No ... not that. I can't imagine I'll ever do that again in my whole life!
No, I finally made a bag that I like. Alas, it's not for me, but I suppose I could make another just like it if I so wished. As many of you will know, it was Mother's Day here in the UK yesterday; I thought I'd make Mum a nice new bag. A bag with the taste of spring (or even summer) about it. A bag in bright colours, which she would enjoy using. And by jove, I think I achieved it.
Do you remember the fabrics I bought at the Jumble Sale the kids and I went to last month? Well that bottom print is in the sorts of colours Mum likes - she loves oranges, peaches, yellows, browns and tans, greens, and creams. I had some plain orange fabric that I thought would make a good contrast to the print, so set about making Mum a simple bag.
I ended up with handles I actually like:
I ended up with an interior I actually like:
Inside one of the pockets, I tucked a matching tissue holder (fully reversible - plain orange inside) - that I like:
Inside the bag I slipped a tray of Ferrero Rocher chocolates. She loves them - I personally think they taste like gritty cardboard with a nut in the middle, and a nasty aftertaste, but there you are. Anyway, after fussy cutting the fabric for the bag outer, I ended up with a whole bag I actually like:
Thankfully I wasn't the only one who liked it ... Mum did too, which was a relief. Do you other crafty types go into a huge panic just before you give something handmade to someone, just in case they really, really hate it? I was watching her face for signs of 'It's hideous but I'll say I like it' ... but no, she really did love it. Phew. We also took her some cakes we'd made:
We made cakes for the the Wrinklets too:
Amongst other things, they gave me flowers ... not your usual bunch of flowers, but these fantastic fabric flowers:
Which are 65cm (well over 2ft) tall and now stood in a glass vase in the sitting room. I loved spending some very enjoyable time with both my children, and my own mother. I hope those of you who are either mothers, or who have your own mothers around in your lives, had an equally enjoyable time.
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78 commenty bits:
That's a great idea.Thanks for sharing .Wish you and all the Mom's around the globe a tremendous joyful Mother's day.
lol:)
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What a great bag!!!!you did so well hon.
you HAVE to make one for yourself now........
aussie hugs
bah! nasty old blogger ate my first comment. Loving your baggage work there Missus.
Well done Kitty, that's a great bag, your Mom must have been really peased with it. Glad you had a good Mother's Day.
I'm not talking about he football at the moment!
Tracey
Never Kitty? Never again? In your whole life? hmmmmm....
The bag is lovely and the cakes are yummy! I'm glad you had some family time with Mom :)
xoxox
It never dawned on me that we have different Mother's days. You took good care of your mum! It's a lovely bag. Happy Mother's Day!
I'm not surprised you like it - it's gorgeous!!!!
Lucy x
Lots of gorgeousness all round! xx
Great bag. Your Mum couldn't help but love it.
Great looking bag...I can see why you like it.
Top bag! Can see exactly why she loves it.
it's a great bag, I'm glad your Mum liked it, I know what you mean about people liking what you make, I made my Mum two Morsbags for xmas pressies and the only comment I got was " they are too long, they will drag on the floor"
I was speechless and secretly upset....
Josie x
ps) I made her another one for Mother's day, a short fat bag and she really likes it but I've struggled with the lining, any advice?
Kitty, I bet you will do it again and it will be fab!!!!
Lovely bag, very much like that one. Clever girl :-)
Gorgeous bag no wonder she liked it. Great flowers too.
Yvonne x
I can't imagine why you might think your Mum wouldn't like the bag... it's gorgeous. Glad you had a good day. Your flowers are great!
Hi Manifestation ... Are you politely spamming me?! Welcome to my blog, but could you please not leave comments with irrelevant links? Thanks. :-)
Hi Blossom - Thank you! I might make one for myself. One day. Maybe. x
Hi Trash - Oh bums to Blogger. Thank you to you! x
Hi FM - She seemed to like it, and the things inside it. The football ... er ... no, best not to mention it I think? :-( x
Hi Dawn - You read that right ... never. Just can't imagine it would or could 'be'. How? Where? Who? :-O x
Hi Joan - Thank you - I think your equivalent is in May, sometime? Take care :-) x
Hi Lucy - Thank you! x
Love the bag,Kitty. So glad you had a great day! ;-)
Hi Julia - Thank you! x
Hi Christine - Thank you. She really did seem to like it, which was a huge relief! x
Hi Jane - Thank you! x
Hi Ali - Thank you! x
Hi Josie - Oh no :-( How insensitive of your Mum. I'm in no position to offer any kind of baggy advice, all I do is make the inside the same as the outside. Not sure that would help?! x
Hi Burby - You reckon? I can't see it, myself. Glad you like the bag! x
Hi Yvonne - Thank you. Sometimes things come together just as you imagine them ... this was one of those things. Phew. x
Hi Gina - Thank you. I always have a huge moment of self-doubt just before I hand over a handmade gift. I think I always will. x
Hi Kitty,
The bag is amazing! Even though I know how creative you are,(I have a soft spot for the monkeys)I can't hep gasping when you post pics of the things that you make.
xx
That's a great bag! and I really love those fabrics you used.
what a lovely bag you clever stick! I liked the flowers too, lucky thing! I got a card and some peace whilst Leah slept!
That bag looks yummy and so do those cakes.....drool drool drool!
The bag is fab indeed Kitty
it seems so weird that we don't all celebrate mother's day at the same time...ours isn't until may...love your bag and love, love, love looking at the yummies you made...did they taste great?????...☺
Beautiful bag, of course she loved it!! A wonderful Happy Mother's Day!!
Love your special flowers!
Fabulous bag Kitty, I love the little extras you put in. I only make handmade gifts for my Mum and my Mother in law as they love them!
Love the bag- the colours are great!
And yes, EVERY time I give someone something handmade I wonder if it's "good enough"...personally I love to receive handmade gifts, but people tend not to give me any, "because you can make it yourself, and it would be much nicer than what I can give you!"
Gorgeous flowers from your children!
Hi Sal - Thank you! x
Hi Elise - Thank you. I'm sure you could do all these things if you attempted them - patterns are very easy to follow, you know!
Hi SS - Thank you. x
Hi Esther - Thank you! I love those flowers, I think I will have them hanging around the sitting room for a good while. When Leah is bigger, she will badger her daddy to get you things like huge velour flowers! x
Hi Jenny - Thank you! x
Hi Sas - Thank you hun! x
Hi P&P - It IS weird, isn't it? Do you have Father's Day in mid June like we do? Or is that different too? Thanks for your lovely comments. I'm told the cakes are very yummy (not many left now!) ... I wouldn't know as I haven't tasted any. x
Hi Jane - Thank you! x
Hi Lin - Thank you - it's lovely to see you back in Blogland. I think you're right - the trick is to only give handmade gifts to those you know will appreciate the time and effort. x
Hello Marit, and welcome to my Bloggy Bits. Thank you for dropping by and taking the time to leave such a lovely comment. I'll be over to visit you soon. Take care :-)
Lovely bag. My Mum optimistically asked me to make her one recently but I'm not sure it's going to happen (nor do I understand where her faith in my ability has come from!).
Mother's Day has been postponed here as we were just too busy for 'time off' on Sunday.
(Thanks for the suggestion of AVG. Used to use it with my old laptop but heard that there had been issues with Vista so steered clear this time just in case).
I said you could do it. Excellent use of a colour schemethat I would be wary of. Very tastefully done. That's it you know, you will become just as hooked as I am now. There is no turning back.
xx
Your Mum is very lucky. Can I adopt you for next year?
Yes, me too, same as Marit. Last Christmas I gave everybody boxes of handmade soaps and creams with little crocheted animals attatched...and then I worried that everyone thought I was being cheap by not buying them gifts!
Oof, what a sweet little tissue holder and Orla Kiely best watch out - Ms Bloggy Bits is coming with her bags!
Tasty bakiness there and I expect those flowers raised some mummy smiles.
Emma
x
It all sounds frightfully civilised and totally pleasant.
Hi Tilly - I'd never made a bag until just before Christmas. I'd been wanting to try for a long time, but lacked both know-how and confidence. I'm learning technique, but the confidence still needs work! I'm sure you'll make your mum a lovely bag one day ... but maybe not until after the baby's born! I've never had a single problem with AVG/Vista compatibility. x
Hi IB - You did say I could do it! I'm still not confident about it, but this bag 'worked'. I'm not usually the sort of person who would use orange, but this print was pretty good for teaming with a plain orange. I'll keep practising! x
Hi Jackie - Consider yourself adopted! Do you want to be called Granny, Gran, Nanny, or Grandma? :-p x
Hi Charlie - I think perhaps there's a bit of that in most of us, don't you? I bet anyone would be pleased to have your delicious soaps. I think there are those who 'get' the handmade gift and those who don't. The skill comes in working out who is which! x
Hi Emma - Awww bless you. I really think Ms Kiely has nothing to worry about. But I'm enjoying learning. We do like a bit of baking in the Wrinkle household. And yes, those flowers are very smiley things to receive. x
Hi GOK - Civilised? Yes, I suppose it was (and that cannot always be said of me and mine). Totally pleasant? Absolutely. x
Kitty, that bag is fantastic, well done, love the fabric. Our family have always called Ferreo Rocher (is that how you spell it?) firey rockets, for some reason. Think it's cos we're nuts. Glad you had a lovely day
Twiggy x
love the bag :) have a great week! xx
That's a very nice bag indeed - and yum! those cakes! Yeah I know what you mean about giving handmade pressies - but, to be honest, they are always gratefully received.
Awesome can I fit a severed hand in it?
Bag lady, hooker . . . is there no end to your talents Ms Wrinkle!
Super bag, cakes and flowers. Looks like the Wrinklet clan had a wonderful Mother's Day all round :-)
That bag is just fantastic! My 88 year old grandma is in Australia visiting our family so we had an English mothers day too this year!
Hi Twiggy - Thank you. I prefer your name for Ferrero Rocher, but I really don't 'get' why some people love them so much?! x
Hi Alex - Thank you! x
Hi Handmade - Thank you. Do you think they're ALWAYS gratefully received? I sometimes wonder ... I think there are some people who think it's 'cheap' not to have gone out and bought something. Though they, of course, aren't crafty people themselves. Lovely to 'see' you. x
Hi Malach - You could probably get two severed hands AND a severed head in that bag. x
Hi Sharon - Yep, that's me, a hooking bag lady. It was a lovely weekend, thank you. Do you still 'do' British mother's day over there? x
Hi Rachel - Lovely to 'see' you. Thank you. I hope you had a lovely British style mother's day? x
That's a fab bag - don't think I should send you anything now....... Come and leave me your details when you get chance.
Kim xx
Sorry I am late! Happy Mums Day to ya! Ours is in May.
I am not a huge orange fan, but I must say that bag came out lovely, and the tissue holder is precious. Yes, Malach could fit a severed hand in there...if he, er...choose to do so. (I really don't want to know who's hand.)
I just finished making a huge batch of my fancy chicken salad at 6:30 a.m. I have not been sleeping all to well this week. Hoping things settle a bit now. Our focus is on all of the kidlets left in the wake of our latest tragedy. WE are making sure they all go bowling tomorrow night. They need to smack some pins around.
I love what you've done with that bag... now you've mastered bag making think how many more you can make. I'm sure your sock monkeys need one!
I know what you mean about giving handmade - it can be quite terrifying. I don't give my mum handmade pressies, she'd think I'd taken leave of my senses.
You know, I don't usually like orange, but for that bag I would nmake an exception! Just lovely.
That bag is DIVINE, Kitty...LOVE it! You did a sensational job on that. Like DottyCookie, I'm usually not one for oranges and yellow, very citrus-colors you know...but this bag of yours has me converting maybe! ;o) Love the tissue holder for in the pocket...just fab, fab, FAB! So glad you feel more confident with the bag making. I like making bags a lot, but the handle can be buggery--LOL! Glad you had a great Mothering Sunday, my friend. :o) Happy Days ((HUGS))
well done on the bag , it really is lovely.. we have quite a lot of orange in our house thanks to Milo.. My friends husband used to work for Ferrero and she was always giving them away as she had cupboards full!!
lisa x
Your Mother's bag is so pretty. I love the pattern and handles and the way you mixed the fabrics and the inside pockets. That little matching tissue holder is a nice surprise inside of a surprise. My son gave me some of that candy and at first I thought they were so odd. Well...they are odd but I really like them. Those flowers are so well deserved. The cakes look mmmnummy.
IF and WHEN you have a chance to "do it"...I can't imagine the blog to follow! I suppose that little cartoon avitar will be smiling. xox
Beautiful bag! Love the fabric.
i'm not surprised your mum loved your bag - its just lovely - i know what you mean tho about giving someone something you've made!!!
lovely cakes - any left??
x
You're hysterical Kitty! No sense in doing it when you can make such beautiful bags. And those yummy cakes are just plain ol' making me drool!
No, not anymore, although I do ring my Mum then but I save the card and Interflora offering or little parcel until May when it's celebrated Downunder. That way she gets TWO Mothers' Days to look forward to ;-)
Hey..... you could set up a little stall with a bag like that! Well done. I like it too.
Those cakes look delicious!
Hi Kim - It's nowhere near the league of your bags - just a tote, but it came out well. Glad your kids liked our joke. x
Hi MI - Thank you! No, I'm not a huge orange fan either - but the bag turned out ok ... for orange. Sorry to hear things are tough again :-( (((MI))) x
Hi PC - Thank you, but I am nowhere near mastering bag making. Need lots more practice. I think because Mum is a quilter, she appreciates the time and effort that goes into handmade - some people (sadly) just don't. x
Hi DC - I'm with you on that - orange isn't normally a colour I'd choose to 'do' ... but Mum loves it. So glad the bag came out ok. x
Hi Tracy - Thank you! Citrus colours are exactly what Mum DOES like, so for her orange was good. I wouldn't normally venture near orange myself! I shall continue to practice the bag-making and hopefully improve at it. x
Hi Peri - Thank you. I think orange is perhaps a rather underrated colour. I'm sure I'm not alone in being slightly scared of using it. Blimey, if my Mum knew someone who gave away Ferrero Rocher, she'd be round there all the time! x
Hi Elaine - Thank you. IF and WHEN I ever get the change to 'do it' I'm not sure it'll get blogged at all! :-p x
Hi HTGT - Thank you! x
Hi WW - Thank you. Just checked the cakes ... there is one iced one left, but No.2 has claimed it for his lunchbox. Sorry! x
Hi Anna - Chance would be a fine thing on the 'doing it' front. I think it's unlikely to happen, so I'm sticking to bags! x
Hi Sharon - That's a great idea - two lots of Mother's Day(s). x
Hi Maggie - Steady on! It's a very basic tote - I think I need way more practice before anyone would actually want to part with money for a bag I'd made! x
Hi Kitty
Your Mum's bag is lovely, you done good lass, you should be right proud of yourself.
Love the colour, I do have a bit of a thing for orange at the moment too. Its lovely and summery!
Have a good week.
Anne x
Love the bag !
clares craftroom
Kitty that bag is amazing!! I so need to learn how to do that!! and the cakes look really yummy too...I have to say I'm also a fan of ferrero rochers!
Mmmmmmm.... can I have some of the cakes??? pweeeeaaase!!!
Love that bag, and matching tissue holder!! Can't wait to see the one you make for yourself too!! Your mum must have been well chuffed with the bag, holder, Ferrero Rochers & the scrummy cupcakes! Is there no end to your talents!?!?
Sharon xx
LOL
Hi Anne - Thank you. It's the most 'ok' bag I've made so far, but I think I need a whole lot more practice. I don't normally gravitate towards orange, but this worked. x
Hi Clare - Thank you! x
Hi Amy - It's just a plain tote bag - the easiest kind to make. That was my 5th attempt, and I feel I'm getting there - slowly! It looks like there are more people who DO like Ferrero Rocher than don't. x
Hi Ron - Sorry Ron ... they're all gone! :-O x
Hi Crafty - Thank you. I might choose a different contrast colour for the one I make myself - I'm not a very 'orange person'. I can assure you there are plenty of ends to my talents - they just don't get blogged ;-) x
Hi Elaine - There are some things even I wouldn't blog ;-) x
I'm not surprised she loved your bag, it is gorgeous! I love the inside with the pockets and the colours are perfect for this time of year. Your cakes look yummy too, which reminds me we have to make some for the school cake sale tomorrow. (And I don't think I am blonde, definately more brown, I think the sun was just being very kind to me in that photo!)
: )
I really like the bag! It looks great, and the fabric you used is beautiful! Did you use a pattern? I am looking to make my Grandma a bag this weekend for her Birthday...
OMG! Kitty, this bag is STUNNING! I love it so much. Can I be your mommy? That sounds weird, but if that's what it takes!
Happy belated mum's day. I have been so busy. I must post this bag on twitter. I'm sorry, it's just too good. so, there.
It is a lovely bag, I like the stripe on the handle, nice touch.
Oh now that's one scrummy bag!! You always manage to make your bags so neatly. I need lessons from you!!
Cakes look scrummy too and whoo!! to the flowers from the little ones.
xxx
Wow, that bag looks brilliant. I've made a couple in the past, but they haven't looked as good as yours and I love the tissue and choccy detailing! xx
Lovely bag and what a lucky mum you are...such wonderfully thoughtful children. Have they found you a man match yet????
Happy mum's day to you. Beautiful bag, I am certain your mom was thrilled. Perfect fabric to celebrate spring as well.
The fabric in the bag is wonderful Kitty! You have used the design perfectly!
what an excellent bag! soon i'll post pictures of ours, then you'll have to lie down and inject drugs.
Hi Picciolo - I remember you saying you liked the print when I bought it, so I'm pleased you like the bag. You definitely looked blonde in that photo! x
Hi Jessy - Thank you! I just used an ordinary tote bag pattern (straight sides, inside pockets, sew across the corners to make a base, etc) but sewed together strips of the print and plain to make it more 'interesting'. Good luck with the bag for your grandma. x
Hi Chris - Thank you! You Tweet? I don't 'get' Twitter - and I daren't go over there because I so do not need another 'thing' distracting me. You can be another 'mommy' ... do you want the kids to call you Granny, or something else? :-p x
Hi 1,2,3 and welcome to my Bloggy Bits. I'm really pleased you visited because now I have another cool blog to read. Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment. Take care :-)
Hi Kaz - Thank you, you lovely person. I'm not sure it's really 'neat' ... I just sewed seams. That's all - nothing else. I've seen your bags - they are cool. x
Hi CK - Thank you - that is the first one I've made which has turned out remotely like I wanted it to. The first ones were 'ok' but nothing more - this one is a little bit more than those; it somehow just went 'right'. x
Hi Colleen - Thank you. I hope they've forgotten about the man thing. I'm still not ready! :-p x
Hi RS - Thank you. Yes, it is a nice 'spring-y' fabric isn't it? x
Hi Kellie - Thank you! I think I just chose the right 'bit' to go on the outer panels. I'll choose a different 'bit' for the next one. And a different contrast colour too. Lovely to 'see' you. x
Hi Grit - Thank you. I bet they are fabulous bags, made with imagination and effort and enthusiasm rather than mine, which was made with angst and perfectionism and hope. x
Kitty that bag is gorgeous, I love it!!
Hi Jennie - Mum seems to like it. Thanks for your lovely comment. x
Stunning bag!
do you have a link to the pattern??
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