a little something your way too :) Please email me your details so that I can send out your prizes.

Looking forward now, I can only hope that this year is going to be as good as last....and with you all behind me I'm sure it will.

Here's to lots of exciting projects on the horizon......Happy Crafting!!

x x x x x

A thank you from a friend

Just had to blog about this beautiful card that I received from Ruthie as a thank you for making her some custom camera strap covers. I love the colours and as you can see there was a hidden message behind the middle panel, very clever. It is now sitting on the shelf in our living room for all to see :) thanks Ruthie xx

p.s don't forget you can still take part in my 1st Year Anniversary Give Away, just click on the link on the side bar......Good Luck!

1st Year Blog Anniversary!!

****THIS GIVE AWAY IS NOW CLOSED****

YEY!! Happy Bloggy Birthday to me!!

I cant believe its already been a year since I first discovered blogs and started writing my own. What made me decide to start blogging??? Well a lovely lady called Sarah, whom I know alot of you already know, has an amazing blog and the most gorgous range of felty lovelyness. :) I cant remember exactly how I stumbled across her blog but once I started reading I was hooked! And after a while I thought, Hey I could do this too.

Feeling a little timid (me? yeah right!) and not even sure that anyone was actually going to read it...my first post was born and the rest they say is history.

I have to say starting a blog is one of the best things I ever done. I've met so many wonderful people and made some really great friends. Its kept me organised- I always know what I have to do and when it needs done by because I post about it. Being a follower is just as important to me as I love all the inspiring things I read and see on a daily basis. It has definitely given me the boost that I've needed to take bagladee to the next level. Which also started my Etsy shop and kept me motivated to finish my website.

As a gigantic thank you to all of you who have inspired, supported, commented, read, purchased, posted, swapped and challenged me I am GIVING AWAY one of my bags.....yes you read right ladies! All you have to do is leave a comment to enter, you can get an extra entry if you either:
1) Tell a friend and they comment too (make sure they quote your name)
2) Blog about my post (make sure that you come back and leave the link)

***The prize is your choice of any one of the bags in the photo at the top of the post***

The winner will be announced Monday 20th April. Thank you again......

Hugs Em xx

End of the holidays

A quick post before its back to work tomorrow :( although its only 2 1/2 days until the weekend again YEY!!!!

On Monday we had planned to go out for the day to a place near us called Matlock, the plan was to go for a lovely walk along the river then finish off with a bag of fish and chips before walking back to the car. Unfortunately we ended up staying in as the other half is really poorly (I'm no doctor but I think it could be man flu!!)

As he slept on the sofa I managed to start one of my swap gifts and a little bit of hand sewing whilst watching 'Close Encounters of the third kind'. I have to admit I have NEVER seen that film before, which the other half just couldn't believe. Not sure how I haven't just never have?

I really enjoyed it and felt quite emotional at the end when the mother was re-united with her little boy that had been abducted by the aliens. We still managed to have fish and chips from the local fish bar so not a bad day after all.

I've been playing around with a new pattern for a bag and its been causing me some grief. In my head I knew exactly how I wanted it to look but after 3 attempts I finally got there. I now have 2 versions of it....a simple one for something special which I will reveal later on, and a more complicated version to replace on of my existing patterns. Its not quite finished to photo graph but once it is I will show you.

OK I'm off to relax.......see you all tomorrow for my blog birthday. Don't forget to stop by, you don't want to miss out on something do you?????? Nope, thought not :)

Etsy Item of the day.....

.....is one of mine :) Go on over to Jackie's fab blog etsyitemoftheday to read what she thought.

Thanks for the great write up Jackie xx

Notebook covers of the IT kind

Now did I mean that in the Information Technology way or IT as in Paris Hilton? Well I suppose its both really.....

Feeling inspired by my new notebook that was a birthday treat back in Jan these little beauties were bursting to be created.

The one that came with mine was OK, it did the job, I cant really complain.....but......it was sooooooo boring. I wanted something that was going to inspire me back in return. And what better than some fun and funky fabric???

You really don't know how hard it was for me to actually list this one rather than slip my notebook into it it and slowly slink away......

I'm definitely going to make one of these for myself.....I think I deserve it ;) Both of them are available in my etsy shop and website (<--links here and on the photo's) to buy now. Cant wait to make some more of these they look fab.....and everyone with a notebook should have one :)

Don't forget to come back on Wednesday 15th for my bloggy birthday :)

Easter Weekend Bliss!!

A well deserved hot shower and a glass of wine.....just what I needed to wind down on today. Busy, busy, busy but I've loved every minute. Most of yesterday afternoon was spent sewing a new project that I am very excited about. I've only posted a sneak peek photo as I still have the others to tweak for my website and etsy shop, which I will be doing tomorrow morning....so I will post again then so you can see them all in their glory ;)

This morning we had a cup of tea in bed then I got up to cut some more fabric and tidy the house, the other half got up and finished some bit and pieces off before he went and cut some more plasterboard for the loft :)))))) *big grin* Between us this afternoon we got half of the plaster board up. The big grin is because it is actually starting to look like a room now and I can visualise where everything is going to go and how much space I'm going to have to sew until my little heart is content.

So the well deserved hot shower was to ease my aching arms from holding the plaster board up while the other half screwed it in place. I will show you some photo's Monday.

Thanks ever so much to Indigo blue for honouring me with this award :) so to pass it on here you are, I am supposed to nominate but because I love all your comments- consider yourself tagged on this one.

I love reading everyones comments, and the help and advice is great keep it coming, enjoy the award :)

Thanks Mr. Postie

As promised here are the 2 parcels that came yesterday. First off this cute little box arrived, and I knew it was from Claire as her name was on the side. Claire had kindly picked me to send her Viola brooch to.....I was so surprised when she emailed me to say I had won :)

Beautifully packaged inside was........

All these goodies!!! I wasn't expecting such a glorious array of easter goodies to boot!!

Included with the very pretty Viola brooch was a cute piece of fabric with apples and duckies, some gorgeous ribbon (which I am officially in love with!!) And some mini chocolate eggs. "Claire, I have hidden them from Chris, I'm afraid they're all MINE!! :) Big hugs for such a fab parcel, thank you xx "

My second parcel contained some fabric that I had ordered from here, now this fabric is for something really special. I'm going to make some purses with it that will include some buttons and some ribbon. I will be selling these to raise money for Cancer Research. I'm taking part in Race for Life again this year and wanted to do something more.

I know that I will have to try extra hard to raise money this year with things being so tight for everyone financially so I thought why not give a little to raise a bit more :) I will be posting them here before they go into my shop.

Dont forget to come back on Wednesday 15th for my bloggy birthday :)

Important - Wednesday 15th April

I know most of you out there will be starting you Easter holidays tomorrow......I will be at work :( the upside is that because we are a manufacturing company we work Good Friday (Friday's are only half days for me) and then get the Tuesday following the Easter Monday off!! :D

So over the Easter weekend I will be trying to blog as many things as I can.....I have lots of creative ditties to post about.

Whilst I'm not getting carried away with posting about lovely craftiness I'd like to invite you all over to my blog next Wednesday as its my very 1ST BLOG BIRTHDAY. To celebrate I will be giving away a very special booty of items. I thought I'd go all out on this being my first year of blogging. So join me back here next Wednesday armed with a cup of what ever you fancy and a cake of some description.....

Well I'm off now to go and open 2 parcels that arrived for me today......I wonder whats in them??? How exciting I love parcels :) I'll show you photos tomorrow.

Silkie Sue's Freestyle Blog Swap

I'm sorry but I just couldn't resist it!! I've found another swap and yes I'm taking part. :)

Pop over to Sam's blog on details on how to take part by clicking on the picture on the right.

The beauty of this swap is that you can swap anything that you want that you've made hence the 'freestyle' part.

You have until Monday 13th April to leave a comment if you want to take part. And swaps to be posted by the first week in May.

I've lots of ideas now!! Cant wait!! (Hi Rachel, this one's for you :) hope you take part)

Ironing?? I'd rather be doing......

Before I set off on the horrendous task of doing the ironing I thought I'd write a quick post. Really I'm just trying to psyhc myself up to actually doing it. In my mind I'd like to think that in a perfect world I would be like the photo above, just having to iron the odd bit here and there all glammed up.

The reality is I feel like there are 10 people living in my house creating ironing not just 2!!! I'm not a one to shy away from house work but there are a million things that I'd rather be doing than ironing. My plan is to get it all done tonight and out of the way so I can get back to doing some fun things.

Speaking of fun things......we've booked a little holiday for June. We didn't go away last year and weren't planning to this year with trying to finish the house. We started collecting the coupons in The Times Newspaper for 2 tickets for £90 on the Eurostar and booked tickets on Thursday last week, we've also booked ourselves into a quaint little hotel for 2 nights in Paris!!

I cant wait, I've been to France but never to Paris. I'm planning on totally over indulging on tourist activities. (Excluding snails and frogs legs....Uuuurggghhhh!!) :)

Fancy a giggle why not pop over to Squidoo to read the latest on Bagladee (just scroll down the page a little to read the interview)

Camera strap cover Challenge

Look what I made today.......

I received an email a little while ago from Ruthie (the crafty blogger) asking if I would be willing to make some camera strap covers. She particularly liked my Miami pink and orange shoppers that I had for sale and since I had plenty of fabric I agreed to have a go. I asked Ruthie if she minded being my guinea pig for this project....she said she'd love to so it was out with the grader square and pattern paper to work out the dimensions.

And today I sewed them together, I must admit I was quite impressed myself. I think the colours go great together....so vibrant and funky.

Thanks for the opportunity to play with my favouritest thing in the world (fabric) Ruthie, I do hope that they are everything you asked for.

I've found a great Swap!!!

Audrey is having a 'bag' swap!! Are you coming to join in? Of course I'm in....I couldn't resist joining another swap, even better that it is a BAG SWAP :)


Click on the button to the left and leave a comment on Audrey's post....she'll then hook you up with a swap buddie....but shhhhhh its a secret.
See you all there......x

Conversion Progress

Thought it was time for a bit of an update. Things have gone at a slower pace for the last couple of weeks due to both of us having work commitments. And with the added extra of taking ALL the flooring up to change (long story) and then finally putting it all back down we are a little behind where we thought we'd be....never mind.

Looks rather unfinished here....

But then after all the boards were put back down it reveals a lovely step up to the desk area (wwwooooooooo) ;)

And look!!! One wall is complete with plaster board....see the socket near the point of the roof. Are you thinking what on earth would you need a socket all the way up there for??? Well my flat screen TV of course!!!

Only 2 walls left to plaster board before we get the skylight in, plaster board that wall too. Sand the beams and varnish, bring the plasterer in and paint the walls......get the carpet fitted and wall paper hung and we should be ready for furniture.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bagladee/sets/72157612636120841/