Is it May Already?

Wow, where is the year going? (I must be getting old as I remember this is something that all old people say every year!) But seriously, it's May already and it still feels like Spring is only just kicking into action, so it's hard to believe four months have passed by while I've been huddled up in my winter woollies and stitching away in my little sewing room.

I haven't exactly been hibernating, but I do feel that it's now time to come out of my 'burrow' and start enjoying the Spring sunshine and hopefully a bit of warmth.

I've done a few craft fairs in the past couple of months, with varying degrees of success, but am really looking forward to my next two fairs over the weekend of 11th/12th May, both of which are new to me. The first one is in Midhurst, at the Grange Leisure Centre (Saturday 11th May), and the next day I'm at Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking (Sunday 12th May). Both are a bit further afield than my usual fairs, so it'll be interesting to see how well my work is received 'up-country'.

What have I been making lately? Well, after feedback from buyers, I designed a new cross-body bag and made it up in four different versions, one of which I kept for myself (actually, it was the prototype, so that's my excuse!). Two were in lovely faux-suede fabrics, which work really well. Here are a few photos for you...

Little Wedding Bags

'Tis the wedding season soon, so perfect timing for my next project - little wedding bags. I have a few designs in mind and will be putting together some samples over the next week or so. These little bags will be just right for brides or bridesmaids to keep their little essentials in and will be the perfect finishing touch for that big day. Keep watching for the grand unveiling (sorry, no pun intended!).

Bag preview

I've been on a roll with the bag-making since my last post - to date I've completed EIGHT new bags and still have a few more in the pipeline. I aim to finish at least another two over the weekend, but that's a tough target. It really depends on the designs I choose to make and how much time is spent adding extra bits of decoration or embellishments to them. Most of my bags 'evolve' as I make them, so I have no idea in advance how long each one will take, or what they will eventually look like!

The bags I've already completed include four new small silk handbags, using my own hand-painted and hand-dyed silk, backed with toning silk dupion. These bags were popular last year as Christmas presents, so I decided to add a few more this year. The silk colours are beautiful and each bag is unique, perfect as a special gift, but very affordable at just £25 each. They come boxed and beautifully wrapped too.

The other four bags are a new design, a simple clutch bag - so popular this year - with a flap front. Although the design is simple, the fabrics are gorgeous - embroidered silks, shot rayon, chiffon, velvet and vintage kimono silk in a range of colours and patterns. The bags are well-made and beautifully finished with many layers of interlining, padding, stiffening and lining to give a 'luxury' feel to them. Each one takes a full day to make so they are a bit more expensive (from £50) but still exceptional value for an exclusive, individually-designed bag.

The bags will be available to view and buy at the upcoming Crafts at Lancing College, where I'll be selling  over the weekend of 27th/28th October. I won't be listing most them on Folksy until after that weekend, but they can be purchased before then by contacting me directly. Here are some photos of them:

Teal and green shot-silk type outer fabric in a diagonal patchwork design, lined with pale blue silk, small inner pocket, magnetic fastener. £70

Hand-painted silk front, trimmed with buttons, toning copper-red silk dupion back and strap, lined with black satin, button/loop fastening. Sold.

Hand-painted silk front, toning turquoise silk dupion back and strap, lined with gold satin, button/loop fastening. £25

Hand-painted silk front, toning pink silk dupion back and strap, lined with gold satin, button/loop fastening. £25

Deep pink/gold silk and black velvet outer fabric, trimmed with black stitching and two large vintage glass buttons, lined with black satin, small inner pocket, magnetic fastener. £60

Vintage kimono silk crepe outer fabric, lined with royal blue silk-type fabric, small inner pocket, magnetic fastener. £60

Hand-dyed silk front, toning pinky-mauve silk dupion back and strap, lined with black satin, button/loop fastening. £25

Brick-red/gold silk outer fabric with a chiffon drape, lined with dark red satin, two inner pockets, magnetic fastener. £60

Vintage September Sale on Etsy

I'm offering 20% off all items purchased from my Etsy shop during September. Use Coupon Code SEPT20 to take advantage of this offer and grab a bargain! Vintage linens, patterns, bags and more!

www.cstextiles.etsy.com

Too Early to Think about Beach Bags?

No....I don't think so. There must be a few of you planning an early holiday somewhere warm and exotic (lucky you!) and where else will you find a nice new beach bag at this time of year? It's practical, stylish, completely unique and it folds up nice and flat for packing...what could be better? Check it out here...

'Coral Wave' Beach Bag on Folksy

Or maybe something more seaside-y instead? How about one of these.....roll on summer!

'Seaside' Beach Bag on Folksy

'Seahorse & Fish' Beach Bag on Folksy

Spring Greens

The colour for spring 2012 is GREEN...in all its wonderful shades and hues, from pale spearmint to olive, lime and emerald. The shops are filling up with lovely fresh green clothes and accessories, so I'm joining the green party and showing some of the lovely green creations in my Folksy shop at the moment. Here are just a few of them....visit the shop at www.folksy.com/shops/ciesse to see more.

Amberley shoulder bag with pleat detail

Flora knitted handbag with fabric flowers

Carolina padded handbag in green and orange

Grassmere large shoulder bag

Hand-felted cuff bracelet

Mobile phone or gadget padded case

Green knitted furry scarf

Upcycled felted wool scarf kindle case

Not on 'Notonthehighstreet' - oh well...

A disappointing response from NOTHS - my application was turned down (booooo!) - but nil desperandum.....I'm happy on Folksy and will continue to promote elsewhere too, including CraftJuice, Facebook and here on my blog. I'm also planning to set up my own website soon, so watch this space for news of that.
I've been busy making more phone cases and bags (with thoughts of selling at a good craft fair at the end of March), and have loads more design ideas to try out, but I have to also keep the exhibitions in mind and create some artwork too.
Recent listings on Folksy include:

'Arundel' large shoulder bag on Folksy

Pink floral mobile phone/gadget case on Folksy

Blue check mobile phone/gadget case on Folksy

Green print mobile phone/gadget case on Folksy

Stunning Kimono Silk Handbag

I haven't got very far with my artwork - with two exhibitions looming, I do need to produce something to submit - but I have completed another bag. This time it's a silk one, made from some stunning vintage kimono fabric, and I've called it 'Kyoto' after one of my favourite cities. It's a classic handbag design, perfect for a special occasion or evening out, it will be a favourite I'm sure. Listed on Folksy today....

'Kyoto' classic silk handbag on Folksy

Red Monday

It's supposed to be the worst day of the year - dark, cold, cash-strapped, the Christmas bills are landing on the doormat and most of our New Year resolutions have by now failed miserably!
But...here it's a cold, crisp, sunny morning. I've just looked in the garden and I have daffodils, roses and geraniums all flowering together, despite the heavy frost on Friday night...what an amazing January!

I've just photographed and listed my latest creation on Folksy, so here it is with a selection of other items that link nicely to the Red Monday theme and will hopefully cheer you all up.

'Janus' large shoulder bag on Folksy

Crimson classic silk handbag on Folksy

Hand-felted cuff bracelet on Folksy

Wool felt padded heart on Folksy

Liberty print draught excluder

Knitted furry scarf on Folksy

Vintage linen tablecloth on Etsy

'Poppies' print

Another Day, Another Bag

I spent yesterday sewing and came up with a new bag, larger than usual, with just a single shoulder strap. It's made from a lovely fabric called 'Grassmere', by Moygashel, full of meadow flowers and very summery. I teamed it with a plain, heavy brushed cotton fabric in soft green. I was very tempted to keep it for myself, as I haven't had a new bag for a while, but it's now on Folksy...if it doesn't sell after a few months, I may give it to myself as a birthday treat! Anyway, here it is...what do you think?

'Grassmere' large shoulder bag on Folksy

This morning I had to go to Arundel to 'dress' a window for the RNLI. It's Lifeboat Day on 27th January and the RNLI have the community window in Martin Steel's opticians for the next two weeks...I was 'volunteered' to do the honours this year and make an eye-catching display. Hopefully it will catch everyone's money too!

Lovely Retro Bag

I finally finished the bag I've been making since Saturday! OK, I haven't actually been making it continually since then, but it did take a bit longer than usual. It's a lovely vintage fabric by Bernard Wardle, called Carolina, which is from the 50s/60s era. Makes a real impact! The design has been outline-quilted to make it stand out even more.

'Carolina' classic handbag on Folksy

Other than making, I've been working on the promotion side of things a bit - trying to get more people looking at Folksy, joining craft sites and forums, plugging the Facebook page - it takes a lot of time but I suppose it has to be done. I do need to keep adding vintage items to the Etsy shop too, as that has gone quiet lately...apart from an enquiry from someone who wanted to buy 5 of something...in different colours! I don't think they quite get the 'vintage' concept! Shame I didn't have 5 of them though...would've been a good sale.

Totally Unique Bags

I've been tied to my sewing table for the past couple of days, in a frenzy of sewing and stitching. The results so far are a new handbag and matching phone case - both listed yesterday on Folksy - and another handbag, which is still work-in-progress but which should be making an appearance here soon.
I don't think I'll ever make my fortune as a bag-maker, as it takes me so long to design & make them - I'm a bit of a perfectionist! - but at least I know they're well-made and I'm happy to put my name to each and every one. It's impossible to compete against mass-produced imports on price, so it has to be on quality, exclusivity and service. I can guarantee that all my bags are totally unique and you won't see another one anywhere...! So, if you see something you like, catch it while you can...once it's gone, it's gone!

'Milano' classic handbag on Folksy

A Beautiful Morning..

It's a beautiful, sunny, bright morning so I just had to go for a walk! I ended up as usual along the beach, which was pretty deserted apart from a few dog-walkers, but the sky was clear blue and the tide just going out, so a perfect morning for beach-combing. I managed to find some sea-glass and a few shells, nothing really exciting but the fun is in the searching. Talking of beach-combing, I've just re-listed my 'Beach-comber' bag on Folksy...take a look, it's certainly unique!

'Beachcomber' felted knit handbag on Folksy

Today is also the day my niece Lucy heads back to Australia for another year of adventure. It's four years since I came home from my travels out there (where did those four years go?!) and I'd love to go back. So many more beaches to comb....
Bon voyage to Lucy and anyone else travelling soon - and if you find any interesting sea-glass or shells, you know where to send them!