Handmade Gifts

This post should really be called "Putting that Liberty fabric to good use at last". A few weeks ago I was sent this beautiful and inspiring book through the post as a surprise gift from a very good, good friend. I was itching to get going as soon as I opened it. Full of ideas for gifts, toys, artwork, homewares and soft furnishings all with a slightly retro and feminine feel to them. Easy to follow intructions and projects both big and small

The first thing to catch my eye were these bookmarks.

As with all projects that promise to be "super fast" they took me a little while...an afternoon to make four. I think that is more down to my lack of skill than anything else. But it was such a pleasing little sewing task...I got so much pleasure from choosing ribbon and buttons to match the fabric.

And then I decided to cover a notebook, using the pattern from the book. 

It was to be a birthday present for my friend Debora. I bought some Moleskine notebooks, as I know she is a fan of these, and covered one and gave her the other as a spare for when the first is used. I only wish they were a little thicker, as they are quite slim notebooks.

But instead of the suggested applique decorations, I made a "d" (for Debora!) in fabric to match the bookmark. I want to make more covered notebooks but I need to play around more with the best way to do it, and the best weight of fabric. You can see where my sewing wrinkled at the bottom. I wonder if I should have used a heavier fabric.

But at least it was satisfyingly easy to wrap!

Lastly I made two simple cotton shopping bags for two more lovely ladies who have birthdays this week (May has been such a busy birthday month!!). The pattern is from my head, but it was so very very easy - I just looked at some bags I had and thought...I could make that. It is simply a long rectangle of fabric, hemmed at the top and bottom, folded in the middle, sewn down the sides, and then turned the right way out, with handles sewn on. I appliqued on flowers for added colour and pattern and because, well, I do like to applique things.

They are intended to be the sort of bag you keep folded at the bottom of your handbag for shopping when you are out and about. I would like to have a go at lining them, and making some oilcloth ones too, so that they are a bit sturdier.

So, three birthday presents made in the last week, saving me about £30. Which is about what is cost me to have my Winterwoods ABC Sampler professionally framed, so that all balances out rather nicely in the household budgets, and marital harmony prevails.