To Do List Part.....errrmmm too many ;)

Well after all the excitement of the Christmas Swap (which I am still smiling from) I thought it would be good for me to get back to that notorious 'To Do list' and let you know what I've been up to. (Just wanted to say thanks for all your kind comments on my last post **hug**)

Back to the list, you may remember a few posts back where I had bought some gorgeous fat quarters of Japanese fabrics to make some more cosmetic pouches and purses. If not here is a pic of all the pieces cut out with co-ordinating zips.

As there are 5 sets I have decided to keep one set for each post so watch out for the others tomorrow and the rest of the week.

I love this fabric, it almost looks Christmassy to me, but then again anything that is red and green at the moment makes me get in the festive mood!! :0)

In each fabric I have made a large cosmetic pouch- great for keeping all your make up in and is even big enough to hold make up brushes too, a medium make up pouch- great for having in your hand bag with your essentials in there, and a coin purse- big enough to keep cash credit cards and even a set of keys or mobile phone.

As always my pouches and purses have contrasting fabric and zips, I do try to not give 2 pouches the same combination so it keep them individual.

And as I only bought a fat quarter these 3 babies are the only ones I've made. I like to keep them in limited numbers ensuring that they are in keeping with bagladee's ethos. The only thing left to do is add the charms to the zips and rhinestone detailing. I will be listing them on my website (not on Etsy this time- Sorry Etsians, if you are interested email or convo me and I will list on Etsy as a reserved listing especially for you :) just ask).

So ticking off the Christmas Swap and the new pouches, that left me free to make some pouches out of the fabric I had left from Elizabeth's Christmas Swap bag (I don't ever waste any fabric, its too precious to me), they look so cute with the little snow men on. I will try and get these into my Etsy Shop this week. I will post photos before I do. Plenty more on that 'To Do list' so I'm off to tackle some more.

.......every where you go! (its beginning to look a lot like christmas)

Thanks so much for your comments about my swap goodies for Elizabeth, now I bet your itching to know what was in my parcel? I know I was!!!!

First of all there was this gorgeous little card with a hand embroidered toadstool, inside was a lovely message from Elizabeth...."Dear Emma, Hope you like the enclosed-they should be useful this winter. Both are 100% pure wool-as is the felt flower, the button is vintage."

Well I could barely contain myself at this point, ravaging the paper off like a crazy woman!!

And look what was inside this gorgeous knitted beanie hat and matching scarf!!!!!! I know its fab isn't it :) I absolutely adore the colours and the felt flower and vintage button set it off just right! Are you jealous???

I want to say a huge thank you to Elizabeth who was an amazing swap partner......she has a fab blog called Making Good Use if you haven't seen it pop over and say hi. And if you too love her knitted creations then why not visit her etsy shop to see what goodies she has for sale?

God, where did they get this model from??? She has bags under her eyes, and I'm sure she has a lazy eye on one side? Oh its me!!! Ha ha ha :) As you can see they fit perfectly and match my eyes ;)

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas......

Since Elizabeth has received my package for the Christmas Swap (OHHHH Yessssss, we opened them tonight!!!!!!!!!) I thought I'd show you what I made for her.

OK are you ready? Here goes........

I am by no means a paper crafter or card maker, I've done a few basic ones before so I thought I would have a go at making my own for the swap.

And this little fella on the front I cut out of felt and hand stitched before sticking on. I also used these fab little fabric snowflakes that I picked up at the craft fair last week.

And of course it goes without saying that the main gift was a bag.......it had to be :)

I used a lovely Japanese fabric with snowmen printed on it and a lovely green cotton inside to contrast with the red handle and used some festive coloured ribbon as a tie for closure.

Bless those little snowmen.....so cute and colourful.

Then I decided along with the snowman for the card I would make a holly brooch, which could be used to adorn the bag or worn separate on a jacket or blouse.

Once they were all wrapped up I added this gift tag, that matches the card :) and to my delight I received a lovely email from Elizabeth this evening saying how much she loved her swap goodies (Oh I should also mention that I added a little box of Lindt chocolates!!! I know they're scrummy aren't they?).

And yes, I've opened my parcel from Elizabeth......but not I'm not going to tell you what it is, you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out as I'm doing a post all about it.

Have a lovely evening xx

Look what I've got??

This is totally major.......me......Emma (very impatient hasn't been able to wait for anything in her life, ever!!!!) Has received her Christmas Swap goodies 5 days ago!!!!

Yes 5, five, 5 days ago!!!!! And I still haven't opened it!!

All I want to know is: Am I allowed to open it yet???????

Fellow swappers please put me out of my itchy, cat on hot tin roof misery and tell me, if my swap partner (Elizabeth from Making Good Use, has received hers too, can we open them? (Oh my god I think I'm regressing back to when I was 5 I can feel a tantrum coming on, yes that's lying on the floor legs and arms flailing everywhere!!! ;)

100th Post!!!

Since its my 100th post I thought I would post something a bit festive. I've just listed these cute little Christmas Flower Brooches in my Etsy shop. Click here.

They also look fab with ribbon looped through the pin at the back for tree decorations.

Are you feeling festive yet??????

Christmas/Crafts/Christmas/Crafts!!

I just want to say thank you to all of you who left comments on my last post, its nice to know there are such thoughtful people out there that read my blog and it certainly put things into perspective a little.......what will be will be! I just have to sit it out.

I've been bursting since I got back from the Christmas Craft Fair yesterday to show you what goodies I brought back :) I had a lovely day, Chris braved it and joined me (secretly I think he actually enjoyed it). It was craft overload for me though at one point when we stopped for lunch I could hardly contain myself. There were people walking back and forth with craft storage and bags full of goodies....I was thinking I was missing out on something just because I wasn't in there ferreting around the stands. There was one stand where it was nearly every woman for herself......I felt quite intimidated ;)

Anyway this is what I did buy: some storage for beads and machine spools, a great little gadget for sticking crystals on, some stamps, card, magazines, cake ribbon (I shall explain in a second), and some beads etc.

Whilst I was rummaging through a huge box of stamps that were only £1 I found this 'It's a bag thing' stamp and I just had to get it.......and is now bagladee's motto!!

OK to explain the cake ribbon, my mam (hiya mama!!) makes the most amazing Christmas Cakes EVER!!!! She makes them in mid November and gives some away and sells the others.

If I had to say what my favourite smell is would have to be when I was younger I would come in from school in November and the house would be filled with the smell of Christmas cakes slowly cooking in the oven, for me there is nothing that beats that. And if I was lucky I'd get a little sip of sherry too ;) So these are for her to decorate her cakes. I have a small piece of last years still carefully wrapped up, but cant wait to get this years!!!!

Oh what a feeling.......not good :o/

I'm always the type of person where when I do a job I put my all into it, even more so when it came to starting my job at the place I work now. I had no experience in the field I was going into and was not qualified in anything to do with it as my degree is in Fashion and Textiles. But I was asked to stay on permanent after being taken on as a temp.

I've worked really hard for the past 4 years and worked my way up to a good job with a good salary. And although I have spent most of the past year complaining about my job, most people do don't they?, I realised today just how important the job is in my life. I suppose that happens when you are hauled into a room and told that your job is at risk due to multiple redundancies. I cant tell you how shell shocked I am, I don't normally feel compelled to write anything about my day job as its been my bread and butter, my means to an ends but this has really had an impact on me. Its the not knowing, but I hope that it doesn't happen to me. I know there are probably many people just like me who've been affected by the credit crunch and I really can sympathise with you.

Anyway on to something more cheery.......
I've decided on my new years resolution already, and that is to have a go at printing my own fabric and doing some free-hand embroidery. I would like to design and make a range of bags where only one of each is made, with a unique print and embroidery detail. I am a massive fan of limited edition ranges and thought it was about time I thought about doing my own!!

So to help me on my way and get a little inspiration I bought these two books that arrived earlier in the week. They are fantastically detailed in directions and tips. Cant wait to get stuck into them in the New Year.

And I mentioned on an earlier post that I had bought some yards of Thai Silk so I though they were so gorgeous I just had to post some photos to show you.

You can see the two-tone colour better in this picture, I love teal and pink.

With the events of today I'm lucky that tomorrow is a day I've booked off and were going to the Crafts for Christmas Fair at the Birmingham NEC, which also includes free entry into the Hobbycrafts and Art Materials Live. So I will be in my element tomorrow!!!!!! Will take some photos and show you my loot (as no doubt there will be something I want to buy) tomorrow.