Creative Wellbeing: Tote Bags

Getting stuck in!

On Saturday I ran a session on making and decorating Tote Bags as part of the excellent Creative Wellbeing Project at Carlisle's YMCA Shaddongate Resource Centre.

Ready for the group

Funky fruit

Preparing embellishments

It was a really nice session with a lovely group of people who all made beautiful bags. Most of the materials were either from charity shops or my own wardrobe so it was great to see them being given a new life. Everyone came up with different ideas and designs and created something unique and personal.

Rubbings from print blocks

With fabric paint additions

For a colourful creation

Bright and cheerful

Sewing and pressing

A cheery boat

A cute owl

Owl detail

Tote Bags

Purple trees tote

This week I have been mostly making tote bags. Way back in March I went to Bombay Stores in Bradford with some of the Prism Arts artists to stock up on fabrics and shiny things for various Prism Arts projects. I also got a few bits for myself (well, it would have been rude not to) and have been itching to use them for ages but have been so busy I haven't had chance. Anyway, I decided I would make some tote bags because they're useful, easy to make and I really wanted to play with my new fabric!

Lining detail

Pocket detail

The first bag I made is the most complicated, it has pockets and is not only lined but I also used interfacing so it's pretty tough. I love the prints on these fabrics and I'm really pleased with how this bag worked out. All the fabrics I got from Bombay Stores were salwar kameez suit packs; you get three lengths of coordinating fabrics (one for the tunic, one for the trousers and one for the scarf) so they're a great deal.

Blues and Greens

Greens and Blues

The second two bags are much simpler because I made them as samples for an upcoming workshop. On 22nd June I will be running a Tote Bag workshop as part of the Creative Wellbeing programme currently running at YMCA Shaddongate in Carlisle. We will be using recycled fabrics to create and embellish tote bags. The workshops are free and open to anyone. You can find out more details on their website. Again, I used salwar kameez fabrics as handily they come ready coordinated!

Lining detail

Lining detail

New stuff on Folksy

Embroidered Blue bird Bag

Embroidered purple bird bag

As well as being busy with Universal (The Heathlands Summer Project) I've also been embroidering bags for my Folksy shop. I've also been working on a small commission but more about that later. For now, here are the bags I've been working on. You can follow the link on the left to my Folksy shop for more pictures (shameless plug!)