Cute Christmas Purses - free tutorial

Sometimes you just don't know what to buy someone for Christmas so you end up giving them money.

But money just seems a bit impersonal, don't you think?  Obviously very useful, but it can look like there has been very little effort or thought when you give money - in fact, the opposite is probably true, you have probably spent so much time thinking and rejecting ideas that by the time you decide to give some money it is the best idea ever!!

Anyway, to make your gift of money look a little more exciting, why not make a cute purse from Christmas Fabric to pop it in?  They will get a lovely hand-made gift then too.

Fully lined, with a zip, you can whip these cuties up in no time - about 30 minutes all in.

I have popped some instructions for you below.  Let me know if you make some wont you?

How to make:  (use a 10mm seam allowance throughout)

1. ·         Take your zip and measure the outer fabric to match it.  Cut two pieces of fabric the length of the zip and whatever depth you wish to make.
2. ·         Cut two more pieces the same size for the lining.
3. ·         Place the outer fabric on the desk facing UP, place the zip on the top edge facing DOWN, place the lining on top to match facing DOWN.  The zip will now be sandwiched in-between the two fabrics.
4. ·         Using a zipper foot, sew carefully down the zip line. You will have to stop half way, put your needle down, lift your presser foot and close or open the zip to enable a neat line across.
5. ·         Open up the pieces and place them back to back with the zip facing up at the top.
6. ·         Place the 2nd piece of outer fabric on the desk facing UP, place the zip on the top edge facing DOWN, place the lining on top to match facing DOWN.  The zip will now, again, be sandwiched in-between the two new pieces of fabric.  Sew it as before.
7. ·         Open the layers, open the zip half way, and place the outer together RIGHT SIDE TO RIGHT SIDE, and the inner together RIGHT SIDE TO RIGHT SIDE. Pin or clip the sides of the zips making sure the zip edges face DOWN into the lining fabric side.
8. ·         Pin or clip around to hold it all in place, change to a regular presser foot then sew all the way around, but leave a small gap in the bottom edge of the lining for turning.
9. ·         Clip the corners and trim away any access, then turn the right way in.  Sew a neat line across the bottom of the lining to close the gap before tucking the lining into the pouch.

Personalised Christmas Napkins, that cleverly become crackers!

I am constantly trying to think up new class ideas - I like to do some of my classes in two hour slots, as I find this is a nice time frame for people to keep their concentration levels up, and create something pretty too.

Christmas Crafts have usually bypassed me (nah Humbug and all that) but I made an extra effort this year to put on some Christmas Craft ideas. 

One of them will be this..... a handy personalised Napkin that trebles up, one as a place setting and the other as a gift cracker.  (Obviously it doesn't 'crack', but you know what I mean)

The initials are cut from Christmas themed fabrics and appliqued onto the hemmed and stitched linen squares, then rolled around a cardboard tube with a little gift in.

If you fancy doing this workshop, and why would you not?  after all, it's playtime, on a sewing machine!!, just give me a shout   :)

"Driving Home For Christmas" event by Tebay Services

If you have ever driving right up North, up the M6, you will have passed Tebay Services.   Just before Shap if driving Northbound.

It's a really pretty place to stop, and most unlike any other service station that I have stopped at.  It has a great reputation for lovely products and fabulous food.  

What.... wait a minute?   Service station - fabulous food..... how does that work?  Well, it does, check out their Trip Advisor reviews more more details.


So, I was delighted to be invited to their "Driving Home For Christmas" event last week.  It's not too far from home for me, 40 or so miles, down the straight M6, but just in case there was 'tipple' on offer, I organised a driver  ;)  Good job too as it happens.

It is a very clean and inviting building,  and of course I need to mention the toilets, as surely this is the number one reason that most people stop off at Motorway Services?
Spotlessly clean, plenty of cubicles and a Dyson hand dryer  (I do love those things!!)   You can even have a shower if you need one.

When we got there we wandered into the event room, which overlooks the pond with lots of little ducks bobbing about.  Got offered a soft drink, or Prosecco - well, I had a driver so why not, thank you very much.

Tables were set all around with all the different suppliers that supply Tebay Services with the amazing goodies that you will find within the shop there.

Our first stop was the Christmas Pudding table, aka The Buxton Pudding Company.

The most amazing Christmas pudding I have ever tasted, bar my Mother's.  I never usually like a 'bought' pud, but this was very yummy, and best of all - vegetarian!   A lot of bought puds use beef suet, so it was lovely to find a veggie one.  Dom (the chap above) told us that the little Robins that feast on the leftover suet each year were not impressed at 'going veggie'.... the first year they didn't eat the veggie suet, the next they returned - so all is good there   :)


Next stop was all about pies. The Pie Mill is based in Threlkeld, right bang in the middle of the Lake District, and their pies are names after the fells in the area.
I didn't eat at this table as they were all meat based (apart from a delicious looking apple one, but I fear that was there for show and I didn't think I could eat it all in one go without anyone noticing   ;)

My guests tried the pies for me.  There was a turkey and chestnut with cranberry topping, and a beef with melted stilton topping.

It was hard to get a review out of them as they were so busy chewing and making very appreciative noises.  But I did get 'tender', 'beautiful', ' creamy', 'delicious'.  Work out what you will from that   :)


Onwards to the cheese table, aka, The Appleby Creamery.  I LOVE cheese, and there was plenty to sample on here.  From Smoked Brie (unusual, yet really good) to a hard, cheddar style, goats cheese called 'Hootenanny'.

This is Morris, and his name is not on the supplier information below as he has taken over the business.  He's the 'new guy'.

And vegetarians need not worry as veggie rennet is used throughout their whole range!  Fantastic.
(I had to buy some of this Brie as it was just so good!!)

The next stop was a relish and cracker offering.... but I got side-tracked by a lady waving Toffee Vodka samples at me, so will backtrack to that one later   :)

This is her, Judith, from Kin Vodka, the lady with the tray of naughtyness - good job I had a driver really as I delved in for a taste.  

Oh my goodness..... I could happily drink a bottle of this, without mixer!

After our neat sample, which we all agreed was yummy (except our driver of course) Judith went on to pop a plop or two in our half drunk Prosecco glasses to make a fun cocktail.  That was nice too.  Hic!

Vodka tested, we backtracked back to the relish table where we found The Hawkshead Relish Company, and seven pots of various relish, jams, butters to try.  

I tried every single one of them!  I really did.  My very favourite was the Damson & Port Jam... or was it the Rum Butter?,  I think I am still undecided.   But that jam would be amazing on a Brie baguette with Brie from the Appleby Creamery.

Following on to the next stand was a bit of a dangerous one for me as it was Stollen!  I totally love stollen, I try not to buy it too often as I just trough it until it is gone, but it would have been most rude not to try some of this lovely looking handmade one.

Great big slices.... which Patrick, from More Artisan Bakery, then spoiled by cutting in half, and I told him so too, so I got a full slice all to myself   :)
Heaven in a bread, that's all I am going to say about that!

I spent the rest of the evening trying to brush icing sugar off my top, it was in vain.  Hint: don't wear black when taste-testing Stollen.


Fellow Veggie people look away now as the next stop was A Taste Of The Lakes, who specialise in charcuterie.

Now this stuff must have been nice as I could barely drag my guests away as they tasted chicken, salmon and sausage.  "Beautiful" was the adjective most used whilst we stood at this stand, and I heard it a good few times.

Last, but not least, was The Eden Brewery stand - no samples at this one, but we did get one in a goody bag to take away with us.  Not yet tried it, I am waiting for the right moment.

I really do need to get a bottle of the beer called Antifreeze, it is such a brilliant name.  A few of their beers are inspired by the film Withnail & I and they have fab names too such as The Embalmer and HearHareBear.


Look at this - Kendal Mint Cake Liqueur!, sadly no taster available, but I really need to buy a bottle.  I bet it is just divine.

I will leave you with some final photos, just so you can see what a wonderful event you missed.  But I hope you will be inspired to visit Tebay Services next time you are passing.  I certainly will, in fact we have made it our mission to be our stop next time we are heading off somewhere.  We were planning to eat dinner there after the event, but we had all eaten too many samples to squeeze anything else in!

A final note, can I just thank Tebay Services, and namely Ellen, for inviting me to this exciting event.  I really enjoyed it and your hospitality was just wonderful.

My damson gin is brewing...

My yearly bottle of plonk is on the brew.  This year it happens to be Damson Gin.

Very easy to make, very hard not to taste test every evening.

If you want to make some here is the recipe:

• 1.5 kilo Damsons
• 600g Sugar
• 2 x 75cl cheap gin

I washed the damsons well then removed the stalks.

Then slit each one down the side to allow the gin to seep into it.

I then had the task of getting rid of all the pretty bubbles from the demi-johns that I had managed to make while washing them.  23 rinses later, no bubbles.

I weighed out the sugar ready - I just used regular granulated sugar.

Then started layering it into the jar.  Some damsons, then gin, then sugar.

Use a funnel for the sugar, it's much cleaner and easier.

And then we were done!  All I have to do now is to shake it once every day to make sure the sugar dissolves, and here comes the hard part - LEAVE IT ALONE TO BREW!

I might sneak a little taste now and again - and just cannot wait to eat those boozy damsons!

Do you have a brew on this year?

Upcycled Jeans - into an iPad case

It might seem odd to make a Christmas gift out of an old pair of jeans, but I had a cunning plan and the Jeans were washed and cleaned   :)

Remember the iPad case I made for my sister?  You can find the tutorial HERE if you would like it.

Well, I decided to make one for my DIL2B  (Daughter in Law to be).  She loves blue and the only blue fabric I could lay my eye on was a pair of jeans in my upcycling fabric box.  Could I?  Should I?

Yeah, why not.

Following the same directions as the one I made for my sister, I cut out the denim, wadding and lining fabric and got to work.

I used a bright and cheerful fabric for the lining, it's from The Very Hungry Caterpillar range at Hobbycraft.

Then I added my button, so she wouldn't forget who made it  :)

And voilà!  A fab little iPad case that holds not just your iPad, but your phone as well!!

And I am happy to say, she liked it  :)  (and uses it, which is always a good sign)

Edward's Menagerie - Rabbit & Cat

As well as making Winston the Aardvark and Samuel the Koala for Christmas gifts, I also made Emma the Bunny and Alexandre the Russian Blue Cat for my great niece and nephew.

Meet Emma, the Bunny.

And Alexandre the Russian Blue Cat.

Both are sporting wooden bum buttons so no one forgets who made them  :)

Again, if you are thinking about getting this book, then do, I highly recommend it.  The patterns are all formed of one basic pattern so you can get to grips with it really quickly.  It is easy to follow and the results are very cute.  You can by it on Amazon by clicking THIS LINK.

ps: The Amazon links I've scattered throughout the page are affiliated  if you click and buy I might get a few pennies.  

Cat's & Strawberries - a mini iPad case tutorial

You may recall I made my Uncle an iPad case from Tractor themed fabric.

Well, while I was at it I though I would make my Sister one for Christmas too.

First of all I placed the iPad on the fabric, and leaving an inch all the way around I cut out the pieces.

• 2 from the outer fabric
• 2 from the wadding
• 2 from the lining

Taking the outer fabric and the wadding I then stitched up them using my sewing machine, to create a quilted effect.

With the right sides inwards I sewed the two pieces together around three sides.

Next I sewed the two lining pieces together, right sides facing each other, to make a little pouch.  I left a hole in the bottom to turn the whole thing inside out later on.

For the flap I cut a piece of each of the fabrics and the wadding.

 

And quilted the outer fabric to the wadding as before.

I added a piece of Velcro to the lining fabric.

Then sewed the two pieces together with the right sides facing in.  Once sewn I turned them the right way out and over-sewed the edges to give it a nice crisp finish.

Then it was time to sew it to the main pouch.

Next it was time to add the lining in and give the top seam an oversew.

Then I added a funky button that I bought from HERE.  The button is just for show as the Velcro provides the fastening.

And that's it finished!  Voila!  Done!  Complete!  Useless!

Yes, useless.  To my sister anyway, as she doesn't have an iPad mini, she has a full sized one.  And I only found out on Christmas Eve so no time to remake it.  

I gave her an IOU instead  :)   

I adapted a bag pattern from Emma at Hole House to make this case.