frayed at the edge

Easy peasy gift bag

This is a little tutorial to show you a quick and easy way to make little gift bags - I have made mine in Christmas fabric, but you could use any fabric to suit the occasion.

Each bag is made with two rectangles - one fabric for the outer bag and a different fabric for the lining.  I made nine bags, so this photo shows the three fabrics I chose for the outer bags and two different fabrics for the linings

 

I cut my fabric using a rotary cutter and mat, but you could mark the fabric and cut the rectangles using scissors

 

The rectangles measure six inches by eight and a half inches.  Put a rectangle of a lining fabric right sides togehter with a rectangle of outer fabric.  I chain pieced mine, using a quarter inch seam, starting with a thread catcher

 

As you reach the end of each rectangle, feed the next one under the foot, without cutting the thread

 

When you have stitched all your rectangles, cut off the thread catcher and snip the thread between the rectangles

 

Next press the seams open

 

Fold the bag in half and match the seam - pop a pin in to keep it in place, then stitch. 

Press the seam open, using only the point of the iron (or a mini iron if you have one) so that you don't press the sides of the bag

 

The next stage is a bit fiddly - fold the lining  over the outer fabric, with the seam in the centre, making sure there are no wrinkles

 

This next photo shows the outer fabric inside the lining fabric

The next step is to sew across the bottom edge.  Start about half an inch from the edge, and sew in reverse to the edge, then sew across the bottom - when you reach the end, sew in reverse for half an inch

 

If you want, trim the bottom edge to neaten it, then turn the bag right side out

 

To finish the bag, take fifteen inches of ribbon, find the centre and stitch it on the seam about an inch and a half from the top

 

Here are my little gift bags, each with a little gift for friends

The bags are great for small gifts such as jewellery.  You could also put chocolate or sweets in them and hang them on the Chritsmas tree!

I hope you have enjoyed this little tutorial.
 

 
 
  

 
 
 
 
 
 

Shadow Shot Sunday

 

 

 

There were no shadows about this week, so I have delved into the archives, and found this photo from our holiday in Majorca in April

 

shadows and a reflection - my favourite kind of shadow shot!

 

To see more, head over to Hey Harriet, where Tracy has assembled another montage of the best of last week's shots and has the link to this week's collection.

 

It's a braw, bricht, moonlicht ........

...... morning!  I took this photo yesterday just before 8 o'clock

 

it was a lovely clear, cold, frosty morning.  You can see the lights of Hawick on the horizon.  I then tried taking another photo of the moon using the zoom .... the background has come out very dark, but I was amazed to see the detail of the surface of the moon!

 

Of course, Friday means cake, and Annette triumphed with another of her sponges - a chocolate one this time

 

Unfortunately, the weather today was back to damp and dreary, but when it started to rain this afternoon, the sky was brightened by this double rainbow

 

I know I shouldn't be thinking of starting a new sewing project when I have so many unfinished ones lurking in the studio, but for the last few weeks, I have been thinking about making a new runner for the chest of drawers in our bedroom.  So this afternoon I got out one of my many notebooks and did a little drawing

I haven't done any applique for a while, so I am looking forward to getting started!

 

I was tidying up before I came back into the house at the end of the afternoon - and thought I would take photos of the silly tin I keep odds and ends in ...

The foam shark is actually the top of a pen, which I got as a free gift in a shopping mall in Singapore years ago - I never use it, I just like it!  The back of the tin is also silly .....

 
  
 
 
 
 

Introducing the Gnome Brothers!

Olaf and Gustav have now been joined by their big brother Sven, who was persuaded to come out of the knitting basket last night.  Here they are, sitting like good little gnomes on the couch this morning

 

 

So good and sweet and well behaved ..... until I turned my back for a minute .... they ran out the back door and were found creating havoc in the garden!

 

lolling about in the lavender

 

 

this house is a bit small for all of us!

 

 

hanging out in the sun

 

 

hurry up you two, let's see what's on the other side of the gate

 

Naughty little gnomes .... perhaps when their sisters arrive they can keep them under control!

I hope you have a good weekend, love, Anne

 

Sisters!

Why should boys have all the fun?  Girls should get to join in too .... so next on the needles (big fanfare!) ...... girl gnomes, little sisters for the boys!!!  I've been looking through my stash and pulled out these girl gnome colours (don't worry, they won't have beards!)

 

The colours look slightly washed out, as I had to use the flash .... we were away all day visiting Jennifer, so it was dark by the time I took the photos. 

 

Even I can no longer deny that Christmas is almost here, so these little fellows have made an appearance on the kitchen bookcase, to remind me how little time I now have to get organised!

 

I'm off now to see if I can persuade Olaf and Gustav's big brother to stop hiding in my knitting basket, so he can be the star of tomorrow's post .......
 
 

Leftovers!

As promised, here are some of the photos that didn't make it into yesterday's post (I'm keeping the others until next Tuesday!)

 

frost on the deck

 

 

sunrise behind the house

 

 

frost on the Minto Hills

 

 

Lambs' Ears traced with frost

 

Now for some other photos that I took yesterday and today ..... first of all, do you remember an early Tuesday Treasure, when I showed you Stuart's baby things, and had to admit that they were kept in a shoe box?  I was going to make a new box, but I decided that the shoe box was now part of the memories, so when I recently got a lovely handmade paper carrier bag, I decided to use it to cover the box 

 

I added some ribbon decoration on top

 

 

and some pretty braid round the edge of the lid

 

 

I was up at Homebase this morning (I can't tell you why, as it might involve Malcolm's Christmas presents!).  Looking over the valley to Ruberslaw, I was surprised to see it wreathed in mist, as it was bright on my side ......

and finally ......
 

Olaf has now been joined by his brother Gustav, but they are both still very shy, and say they won't come out from behind the cushion until they are joined by their big brother - but he is still hiding in my knitting basket ........
 

  

 

Tuesday Treasures

I took some photos yesterday for today's treasure, but then I changed my mind this morning when I saw the frost on the garden and the beautiful colour of the sky.  However I changed my mind yet again, when the post arrived, bringing these wonderful goodies

 

 

I was sent them by my lovely blog friend Meg, who said in the card it's a belated birthday present and an early Christmas one!  So today's treasure has to be that of friendship.  She had picked the gifts to reflect my various crafty interests ......

 

wonderful chicken fabric (and a chicken calendar!)

 

 

a skein of Meg's own beautiful yarn and some stuff for needlefelting

 

 

a gorgeous painted panel, which will make a wonderful wallhanging

 

 

super magazines, with lots of excellent projects - more for the to-do list!

 

Meg had told me that she had popped a little parcel in the post - but I never expected to receive so many super things.  Thank you very much indeed, Meg, for your kindness!

 

ps - don't worry, I'm sure you'll see the other photos soon!