Its Handmade Monday!

Its handmade Monday time and only my second, I enjoyed it so much last week and met some fabulous new crafters. More importantly though after all this time the lovely Wendy at 1stUniqueGifts who organises all this for us taught me how to do a clicky link, so huge thanks to Wendy who can be found here 1stuniquegifts along with all the other talented crafters who join in with handmade Monday.

Today I am going to talk about quilting, I so admire all those talented quilters who make such fantastic works of art, so much time goes into each piece and the results are amazing. Just for your amusement, here is my very first attempt from last year.




One day I will find the time to start on a real quilt, though I often think I just use the lack of time thing as an excuse. I have all the quilting needs, my Mums friend in Wales was an amazing quilter it was her life, sadly she lost her sight and could no longer continue, she was more than happy to give me all her collection in the hope one day I would learn. I will do one day.
I often visit the exhibitions just to look and admire this craft, and have a few magazines. To begin with I raided the library of all their books, there are plenty there for anyone like me who would love to start.

Last week as a bit of a cheat I had a go at some bags, by quilting the dogs on them, the idea was to give them a 3D appearance on the bags and to keep my hand in so I dont forget, I do think maybe I should have used a different colour thread though but still I enjoyed doing it.





So that was my week, wonder what this week will bring?

Whats new at SimJaTa?

OK, first of all bare with me, I have tried to put the photo's on the left - so you can look at what I am waffling on about as I go, but its all jumbled up as I write so cant tell what is where.

First of all should be my newest bag design, having decided I wanted to do some beaded quilting I discovered (the hard way) that you cannot rag quilt a beaded bag as all the beads loose their colour in the washing machine. So, had to go for patchwork quilting, with some embroidery and bead work - quite pleased with the result on my first attempt.

Then,I wanted to try textile brooches, so many lovely ones for sale on Folksy and had to be sure I constructed my own design, so here is the first one - in the shape of a handbag, rather appropriate to me being "Bags of Swank" I thought.

Landing in the wrong order is a close up of the little garden patch I created on the bag, I really enjoyed this and have been busy purchasing some more little beads and flowers to add to bags and maybe brooches in the future.

Whilst designing one of the squares I came across this lace, and thought together with some purple velvet and a few beads it might make a rather unusual glasses case, so this is what then appeared.

The last glasses case (I really hope this writing is somewhere near each picture) was my having another play with textile design and beadwork, using a variety of fabrics and lined with sari silks a new quilted design was created.


Lastly, the green patchwork number I showed you earlier in the blog was added to my shop today - you can find it by clicking on the photo which goes direct to my shop, I was thrilled to see earlier it had collected a couple of favourites, so hopefully at least 2 people out there like it so far




My new items should start to appear on Folksy from the weekend, as rather a busy schedule planned for tomorrow with no spare time for listing. I hope you like them, as I have had a lot of enjoyment designing them.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Folksy Friday ~ Talented Quilters

As I have caught this quilting bug (although mine are the raggy variey not quite as smart as these) I thought this week I would share just some of the talent on Folksy from the quilters there. Be sure to click on these pictures for futher details and a good look around each shop of lovelies.
You may think some of these items are a bit pricey, but the quality of workmanship is amazing, and the hours it takes to create these original beauties you would not believe. Talent and heaps of patience goes into this art.

To begin is "Beccabugs" who has this wonderful and organic cot blanket, not just great to look at but perfect for soft sensitive skin.



An English Garden Cozy quilt from "Nostalgia Knits" is next, I can but dream of creating anything so special



I struggled with which to choose from "Friday Club" so do be sure to look at the rest of the shop, this one is a personalised patchwork baby quilt



"BooBoo Craft" has this great handbag, must have been hours of work with the quilting and sewing all those wonderful bright buttons on, its called 'handbag push my big buttons'



Here is a very smart handbag from "Not Just Handbags" again, time taken to create this wonderful effect, be sure to take a look at the rest of the smart bags here.



This one is just amazing, done in my style of raggy quilting, but a large design make a great throw for the sofa - needs to be shown off in full glory, by "Helen Jane's Designs"



Here are my first 2 raggy bags, one more finishing in the dryer with more detail on -wont be listed till Sunday though. Lastly, from Bags of Swank by SimJaTa






Hope you have enjoyed the above talent, these are just some of the quilters on Folksy there are others, worth a look if only to view such talent. But better still for a great attractive treat or gift.

Have a good weekend

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

SimJaTa Explores a new skill

RAGGY EDGE QUILTING

Inspired by one of the Folksy Seller "Old Friendship Crafts" who I will show you later - how it SHOULD be done..

I set out to finally, after a long time of wishing to try, make a start. I think it may well need a bit more practice dont you? Sure is time consuming to begin with, if (which of course it isnt) this bag had proved good enough to sell for the hours I spent creating it would have cost over £50!!!
I began, as shown in the pictures by sorting out my fabrics and squares, then put them all together in something that resembled a bag and chopped up all the seams - before wash I was not so impressed. The last picture of the bag having been washed, shook, and tumble dried as you see is not much better. Luckily I have had some expert help since and I am already half way through bag number 2 that just 'has' to be better doesnt it?
Oh, as you can see mistake number one was using four squares across - should be 3 or 5 so there is a centre to attatch the fastener. I wont go into the rest of the errors or we will be here all night...

Many thanks to the lovely Jane at "Old Frienship Crafts" who has given me plenty of guidence on how to get things right. So much so she well deserves a mention and highlight of her shop so you can see how the experts do it, and what can be achieved. If you click on the picture you can be taken for further details and to take a look at the rest of her lovely items.
Here is one simply stunning cushion



and here is the item that inspired me to start, one fantastic quilt



Do we think I will ever get to be that good? plenty more practice needed me thinks, but like everything else also needed is more hours in the day, so once I manage to complete the next bag that will be it for a few days or so while I concentrate on what I can do well and make up some more themed bags.

Must say though, I have really enjoyed the challenge and wont be giving up just yet.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~