Happy New Year

Well things have been pretty quiet on the creative side here in the school holidays, but I've been able to clean out my office and workroom and get ready for the coming year.  I will be going completely online once I get more stock online and out of the Pod Collective shop.  It's been a fun time being in the Pod Collective shop but I'm going to focus on working from home and concentrating on finishing my study.

I have recently opened a shop on http://www.ethikl.com.au/rubylimedesign/ so with this and my made it shop http://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=20196 I will be busy enough looking after both of these.  Although I will be busy with uni and study this year, I am hoping to still have time to make a few things to put on my site.  I will concentrate on using some of the gorgeous fabrics I have in stock, making some more little girls' dresses and some more shorts for boys too, as I have lots of great fabrics for boys.  I am looking forward to creating some interesting and unique pieces by upcycling for my Ethikl store and using some of my clothes I no longer wear to do this. 

I can't say how fortunate I feel that I am in one of the few areas not devastated by floods.  I can't imagine how the people in those areas must be feeling or going through.  Watching it makes me feel sick so how must it be to be living it.  I am hoping to get involved by donating some of my stock to raise funds for the affected people.  

 Fair Trade Bags in my Ethikl Store made by villagers in North Western India

 Glass tile pendants - only $12.95

Some of my newest fabric purchases!

As I haven't been making much lately I've put on a few pics of things I've recently put in my online shops and some fabric I'll be using soon. 

Mickey Mouse Tote Bag

This is my latest 'Storybook' bag.  Using 4 pages from an old Mickey Mouse Golden Book, the outside is protected with plastic and the inside is lined with blue and white polka dots.  The straps are long enough so you can put it over your shoulder and it sits at waist height, and the straps and behind the pages feature Japanese honeycomb cotton fabric.  The bag has a magnetic catch for a closure.  This is the first of my new larger Storybook bags - I am liking the black outer - use for a tote for yourself or a nappy bag, all will be one off designs so you can be sure no one will have one the same. 

More bags

I haven't had much time for any sewing lately, but I had a custom order to do (the pink and orange bag) and so if you do one bag, you may as well do two..  Here are the results...I'm happy to say a previous Alice in Wonderland bag I made will soon have a new home in Newcastle.. can't wait to go there tomorrow!

More bags

I've certainly been making a lot of bags lately, and am planning on a couple more this week (if I get all my uni work done first!)

 

  

This set is a custom order girl's tote bag and matching coin purse.  

 

A custom order 'Bambi' bag

 

3 different black and white patterned fabrics for this one, another custom order

Bambi - Forest Friends

I love this bag! Using an old "Bambi" Golden Book.   Bambi is so cute and both pages have lots of colour and animals and I love the orange in the tree and the bluebird.  The straps are made using Japanese echino fabric, cute colourful bugs fabric for the lining with black and white polka dots behind the pages and pink and white polka dot heart.  The bag is 22cm high, 27cm wide and the base is 9cm.  The outside of the bag is covered in PVC to protect the old book pages and it is sturdy enough to stand up on its own.

 

  

 

Hello Kitty

I love this little bag, I got some Hello Kitty fabric and some cute polka dot fabric and the design is on both sides, and so is the cute little black and white yoyo with pink button....

The Poky Little Puppy returns....

Who doesn't love the Poky Little Puppy?  Well this time I've used a page from an old copy of the book and put it with a panel of Japanese Kei Honeycomb fabric.  The fabric and paper is covered with PVC to protect it.  This bag is made from canvas and is not lined.  It has a 10cm wide base and is 30cm wide and 22cm high

More Storybook bags

I am loving making these!!

Alice in Wonderland 

 

 

 

Pussy Willow

  

 

 

 

The Jetsons

Little Red Riding Hood

I have been quite excited about making this bag and I'm really happy with the result.  It was so much fun making it, from finding the old book at the Salvos store and designing it and putting it all together! The handles have boning in them to make them stand up, the outside is covered in pvc to protect the book pages and it has a magnetic closure inside.  Can't wait to try another theme next!  Maybe 'The Jetsons'?!?  or maybe some cute kittens......

Drawstring Purse

I finished this purse today - it's an Amy Butler 'Drawstring Purse' pattern, love the fabrics and the Japanese wooden button on the front.

Creative bags

 One of the bags I just put in my online shop - I love making these with baby canvas and Japanese fabric for the strap with some hand stitching too.  This one has a really long strap so you can wear it across your body.

New Handbags

I finally got around to using this laminated cotton.  It has a feel like oilcloth and is waterproof so can be wiped clean.  I made 2 handbags, with slightly different strap variations. One has the straps sewn into the bag and the other has them attached to the outside.  Both have a long strap so you can wear the bag across your body as well as over the shoulder and have magnetic closures.  .  The fabric is 'Carnival' by Michael Miller.  Both bags have a matching coin purse with wrist strap.  They both also have 2 internal cotton pockets and a keyring with clip so you can attach your keys and always find them!! I'm going to put these in the Pod Collective shop for $59.95 including the matching purse - a bargain!! 

Bits and Pieces

I've been making a few Kokeshi Doll Pendants lately in a couple of different sizes.  They look really cute with coloured or black leather cords.  

This is a custom order.  I just made a bag like this with recycled denim and this is a request from a friend for a birthday gift.  

Now this is something for a special person who might have a thing about cats!  It's all squashed up in this pic, but it's a hand made glass tile pendant made into a bracelet with big beautiful pink Swarovski crystals and pearl beads and a gorgeous flower toggle clasp. 

recycled denim bag

This bag was made using the leg of a preloved pair of jeans, then I used some Japanese print fabrics to do the bird.  I love music notes fabric so used this for the leaves and the vine and legs are hand stitched with embroidery thread.