Vibrant colours for spring

I have added two new PUPA shoulder bags to my shop recently, both made from gorgeous, shimmering chenille upholstery fabrics that I purchased during my visit to Slovenia (I could only bring back a few smaller pieces since I was traveling by plane - next car trip I will definitely get some more).

PUPA bag is a classic Loddelina design in soft, roomy shape, with a decorative and very handy zipper pocket in the back (for phone or coin purse) plus a new feature, a key holding swivel hook on a long strap that allows you to unlock your front door without even taking your bag off the shoulder!

Bags are decorated with a large starfish applique in corduroy that I freehand embroidered and shoulder straps are made from multicoloured striped canvas.

The sky is grey these days and the rain doesn't seem to stop so a bit of bright colour is just what the doctor ordered!



Živahne barve za pomlad

V mojo trgovino sem dodala dve malhasti torbi PUPA, narejeni iz sočne šenilje, ki je sicer namenjena oblazinjanju pohištva. Pupa je mehka in prostorna torba za na ramo, ki ima na zadnju strani dekorativen in zelo uporaben žep za telefon ali denarnico. Na notranji je novost, kaveljček za ključe na dolgem traku - tako lahko vhodna vrata odklenete, ne da bi torbo snele z rame.

Torbe krasi našita morska zvezda iz rebrastega žameta, ki je po vrhu prostoročno povezena, in večbarvne črtaste naramnice.

Have a nice weekend!

Yesterday I added a new zippered pouch to my shop - a dark brown canvas base with emerald green and raspberry pink silk patches, decorated with matching trims. 

I wanted to list another purse but the day got too short as I decided at the last minute to make a small girl tote as a present to my friend's daughter. I used my favourite Ikea striped canvas and lined it with whimsical colourful print of lobsters and fruit - what else!

I wish you a great weekend,
See you soon!

New in my shop

I listed another large City Tote today, this one is made from fine dark olive green corduroy in combination with cheerful striped cloth in pink, purple and pea green. Comfortable, broad shoulder straps are made from the same striped cloth and inside of the bag is lined with khaki canvas.

Over the weekend I experimented with shapes again and made this large, square wristlet from neutral linen blend - I adorned the front and back with some freehand embroidery and added a handmade bobbin lace that I've bought in Slovenia. 

The region of Idrija in Slovenia has a long tradition of bobbin lace making; this delicate lace, often with flower motifs or heart shaped, is made from fine cotton thread, twisted and pleated over little pins in a round pillow. Click HERE to read more about this fascinating technique.

I've purchased several different pieces of bobbin lace, I will mostly use them for decorating smaller purses...

Weekend!

I listed another bag today, it is a remake of my red city tote with rainbow stripes that got sold recently (thank you, cousin :) - a roomy, sturdy everyday bag, stylish book tote or whatever you want it to be...

This weekend I won't have much time for sewing - first official weekend of autumn is going to be exceptionally sunny and warm so my family will try to make the most of it (chilly, foggy mornings are reminding us that winter is not that far away...).

Children enjoying themselves at the ever changing water fountains in front of the Pontarlier town hall

::  ::  ::

I wish you all a great weekend, see you soon!

New city tote

I listed another tote today, this time a city version - a bit taller, able to comfortably hold a A4 size folder, school boooks or work papers - whenever you want to take it.

Made from delicious cherry red cotton canvas and decorated with a patch of striped Basque cloth in rainbow colours, interfaced and lined with contrasting dark khaki canvas. Inside are two pockets, a smaller slip pocket for your phone and a larger, zippered one plus a D ring for attaching keys. Many colourful details make this tote really unique and if somebody doesn't grab it quickly (my 15% sale is still going on), I might keep it for myself!

Today I was busy all afternoon, working on a custom order Pippa Grande shoulder bag. I will have some pictures tomorrow...

This month's inspirations

Zinnia flowers waiting to be planted in my window flower box

Neighbour's garden poppies against the dark blue sky

My children's crayon shavings

And here is a bag I made for myself recelntly (yes, on very rare occasions I do make stuff for my personal use).

First I meant to use it as a shopping tote in which I could bring home bread and other dry groceries but now I mostly use it to carry parcels to the post office. I wish I could take it for a walk more often but when I do, I do so in style...

A busy weekend

This weekend it is all about Loddelina. Thanks to my husband, who took the children to grandma's, I have a whole weekend to sew!

Ok, almost the whole weekend because there are other urgent things to be done, like reorganizing my pantry (to make sure I restock on food that is actually missing and stop buying more and more pasta that I already don't have room to store anymore, for instance).

This morning I dedicated some time to call a few of dear friends I made during our stay in Germany - we were able to catch up without constant interruptions from children who always want to take part in the conversation...

Later I prepared my sewing table and started work on a new design (I have cut the pieces and fused the interface the evening before). But my stomach reminded me it was time for lunch so I had to take a break - my abandoned sewing table didn't look very attractive but that is how interfaced, double stitched insides of a tote bag look like...

I cooked some pasta, what else (to make more room in my pantry), spaghetti with tomato and basil sauce with cubes of fresh mozzarella on top. It is one of my favourite 20 minute dishes and I often make it for my family.

After lunch I hurried to finish the bag (I will do the dishes later) and here it is, a sneak preview of my canvas summer tote with handmade starfish charm. It has interior zippered pocket, slip pocket for mobile phone and a swivel hook for keys. It closes with a magnetic snap and makes a perfect medium to large summer bag.

I intend to make two more starfish themed designs this weekend and I hope to have them all photographed and listed on Sunday.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Live, love, create!

;

The Loddelina bag in the picture is a special order I once made for a girl who wanted many colourful flowers on a large black velvet tote bag. I used little pompons and pieces of felt and attached them on the bag with colourful embroidery thread (unfortunately I can't show you any close-up pictures of the bag, it would take me weeks to find the right back-up CD at this moment...).

St. Valentine is supposed to bring first signs of spring, waking up the sleeping roots of plants and flowers.

So happy Valentine's day and I hope your spring is just around the corner!

This week's features

This week went by so fast that I forgot to show you the lovely treasuries my items got featured in.

Here is a collection of four treasuries, three of them featuring my decorative heart (which means I chose my new shop avatar well...).

Thank you so much, filofashion, JarosDesigns, baahar and one9designs!

BEA the boyfriendly tote

My latest listing (and the last for some time - at least until I set up my work space again in the new home) is this large city tote made from black denim and cheerful striped canvas.

It is a Valentine's day handbag with a bit of humour, inspired by this week's European Street Team's challenge. The theme is "Bring your inner child out to play" and HERE are all the entries, in a blog post by enchantedhue, who won last week's challenge.

The boyfriendly tote has a reinforced, zippered "boyfriendly" pocket in the back to store your date's wallet - so he never has to fish it out of the depths of your handbag, trying to avoid the lipstick and the tampax during his search...

The tote has two comfortable shoulder straps, a cotton lining with flowery pattern, an interior pocket and it closes with a magnetic clasp.

Sew nice!

Another pleasant surprise came yesterday from a fellow Etsy-ESTsian DeerLola, who included my It's a girl heart in her tender and romantic treasury in pale pink and green. Thank you, Ina!

And it was my turn to surprise others: yesterday was my mother's birthday and inspired by a recent European street team's challenge I made her a Friendship tote with a special embroidered inscription at the back.

And just before I put my sewing machine away and focus on packing for the big move to France, I've made this zippered pouch in burnt orange and rusty red striped canvas for a family friend we are leaving behind. She is a buddhist and that is why I've chosen to embroider a Dalai Lama's quote.

Be happy!

My EST challenge entry

I've just listed my first ever entry for European Street Team's weekly challenge.

This week's theme was Friendship. I've made a black denim tote with embroidered tulip on the front, growing out of a striped canvas pocket. On the back is a small embroidered watering can; for friendship is like a flower - if you want it to bloom, you have to water it regularly!

You can see all the entries for the theme Friendship at the blog post of last week's challenge winner, Kim from viltalakim, HERE.

A tiny bag for a tiny girl

The bag is 18 cm wide and 21 cm high (7 x 8 inch) with 8 cm (3 inch) wide bottom and 28 cm (11 inch) handles.

I've finished a custom order today, a tiny little tote for a baby girl. Baby's aunt, a nice Turkish mama I've met at the kindergarten, wanted a really small and cute tote for Eylem Naz, who was born two months prematurely, weighing only half of what a healthy newborn is supposed to weigh.

So I've embroidered the baby's name in deep pink on a pale dusty pink linen-viscose blend and added a butterfly in multicoloured thread. For the lining I used a vibrant rose print to add some colour.

Eylem Naz is now past her official birth date and is growing bigger every day. For now she might use her bag to keep an extra pacifier - and later, who knows. Girls never need a reason for a new handbag.

A gift for Sabine

The bag measures 23 x 29 cm (9" x 11.5") with 45 cm (18") handles

This is a small boy tote I made for Sabine, my lovely friend who has bought two Loddelina bags last week. We had a mamas-only dinner on Wednesday and to thank her for the purchase I've included this little bag for her son, Timo (although she liked it so much she might keep it for herself! Girls and purses, what can you do...)

A double Etsy feature

Wow, Etsy admin just made my day - they have featured my Love Hope Peace tote in their gift guides under Fresh Emerging Shops and moments ago the tote also appeared on the Front page, again picked out by the Etsy staff. This is the second time Etsy has chosen that bag for the front page... Two features in one day, what an honour - thank you!

Another Treasury feature for Ola

My Christmas inspired wooly tote bag got featured in this festive treasury made by Rachel - her Etsy shop rachelwhelton is full of yummy Christmas gift ideas...

Thank you!

Red&green Treasury feature

Maykela, an experienced Etsy treasury curator, has again chosen an item from my shop for her sellection. This time she included the Ola green wooly bag with applique and embroidery in her early Christmas inspired Treasury.

Maykela runs two jewelry shops on Etsy, the Maykela shop with unique precious and semi-precious stones and lavenders, affordable wire wrapped unique jewelry.

Thank you!

Bird lover's birthday bag

Another birthday invitation for Gaston, another gift project for Mom...

The bag measures 23 x 29 cm (9" x 11.5") with 40 cm (16") handles

This time the invitation came from Fabio, a quiet boy nexdoor, who just turned 6. I was planning to go to town and find a nice book on nature, his favourite subject. But in the few days I had before the party there was no opportunity to go book shopping so I ended up making another tote bag.
Yes, I know, Fabio is a boy, but if Tinky Winky from Teletubbies can have a bright red feminine purse (vintage even), then a boy can have a nice book/gym shoes tote.

Unlike my son, Fabio doesn't care much about dinosaurs, robots or big construction machines, but he does like birds. I used the printed canvas with birds and branches from Ikea and cut the pattern out so that I got a bird on the front and solid black colour on the back (I used another bird print on cotton for the lining). I then machine embroidered his name in red thread and used red cotton rope for handles. At the end I hardly had time to take some pictures before I had to wrap the gift and off we went.

Fabio loved the bag. And he got enough books from other children...

My newest listing: Ola 'Christmas' bag

Ola tote bag is now available in my shop

I made this large wooly bag a few years ago, just after I've moved in with my husband (to live in a small town in Borgundy, France) and was trying to get into the Christmas spirit in my new town, new country and new life.

At the local fabric shop I found many inspiring pieces and this lovely wool melange in green&brown made me immediately think of some sort of ethnic embroidery in red, green and brown. I sewed it into a large A shaped bag with a doubble front pocket, a pattern that had been very popular among my friends (or, shall we say, pre-etsy costumers).

The red corduroy shoulder straps and inside pocket give this bag a very christmasy look and that is why I decided to list in now, before the holidays...

Yey, another Front Page!

I was casually checking my Etsy shop yesterday evening when I noticed my Love Hope Peace tote on the front page! It was Etsy admin that chose the items and as far as I could tell my tote had a different tag keyword in common with each of them.

The exposure made views and hearts of this item multiple six times and my other purses also got some love from the viewers...

Thank you, Etsy, you have made my evening!