Russian doll tote bag

Holiday well and truly over, house still needs sorting out from a month away but Lock Stock Boutique is calling! Desperately need to start building up stock ready for my official opening on 10th September!

So tonight I have been working on this tote bag.

 It's a lovely lime green 100% cotton tote bag and I have lined it with some lovely vintage material I found on a recent trawl.

I then used the lovely Russian doll material from the fabulous Kokka team.

I'm going to give this one to a good friend of mine who suggested I made these. She is going to use it and abuse it to let me know how it stands up to everyday wear and wash. Once I'm satisfied that it is a tough cookie I will make them in shocking pink, lime green, turquoise and natural unbleached cotton.

Also, I'm trying to source some nice cotton woven tags to put inside my bags, on my bunting etc. Has anyone got any good links to contemporary designs. Have tried all the big companies and not too impressed.

I'm back!

Have had a fabulous time on holiday. Got a ferry from Dover to Calais then headed towards France's eastern side down to Champagne and camped for 4 days. Then off to Gex, little town near Geneva to friends of ours. Next stop, Swiss Alps.... 1600m up in the mountains..... fabulous..... children played all day in the woods, making dams, dens etc.

Had a day trip to Italy for a panini and  a glass of red! A lovely 26 degrees in Italy but snowing on the mountain pass!! Girls had a snow ball fight!

Then to the Auvergne via the Ardeche. finally up to the Loire..... canoed single handed under the beautiful arches of the chateau Chenonceaux!

Absolutely fab time! Now the hard work begins!!

Got my first major event at the end of September, please leave a comment as to what you think I should be making for it!!

Giveaway extended!

Hi, I have decided to extend the giveaway to allow more people the chance to comment!! Off on my hols now to France. Will update you on my exploits when I get back!! Got to be up in 3 hours...... best get to bed!!

Boys will be boys

I am the mother to two daughters and more recently a son. After 10 years of dolls, Littlest Pet Shops, Angelina Ballerina and the like I have now started scouring rummage sales for cars! Noah is acquiring quite a selection. Much to my husband's delight I discovered that a recent find was an old Starsky and Hutch car! ??
Well tonight I decided that after a busy day of making bespoke bunting I fancied playing about! Came up with this sweet little drawstring bag made from 100% cotton by Clarkeson and Clarkeson.

 Finished it up with a hand drawn car design onto red polka dot 100% cotton material and added some wheels and windows. I'm going to add some red buttons to the wheels but can't be bothered to hand sew at this time of night :S
Can see a market for these......soldiers, lego, marbles etc.
Watch out Folksy!!

Bunting giveaway!!

Ok, so this is how it goes!! I need to have at least 20 comments by different followers by the weekend before I go away!! If I get to the magic number, one follower will be picked at random and they will receive some lovely handmade bunting. To be in with a chance please just leave a comment on here by 9pm on Saturday  24th July. Good luck to you all x PS. Bunting may not be the one listed here!!

Seven miles down the Severn!

My husband took Phoebe (our middle one!) out on the river at the weekend. They loved it. Thought I would share some photos with you all. Please note that some of them are from Phoebe's viewpoint!!

Lovely fabric update!

Been buying fabric online today. Lots of japanese style imports coutesy of www.fabricworm.co.uk
Can't wait for mine to arrive now, Planning on lots of little coin purses.
Off to France on Monday for a month! Don't quite know where we are going yet but heading south east with our tent and aiming for the Ardeche with our new inflatable canoe!
Have a hard week left at work this week. My last week of officially being a teacher before i reform my life to be a textile / craft artist!
HELLPPPPP!!!