Pouch

Five years of selling on Etsy

2012-01-30T07:03:00.000-08:00

I know it's a cliche when people say 'time flies' but it really does. I can't believe its been five years since I first opened my Etsy store...that's half a decade! So much has happened in those five years, I think my shop is unrecognizable from the shop I opened in 2007 - I hope its improved for the better. I feel like I've learnt so much about selling online and 2012 brings the opportunity to see my work published in a national magazine (details coming soon). I'm hoping to branch out into publishing tutorials online and in magazines, I see it as an exciting a new direction for Pouch.

To return to my five year anniversary, I'd like to celebrate by offering £5 off all my vintage fabric cushion covers - so that's £25 down to £20.

Upcycled fabric heart brooch tutorial

2012-01-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

I have an ever-expanding collection of vintage fabric and denim scraps left over from making things for Pouch. I came up with the idea for these pretty little heart brooches a while ago. I thought I would share them as a crafty tutorial.

They make a great gift for valentines. Or you could make one for yourself to brighten up a jacket or cardigan. Alternatively you could make a batch of them to use as favors at an eco-themed wedding. When I have some spare time, I make a selection of these brooches and pop them in my customer’s parcels as an extra free gift. They are simple to make and you can use any colour combination of fabric and felt – the variations are endless!

You will need:

Patterned fabric scraps (lightweight fabric with a small pattern is best. I use upcycled scraps of pillowcases and bed sheets left over from making peg bags and lavender hearts.

Denim scraps (heavyweight denim is better).

Felt

Fabric glue (something like this PVA glue is best )

Brooch backs (or small safety pin)

Pinking Shears

Heart templates (these can be found at the end of the tutorial. I have drawn them onto an A4 sheet of paper, so if you print them out at 100%, you should get the same sizes as I used for my own heart brooches)

1) First cut out the three hearts needed for the brooch. Cut the felt and denim heart out with pinking shears and cut the patterned fabric out with normal straight-edged fabric scissors.I use pinking shears to cut out the felt and denim heart. This isn’t essential, but I do like the effect pinking shears have on the felt. Even though the denim heart wont be seen because it is at the back, I still like to cut the denim with pinking shears to minimise fraying.

2) Pin the patterned fabric to the felt heart. Carefully sew around the edge. I use a conventional straight stitch, but if you were feeling ambitious you could use a tiny blanket stitch. The easiest and quickest would be a simple running stitch around the heart. My personal preference is the straight stitch photographed below.

3) Sew the brooch back onto the denim heart.

4) Once the fabric heart is sewn onto the felt and the brooch back is attached to the denim heart, you need to glue the two components together. Cover the wrong side (WS) of the denim heart with your choice of fabric glue and carefully place in the centre of the WS of the felt heart. Press together firmly. I like to use fabric glue rather than sewing the two parts together because once the glue is dry it adds more rigidity to the brooch.

5) Place fabric heart side downwards on a suitable surface like a tray and leave the glue to dry, preferably overnight.

You can make any number of variations, such as bigger hearts or adding the odd vintage button or two – I would love to hear any other ideas you may have!

Vintage love: children's books

2012-01-16T08:44:00.000-08:00

I am constantly amazed at the things my mum has kept from our childhood days. She recently asked if my own daughter would 'like to read any of these' - as soon as I saw this collection of children's books I was flooded with memories of reading them as a child. They were my favourites and I must have read them over and over again.

Any child of the 80s will recognise these books! In fact if you are a child of the 80s, you'll love this website

I love a bit of nostalgia, so couldn't resist sharing them with you!

And finally the Berenstain Bears

New Years Resolution: decluttering

2012-01-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

I'm not keen on making loads of New Years Resolutions which fall by the wayside come the end of January. One I am planning on sticking to is making an attempt to declutter our house.

This plastic jug pictured above just about sums up my problem. It sits tucked away under my toilet cistern, in our bathroom. Everytime a toothbrush gets too worn out to be used on our teeth, I put it in the jug where it might 'come in handy' for something. My husband thinks I'm mad, but tolerates these things. Whilst I am not a hoarder on this type of scale, I do hate to throw things out. The thought of all the waste making it's way to landfill in this country alone on a daily basis makes me shudder.

Kerbside recycling has improved dramatically over the past few years and we can easily put out paper, cardboard, certain plastics, food waste and garden waste to be picked up from our doorsteps. I'm also keen on passing on sellable things and regularly fill bags for charity. We've also used Freecycle on many occasions and I think it's a fantastic site and must help to prevent more waste going to landfill. We've passed on old TVs, a stereo, old toys, plant pots, boxes of tiles and even a double mattress. The fact that someone is willing to collect from your house is fantastic. I think since we've lived in our current house, we've been to the local rubbish dump about 5 times over 5 years, which is pretty good going and I think Freecycle has been a big help in keeping those trips to the dump to a minimum.

But what about the jug of toothbrushes? There are just some things that don't fit into the kerbside collections and noone would want these in a charity shop and I think they are even beyond Freecyclers, yet I can't bring myself to chuck them in the bin...I know one of the golden rules on recycling is not to buy items in the first place if you can possibly help it, which is something I try to stick to, but as far as toothbrushes go, I don't want to lose my teeth, so I'm going to keep on brushing them. Which leaves the problem of what to do with the old brushes.

And there are lots of other household items that fall into that category, video tapes, old CDs, wine bottle corks, plastic spoons...the list goes on.

Which is why am I so glad I stumbled across this website when trying to find ways to recycle my growing collection of toothbrushes.

How can I recycle this? is a fantastic source of ideas for all those hard to recycle items. It's run by two people who were in exactly the same position as I am now when faced with waste which could be reused if only they knew how. The site works by taking suggestions for items to be reused, then it's up to the good people of the internet to post their suggestions underneath said item. The site also likes to promote people's clever, interesting and creative ideas for recycling something.

A quick search of the site throws up this post on "How can I reuse or recycle … old toothbrushes?". There are some interesting suggestions, including using a Terradent toothbrush, which helps to eliminate the need to keep buying new toothbrushes in the first place. Apart from toothbrushes there are so many other clever ideas, in fact the site has over 14,000 suggestions for a plethora of items. It's definitely a site I will be bookmarking for later use!

Handmade Christmas Gifts

2011-12-19T08:53:00.000-08:00

My Auntie is a fab knitter and we've been really lucky to receive lots of lovely presents from her over the past few years. We had a knitted bride and groom for our wedding...and lots of knitted animals when our daughter was born - you can see all her hard work here

This year was no exception - she kindly knitted our daughter a gaggle of Father Christmasses and a snowman. They are so cute and my daughter loves them! They've all had a trip round the house in the pushchair - an honour usually only offered to her Peppa Pig toy :)

My online stores will be closed from 20th December through to 27th December whilst we spend time with my husband's family over the holiday period. This will probably be my last blog post before Christmas, so I would like to wish all my customers and blog readers a very merry Christmas!

Charity at Christmas

2011-12-12T08:38:00.000-08:00

It's so easy to get caught up in shopping, decorating and planning for our own family Christmasses that we forget people who are much, much less fortunate than ourselves. I read about this clever idea in my local newspaper and wanted to share it on my blog.

It's such a simple idea, yet since StreetSmart was established in 1998, it has raised over £4.7million for the homeless. Basically, you eat in a participating restaurant (there are lots all across the UK) and a voluntary £1 donation is added to your bill. A 100% of that £1 goes to homeless charities.

In my home city of Bristol there are over 12 restaurants taking part and the funds raised will go to help charities such as Bristol Soup Run Trust, Caring at Christmas and One 25.

So, whilst many of us are out celebrating, the StreetSmart campaign reminds us how important and how easy it can be to give a little bit back to charity at Christmas.

Warm Spice Owl Giveaway

2011-11-25T07:00:00.001-08:00

This giveaway is now closed - many thanks to everyone who took part!

This is a festive twist on my popular range of lavender owls. Instead of the usual floral aroma, this owl is filled with my own delicious blend of star anise, cinnamon and cloves. It brings a truly festive scent into your home!

This giveaway will run for two weeks and the lucky winner will win one warm spice vintage fabric owl in buttercup and chestnut. Full details of the competition and how to enter are listed below. Good Luck!

How to enter:

mandatory - Please visit my Etsy store and leave a comment below telling me which is your favourite item.

three additional ways to enter:

1. Become a follower of my blog. Leave a comment and let me know that you're new.

2. Tweet this giveaway:@pouchbags Warm Spice Owl Giveaway: http://pouchbags.blogspot.com/2011/11/warm-spice-owl-giveaway.html

3. Become a fan of Pouch on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pouchdesigns

**If you enter this giveaway, please state clearly your email address, OR your Facebook/Twitter/Etsy username, so I can contact you in case you win**

The giveaway runs from Friday November 25th through to midnight (GMT) Friday 9th December. I will pick a winner at random, and announce the winner on December 12th 2011. Please note: This competition is open to worldwide entries, but if you live in Australia, I will not be able to send a scented owl due to strict custom restrictions. I will be happy to send an unscented version.

**Shop news!**I am also offering free worldwide shipping on all items in my Etsy store for 7 days, starting from Cyber monday and ending on 5th December. Please use coupon code CYBER2011 at checkout!

Vintage love: fabric finds for November

2011-11-21T09:05:00.001-08:00

I have been behaving myself recently and I have not given in to my addiction. I haven't bought any vintage fabric for, well, at least four weeks, maybe even five...

But I just had to buy this floral fabric, it's just the stuff I like to use to make my lavender owls and rabbits. I find it has the perfect texture and thickness for making my plush animals. I can't wait to get snipping and making with this lovely lot. It will have to be in 2012 though as I am pretty busy with Christmas orders at the moment!

The other 'zig zag' fabric was given to me as a gift. After doing a bit of googling, it turns out that this Margo International fabric designed by Anna Caldwell dates from 1972. I've found a link to some of her work here, her "Brix" fabric won a Design Council Award in 1975. So, I am very happy that it was gifted to me! I'm not sure what to make with it yet. It is lovely and thick with a nice weave to the fabric.

20% off all vintage trims

2011-11-12T07:27:00.001-08:00

Right now I am offering 20% off all trims in my Etsy and Folksy stores.This is a perfect time to stock up on some beautiful fabric trims for your next crafting project. They come in all colours of the rainbow and many are incredibly intricate and highly collectable. A must-have for all you vintage fans!Hurry over, due to the fact these trims are vintage, they are all strictly limited edition, once they are gone...I can't source more!

Vintage fabric Rudolf decorations

2011-11-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

Now that Halloween and Bonfire Night are safely out of the way, it's time to start thinking about Christmas...after all it's only 7 weeks away!!

So on that festive note, I'd like to introduce you to my latest creation - vintage fabric Rudolf decorations. Handmade with vintage fabric in shades of amber orange, chocolate brown, pure white and jet black. He's filled with non-allergenic stuffing and has wool felt detailing in shades of chocolate and toffee brown. His look is completed with a bright red button nose.

I currently have two versions for sale, one is unscented and the other contains a delicious combination of dried star anise, cinnamon and cloves. I have had lots of fun making the latter as the scent is just amazing.

So far, I have had lots of fabulous feedback for Rudolf from crafting friends and most recently he was featured on the popular Craft Gossip blog, the Cuteable blog and of the UK Handmade Facebook page, which gained lots of thumbs up from their readers!

Also, if you are quick, there is a chance to win one on the popular Bugs and Fishes blog.

I just wanted to add, I made two versions partly because not everyone will like the festive spice mix, everyone has different tastes! But also because certain countries do not allow dried plant products to be imported into their country, most notably Australia has very strict laws relating to this. So the unscented version is available for worldwide shipping and the scented version is for United Kingdom and Europe only.

They are available in both my Etsy and Folksy stores.

UK Handmade is 3 this Winter!

2011-11-02T11:59:00.000-07:00

UK Handmade is 3 this Winter! We’ve come such a long way since we first embarked upon this journey, walking a unique path with the support and collaboration of some great talent.

The Winter issue of UK Handmade Magazine is our special 3rd Birthday edition where you can find out how UK Handmade came to be. It's live and ready to read online HERE (click on the enlarge button to the bottom left to read it full screen) or support UK Handmade by buying the PDF download here.

So why not join us in putting on the kettle, grabbing a comfy seat and celebrating 3 years of UK Handmade goodness.

Visit UK Handmade at: http://ukhandmade.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

vintage love: Clothkits puppets

2011-10-17T06:32:00.000-07:00

I love these vintage handmade puppets, not just because they are bright and well designed, but because my Mum made them for me and my brother to play with. I am a pretty sentimental person, and these puppets bring back lots of happy memories, particularly of my Mum sewing at the dining table. They are designed by Clothkits and date from late early 1980s. Clothkits was a big part of our childhood, my Mum regularly ordered kits to make clothes for herself and for me. I remember the pre-printed fabric arriving through the post, my Mum would pour over the instructions and then the sewing machine came out...

Alongside clothes, Clothkits also made toys. This set of four puppets features a lion, an elephant, a tiger and a clown. They are bright and chunky and really appeal to small children. So much so that my brother's daughter regularly performs puppet shows at Grandma's house. Now I have my own daughter, she has also grown to love these puppets, either playing with them herself or watching one of the many shows performed by her cousin. My brother's daughter has had us all in stitches with her stories, which mainly revolve around the fact the lion cannot be King of the Jungle because he is wearing a vest. Its amazing how much fun children can have with four simple puppets and lots of imagination...

Clothkits is such a brilliant business model, as it says on their website:

"well designed clothes without the fuss of paper patterns. All the cutting lines are printed directly on the fabric in a simple format that means even the inexperienced can make garments with ease."

I'm so glad the company has had something of a revival since 2008, it would a shame to lose a business that plays such an important part in my generation's memories. They even have a lovely collection of archive photos uploaded by members of the public on their website. It's worth having a look to see if you recognise anything you wore as a child!

And with the growing popularity of 'make do and mend' and sewing in general, a whole new generation of people are falling in love with the company.

self-sufficientish 2011

2011-10-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

Every year I blog about my attempts at being 'self-sufficientish', originally inspired by this website, it's basically an attempt to grow as much food at home as possible, eat seasonally and save some money too!

2011 as by far been our best year for homegrown food, thanks mainly to my Mum and brother taking on an allotment. I must admit, I was sceptical at first thinking they would have no time to maintain it properly and all they would harvest was a variety of weeds. But I've been proven wrong. My Mum has barely been able to keep up with the produce that has been bursting out of the soil. My mum and brother can't dedicate all their time to the allotment, an evening here, a Sunday afternoon there, but what they have planted has grown like mad. Every week my mum has bought us a bag of goodies, ranging from potatoes, onions, courgettes, cucumbers, the best strawberries I've ever tasted, massive blackberries, tons of runner beans, one or two celeriac, a handful of my brother's precious peas, and the most amazing garlic.

In fact we even managed to have a 'no supermarket' meal, which is a first in this house. In August we had an amazing Spanish omelette made from eggs from our friend's chickens, potatoes, onion and courgette from my mum's allotment, tomatoes and herbs from my own garden and it was absolutely delicious. We are all so reliant on supermarkets these days, that it was nice to have one meal where we hadn't had to hand over a single penny to one of them!

I'm also a convert to 'fridge pickle' I know it doesn't look like much, but believe me, it's very tasty. Basically my Mum had a glut of onions and cucumbers, so she went online to find some recipes and found whole websites devoted to using up gluts produced by allotment produce, which is handy! To see the full recipe, please visit this very useful website

I can honestly say we have never eaten so well as we have done this Summer, the produce has been organic and seasonal, extremely tasty and taken minimal cost to produce. We've also enjoyed seeing our young daughter eat such lovely, fresh food. If you get the opportunity, I would wholeheartedly recommend signing up for an allotment, my mum and brother are now complete converts and are already planning crops for the Winter and next year!

***blog giveaway winner - many thanks to everyone who took part in my Autumn giveaway - the lucky winner picked at random is...JillHogan. A selection of vintage trims will be winging their way to her soon***

Autumn blog giveaway: vintage trims

2011-09-23T08:29:00.000-07:00

The Summer months are now behind us and Autumn is well and truly on its way. The leaves are starting to change colour and pretty soon there will be a riot of rich Autumnal colours everywhere. So in the spirit of all things Autumn, I am giving away a lovely selection of vintage trims in shades of yellow and orange.

Up for grabs is a bundle of vintage trims containing:
1 yard of vintage woven trim in golden yellow and oatmeal
1 yard of vintage woven trim in pumpkin and lemon
1 yard of vintage woven trim in terracotta and chocolate brown
1 yard vintage scroll trim in mustard yellow and sage green

How to enter:

mandatory - Please visit my Etsy store and leave a comment below telling me which is your favourite item.

two additional ways to enter:
1. Become a follower of my blog. Leave a comment and let me know that you're new.
2. Tweet this giveaway:
@pouchbags Autumn blog giveaway: http://pouchbags.blogspot.com/2011/09/autumn-blog-giveaway-vintage-trims.html

**If you enter this giveaway, please state clearly your email address, OR your Facebook/Twitter/Etsy username, so I can contact you in case you win**

The giveaway is open to everyone in the world. The giveaway runs from Friday September 23rd through to midnight (GMT) Friday 30th September. This competition is open to worldwide entries. I will pick a winner at random, and announce the winner on October 3rd 2011.

Also, I am currently having a sale! Up to 40% off original prices. Check out my sale section
for more details.

New for 2011: vintage fabric cushion covers

2011-09-16T08:34:00.001-07:00

Back in April, I sourced a fantastic selection of vintage fabric. It's been calling out to be made into retro cushion covers ever since it arrived at my house. I have spent the Summer months creating a new range for Pouch and they are now live in my Etsy and Folksy stores!

I am so pleased with the way they have turned out, the colours really pop. They make a fab addition to any vintage-addicts house! Due to the fact we use vintage fabric, these cushion covers are limited edition, once the fabric has gone, we can't make more!

I currently have six colourways for sale, they are:
vintage fabric cushion cover in buttercup and chestnut
vintage fabric cushion cover in mauve and purple
vintage fabric cushion cover in turquoise and cobalt blue
vintage fabric cushion cover in plum purple
vintage fabric cushion cover in turquoise and midnight blue
vintage fabric cushion cover in jade and scarlet

To view the full range, please visit my Etsy and Folksy stores!

Autumn Sale

2011-09-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

I am currently having a huge Autumn sale in my Etsy store. There are reductions of up to 40% on my vintage fabric bags. There is also 20% off all peg bags. This is a great opportunity to grab an eco friendly present for the festive season. Take a peek at my sale section here.

Vintage love: Taunton Vale Ceramics

2011-08-30T05:14:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has taken me this long to get around to blogging about my beloved Taunton Vale storage jars. I bought them about eight years ago at a jumble sale and I absolutely love them. They cost me £1 for all three which I think by anyone's standards is a bargain!

I think I love them because they have the most quintessential retro pattern on them, big, bold flowers in bright colours, I can't get enough of them. They are also really tactile with lovely bulbous lids which I love to take on and off (vintage geek that I am).

They sit pride of place in my kitchen. I don't use them for storage, just for display. I like to think of them as my retirement fund and hope they will have increased in value from £1 to who knows how much in a few years time...

Vintage trims

2011-08-15T07:02:00.000-07:00

I've been adding a lovely selection of trims in the vintage supplies section of my etsy store.

The trim featured above is a gorgeous geometric trim in sky blue and oatmeal which is 2" wide and sold by the yard.

Next up is a vintage amber and gold trim which is sold in 4 yard bundles.

I have also listed two vintage trims in warmer, earthy tones. The first is vintage cubes trim in lemon and cocoa. And finally, a striking woven trim in terracotta and chocolate brown. Both are sold in 4 yard bundles.

Vintage love: brass letterbox

2011-07-25T08:18:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure when this brass letterbox dates from - it may even be antique - I think it at least dates from the 1920s or 1930s...

I am a big fan of fonts, I love examples of old fashioned typefaces, so this letterbox ticks lots of boxes for me. I currently live in a modern house so it would look out of place on our UPVC door. But it would be perfect in a chunky wooden door on the front of a large Victorian property...maybe one day I will get the house and door to fit around my letterbox!!

I mainly use it as a weight when I am cutting fabric out, it stops the larger pieces sliding onto the floor once I've chopped into it. Plus, it's perfect for propping open the lid of my seventy year old vintage trunk. It's packed to the brim with vintage fabric, I use it nearly everyday, but the lid no longer stays open and if I'm not careful it will fall on my head and put me in hospital! This letterbox is just the right shape and weight to hold the lid open so I can rummage for fabric in safety.

New additions

2011-07-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

I have recently added two new market totes to my online store. I love these bags, they are so sturdy and useful. Based on the design of a carrier bag, they are designed to be held in your hand or slung over the lower part of your arm whilst out shopping. They make the perfect (and more attractive) alternative to plastic carrier bags.

Made in fab vintage fabric, these two workhorses come in chestnut brown and chocolate and toffee brown.

Not only are they perfect for shopping sprees, they make great knitting bags, book bags, gym bags, you can cram virtually anything into these handy totes.

Magazine feature

2011-07-04T06:23:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to be featured in the first ever issue of 'Sew Eco' magazine! Pouch is listed in the 'Gallery of Inspiration' section at the front of the publication. They have included a lovely big image of the 'go green reversible market day tote', I think it looks fab!

It's always lovely to see your work in print...

Paper Potter

2011-06-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

My family are well trained - they know I love a nice eco gift! This Paper Potter was a Christmas present from my brother and his family. I have only just got round to blogging about it because I had to wait til Spring/Summer to use it!

I spent a relaxing evening cutting up newspapers and rolling them onto this little pot-making implement back in early Springtime. It takes a little bit of trial and error, the first few I made weren't that great. But after a while I started to build up quite a production line in the end, practise makes perfect and all that...

I think they look great grouped together, and they work really well. I grew sunflowers and nasturtiums in them back in April. They have been potted on and the newspaper will have rotted away by now.

I highly recommend these paper potters, just the fact that the company who make them have one of the best names ever is a good enough reason to buy one! they are a great way to make a small, ecofriendly change by rejecting plastic pots and using recycled paper!

Vintage or not?

2011-06-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

I bought this large piece of fabric recently, I bought it because I loved it, the design, the colours, everything about it appealed to me. It almost has a screen printed quality to it and the pattern is made up of the most amazing acid green, teal blue, chocolate brown and taupe detailing.

When I got it home and took a closer look, I started to think that maybe this lovely fabric might actually be vintage. Usually I can spot vintage fabric a mile off, but I'm not so sure with this piece. My first inkling that it might be vintage was the narrow(ish) width. It is 46 inches (117cm) wide which is narrower than most modern fabric bought off the roll, although not as narrow as some very old vintage fabric.

The main thing that made me think it might not be modern fabric is the texture. I bought some 'orange circles' vintage fabric a few years ago an it has exactly the same feel - the photos below show the fabric I purchased still on the bolt and with it's original labels. The brand name is Cepea and it says it is in "duplex print". I am wondering if the fabric I am currently trying to identify, which has an almost barkcloth feel to it, is made from the same type of stuff...

It is in such pristine condition that I really can't tell for sure. I don't mind if it isn't vintage, I really like it anyway. But if I use it to make something to list in my online stores, I don't want to say it is vintage, if it's not! Plus, I am just curious and I would love to know if anyone thinks this fabric is modern or vintage, perhaps you recognise it and could let me know the brand name or its possible age!!

Vintage love: St Michael bedding

2011-05-19T03:17:00.000-07:00

I recently bought this fabulous set of vintage bedlinen from ebay. It was a complete steal and in pristine condition because it is still in its packaging! Plus, they also still have their price tags intact - 85p for bedlinen - those were the days.

I also love the fact it says 'Made in Britain' on the packaging, always a sure sign that something is vintage as we hardly manufacture anything in this country anymore. St Michael, or Marks & Spencers used to pride themselves on only selling items made in Britain, but even they have succumbed to market forces...you can read more about the history of St Michaels here

I also want to tell you about two new items in my Etsy store, a sleepy owl and lavender rabbit in two new colourways. First up is my new Lavender rabbit in cornflower blue. It is handmade using vintage fabric in shades of cornflower blue, royal blue, pale yellow and pure white.

Second up is my Sleepy owl in sky blue and bottle green. This owl decoration is handmade using vintage fabric in shades of bottle green, navy blue and pale pink. It is filled with chemical-free, French Lavender and non-allergenic stuffing.

Four years of selling on Etsy

2011-05-12T07:02:00.000-07:00

May 14th (this Saturday!) marks the 4 year anniversary of my very first sale on Etsy

So to celebrate I am offering free shipping on all orders for 48 hours over my anniversary weekend. All you have to do is enter the discount code 4YEARS at checkout. This offer will run from 8am (GMT) Saturday 14th May to 8am (GMT) on Monday 16th May.

I honestly can’t believe I have been selling on Etsy for 4 years, the time has just flown by. I also can’t believe that when I stumbled across Etsy in 2007 whilst reading Susie Bubble’s blog Stylebubble that it would become such a big part of my life

Pre-etsy I had been trying to sell my handmade bags at craft fairs, I had found it a disheartening experience as I was often faced with people who weren’t my target market tutting at my prices and making me feel about two inches tall. When I found etsy, it helped me to realise that you don’t have to undervalue your work and that there are people out there who will pair a fair price for unique, handmade goods.

Since opening my Etsy store in 2007 I have sold vintage fabric bags, homewares and accessories to 100s of people around the globe. I have received lots of positive feedback and my confidence in my products has grown. Over the past four years I have expanded the Pouch range to include not only bags, but belts, clothespin bags, vintage trims, lavender filled hearts, owls and rabbits. The latter have turned out to be one of my best selling products and I am constantly on the look out for bright and bold vintage fabric to craft even more owls and rabbits!

The biggest plus-point about Etsy is that it is not just a selling venue, it is a community. Through Etsy I have met many designers and crafters from around the world and in the UK. Most importantly, I have formed friendships with a small circle of like-minded crafters who offer me support and advice about selling, designing and also the occasional life-related dilemma. I have even met a number of my fellow crafters in ‘real life’. Most recently Lisa from seaurchin and Laura from Lupin Handmade visited my home city of Bristol and we enjoyed a cup of tea and a chat.

In my life, alot has happened in the past four years, I have got married and most importantly I have become a mum for the first time in 2009. To say my daughter has changed my life would be something of an understatement. My priorities have changed and I no longer want to work in my old job – I want to be able to make an income through crafting. It offers me flexibility as a Mum to a young toddler and job satisfaction because I am doing something creative, which motivates me more than any other job I’ve had.

I think my Etsy store has changed dramatically since I first opened in 2007. I have learnt loads and have worked hard developing my products and honing my photography skills. I am proud of the way my online store looks today, although there’s still lots to learn. There are so many talented designers on Etsy, that you have to continually raise your game to try and keep up!

So, here’s to the next four years!

Don’t forget, free shipping on all orders over my anniversary weekend, just use the code 4YEARS to claim your discount. Please visit my store here

If you are new to etsy, or are unsure how to use discount codes, please see this helpful etsy guide

NavyBlueNotes kindly gave me permission to use her birthday card image at the top of this blog post. 4th birthday card by NavyBlueNotes

Vintage love: Teabreak biscuit tin

2011-05-03T11:20:00.000-07:00

I love vintage tins, but unfortunately I don't own many of them. I'm usually caught up in tracking down vintage fabric and tend to ignore things like tins. I do however own a few that have been passed onto me by my Grandmother. She has had them in her cupboards for so long, they have become vintage and collectable by accident...she just wants to get rid of them and I'm more than happy to give them a new home!

This particular tin dates from the 1950s, so it's pretty old. I like it because it says 'Teabreak' on it and quite frankly, tea breaks are my favourite part of the day.

It's actually pretty big as far as vintage tins go, it measures over 20cms tall. I really love it because it's so sturdy and chunky and can hold a myriad of crafty bits and bobs. Because it's been stored away for so long, it's actually in very good condition. A quick Google search tells me these tins are brass lined - which goes to show how well made it is - I doubt if they put brass in many biscuit tins these days!

In other news - the winner of April's giveaway...
Many thanks to everyone who took part in my blog giveaway last month. With all the excitement of Easter and the Royal Wedding, I haven't had a chance to announce the winner.

Comment number 52 was picked out by the random number generator - so congratulations to Amber L who writes the appetizerforacraftymind blog. A selection of vintage trims will be winging their way to you shortly...

April Giveaway - vintage trim bundle

2011-04-15T04:11:00.000-07:00

**this giveaway is now closed**

To celebrate the launch of my new vintage trim section in my Etsy store, I am holding a giveaway.

Up for grabs is a bundle of vintage trims containing:
1 yard of vintage aztec trim in citrus orange and bergundy
1 yard of vintage scroll trim in mustard yellow and sage green
1 yard folklore vintage trim in scarlet, gold and biscuit brown
4 yards of vintage tiny flower trim in crimson and orange
The whole bundle is pictured above and is worth over $20!

To enter please visit my vintage trim section and leave a comment below telling me which is your favourite trim.

The giveaway runs from April 15th through to midnight (GMT) Friday 22nd April. This competition is open to worldwide entries.

Charity listing - Lavender rabbit in spring green

2011-04-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

Back in January I wrote a blog post about creating some vintage fabric rabbits to raise money for my local children's hospice. I have now completed the rabbits and they are now available to buy in my etsy and folksy stores:

Etsy listing of Lavender rabbit in spring green
Folksy listing of Lavender rabbit in spring green

I am raising money for the Children's Hospice in the South West of England. 50% of the retail price will go straight to the charity. The Children's Hospice provide invaluable support for families looking after children with incurable illnesses. The support they give extends to the whole family, into bereavement and beyond for as long as each family needs them.

You can find out more by visiting their website
Children's Hospice South West

I want to try and raise as much money as possible, so if you are on twitter please feel free to tweet about this, if you write a blog and would like to feature my Spring Green rabbits, then please feel free to do that too! If you would like further info, or more images, please contact me and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

Spring Cleaning

2011-04-02T03:28:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if you can say you 'treat' yourself to cleaning products, it depends on how much you love housework I guess. But I have to say, I'm a tiny bit in love with the Earth Friendly range of cleaning stuff!

I am something of a reluctant domestic goddess at the best of times, but even I love using the Parsley surface cleaner - it has such a fresh smell and leaves everything sparkling. Plus the skin isn't stripped from your hands, your nose isn't affronted with artificial chemicals and whatever gets washed down the sink wont harm aquatic life.

When I ordered my latest selection of Earth Friendly products, I received a free gift - a Michael's Originals washing-up luffa. they are designed to be used instead of those plasticky scourer sponges you can buy. I must admit, it does feel a bit strange doing the washing up with a loofah, but they certainly work well. As it says on their website, they have been used for many years in other countries - sometimes traditional ideas are the best.

"In the Philippines, luffas have been used as washing-up scourers for generations. Continuing this tradition, Michael's Luffas are grown to organic principles on his parent's farm for this purpose. Ideal for washing-up, Michael's luffas are supple enough to bend round rims, reach into corners and have plenty of scrubbing power. They last for between 3 and 12 months and when they are worn out can be composted, saving landfill."

folklore vintage trim in scarlet, gold and biscuit brown

2011-03-29T04:32:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my previous post, things have been a bit hectic recently. I haven't had much time for making, but I have been listing some vintage trims in my Etsy store. I thought I would share some photos of my current favourite with you...I adore this folklore vintage trim, the detailing is amazing for something that is only 20mm in width!

folklore vintage trim in scarlet, gold and biscuit brown

Blogging break

2011-03-21T04:39:00.000-07:00

I have had quite a long break from blogging recently. We've had quite a few upsetting things happen over the past few weeks and sometimes you have to focus on your family over everything else. I don't tend to blog about personal things, but the past few weeks have been particularly stressful and writing about this kind of thing can often help...

Our daughter was born with a large hemangioma birthmark or her arm. This wasn't really a problem in itself, but when she was five months old it became ulcerated and infected. We had to push our GP to get a referral at the local hospital, we both knew something was very wrong. It was incredibly painful for her because it had turned into a raw, open wound. It's impossible to explain to a child of that age why their arm is hurting so much, so she would scream and scream if anyone touched it.

As well as being referred to the local specialist, I did some online research and found the Birthmark Support Group (based in the UK). If you have a child with any type of birthmark, I strongly recommend getting in touch with them.

To explain everything that's happened over the past nine months would take me forever, but we basically felt like our daughter was not getting the right treatment. Her arm was constantly ulcerated and it became infected three times, so that involved three lots of anitibiotics in a 15 month time span.

The Birthmark Support Group had put me in touch with a specialist nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital in July 2010. We contacted her again in January 2011 and sent her some photos of our daughter's arm. She was shocked at the condition of the birthmark and asked us to get an immediate referral. Our daughter was admitted to GOSH in early February. The treatment she received had an almost immediate effect. Her arm has continued to heal at a rapid rate over the past few weeks and we are so pleased with her progress. After so many months of cleaning and dressing her birthmark, it is fantastic to see the improvement. She is no longer in pain and any parent would feel immense relief at this.

To respect our daughter's privacy, I'm not going to put photos on my blog, but if there are any parents who would like to see the progress of our daughter's arm pre and post treament, then I am happy to discuss it via email. I'm also happy to tell other parents the type of treatment we received from Great Ormond Street. I know how little information there is out there about infected hemangiomas, so if I can help anyone else - I'm happy to do that. I think if you feel that your child isn't getting the right treatment, it's important to push for a second opinion - after all, children need us to stand up for them and get things done properly.

On top of all this, my father-in-law passed away on the 21st February, just days after we returned from Great Ormond Street. I lost my own father in 2006, so I know what my husband is going through - nothing prepares you for losing a parent.

So it seems we've had quite a lot to contend with recently. I'm hoping to get back on a more even keel soon - crafting is my therapy, so I'm sure I will back making things for Pouch very soon.

Many thanks to Laura George, who very kindly allowed me to use her "Things Are Going To Work Out" print at the top of this blog post. I found it a couple of weeks ago whilst browsing on Etsy and fell in love with the sentiment it conveys - I think it's going to be my new mantra!

Vintage love: baby shoes

2011-02-02T05:17:00.000-08:00

When you become a parent, you get very caught up in 'firsts', first smile, first laugh, first tooth - and one of the biggest 'firsts' is first steps!

Our little girl has been toddling about for a while now, so we decided to buy her first pair of shoes - a momentous event...the reason why I know it's an important event for any parent, is because my own Mum kept our first pair of shoes. She keeps them in a box with all our new baby cards dating from the 1970s, plus a bag full of hair from our first haircut! Like I say, all these 'firsts' are very special.

So here they are, my old pair of Startrite shoes from the late 1970s and my little girls gorgeous new pair side by side. Check out the wear on the toes of my shoes - what was I up to?! Mischief I imagine...

I love her little red shoes and she does too - they are definitely going to be kept for posterity, just like my Mum kept my shoes!

Vintage Supplies: a new shop section

2011-01-23T01:47:00.000-08:00

Another first for 2011, a new section in my Etsy store - Vintage Supplies.

I have been busily listing a gorgeous selection of vintage trims in my Etsy store, perfect for adding a unique twist to your next crafting project. Due to the fact these trims are vintage, they are limited edition. Once they are gone, I cannot source more - so if you see something you like - grab it quickly!

This is going to be a very image-heavy blog post! I think the trims speak for themselves, so I wont add too much description, except to say this is a selection of the warm colour trims in shades of citrus orange, crimson red and honey yellow. Next time I will blog about the blue and green trims.

You can see the full selection here

New for 2011

2011-01-18T05:30:00.001-08:00

I have recently listed some lavender hearts and lavender owls in two new colourways.

The hearts are made with vintage fabric in shades of lemon yellow and cotton candy pink. They make great ecofriendly Valentine's day presents and they are also perfect as a wedding, bridesmaid or hostess gift.
vintage fabric hearts in lemon and cotton candy pink

Next up are some lavender sleepy owls in lilac and plum. I already make rabbits in this colour so decided to create some owls in the same vintage fabric. They are filled with chemical-free, French Lavender and non-allergenic stuffing. You can either place them on your pillow to help you float off to sleep. Or put in your wardrobe (they don't mind the dark!) to make your clothes smell nice.
Sleepy owl in lilac and plum

Sustainable Fishing

2011-01-13T05:24:00.000-08:00

Channel 4 are currently running a season of programs to highlight the current problems with the way fish are caught off our coastline. I watched Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall's program the other night and it sent my blood pressure through the roof. It's a good job organisations like Channel 4 run programs such as these or I would never learn about the senseless waste of precious fish stocks.

Most people know that the seas are over fished and you assume that EU fish quotas are set up to help this situation. Apparently not. I cannot believe that nearly 50% of all fish caught in the north sea are thrown back dead. Fishermen are not allowed to land over-quota fish such as cod and haddock, so they have no choice but to throw them back. You can read more about the campaign here. You can also keep up to date with the campaign by following @hughsfishfight on Twitter.

If you are interested in joining the campaign to send a letter to to Commissioner Maria Damanaki, members of the Common Fisheries Policy Reform Group, and all MEPs, check out the Fish Fight website. Over 94,000 people have already signed up which is great news.

Channel 4 are also urging people to eat types of seafood that are traditionally less popular. They want to encourage people to eat more sustainable varieties and not turn to the usual suspects such as Cod, Salmon and Tuna. Find some inspiration here

It's ceratinly made me think about the fish I buy and I'm going to try out some of the recipes over the coming weeks.

2011 - the Chinese Year of the Rabbit

2011-01-05T11:03:00.000-08:00

Goodbye 2010 and hello 2011 - the new year seems to have come round quicker than ever! Time seems to speed up when you become a parent, I can't believe how quickly the months pass these days...

2011 is the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, which is good news as I love bunnies! The year of the Rabbit is "traditionally associated with home and family, artistic pursuits, diplomacy, and keeping the peace."

So in that vein, I am following "artistic pursuits" by working on some batches of Lavender Rabbits, some are in fabrics previously seen in my etsy store and some are in brand new colours. I am also working on some new ideas for bags, can't say too much yet as I need to try out some prototypes first. I am also planning to launch a new vintage supplies section in my etsy store - I just need to find a parallel dimension where time is no object and I should hopefully bring all these ideas to life in 2011.

And in the spirit of "home and family" I want to try and help a local charity called Children's Hospice South West. I have wanted to create a charity listing for some time now and I am determined to make 2011 the year I bring this idea into fruition. Some months ago a good friend gave me this fantastic green vintage fabric.

So in the spirit of 'paying it forward', I am going to use the fabric donated to me gratis to make some Lavender Rabbits. A percentage of the sale price for each rabbit will be donated to Children's Hospice South West. The reason I have chosen this charity is because it provides invaluable support for families experiencing one of the most traumatic experiences any parent could face. Another deciding factor was I attended a funeral of a lady on New Year's eve who was a tireless fundraiser for this charity. I would like, in some small part, to try and continue the work she can no longer carry out.

So Happy New Year to all my blog readers and I hope 2011 brings you health and happiness!

One more sleep!!

2010-12-24T04:51:00.001-08:00

So, today is Christmas Eve and I've still got presents to wrap and food to sort out - but I'm not really stressing about any of it. Christmas for me is about relaxing and enjoying yourself. We've got a very quiet day planned, just me and my husband, our gorgeous girl and my Mum. We're sure to raise a glass to my late Father, he's always in our thoughts, especially at this time of year.

I've had a fantastic 2010 watching my daughter grow and finding my crafting feet again after the initial shock of early-motherhood! The past few weeks have been pretty hectic sales wise after being featured in an Etsy finds email - there are lots of lavender owls and rabbits winging their way around the globe - hopefully all of them will be in their new homes by Christmas!

So, I just want to wish all my blog readers, customers and twitter followers a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

My Etsy and Folksy stores will be closed until 1st January whilst I take a break over the festive period - see you in 2011!!

Vintage love: Christmas decorations

2010-12-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge fan of nostalgia and if there's one time of year that gets people "feeling nostalgic" it's Christmas. These decorations were bought out of the loft every single year when I was growing up. The pom pom robins were made by my Mum before I was born, so they are at least 35 years old. They still look in good condition considering their age. It probably has something to do with the fact that we were under strict instructions as kids to never, ever touch them!

The boxes were also a childhood Christmas decoration, they are at least 30 years old. Mum would put them under the tree with gifts in. Somehow they managed to survive years of manhandling by me and my brother, eager to get at the presents inside them.

I now have the robins on display in my house in the living room and the festive boxes take pride of place on the bureau in the hallway - I think they are too delicate to put under the tree. I think it's lovely for my own daughter to see decorations from my childhood - hopefully she will love them as much as I do and maybe in a couple of years we'll have a go at making our own pom pom robins...

Vintage love: Clothkits dolls dress

2010-12-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

We were staying at my Mum's house a couple of weeks ago and I happened to spot the dressing up bag she keeps for my seven year old niece to play with. I had a quick rummage to see if there was anything that would amuse my little girl and I spotted this Clothkits dolls dress. It took me straight back to my childhood and I had to take some photos and blog about it!

I remember my Mum making Clothkits clothes for herself and for me on many occasions in the early 1980s. A parcel would arrive and Mum would unpack the fabric which was pre-printed with the pattern. Looking back, this was probably one of the reasons (apart from the lovely designs) why the company was so popular. It meant you didn't have to faff about with paper and pins and could just get on with the cutting and sewing. I always find shop bought paper patterns a bit intimidating, so Clothkits found a gap in the market for homemade clothes, and very popular they were too.

What I used to love about Clothkits was the fact that not only did I get a new dress, but so did one of my dolls! I remember I used to dress one of my favourite rag dolls in this little number. You can't really tell from these photos, but this dress is only 10 inches long. Yet, it still packs in alot of detail for such a small dress: a sweet little pocket; lining inside the yoke; and a pretty pattern on the needlecord which is different back and front.

My Mum kindly tracked down a photo of me wearing the full size version - I loved that dress! this photo was taken at Christmas time in 1980, I was four years old.

My Mum's also had some amazing Clothkits puppets at her place, I have taken some photos and will blog about them soon!

Cyber Monday code & other news!

2010-11-29T03:50:00.000-08:00

I wanted to give my blog readers a heads up on my Cyber Monday discount code!!

Add code CYBER15 during checkout on Etsy for 15% discount - now til 30th Nov
Pouch Store

Plus, I'm offering free worldwide shipping on all Vintage Fabric Totes and Clutch Purses from 25th October until Christmas Day on December 25th in my Etsy store!

In other news...

I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in the November blog giveaway. I loved reading about your favourite childhood Christmas gifts!

The winner generated at random was comment number 15:

mamipdx said...
my favorite gift was a quiz whiz - so high tech back in the early 80s!

A Lavender Rabbit will be winging it's way to her shortly!

Vintage love: cotton bed linen

2010-11-16T03:40:00.001-08:00

I love finding pieces on vintage cotton, especially double duvet covers like these. There's so much fabric to work with because of the double layer! I bought these a couple of weeks ago, they are in pristine condition and I love both patterns, even though they are both very different.

I always get excited about thinking what I can make with newly thrifted fabric, I think the brown swirls will be sewn into market totes and the purple and lilac floral fabric will become peg bags, but I change my mind all the time, I wont properly decide until I'm stood over it with a pair of scissors in my hand!

Blog Giveaway: vintage fabric lavender rabbit

2010-11-08T07:05:00.000-08:00

I blogged a little while ago about my new vintage fabric lavender rabbits and how they reminded me of my childhood spirograph toy. It kept me amused for hours - who needs a Wii when you can play with a pencil and some plastic cogs to make hundreds of geeky patterns?!

I think my all time favourite childhood Christmas present was my Sindy house. I loved it the minute I set eyes on it that Christmas morning, probably around 1983. My dedicated Father stayed up most of the night putting it together on Christmas Eve!

So in the spirit of nostalgia and with the festive gift-giving season around the corner, I'm going to run a blog giveaway where you tell me your favourite childhood Christmas present!

How to enter
Leave a comment below telling me your favourite childhood Christmas present. The winner will be picked at random on November 22nd.
**If you enter this giveaway, please state clearly your email address, OR your Facebook/Twitter/Etsy username, so I can contact you in case you win**

The prize
Up for grabs is a Spirograph lavender rabbit in orange and yellow.
This giveaway is open to worldwide entries, but I am afraid I cannot post this rabbit to Australia due to strict custom restrictions on dried lavender.

Dates
This giveaway runs from the 8th November 2010 to Midnight (GMT) 22nd November 2010.

Good Luck!

I am also currently offering free worldwide shipping on all Vintage Fabric Totes and Clutch Purses from 25th October until Christmas Day on December 25th in my Etsy store

Birthday Bunting - complete!

2010-11-04T04:59:00.000-07:00

I blogged a little while ago about the Birthday Bunting I was sewing for my baby girl's first birthday. I wanted to do a follow-up post with some photos of the finished project, so here they are! I'm really pleased with the way it turned out. It was a joint effort between me and my Mum, we both used different stitches, but I think that adds to the handmade effect.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I wanted to make something that would last for years and become something of an annual tradition. I will stop hanging the bunting out when she's about 23 and can't stand it any longer! Maybe she will love it so much, she will use it for her own children, who knows.

We had such a lovely day on her birthday, we had cakes...

balloons...

presents...

It felt like a huge milestone and I was very proud of her on the day as she soaked up the attention and took the whole day in her stride. This past year has been amazing, a real rollercoaster of emotions, highs and lows. I feel like I have packed more into the past 365 days than I have ever done. I'm looking forward to the coming years, her personality is really starting to emerge...and I think she's going to be quite a character!

Finalist in the Ecouterre Recycled Denim Challenge

2010-10-27T07:48:00.000-07:00

Pouch has been selected as a finalist in the Ecouterre Recycled Denim Challenge! It would be great if my blog readers could take a moment to vote for my entry here

I submitted a "Reversible Recycled Denim Handbag". It is 100 percent recycled; even the straps are made from an upcycled denim waistband. The bag also has no visible seams, so it is completely reversible, making this two totes in one!

The challenge is designed to showcase innovative recycling ideas using denim fabric. I am so excited to be selected for the final vote! There are some great ideas featured, so take a look at all the finalists here

Free Worldwide shipping on all totes and purses

2010-10-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

I'm offering free worldwide shipping on all Vintage Fabric Totes and Clutch Purses from 25th October until Christmas Day on December 25th in my Etsy store!

So that's two whole months of free shipping, perfect for grabbing a Christmas gift (or perhaps a treat for yourself!)

To see my full range, please click here

I am based in the United Kingdom, so if you are buying something as a gift and would like to receive it before Christmas, please take note of the Royal Mail postal dates listed below:

6TH DECEMBER (Airmail) - South & Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Far East (including Japan), Australia and New Zealand

10TH DECEMBER (Airmail) - USA and Canada, Eastern Europe

13TH DECEMBER (Airmail) - Western Europe

18th DECEMBER (2nd class) - UK
21ST DECEMBER (1st Class) - UK

vintage love: Bandaid tin

2010-10-18T04:04:00.000-07:00

I remember as a child my Mum whipping up many Clothkits outfits on her trusty Singer machine (which incidentally, I now own). Whilst my Mum was busy sewing, she would let me look through her sewing box.

This usually involved me emptying everything out onto the floor and searching for my favourite things: her handmade needlecase; the silver bullet-shaped object that held her pins; the thimbles. Above all I loved to tip out this Bandaid tin which was filled with buttons, mainly red ones as I recall. I never seemed to tire of doing this, funny the things that amuse a four year old!

A few weeks ago I was moaning about never having enough safety pins. A few days later my Mum gave me the Bandaid tin filled to bursting with pins. I'm really grateful she parted with it as it now sits on my shelf and reminds me of my childhood. Is it possible to be sentimental about a tin? Yes, I think in this case, it is...

Creating a workspace

2010-10-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

I have spent the past couple of days doing a bit of reorganisation in our house. I have always wanted a space where I could leave my sewing machine out permanently. I'm a bit fed up of perching the machine on the side of the kitchen table. So I decided to empty a bureau in my office and move it to the downstairs hallway. I sorted through five years worth of paperwork, old photos, a teapot (yes teapot) and even a teddy bear. And boy was it cathartic! Our recycling bag is breaking at the seams now and I have a huge pile of shredding to do at some point.

I then installed a lovely table thrifted for £5 at a local 'save the church roof' type of affair. I remember the struggle we had to get it in the back of the car. But, I was *not* leaving without it!

Now, I know in the grand scheme of workspaces, mine is right down there at the bottom of the scale, but hey, just having a sewing table is luxury for me! Hopefully some shelves to display my vintage finds will soon follow, few more pictures on the wall and I will have my own little crafting haven...

work in progress: new bag design

2010-10-03T05:07:00.000-07:00

My baby girl has had gastroenteritis for the past couple of days, it's not been easy for all of us. We've had broken nights and a growing pile of messed-up sheets and pyjamas to contend with. This is the first 'proper' illness she's had, so I count myself lucky. Plus it will help with her immunity, little babies are bound to pick up the odd bug along the way.

So the past couple of days have been craft-free, but I did start working on a new bag at the start of last week. It's a variation on an old design, I'm hoping it will be something of an improvement design-wise. I also don't need much of an excuse to work with some of my favourite vintage fabric - a piece of Moygashel Pinto in lovely shades of blue, green and purple. I will blog more photos of the end product as soon as I get a chance!

Autumn colours

2010-09-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

I have been listing a number of totes, belts and owls in my Etsy store over the past few days. They all have a distinctly Autumnal feel to them (love the word Autumnal, almost as much as I love the word haberdashery).

There are lots of shades of burnt orange, russet red and mustard yellow. I love vintage fabric, but I have a particular weakness for brown and orange hues, which is lucky as nearly everything was brown and orange in the 1970s!

Click here to find out more about the new additions to my Etsy store

new listing: Falling leaves clutch purse in scarlet

2010-09-26T11:59:00.000-07:00

This is my latest clutch purse. It is made using striking and collectable vintage fabric dating from the 1940s. Its hard to capture the fabulous raised detail on this fabric. I hope my photos do justice to the texture and complexity of the falling leaves motif woven through the red background. For full details, please view the listing here

Birthday Bunting

2010-09-26T03:43:00.000-07:00

Well, my baby girl's first birthday is fast approaching so I thought it was time I started thinking about her party. I'm only planning a small gathering as I don't want to overwhelm her, but it's nice to share such a happy day with family and a few ante-natal friends.

I have been receiving lots of catalogues recently with things to buy for first birthday parties (goes to show how much these marketing people know about me if they know my baby is going to be one soon!). Some of the ideas are nice and some are just a load of tat. So I thought, wouldn't it be better to make some handmade bunting I could get out every year.

I looked through my felt stash, purchased from the lovely Lupin Handmade, That Crafty Fish and my local fabric store (I like to spread my felt purchasing far and wide).

The banner is going to be a carefully planned (i.e. scribbled on a scrap of paper) mixture of alternating flags and letters in shades of white, cerise pink and plum purple. My mum has kindly offered to sew the cerise pink and purple flags, so I only have photos of the white ones. I will blog about the finished banner in all its glory in a couple of weeks time!

Spirograph vintage fabric rabbits

2010-09-21T03:49:00.000-07:00

Back in July I blogged about the latest batch of vintage fabric rabbits I was working on.

They are now complete and I'm really pleased with the way they turned out. I love the amazing Spirograph fabric, picked up at a vintage fair in Chipping Sodbury. The Spirograph motif must be pretty popular as the rabbits have featured in a number of treasuries and made it to the etsy front page twice in one day!

Spirographs were incredibly popular in the 1960s, so I would date this fabric from that time. Lots of designers were fascinated with geometric patterns and spaceage motifs. I found this great explanation of the appeal of Spirographs on the retrowow website. If you really love geeky facts about Sprirographs, check out this web page!

I remember having a modern version of a spirograph toy in the 1980s, but I would love an original 1960s one, like the version pictured below! I will have to keep my eyes peeled on ebay (image from the www.seriouscraft.com website).

to see the full selection of vintage fabric rabbits, please visit my Etsy store

Last of the Summer...tomatoes

2010-09-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

As I watched the rain lash down today, I was reminded of how lovely the weather at weekend had been. I was also experiencing a glut of tomatoes, so I decided to make some soup. It also included homegrown basil, oregano and garlic (from my Mum).

This is the perfect time of year to get preserving all the lovely fruit and veg which has been growing over the Summer. I know when I take this out of my freezer, I can taste a little bit of Summer in the middle of Winter (if it stays in there that long!)

We made the most of the Sunday sunshine and took a trip to Ashton Court on the edge of Bristol. It's a pretty amazing green space, owned by the council and open (for free) to the people of Bristol to use for picnics, cycling, horse riding, kite festivals and lots more besides.

It's also home to two deer enclosures for Fallow and Red deer. We saw these handsome chaps lazing about near the fence. They must be very used to seeing humans as the council allow access to the enclosures. People are able to walk along designated footpaths to get a closer look at the deer.

Relaxing 'en famille' in the late Summer sunshine, with my Mum, husband and baby daughter!

Vintage love: Hornsea Pottery

2010-09-05T12:27:00.000-07:00

A new charity shop has opened in my local area. Never one to miss an opportunity to check out a new thrifting venue, I paid the shop a visit. The minute I walked through the door I saw this little beauty - a piece of vintage Hornsea Pottery ceramic lovliness.

It was marked in the shop as a 'sugar pot', but a quick Google search tells me it is a 'lidded jam pot'. For all you ceramic geeks out there, here are a few facts:

"Hornsea Pottery Saffron was produced from about 1970 until 1992. It was designed by John Clappison and this popular pattern was sold in very large quantities. It has now become very difficult to obtain items of Saffron in good condition"

Every time I look at it, I fall in love with it a little bit more. I love the pattern, I think it has to be my favourite Hornsea motif. It is a quintessential vintage floral pattern, bold and simple. Less is more as they say...

I'm so glad this new charity shop opened, they have fantastic furniture for sale including an Ercol table and set of 'Refectory Style' dining chairs (which look like this). I have yet to convince the other half that we desperately need to buy them. He's not convinced. I guess I will have to be satisfied with my 'lidded jam pot'. For now.

Work in progress: lavender hearts

2010-08-17T04:09:00.000-07:00

I's been over three weeks since I last blogged and alot has happened since the 23rd July. My husband was involved in a cycling accident on the 27th July. Luckily, he came away from the accident with bruising and a broken arm. The reason I say 'luckily' is because at first the paramedics thought he may have broken his back. We spent a tense time in A&E waiting to hear the results of his x-rays and we were relieved to discover that he hadn't fractured his spine.

Having said all that, looking after someone who has lost the use of their right arm (if only temporarily) is hard work. Coupled with looking after our 10 month old baby full-time, I've been run off my feet and pretty exhausted by the end of the day. I am lucky to have a helpful and supportive Mum. Plus, I have received lots of support from kind friends I have met via Etsy. They know who they are and their kindness wont be forgotten.

I have (somehow!) found time to cut out a stack of lavender hearts. It's the type of crafting I can do on a tray, in the evening, on the sofa! Obviously my husband and baby are top priority, but I feel I need to work with vintage fabric at least once or twice a week, even if I'm very tired. It's just something I have to do to stay sane!

These photos show the broderie anglais back of the hearts. I have also cut out lots of vintage fabric lavender heart fronts in yummy patterns and colours. I will be listing them just as soon as I get a chance - watch this space...

To see the four colourways I currently have for sale, please click here

Self Sufficient (ish) 2010

2010-07-23T07:29:00.000-07:00

I started blogging last year about growing fruit and veg at home. As I mentioned previously, veg grown at home tastes better and have travelled a very small distance, which means less road and air freight.

Yesterday I tipped out my last bag of homegrown spuds and made a handful of them into a salmon, broccoli and potato pie for our baby girl. She absolutely loved it and gobbled a big bowl down for tea. I used a recipe from the Truuuly Scrumptious Book of Organic Baby Purees, it is brilliant, I haven't found a recipe that our baby doesn't like (yet!).

This year, I have very little time for gardening with a young baby to look after. But I've still managed to grow some spuds, tomatoes, blueberries, pak choi, various salad leaves and lots of herbs.

Due to lack of time, I chose flowers that were tough and could look after themselves with very little help from me. One plant which thrived on neglect was the Ragged Robin Poppies. The original seeds came from a friend's garden in North Wales, so they have travelled quite a distance. They are absolutely stunning, although they are short lived.

I also love these Balloon plants because the slugs don't eat them and they are a perennial so no faffing about each year, it just dies down over the Winter and reappears in the Spring.

I try to be a thrifty gardener and very rarely buy plants and always try to grow from seed or cuttings. This Hydrangea came from a cutting my Gran took about four years ago.

Likewise the snapdragons were grown by my Mum from seed, they don't get eaten by slugs either and look after themselves, so a big thumbs up from me.

These Allium bulbs were a gift from my Mum and the bees love them, which is always a bonus as their habitats and survival are under threat.

There was one weird thing which happened with my potato plants this year, they bore 'fruit'. I'm not sure what they are, I thought their fruit was underground in the form of spuds. I'm thinking maybe they flowers were cross-pollunated by an insect from my tomato plants? What with me not being a botanist, I'm not sure if this can happen!

And the winner is...

2010-07-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

The winner chosen at random is...Bells and Unicorns

She wins the Summery Canvas Stripey Tote, it will be in the post asap!!

Many thanks to all who entered the giveaway - check back for more competitions in the coming months!

Vintage fabric lavender hearts

2010-07-14T06:27:00.000-07:00

Over the past few months I have been busily making lots of vintage fabric hearts. They always prove to be very popular both online and at craft fairs. They are very versatile, either hang them in your wardrobe (lavender acts as an eco friendly moth repellent) or place on the bedside table to help you drift off to sleep.

They also make lovely eco friendly wedding or anniversary gifts. If you are planning your own wedding, they make ideal keepsakes to give to your bridesmaids to thank them for their hard work and remind them of the happy day. Many people choose to have a more 'handmade' look to their wedding theme, and these hearts fit in perfectly.

Each heart is made from vintage fabric and filled with chemical free lavender. They have a satin ribbon hanging loop and feature a vintage button for added detail. The backs of the hearts are made from vintage broderie anglaise fabric.

I currently have four different colourways for sale at the moment, but I have lots more planned, so keep checking back to see more. If you have a particular colour theme you are looking for, please do get in touch!

Lavender hearts on Etsy

Celebrating 15 years of the National Cycle Network

2010-07-10T03:23:00.000-07:00

Sustrans is inviting people to capture on camera how cycling routes have changed their lives. Anyone who enjoys using the National Cycle Network are being asked to make a short, two minute film to mark its 15th anniversary.

Sustrans the Bristol-based sustainable transport charity now wants to compile a collection of stories about the impact the network has made on people's lives so far.

The entries will be judged by Merlin Crossingham (Creative Director for Wallace & Gromit), Alice Roberts and Adam Hart-Davis. Full details of the prizes can be found here

Take a look at the Sustrans film below and then check out the competition website to get started.

The image at the top of this blog post is of me on the Bristol to Bath cycle track. You can find out more by visiting the Bristol and Somerset section of the Sustrans website.

Lavender Rabbits: new colours and work in progress

2010-07-05T07:42:00.000-07:00

Summer is traditionally a fairly slow time sales wise on sites like Etsy and Folksy. Rather than panic about sales, it is better to use this 'quiet' time to build up stock for the Autumn and Christmas sales period. I have recently sourced some fantastic vintage fabrics and I have been filling my evenings with sewing lots of lovely rabbits and owls.

One of my favourites is this spirograph style vintage fabric in yummy citrus shades. I'm looking forward to finishing this batch and getting some photos taken.

I have already added two new colours to my etsy shop. First up are these bold lime zest rabbits

And just added today are these fab olive and lemon rabbits

July Tote Giveaway

2010-06-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

I thought it was high time I ran another giveaway on my blog. Up for grabs is this bold and Summery Canvas Stripey Tote. made from sturdy canvas in shades of citrus orange, sunny yellow, lime green and pale purple.

Perfect for taking to the shops to stock up on provisions. Also makes a great knitting bag, book bag, gym bag, you can cram virtually anything into this handy tote.

How to enter:

mandatory - Leave a comment stating your favorite item from my Etsy store. This applies to both new and old followers.

Three additional ways to enter:
1. Become a follower of my blog. Leave a comment and let me know that you're new.
2. If you are already a follower of my blog (as of July 1st, 2010) and you choose to enter by leaving a comment, you will be entered twice in the giveaway. Although I've made a note of my followers, please remind me by stating 'I'm already a follower' when you leave a comment. This is a way to say thank you to everyone who's been reading my blog over the past few months!
3. Tweet this giveaway:
@pouchdesigns July Tote Giveaway http://pouchbags.blogspot.com/2010/06/july-tote-giveaway.html

**If you enter this giveaway, please state clearly your email address, OR your Facebook/Twitter/Etsy username, so I can contact you in case you win**

The giveaway is open to everyone in the world, and will run from July 1st 2010 through to Midnight (BST) on July 15th, 2010. I will pick a winner at random, and announce the winner on July 16th, 2010.

**UPDATE**
This giveaway is now closed, thanks to all who took part!

Vintage Finds: Ceramics and fabric

2010-06-25T05:44:00.000-07:00

We spent a few days in Cornwall at the end of May, we had such a lovely time, I wanted to share some images of our stay. It's taken me almost a month to blog about them, but with a young baby, all blogging plans go out the window most of the time!

Whilst we were in Cornwall we visited the quaint village of Polperro. I spotted a sign for 'bric a brac sale' at the side of the road. Never one to turn down the opportunity to rummage through bric a brac, I took a quick look. To my surprise amongst the CDs and books was a table covered in vintage ceramics. I could've bought the lot, but I was very restrained and just bought a sugar bowl and jug made by Alfred Meakin.

I love the simple design and lovely cobalt blue flower detail. And at £1 each, an absolute bargain.

I also had my 'vintage fabric' antenna in full working order when I spotted two vintage sheets plus pillowcases at the sale.

I have already cut some peg bags out of this fabric and I may make some belts with it too. There's plenty to use and I love the fresh colours and design, it's in fantastic condition.

We also made a few other 'finds' on our holiday, but not of the vintage variety. First up was Sams on the Beach at Polkerris. Based just a stones throw away from Menabilly, the beloved home of the novelist Daphne du Maurier.

It is apparently one of the best places to eat seafood in that area. It was very chilled, reasonable priced and in a location to die for. We will definitely be going back again!

Next, we took a trip to the Hidden Valley Gardens at Treesmill, Near Par.

It was such a lovely, secluded place. Complete with large Summerhouse where you could make your own pot of tea and buy a homemade cake, our money went in an 'honesty box'. All proceeds go to charity as part of the National Garden Scheme

All in all, we packed quite a bit into four days, we found some stunning homegrown places to eat and visit, plus I came away with some vintage mementos which always makes me a happy traveller!

Foodcycle comes to Bristol

2010-06-08T03:10:00.000-07:00

I recently read about a fantastic new project in The Spark Magazine and wanted to share it here on my blog. A charity called Foodcycle uses surplus food donated by local businesses and creates nutritious meals for people affected by food poverty. It also helps to cut the amount of food wasted by shops and outlets. According to the Foodcycle website, it is estimated that food retailers waste 500,000 tonnes of food each year in the UK with a similar amount generated from the private catering sector.

"FoodCycle combines young volunteers, surplus food and a free kitchen space to create nutritious meals for people affected by food poverty. The idea is simple. Food retailers throw out millions of tons of edible food every year due to supply overstock. The aim of FoodCycle is to redirect this food so it can be used to cook nutritious meals for people in the local community that do not have access to healthy foods for a variety of reasons, such as lack of income or knowledge of healthy nutrition."

You can read more about their Mission on their website

Started in London in 2008, Foodcycle has recently launched in Bristol. A team of volunteers now serve meals at Easton Community Centre on Sunday afternoons and on Wednesday evenings at Bristol University Student's Union.

Please do check out their website to find out more about volunteering or donating surplus food to the charity.

New listing: Mustard yellow and warm orange vintage fabric Dilly tote

2010-06-06T14:04:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs at least one large tote in their lives! A Pouch Dilly tote is perfect for a trip to the shops, carrying your latest knitting project, a day at the beach or perhaps for carrying baby paraphernalia if you're a new mum.

This Dilly tote is handmade using vintage fabric. It features a stunning floral pattern in shades of rich yellow and warm orange on a chocolate brown background. Fully lined with robust indigo blue denim. This is a one of a kind bag, never to be repeated.

Full details can be found in Pouch's etsy store:
Mustard yellow and warm orange vintage fabric Dilly tote

Summer is here (hopefully!)

2010-06-03T02:09:00.000-07:00

We've been experiencing some lovely weather in the UK recently. As our Summers are so unpredictable it's hard to get used to it, as before you know it the rain sets in! Because bouts of sunshine are so precious in this country I like to grab every opportunity to line-dry all my latest vintage fabric purchases.

We don't own a tumble drier, so nice weather is a godsend. We do have indoor drying racks which are great in the Winter and on damp days, but nothing beats a good airing on the line in the sunshine.

I purchased these fantastic vintage fabrics from the Chipping Sodbury Vintage fair, which I blogged about here. They are destined to be made into bags and lavender rabbits.

UK Handmade Summer Issue out now!

2010-06-01T07:16:00.000-07:00

The new Summer 2010 issue of UK Handmade magazine is out now! This bumper issue is packed full of fantastic features, summery tutorials, recipes and finds, and also takes an in depth look at the trend of upcycling and recycling.

Click on the image above or follow this link to start reading!
UK Handmade

Stepping out of my crafting comfort zone

2010-05-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

I've just spent the past hour or so playing with clay and attempting to make beads and buttons! Lisa from Seaurchin kindly sent me a chunk of porcelain clay to play with a few weeks ago and I finally found the time to sit down and try my hand at making something.

I was really keen to make buttons, but I found them quite hard to make. Getting the surface flat, making a round shape and putting a pattern onto the clay was pretty tricky and obviously takes alot of skill and practice. I also made seven beads which I enjoyed making. I think I will attempt to make some more with different textures when I get the chance.

I already had alot of respect for Lisa's work, but I have even more respect now. I found it very hard to make the clay do what I wanted, plus I kept leaving finger prints, nail marks and fluff all over the place!

Having said that, I did enjoy stepping out of my crafting comfort zone and it was nice to attempt to make something in a new medium. I'm hoping Lisa can improve my feeble efforts with some glaze at the firing stage!

If you want to see how it's done properly, please check out Lisa's store Seaurchin on Etsy

New Listing: Peppermint and sage vintage fabric peg/clothespin bag

2010-05-09T03:50:00.000-07:00

This is the newest addition to the Pouch range of peg bags. Made with repurposed, vintage fabric & a vintage wooden coat hanger. It features a pretty floral pattern in shades of peppermint, lime and sage green.

There’s no better way to dry your washing, than to peg it out and let it dry in the breeze. The tumble drier is one of the most energy-hungry appliances in the house. By reducing the number of times you use a tumble drier by just one load per week, you will reduce your carbon emissions by approximately 60kg a year. And reduce your electricity bill!

Full details here:
Peppermint and sage vintage fabric clothespin bag

A day out at the Vintage & Handmade Fair

2010-05-03T12:13:00.000-07:00

I spent May Day engaged in one of my favourite pastimes, browsing vintage goodies at the Vintage & Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury.

I went along to meet Liz aka The Washerwoman who had kindly contact me via my blog about some vintage fabric I had been trying to get hold of for ages.

Sadly, I couldn't get a decent photo of Liz's stall. She was so popular I couldn't see through all the people around her lovely selection of vintage textiles and clothes. I hope she achieved her aim of leaving with less in the car than she arrived with!

I did manage to take a few photos of some of the other stalls

This stall's wares looked fantastic against the backdrop of the old fireplace in Chipping Sodbury's Town Hall

There were lots of Union Jacks on display amongst the shabby chic textiles and homewares from the aptly named 'Shabby Chick', I don't think she has a website, but she has a stall at Totnes Friday Fleamarket

One stall had a cornucopia of vintage trinkets, from Coronation hairclips to yogi bear transfers all priced at £1!

It was worth making the trip to the fair just for the tea stall which was heaving with homemade cakes, flapjack and oh so fashionable macaroons. All the tea and cakes were served on vintage bone china plates and cups, very civilised

And finally, my purchases! A selection of bold, vintage fabrics in just the shades I most fond of. Destined to be made into lavender rabbits and owls and maybe a couple of small totes.

New listing: Reversible lavender and lilac vintage fabric tote

2010-04-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

I have just listed this lavender and lilac vintage fabric tote in Pouch's Etsy store

This tote makes a great beach bag, knitting bag, book bag or gym bag. It's also perfect for taking to the shops or farmers market to stock up on provisions.

This tote has no visible seams, so it is reversible – making this two bags in one!

Made with upcycled, vintage fabric featuring a floral pattern in shades of pale lilac, rich purple and soft lavender. It is fully lined with repurposed, damson purple corduroy fabric.

It has a total of 5 pockets, 3 on the vintage fabric side and 2 on the corduroy side. The handles are made from strong white webbing and covered on one side with the same lavender and lilac fabric.

Fun, stylish and eco-friendly.

Full listing details with measurements here:
Reversible lavender and lilac vintage fabric tote

A pre-baby indulgence

2010-04-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

I made this wave pintuck cushion cover way back in January 2009, but with pregnancy and becoming a mum, this is the first chance I've had to blog about it.

I am really proud of the way it turned out, I have no plans to make more to sell in my etsy store, it was purely a pre-baby indulgence and I want to show it off!!

It's made with fairtrade, oragnic Chandni Chowk fabric in a lovely shade of indigo blue.

It took me about six weeks to make, but that was due to fitting it in around work, it wouldn't have taken that long if I'd concentrated on it fully for a couple of days! I normally like to have pairs of cushion covers, but the chances of me having the time to sit down and make another one look pretty unlikely at the moment! The most important thing is that I enjoyed making it, we use it everyday and it's holding up well to daily use. So all the effort of sewing over 30 pintucks was worthwhile and maybe one day I will make another one to go with it...

UK Handmade Writing Competition

2010-04-22T02:15:00.000-07:00

Are you a keen writer living in the UK? Are you passionate about handmade? Then why not get your creative juices flowing and enter the UK Handmade writing competition!

This is a chance to have your say on a topic that really matters to you - write up to 500 words on any topic which relates to the creative world, include some nice pictures and email it to editor@ukhandmade.co.uk at any time up to Friday 28th May 2010.

The winning article will be published in the Autumn issue of UK Handmade Magazine (due out 1 September 2010), and there will also be an in depth interview with the winner published on the UK Handmade blog. The winner will also receive a free advertising spot in the magazine.

The competition is open to everyone within the UK, so feel free to tell your friends about it - this is a great opportunity to get an article published in one of the fastest growing and widely read online magazines in the handmade community!

Competition Rules:
* Entries can be on any subject as long as they are related in some way to the creative industries.
* Articles should be no longer than 500 words with 2-3 accompanying photos.
* The deadline for submissions is midnight (GMT) on Friday 28th May 2010
* Email submissions only to editor@ukhandmade.co.uk.
* One entry per person.
* Entrants must be resident in the UK.
* The winner will be announced on the blog on Thursday 1st July 2010.

New listing: Green leaves oversized tote

2010-04-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

This latest listing is made with recycled, vintage fabric featuring a pattern of leaves in shades of forest green and pure white. Fully lined with moss green corduroy fabric. It has 2 internal pockets. The handles are made from robust green and white webbing.

This tote makes a great beach bag, knitting bag, book bag or gym bag. It's also perfect for taking to the shops or farmers market to stock up on provisions. You can cram virtually anything into this handy tote.

Free shipping on all bags, totes and clutch purses throughout April 2010!
Green leaves oversized tote

The Cosa Verde Earth Day Giveaway!

2010-04-13T09:31:00.000-07:00

The Cosa Verde Earth Day Giveaway is now underway! Check out the details on Modish for further info on how to enter this amazing competition.

Cosa Verde have gathered together over $1600 worth of goodies and they have been divided into 4 bags worth approximately $400 each. They are filled with handmade, eco-friendly prizes donated by ethical and eco-minded designers from across the globe.

Pouch is taking part in the giveaway by offering a vintage fabric lavender filled sleepy owl as a prize for one of the bags!

See the full range of prizes here

The competition ends on Earth Day (April 22nd 2010) so get your entry in as soon as you can!

UK Handmade Spring edition is out now!

2010-03-31T09:29:00.000-07:00

The latest edition the UK Handmade magazine is out now! Packed with tutorials, interviews, lifestyle articles and stunning photography.

To read it online, please visit the UK Handmade website

Also, if you turn to page 50, you will see an article about eco-friendly gardening written by me!

Earth Day 2010

2010-03-24T13:22:00.000-07:00

Earth Day takes place on April 22nd 2010 and I just wanted to give a heads up on a couple of events I am involved with.

2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, so the Eco Etsy Team are pulling out all the stops to mark the day. You can read more about the fantastic Green Share scheme and the proposed 'silent auction' on the team blog.

I am also taking part in the Cosa Verde Earth Day giveaway in association with Modish. I will blog further details nearer the time!

To keep up to date with these Earth Day events, you can follow Pouch, Cose Verde and the Eco Etsy Team on Twitter
Pouch
Cosa Verde
Eco Etsy

New Listing: peppermint and charcoal mini messenger purse

2010-03-23T03:50:00.000-07:00

I've just listed a new mini-messenger in Pouch's Etsy store

The outside is made from repurposed black denim. It is fully lined with vintage fabric which features a striking criss cross pattern in shades of mint green, lime green and pure white.

This is a robust, eco-friendly mini-purse
Pretty and stylish, great for year-round use

To see the full listing, click here

Don't forget, free worldwide shipping on all bags, totes and clutch purses in March!

Spring!

2010-03-16T04:07:00.000-07:00

Spring is definitely on the way in the UK and it is such a fantastic time of the year. My thoughts always turn to gardening and veg growing, but now I am a new mum it's hard to know if I will have the time! I'm hoping once our baby is old enough I will get her interested in gardening, but at a few months old, I think that would be a bit ambitious for the 2010 growing season!

I have started chitting some potatoes and hopefully I will be able to grow some tomatoes. I need my annual homegrown tomato fix every year, the ones in the shops just aren't the same. I'm also planning on growing lots of herbs and salad leaves, possibly some beetroot and maybe some spinach. As our baby will be starting on solid foods soon, it would be fantastic to give her some homegrown produce. I'll see how it goes.

I spotted my first bee of the season yesterday. I'm not very good at identifying them, but it was very fat, so maybe a bumble bee? I know that honey bees are endangered, so I have started following "Help Save Bees" on Twitter, they also have a website. You can find out how to make a home for bees and help with the dwindling population by building a Bee Hotel over on the RHS website.

I have recently discovered the new Royal Horticultural Society gardening forum, it's called "My Garden". It's a great place to find gardening advice from other gardeners. There's lots of photos and tips and plenty of information for anyone stuck with a gardening query.

If you want to see some beautiful RHS gardens, take a look at the garden finder. The RHS are also on Twitter, you can find them here.

New Listings: vintage fabric belts

2010-03-12T03:50:00.000-08:00

I have recently added a number of handmade belts crafted from stunning vintage fabrics.

The first is a Scarlet and chocolate brown vintage linen belt. It is made from a floral Irish linen in shades of tangerine orange, lemon yellow, crimson red, bright green and pure white on a rich chocolate background

The second is a Orange zest vintage fabric belt

It is crafted from vintage fabric featuring a retro pattern of circles in shades of tangerine orange and mocha brown on a pure white background

The third is Vintage orange blossom fabric belt

It is handmade from vintage Tokyo Crepe and it features a gorgeous oriental pattern of flowers, trees and blossom on an orange background.

I am also offering free worldwide shipping on all bags, totes and clutch purses throughout March, please see my Etsy store for full range of handmade items.

Handmade Gifts

2010-03-06T06:27:00.000-08:00

I am lucky enough to come from a crafty family of knitters and seamstresses!

My Mum can sew almost anything she turns her hand too, my Mother-in-law can crochet amazing blankets, my Auntie can knit fantastic characters and my cousin's wife can follow the most complicated knitting patterns I have ever seen!

They are all happy to make a handmade gift for special occasions and their creations are all so beautiful I wanted to share them here

My baby daughter has received some gorgeous handmade gifts including a group of knitted animals from my Auntie, made up of a koala, a bunny, a pig and a panda. I think the koala is my favourite as I love the ears!

The same Auntie also knitted us a lovely bride and groom when we got married last year, they are so cute!

My cousin's wife knitted our baby the most beautiful blanket, it's really hard to capture the 3-D detail in a photo, but it really is stunning

She also knitted a pretty little mauve cardigan

And, she also knitted us a wedding cake as a gift last year, and yes, I did say wedding cake...

My Mother-in-law made three crochet blankets, this one if my favourite:

My Mum made some Paddinton bear curtains for the nursery, which I blogged about here

And finally, I was delighted to receive this gorgeous wall plaque for my baby from Lisa of Seaurchin. I am lucky enough to have met her via Etsy.

I love each and every handmade gift that has been made for me, my husband and our baby daughter. There is something very special about they fact someone has taken the time to make a gift for you and I will treasure all of them for a long, long time.

Lavender rabbits and owls in a new colour

2010-02-25T13:26:00.000-08:00

I've been working on some new vintage fabric rabbits and owls in a fab new colourway of turquoise and cobalt blue with splashes of bright green

Each owl and rabbit is made from vintage fabric and filled with chemical-free, French Lavender and non-allergenic stuffing

You can either place them on your pillow to help you float off to sleep.

Or put in your wardrobe to make your clothes smell nice.

see the full range of rabbits here

and full range of owls here

Pouch Etsy store

Fairtrade Fortnight

2010-02-22T07:20:00.000-08:00

Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 22nd February through to 7th March.

This year the Fairtrade Foundation are asking people to take part in the 'Big Swap'. The idea is simple, you swap your usual stuff for Fairtrade stuff. Your usual bananas for Fairtrade bananas, your usual cotton socks for Fairtrade cotton socks, and your usual cuppa for a Fairtrade cuppa. Whenever you pop to the shops, you can use your wallet to make a stand.

"Swapping your usual stuff for Fairtrade stuff is a brilliantly small step to making the world a fairer place. It means that you get to show your support for developing world producers through what you buy. Two billion people - a third of humanity - survive on less than $2 a day. Unfair trade rules keep them in poverty, but they face the global challenges of food shortages and climate change too."

So take a look at the Fairtrade Foundation website and register your swaps here

Vintage Find: Paddington fabric

2010-02-17T04:23:00.000-08:00

I must admit that this isn't something I found myself! In fact my Mum found this gorgeous Paddington fabric in a local charity shop. She made it into curtains as a present for our baby, clever Grandma!

It dates from 1984, so it's what I would call 'new' vintage, or vintage of the future. Although 1984 is now 26 years ago, which makes me feel old. Anyway, I wanted to include it as a vintage find on my blog as I absolutely love the fabric!

Paddington was one of my favourite characters as a child and I'm so happy to see these curtains hanging in my own baby's nursery. She loves looking at Paddington and his messy decorating antics as the sun shines through the fabric.

I wanted to share some other nursery details, first off, this sweet hot air balloon from Ikea. Another present from Grandma!

I also love these stacking cups which I thrifted for £1 from a local charity shop. They are so colourful an I'm sure they will be a firm favourite for bath time fun in the future!

Our baby also loves this cute wall decal I bought in Devon a few weeks ago.

I also have my eye on some handmade goodies from Etsy, including Little Butterfly TEETHING TOY by littlesaplingtoys My Little Button Boots by hipknotz, Fiona's top by Rasmilla, Herman The Enigmatic Bear Knitting Pattern Pdf by dangercrafts and finally some Pretty Girl English Bunting by Paperfish

The nursery is shaping up to be one of the prettiest rooms in the house, I wouldn't mind sleeping in there myself!

Exciting news!

2010-02-04T05:50:00.000-08:00

Just after returning home from hospital after the birth of my baby, I received an email from the team behind the 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse book to say Pouch would be included in the publication!

I applied way back in January 2009 and was delighted to be picked. Over 7000 images were submitted from designers, crafter and artists from around the world who specialise in working with recycled materials. The author, Garth Johnson, had the hard task of shortlisting the final 1000 images to be included. He describes the book as:

"Quarry recently published my new book, 1000 Ideas for Creative Reuse, which gathers 1000 projects from contemporary crafters, artists and makers from across the globe. Every project in the book reuses materials in a clever way, transforming everyday materials into exciting pieces of fashion, art, jewelry and furniture...After all of the work it took to put the book together, it’s amazing to finally hold a finished copy in my hands. Every page is loaded with exciting ideas that inspire me to create my own repurposing projects..."

I had to wait until January 2010 for the book to be available in the UK. I couldn't wait to get hold of my copy from the Book Depository. I am so pleased with the results, five images of Pouch items were included. The book has been made to a high spec with colour co-ordinated images grouped together for maximum impact! I recogonised many familiar Etsy sellers in the book and in particular, members of the Eco Etsy Team.

Above image contains Pouch Mini Messenger made with repurposed denim and vintage fabric

Above image contains Pouch recycled vintage fabric belt

Above image contains Pouch Messenger bag and Pouch Dilly bag in recycled vintage fabrics

Above image contains Pouch Mini Messenger made with repurposed denim and vintage fabric

I'm so pleased to be a part of this intriguing publication. It gathers together many different ideas into one book and creates a fascinating showcase of recycled arts and crafts.

New Addition

2009-12-29T07:06:00.000-08:00

I have had quite a long break from blogging recently due to the fact I've been busy being a new Mum! Parenting is tiring, but amazing at the same time. I can't imagine life without our baby girl now and I'm loving being a Mum.

The Pouch etsy store is closed for the time being whilst I take a break to be with my new baby. Rest assured, it's not a permanent closure and I have lots of ideas and plans for 2010. It's all a bit of a shock to the system at the moment, especially the lack of sleep, but hopefully I can get back into the swing of things once we've settled into some sort of a routine!

Changing Seasons

2009-10-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

One of the first signs that the seasons are changing, before the leaves change colour and start to fall, are the garden spiders which appear in late August and Setember. They are festooned from every available plant and you have to walk through their webs every morning, just to get out into the garden! I hate spiders, but I don't like breaking their webs, even I can see they are a thing of beauty. I don't know what type of spider they are, my husband calls them 'shredded wheat' spiders! The spider photographed above had made his web right across the back door, reluctant as I was to break-up all that hard work, I had to do it eventually or remain trapped indoors!

Once the air starts to get cooler, my mind instantly turns to comfort food. I no longer want to eat salads, I crave pies, stews and cakes. One of the easiest things to bake is flapjack. I discovered this particular recipe on the internet, it's called 'chewy flapjack' because it contains mashed-up banana. I've never tried adding banana to flapjack before, but it was absolutely delicious.

If you feel like trying it out, here's the recipe.

Ingredients:
Brown Sugar 80g
Butter 60g
Margarine 40g
Oats 250g
Salt Pinch
Banana One
Golden Syrup 2 tablespoons

Method:
1. Over a low heat melt the butter and the Margarine in a deep saucepan
2. add the sugar and 2 tablespoons of golden syrup and stir well
3. Mix in the oats. You may find it easier add them in gradually stirring and covering the oats with the paste
4. add a pinch of salt and continue to stir
5. Mash up the banana and stir in. This may take a bit of time to make sure the banana completely covers the mixture
6. spread the mixture evenly over a non stick baking tray. Smooth over with a knife making sure the mixture is even
7. Place the baking tray onto the middle shelf in a preheated oven (gas mark 5, 220 C) and bake for 15 minutes, checking the progress regularly. Take out when the mixture starts turning a golden brown.
8. Stand for a minute or two, then score the mixture with a knife into you portions
9. Cover the tray with something light such as a few pieces of kitchen roll and leave for a couple of hours

September and October are traditionally harvesting months. I seem to have loads of chillies at the moment and I'm planning on making chilli oil to store over the winter. We've also been eating rhubarb, peppers, the last of the tomatoes and green beans from the garden. I'm already thinking about next year, I want to try pak choi, carrots, more herbs and different varieties of potatoes.

I've also been very organised and made up three jars of pickled onions to eat at Christmas. I found the recipe for spiced vinegar in the Gardeners World Magazine it contains peppercorns, chillies, cinnamon, honey and mustard seeds. I've got a feeling they are going to be pretty strong!

Although it's sad to see the Summer end, I do love Autumn. I think it's because I'm a homebody and love to get cosy and eat lots of hearty, warming food.

new listings: vintage fabric laundry bags

2009-09-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

Pouch currently has a number of vintage fabric laundry bags listed here

Made with repurposed, vintage fabric, they come in three designs:
Flower meadow drawstring laundry bag
Harvest berries drawstring laundry bag
and
Cotton candy drawstring laundry bag

Brighten up your wash-day with these pretty laundry bags

Vintage find: wooden coat hanger

2009-09-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

All of Pouch’s peg bags are made with vintage wooden coat hangers. One of the nice things about working with vintage materials is the fact that they have a history. Many of the coathangers I use have initials carved onto them, or names of hotels stamped into the wood. It all adds to the charm and I’m often intrigued by their history.

Often, vintage items can provide a snapshot of times gone by and this coat hanger is a perfect example. I found it amongst my collection and was fascinated by the still intact price label.

Not only does it show the now bankrupt Woolworths company’s logo, it shows a dual price with the pre-decimalisation and post-decimalisation figure.
Decimalisation took place before I was born, so the pounds and pence prices are second nature to me, but I can only imagine how confusing the switch must have been for people in the early 1970s

It’s also sad to think that Woolworth’s shops no longer exist. Founded in the 1920s, Woolworths was a popular fixture on high streets across the UK.

Woolworths was also responsible for creating and selling many household items that have since become collectable. In particular the Homemaker range. Designed in 1957 by Enid Seeney, Homemaker pottery was once made for the masses and sold cheaply by Woolies both in the US and UK.

Image curtesy of the Kay Loves Vintage Blog

A victim of the recent financial climate, the final Woolworths stores shut down in 2008. It was sad to see them go. Many people, including myself, can remember that a trip to Woolies to get pick n’ mix or to buy the latest 7 inch vinyl single was an essential part of a Saturday morning shop!

Having said that, it appears Woolworths is rising from the ashes in an online format. Take a look at Woolworths online to find out more!

Vintage find: Salter kitchen scales

2009-09-07T03:10:00.000-07:00

I guess this isn't strictly a 'find' as these Salter Scales were kindly given to me by my Gran a few weeks ago, but I love them so much I had to include it on the blog!

They date from around 1945, when my Gran was newly married. She started married life in an austere, post-war Britain where home cooking and being thrifty was second nature to most women.

As you can see from the photos, these scales were well used by my Gran. She used to set aside one day a week to bake. This was a very common thing for post-war housewives to do as there was very little, if any, convenience food in the shops. So if you wanted a pie, a pudding or a cake, you had to make it from scratch.

Apart from the timeless design of the scales, I love the fact that my Gran was so fond of them.

It's nice to know that she cooked food for her family using these scales every week. It's a tradition I hope to continue with my own family.

New listing: Lavender rabbit in zesty orange

2009-09-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

I've been working on some lavender rabbits in two new colourways.
This bunny is made with one of my favourite vintage fabrics.
It features a retro floral pattern in shades of zesty orange and lemon yellow.

Each rabbit is made from recycled, vintage fabric
Its ears are filled with chemical-free, French lavender
Lavender makes a great eco-friendly alternative to conventional moth balls which are full of hazardous chemicals

I will be listing another new colorway soon, in turquoise and aqua blue, watch this space for details ;)

www.landshare.net

2009-08-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

I was recently reading the National Trust Magazine and saw an article about allotments. In particular it mentioned how the NT are allocating 1000 plots for the general public on their land. I think this is a great idea, imagine having an allotment on a beautiful NT estate?!

I saw a link at the end of the article for a website called landshare.net

I think landshare.net is a fantastic and helpful website

It connects growers with landowners and visa versa

If you live in the United Kingdom and would love to grow your own vegetables, but don’t have the space, then landshare.net is the site for you.

Browse listings in your local area to connect with people who may need to share an allotment, have too much garden and not enough time to maintain it, or organisations which require help with community gardens.

Similarly, if you have some spare land that you would like to put to good use, then you can submit it to the Landshare site.

you can read more about how it works here

Growing your own produce if a great way to keep fit and cut down on food miles!

So if you've ever wanted to give it a go but lack the 'growing room', check out the Landshare website

Weekend Deal 20% off all belts

2009-08-15T06:50:00.001-07:00

This weekend Pouch is offering 20% off all belts

You can see the full range by clicking here

Just enter 'weekend deal' in the notes to seller section at checkout

Your discount will be refunded via Paypal

Two lovely blog features

2009-08-12T05:07:00.000-07:00

I had a pleasant surprise yesterday when I saw this green leaves reversible market day tote featured in an Etsy Finds: Green with Envy email

Following on from that, I received an email this morning from Country Homes & Interiors Magazine saying that the same tote would appear on their Country Days blog

You can read the full feature here:
An online treasure trove

It's always lovely to get positive feedback and know that people like your work!

Vintage find: sewing cabinet

2009-08-06T04:52:00.000-07:00

I picked up this lovely sewing cabinet a few weeks ago from a local furniture project. It was an absolute bargain at just £5! It's really well made, in great condition and perfect for storing my sewing and craft paraphernalia.

It is made from gorgeous honey coloured wood with pretty and understated floral detailing on the front.

I think buying furniture from local second hand stores and furniture projects is a fantastic way to find gems such as this. I love a mooch round Ikea or other furniture stores as much as the next person, but sometimes it's good to reject buying a new item and opt for second hand instead. By supporting second hand furniture stores you reduce the need to use fresh wood, glass, metal and other materials. Consequently purchases such as this put less strain on the world's resources.

Also, sprucing up or upcycling second hand furniture can open up an exciting world of DIY projects where improvements are made on the original piece. Plus it lets you put your own stamp and identity on your home. There are lots of 'before & after' projects featured on the Design*Sponge blog. Check them out for inspiration for your next recycling project!

http://www.sofaproject.org.uk
http://www.emmausbristol.org.uk

New listing and Vintage Find

2009-07-30T04:20:00.000-07:00

I've recently added a two new Lavender rabbits in warm amber orange. This particular colourway proved to be very popular and the first batch sold out last month. Each rabbit is made from recycled, vintage fabric. Its ears are filled with chemical-free, French lavender.

You can see the current range of Lavender Rabbits, by clicking here

I've also just purchased this vibrant piece of vintage fabric which is earmarked to make more lavender rabbits and owls

This type of vintage, open-weave, man made fabric is becoming harder and harder to source. I find it is perfect for the lavender rabbits and owls because it is just the right thickness and the colours are normally very bright, even 30-40 years after its been manufactured.

Self Sufficient (ish) part two!

2009-07-27T11:08:00.000-07:00

I decided this year that my gardening goal would be to grow some vegetables that I had never grown before.

I blogged about my rhubarb success in June.

By far my favourite vegetable I've grown this year is new potatoes. The taste of spuds grown in my own back garden far surpasses anything you can get in the shops. They are absolutely delicious!

Like I mentioned in my rhubarb blog post, I don't have a large veg patch, just containers on the patio. I used these potato planters from Natural Collection, some smaller black grow-bags from ebay and a large plastic pot.

Each container provided a very good yield, the only thing I would say about the large Natural Collection bag is that you have to use alot of water to soak the soil right the way down to the bottom. If there's one thing potatoes like, it's lots of water!

I will definitely grow potatoes again. Not only is it satisfying to know that my evening meal's food miles have been cut dramatically (literally a few metres from pot to plate), but the taste of freshly dug spuds is fantastic.

If you fancy trying to grow your own veg and herbs, check out the excellent self-sufficientish website for loads of helpful information
selfsufficientish.com

UK Handmade Summer Issue

2009-07-23T08:01:00.000-07:00

The Summer issue of the UK Handmade Magazine is out now
Available to view online, for free, it's packed with interesting interviews with UK-based designer-makers, crafty tutorials, gardening advice and craft-related business info!
Click here to visit the UK Handmade website

If you think you could write an interesting article for the next issue, we are always happy to accept your submissions
To find out more, please follow this link:
Submission Guidelines

New Listing: Raspberry pink vintage velvet clutch purse

2009-07-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

This clutch purse is made with a sumptuous pink velvet. It's so soft to touch and adds a touch of glamour to any outfit.
Pink is widely-tipped as the must-have colour for this season!
It is fully lined with beautiful, vintage cotton fabric, featuring a floral pattern in shades of magenta, pure white and lime green.

If you have a Summer wedding, garden party or special night out on the horizon, then this is the purse for you.
You'll be bang on trend when you carry this little pink number with you.

Raspberry pink vintage velvet clutch purse

And the winner is...

2009-07-15T04:29:00.000-07:00

Last month Pouch ran a blog giveaway, up for grabs was a vintage Liberty fabric peg bag.

The winner picked at random from all the comments and followers was...
babalisme
her comment read:
"I'm not kidding when I said everything is wonderful because, they are hard to pick!! Really, I love lavender owls, I had a hard time choosing the fabrics, so I guess i love them all and reversible bags are so on top of my list. but, if you really insist me picking only one, it would be Burnt orange and rich brown vintage fabric Dilly tote, just maybe. because I love them all!!"

I hope the winner enjoys their prize and that it makes laundry day just that little bit more cheerful :)

Many thanks for all your lovely comments and for taking part.

vintage find: recipe tin

2009-07-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

I thrifted this tin for £1 in a local charity shop. I fell in love with the colours and the images. It represents a snapshot of times gone by when wheeling out your latest creation on a hostess trolley was the height of sophistication.

Judging by the images, it seems that you had to smother everything in aspic jelly in the 1960s or 1970s! This tin indicates that shops were starting to stock 'exotic' food such as bananas, peppers and grapes. After the rationing many people had to endure in post-war Britian, it must've been a relief to cook with some interesting ingredients again.

When I got home, I was slightly taken aback when I opened the lid and saw the writing inside 'Recipe for Preserving Children'.

It's ok though, not as sinister as it sounds at all. It's actually quite sweet and again highlights a time gone by when people allowed their children the freedom to play outside, get the sun on their skin and heaven forbid, get a bit dirty!

I think it's a really unique piece and I look forward to putting some of my own recipes in it.