Hi ho everyone!  Had a great few weeks working on some new ideas while I sew up my Fall bags. I seem to have a difficult time sitting still, specially when watching some after-dinner-wind-down-TV.  Always need to have something in my hands that I can whittle away the time with.. cannot be idle for a second – who can when there is so much to create?..

Over the course of the summer I have made quite a few sales with my coffee warmers made from recycled wool sweaters that I shrink up to a felt. They become all stiff and nasty looking.. good thing they don’t belong to me.. Don’t you hate it when you accidentally wash your favourite wool sweater, take it out of the machine and hold it in your hands cringing with anger for having made the mistake?  they get all small and mangled..   anyway.. I digress..    My coffee warmers have sparked many requests for tea cozies so I started to play around with a few ideas.  Here is one of them with a funky crocheted flower to top it off.

This design works for a small tea pot. I need to collect a few more pots from my local second-hand stores to showcase a collection of different sizes and colours. Love making them. For now, I am sewing the blanket stitch myself which takes f o r e v e r..  but will soon have a new machine to take care of that chore..

I also ordered some felted wool for my winter evolution of the tote bag design I currently work with.  It is a great textile.  The felt is rather stiff, but smooth and soft.  I have several new ideas churning in my head for new bags and other gift ideas like laptop bags, cases for reading glasses and pillows.

Have you read about Alabama Chanin?  This sewing style has got my mind swirling with ideas as well.  I love the reverse-appliqué technique used by Natalie Chanin, the designer behind it all.  Loved reading about the history of Florence,  Alabama, where the stitchers in her project have reconnected with the origins of the cotton industry of that region. The work is just beautiful and Natalie Chanin sells her incredible hand made clothing the world over. Check out her web site .  Imagine some felted wool in reverse appliqué?

Here is my latest felted wool creation – still a work in progress. As I said, I love the rigid texture of the felt. It creates a new depth for this design and will make the bag extra strong for carrying a laptop and books.

Will be posting some of my Fall bag designs next week.

Stay tuned!

Happy sewing!   Anne