Life is for living

I was meant to be blogging today all about my new makes, still not listed but made none the less. But something changed that today....

See the photo of one of my dogs here Alfie, Alfie has hip dysplasia and Spikes Disease, but while he can he is still living life to the full and enjoying each day. Something we can all learn from Alfie.
My friend from outside the UK phoned me this morning, (some of you know her on my twitter account, which I joined so we can chat - so I will not name her here) She has been suffering from Cancer for some time and yesterday was told she now has weeks left. Not a huge surprise as we said our goodbyes earlier in the year when she was in the UK.
If I have been taught anything from my friend it is how important it is to live each day to the full, and not to let the silly (and I mean SILLY) daily niggles infringe on your day, on my walk with Alfie and the others this morning I noticed how important this lesson is.

I have missed my friend for years since she moved away, and above all I find it so unfair why such a fabulous person who would do anything she could for anyone and devoted her life to help animals can be taken from us so young. Perhaps her love and kindness is needed elsewhere, something none of us can know for sure.

If you have managed to read through this, dont be sad for her and certainly not for me......... but remember to live your life to the full, and make each day count.

*SALE* ~ FOLKSY'S ONE DAY SALE

Now here is one you can all follow, each day the talented Folksy Artists have a *ONE DAY SALE* which means they choose just one of their fabulous items and place this on sale for just that day, so you do have to be quick to find yourself a bargain. Easy to find, advertised on 'twitter' and you could even use the search box on Folksy, or look at the "PROMOTIONS" at the top of the Folksy Forum and find details there.
But for today, I am going to treat you to just a few of the items on offer today.

To begin is "Pink Chihuahua kisses" who has this lovely big n bold necklace in today's sale



This watercolour and pen art of a forgotten street is on offer from "Created by Kelly"



A treat from one of the jewelers "Maxine Veronica jewelery" is this lovely blue, turquoise and bronze necklace



How snug is this? and made from soft blue cotton, a baby blanket from "Uniquely Yours"



This is lovely, a fluffy Phone/IPod sock with charm from "Basset House Crafts"



From another of the popular jewellery artists "Shoogly Beads" is this great design with coral sea pearls



Lastly to remind us of those now forgotten Wimbledon days, from me here at Bags of Swank by SimJaTa, a tennis feature tote bag




All you need to do is to click each picture to be taken to today's special offer, or so you can favourite the shop and keep checking back each day - easy sale shopping on line with no queue's. Enjoy...........

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

New Design ~Work in progress

Here is a new one for me, some work in progress.. as it will take me some time to get this finished thought you might like to take a look at how things take shape. I am hoping this will be fabulous when its done, but remember my first attempt at the raggy bag? so who knows, lets see how it pans out during the week (or so)







I started off by selecting some fabric, decided to go for green's, with the zillion and one boxes in my craft room to go at this took some time.
So,fabric selected off to the iron to press the fronts and backs. Then (and here is were I really wish I actually did do any maths at school) cut all the batting to fit inside each fabric sandwich.
The first of the new bit, some fancy quilting done on each piece of fabric - must say this was a fun part too, hope you can see on the pictures once it was all laid out to be almost bag shaped.
Then all sewn together to actually 'be' bag shaped.

Still a very long way to go, most of the bits I need I am now at the mercy of the postman to fetch them so that could slow things down. I still have the handle to decide on, and made a decision on fastners which of course I didnt have any of so just ordered them too, again to begin that wait for the postman.

Tomorrow I am going to practice some embellishments for this bag, and for others in the future.

I just hope I can achieve the designs that are in my head, and that they will be loved as much as I enjoy creating them.

I will update my blog with the finished article when its ready, but I wouldnt hold your breath, may well be next weekend.

~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~

Folksy #Junebugs gift feature

Roll up, Roll up - its pay day for many, so come and take a look at the talented June Bugs on Folksy, must be time for a treat. Be sure to click on each picture to be taken to look at that special item, and the rest of the shop.

This one is on my list, or should I say my husbands (or at least it BETTER be if he knows what is good for him) another good thing to do is forward the link to a loved one who will surely wish to treat you! I already forwarded this shop to my Dad who I hope has bought me the wonderful 'clanger' necklace, here is "Whimsical Wrens" simply fabulous Bagpuss, but be warned it does have my name on it already!



From "Audrey's Cat" is one of her fab Retro animals, these pretty mice would make a lovely treat for you



For the person who has everything, and loves their garden, here is a great treat from "Dottie Designs" a gardening journal



This would look wonderful on your handbag (or better still one of mine LOL) I love these Polymer clay charms from "Carols Crafts"



This was one of my favourites from "Clover Jewles" such a lovely shade of blue in this morning dew flower necklace



"Bessie Loves" has some very stylish jewellery in her shop, here are today's lovely earrings she has just introduced to us



..and lastly from me here at "Bags of Swank by SimJaTa" its those happy frogs who cant fail to make you and those around you smile at them



I hope you have enjoyed today's selection, rush out quick and treat yourself or of course send the links on to friends, before the month runs out and you havent spent that hard earned cash on something nice for once.

Enjoy your day.

~Bags of Swank by SimJaTa~

Raggy Quilt Bags by SimJaTa

Slight exageration in the title, but I do have one here ready to go on sale tomorrow. With major thanks to Jane at "Old Friendship Crafts" (seen in last blog post, do take a look!)my second attempt far surpassed the first.

Cant say I am getting that much quicker at it though, it took me 2 hours to cut the fringing all the way around the squares and top. I have added my own lining and raggy pocket this time too, and even remembered to pop in a Bags of Swank by SimJaTa label, must have been an omen on the last bag as I forgot that bit..

Thats it for now though, I managed a new tote bag today which will go on sale on Sunday (hopefully) as I dont have time to sort out the pictures. This is one of a limited edition of 6 only.

Tomorrow is a usual Friday so rather busy, but thrown into the equation is also a visit to the dentist - YUK. Also preparation for Saturdays fund raiser for Woof Beginnings, so I have about 2,000 raffle tickets to fold up and all the tombola prizes to attatch labels too, and boy do I have a lot of prizes. Unfortunatly I will therefore not manage a Folksy Friday this week, but will try make my next blog one for the Folksy "June Bugs".

Have a good weekend, and keep your fingers crossed it doesnt rain here in Southport on Saturday!

~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~