wind down?

There has definitely been no wind down this week following the completion of Country Living but it has somehow been very relaxing in the process.

What there has been is that much needed time for attention on other things like commissioned orders, FLickr group swap makes, not to mention Chanukah and Christmas present makes.

Here is a look at just some of the things I have managed to tick off this week, clockwise from left to right:

1. Lavender bag sets for a shop order;

2. An Ayumi basket for my niece...to be filled with lots of sewing necessities;

3. a special zipper pouch for a special friend in need;

4. a commissioned wool and screen printed bag and

5. more commissioned work...soon to be pouches

It feel good, really good to get on top of things and have time for more than just CL makes.

Next week will be even better.

Last year when it was Samuel's Bar Mitzvah, Matthew treated himself to a new tallit.

It is customary for a boy to get his first tallit on his Bar Mitzvah and so Matthew's was rather old now...as was his tallit bag.

Tallit bags are normally very traditional in style, made of velvet, with gild writing. It's very hard to get something more contemporary and modern. So when Matthew bought his sparkly new tallit (actually my Mum bought it for his birthday as she was taking Sam to buy his for his Bar Mitzvah) I decided to make him a sparkly new bag. Obviously this wasn't going to be velvety or gildy.

Matthew now proudly carries around his trendy tallit bag and gets lots of compliments.

Then, as is often the case, the tallit bag was in the right place at the right time and just when a friend needed a Bar Mitzvah present, they happened to see Matthew's tallit bag and commissioned me to make one.

Hence the new Personalised Tallit and Tefillin Bag Set was born.

I must say I am really pleased with these (as was the commissionee) and especially how well the Hebrew writing came out and particularly, as luck would have it, that I happened to have a silver fabric paint.

I realise this is a rather niche market gift and probably none of you, my lovely readers, have even heard of tallit or tefillin, let alone have use for them, but maybe one day when you are invited to a Bar Mitzvah, you will remember where to find the coolest gift.

Oh and if you happen to have any Jewish friends who would be interested, please do spread the word ;-)

With Orla constantly around me and being my biggest source of inspiration these days, is it any wonder that my latest little girl's bag has turned out quite the way it has? I like to think of it as my Orla for Kids Bag.

It has a strap large enough for a little one (or a bigger little one) to wear over one shoulder as an across the body bag. If a certain model had been in the mood for showing how this looks, then I would have been able to illustrate the point. But let's put it this way - never rely on kids for anything.

The bag is fully lined in my favourite of the moment crisp fresh green stripy shirting fabric.

I've also inserted a zip to keep everything in it safe and secure.

This is the first of a new style of bag for me and whilst it took me a while to work out the best way to design this zipped bag with a flapped front (I'm sure there's better terminology for that), now that I have, you'll be seeing a few different versions of this. Particularly if that afore-mentioned model gets her requested designs approved and produced.

Not that she deserves it, mind.

Ribbon Circus

I've been over to Hebden Bridge to do a photoshoot for a new venture that is due to start in a few weeks. It's being launched in conjunction with one of my lovely stockists, Ribbon Circus. I haven't seen Amy's delightful shop for a while, so you can imagine my delight when I rocked up today and was faced with this...

Isn't it amazing? No wonder the kits are selling so well there! They are dressed to kill with all those stunning ribbons.

I love the way she has hung some samples from the plant and how genius is it to use that cake stand to display the kits?

Oh how I wish I had my own bricks and mortar shop to do such a display...

Magpie and Me

I want to show you some gorgeous brooches that I have in Blueberry Park at the moment. They are designed by the talented Sue Maulin, of Magpie & Me. Sue makes delightful products that make lovely presents or treats for yourself. Or with the end of term coming they'd make beautiful thank you gifts for teachers.

I love the way these brooches look in a mulitude of places. Brighten up a cardi, an old bag, hat or even a scarf with one.

The leather that Sue uses is so soft and has that scrummy leather aroma. She makes some in plain colours and then some that have a silver pattern stamped on to one of the layers.

Coupled with the layered shell buttons and coordinating bead in the middle, Sue's brooches are a huge hit with BP customers. Go take a look. I think you'll like them :-)