Work in progress

Here is the bag I have been working on for the last couple of days, a custom order for Heather, who has been a real pleasure to communicate with.

Heather saw my Pippa shoulder bag in brown chenille but found bag's current size too small for her needs so she asked if I could make a larger version of the same design.

After I resized the Pippa pattern, trying to keep the familiar proportions, I found this gorgeous cotton canvas in oatmeal with cherry flowers print in burgundy and white. I think it lines the mink brown chenille perfectly and I hope Heather will agree with me.

Here is a quick peek at my sewing table; the two sides of the bag have to be sewn together and at the end I will attach the shoulder straps.

I will consider adding this new, larger Pippa to my shop, but how shall I name the new design?

My creative space

I am working on a custom order at the moment (more about that in another post) and I thought it would be a good idea to take some pictures of my creative space before it gets all messed up again...

This is my magnetic message board where I like to attach current creative inspirations. Gaston, my 4-year son likes to make me drawings; most of the time he draws trains, buldozers and robots but in recent weeks he started drawing houses, perhaps influenced by my little house brooches. I love his attention to detail and intend to use his drawings in my future designs (if he agrees, of course).

Above the sewing table a little sales fairy is keeping an eye on my work. Sales fairy was a European Street Team project on Etsy a little over a year ago, a good-sales-vibes chain game in which we had to first catch a fairy (purchase it as soon as it got listed) and then make one ourselves to offer to the next in line. I was lucky to catch this beautiful creation by Michele from steinschmuckdesign and made Beeba for the next candidate. (I don't know where the sales fairy is today, I hope she hasn't retired yet...).

I will have more news about upcoming Loddelina bags soon!

Flashback Friday

It has been a while since I played Flashback Friday with Tia...

So clicking through some older folders on my computer I found these photos, taken with my phone a few years ago during our stay in Augsburg, Germany. I usually carry my digital camera with me but sometimes it gets left behind and I am forced to capture an interesting moment with much more basic phone camera.

I find these four pictures very characteristic of our German experience (clockwise from top left):
- very determined Madame Chancellor
- "No ball playing" sign in front of the grocery store
- one of the local breweries
- whimsical decor in a bathroom of a Biergarten

My shop has been featured in so many lovely Etsy treasuries lately that it's about time I start making my own lists.

So here is a collection of fresh items from some of my favourite shops.

Oh, let it be spring already!

And since it's Button Wednesday today at Petronella's blog, here is Loddelina's contribution, a new Maia Valentine's Day clutch.

Happy Wednesday!

Here she is

For those of you who were wonering what those buttons and embroidery turned into: a new Pippa shoulder bag.

Made from sky blue corduroy (not the same robin's egg blue as in some of my other designs) and warm grey canvas with dark grey handles, floral print lining, an interior zippered pocket and a swivel hook.

There are other almost finished projects on my sewing table, I will try to list them in the next few days.

Have a wonderful start of the new week, everyone!

My workspace

I am enjoying a sewing day (thanks to my darling husband who took the children to grandma's), working on some new designs. My shop needs more shoulder bags so I have a couple of Pupa bags in mind and a smaller version, Pippa, that is almost finished.

When I am not pressed for time, I like to move away from my sewing corner in the bedroom and nestle on the couch, watching some of my favourite shows on DVD while I sew on buttons or beads. So instead of showing you my messy sewing space, here is a look at the coffee table and a piece of sky blue corduroy with some embroidery, felt applique and buttons I am about to sew on.

I hope to add the new items to my shop on Monday, stay tuned!

Still cloudy today ...

... which is why I have colour on my mind!

I made two new corduroy Maia clutches last night and just finished listing them; I took pictures at midday when the natural light was the least dull but I still had a hard time capturing their true colours; in reality this soft corduroy in robin's egg blue and dark salmon is extremely vibrant and juicy.

New clutches are now available in my shop, I hope they cheer up your cloudy day!

My day Monday

Mostly cloudy

Clockwise from top left: milkysupplies, amoronia, annarubyking and Clariceonline.

Introducing: Maia clutch.

And here they are, three new corduroy clutches in sweet pastel shades of robin's egg blue, dark salmon and lime green.

I had to find a different name for them since the new Maia zippered clutch is slightly roomier than Mia pouch due to 2 cm (3/4") wide bottom. I have to say I love how it sits comfortably in the palm of my hand and the corduroy is super soft. All three clutches are embroidered and decorated with beads and buttons and I added a matching decorative loop at one end for easier grip and some extra spice...

The clutches are now available in my shop and more corduroy items are coming soon!

My workspace - new pastels

Here is a sneak peek of what is coming next to Loddelina shop: some new and improved Mia zippered pouches I have been working on over the past two days.

I bought some imported Italian corduroy on my last visit to Slovenia and deliberately chose these soft, pastel colours to put me in the spring mood; lime green, robin egg blue, sky blue and dark salmon.

So far I made a few small zippered purses, same size as the Mia pouch (20 x 11 cm, 8x4.5"), only a little roomier with a 2 cm (3/4") wide bottom. To take a few steps outside my comfort zone I paired the fabric with (at least for me) unexpected colour of zipper and embroidered a blossoming cherry branch in front for a fresh, spring look.

I am quite happy with the result, a soft, elegant cosmetic pouch that allows us ladies to carry even more stuff in our handbags...

I tried to take more pictures today but the afternoon light is very cool, almost blue these days so I will take fresh pictures tomorrow morning - new pouches will be available in my shop tomorrow afternoon at the latest!