Make Your Own - Messenger Bag

I have bought wayyy too much fabric lately! So, it was really about time I made something!
The Messenger Bag is a really easy bag to make....simply cut out these shapes:

(Make sure the strap is long enough to go around the A pieces (as the sides of the bag) and still be a good length strap. Also, make sure it is double as thick (and a little more) then you want it to be)

Then, making sure you have the outside of the fabric facing each other, sew A Front & A Back together in a U shape like this:

Turn inside out (so the outside fabric is showing), fold the unsewn edges over & sew final edge.

Then do the same with B Front & B Back, and Flap Front & Flap back. 

Fold the strap in half (make sure the fabric is inside out) & sew along edge. Turn inside out (so it's the right way round) and sew ends so it's a circle. You fabric pieces should look like this:

Now sew the Flap pieces to the A pieces (along the straight edge).
Sew the strap to the A/flap pieces & the B pieces into the bag shape.

Lastly, cut this shape into the Zip Material:

It must be big enough for the zip to fit in. Then fold the inner edges & sew the zip on. Finally sew the Zip Material (with Zip) into the inside of the bag. This gives your bag a zip inside! (You don't have to do this bit)

Also, you don't have to do this but, I sewed the strap in half again because I wanted the bag to be thicker then the strap around my shoulders. This is my finished product:

:) I'm very chuffed. xxx

Cheeky Transfers

Thanks to my sister, I have a book of very cool transfers.
They are so easy to use & can make any old t-shirt into something really creative...

So, here is my plain top, book of transfers and trusty iron & board.

Simple cut out the transfer & iron it upside-down onto your top (check the instructions for temperate & length of time needed. Mine needed full heat for about 40 seconds each, the iron needed to be moved in small circles)

And here is the finished top...

I love it! And I hope you do too!

xxx

What do you do when your ill?

My housemate has been ill for the past few days :( So as a little pick-me-up, we did a spot of baking!! (Btw, Tesco is doing 3 for 2 on all baking products.. it's a good time to bake!)


We made some very yummy Walnut Cup Cakes! Again, these are from a recipe book, so I won't be giving you the recipe.. however click here for an equally nice Coffee & Walnut Cup Cake Recipe from BBC Food

For those of you counting.. 4 were misplaced in the making of this shoot :) 
xxxx

Homemade Chunky Chickpea & Pancetta Soup

Okay, I must admit.. I got the recipe from my new 'easy soups' cookbook (ISBN 978-1-84975-044-08).. but it was definitely too tasty not to blog about! I won't show you the recipe, but I will tell you it tastes bloody good! The soup book is amazing; they must have employed the best food photographers in town! (Especially in comparison to my Nikon Cool Pic snap)

I served mine with some delicious pesto rolls. (Okay, I cheated with these too.. I used Tesco's crust white bread mix flour). Simply add water to the mix, knead the dough & break into small rolls. With each individual roll, stretch out the dough, spread some pesto on top & roll up into swirls. Leave to prove for 30 minutes & bake for 15 minutes. (The bread instructions are on the packet!)

xxx

My £1 Photo Frame

I absolutely love poundland! 

I bought this photo frame for £1..

Added a little fabric...

..then made a pretty flower out of the vintage postcards & a button...

..now all I have to do is add a photo! Unfortunately I won't be able to show you the photo because this is a present & I don't want them to know it's for them.. :D (It could be you!!!) 

xxx

Suprise parcel...

Today I received a large and squidgy parcel.. the handwriting was definitely my mothers!

Here is what I found inside...

What an amazing Christmas Jumper!

I love my mum so much :D Your'll have to watch out for that women because she wants to open up a knitting cafe! :) But all in good time.

For now, I'll be enjoying my mum's talents by parading around town in my fantastic new knit!  

Thanks mum!

xxx

Reindeer Decorations

Okay, it's not quite December... but I have lots of Christmas present plans, so it's time to get making!


Here is my little Reindeer Christmas Tree decoration: 

The pattern for the little fellow is as follows:

Your'll need to cut out 2 A pieces (one in reverse) (make sure you cut a whole in each piece where the antlers go), 1 B piece and 4 C pieces (2 in reverse). Like this:

Sew the top halves of the A pieces together (in other words, sew from the tail to the chin).. annoyingly I didn't a photo of this. Make sure you always sew on the inside of the fabric.

Next sew Piece B on (make sure you leave the bum bit unsewn), it should look like this:

Then pull the fabric so it is no longer inside out. 

(Sorry, but I didn't take anymore photos of the making, I hope my description is good enough)

Separately, sew a Piece C back to back with a reversed Piece C. Make sure not to sew the end of these together because your'll need pull the fabric so it is no longer inside out. Do this twice (as there are two antlers). 


Sew the antlers onto the head: You should have cut a whole in each Piece A where the antlers go, push the antlers through the hole & sew on.


Stuff the reindeer with teddy stuffing & sew up the bum. 
Sew on a button (preferably red!)


(Sorry for the lack of photos, but hey look... I've put them on a non-christmas tree)

 I hope you like them (they may be your Christmas present!)


xxx

Best Hungover Day Ever

I'm sorry to announce that, although I have many on-going products, I have no completed projects to blog about.
But, I've had such a fantastic post-klute* day, that I needed to blog about it!

Today, very unexpectedly, my housemate & I found Durham has hosting a Vintage Fair... and I found some incredible bargains...

From the 'Suzanne Smith Design' Stall I bought some gorgeous vintage postcards. I'm thinking of either framing them or using them in some origami style creation... just look at how pretty they are...

From the same stall I bought the top layer of a patchwork quilt... I know it's cheating but it was beautiful! I can't wait to make the quilt (and looking forward to showing Suzanne the finished product!)

Another amazing purchase was some vintage fabric.. for just £7.20! Okay, I must admit I bought this from the permanent vintage shop in the indoor market... but, well... Gee & I enjoyed the vintage fair so much that we just had to keep on shopping! The fabric is simply stunning! I'm thinking of maybe making a skirt?

My last purchase was equally lovely! But unfortunately it's a Christmas present... so I won't be giving any clues...

Overall, my day has been spectacular :)
I hope your looking forward to the finishing products as much as I am!!

xxx

*Klute is Durham's infamous club...it's shockingly awesome.

Red Peppers Stuffed with Apricot & Feta Couscous

I've been meaning to blog about this dinner for a little while...

Although, I cannot take complete credit for it!

The couscous was made following this recipe: http://www.beyondbakedbeans.com/articles/20100523

It's delicious! (And 'serves 4 as a main' is a very generous helping!)

I simply, hollowed out the peppers, sprayed them with frylight & baked in the oven for about 15 minutes on 180 Degrees.

Whilst the peppers were cooking, I made the couscous.

I then removed the peppers from the oven, added the couscous & put back in the oven for another 10 minutes.

Covered the plates with mix leaf salad, added the stuff peppers & served with sweet chilli sauce! 

A nice and healthy nom nom nom..

xxx