Multi Pocket Bag

Keyka Lou Pattern

Multi Pocket Bag

I was given a pattern for a  Keyka Lou  multi pocket bag (thank you K. x), which looked fairly easy. I thought it would only take an hour and be ready for a friend's birthday tomorrow. How wrong can you be? The pattern is called "Lots Of Pockets Tote" and can be found at Michelle Patterns. It sure has lots of pockets - each as fiddly as the last!

The pattern and fabrics

After finding some pretty fabrics from my stash I settled on these lovely Japanese prints by Echino. 

This is to be the lining/pockets/flap

The materials needed were -

3/4 yard exterior fabric

3/4 yard lining fabric

1 yard fuseable interfacing

Magnetic snap or button

Trying to make sense of the pieces!

I then had to cut twenty one fiddly pieces and try and make sense of them all, which could have been much easier if I had carefully chosen the fabrics and not used some of the lining fabric for the pockets and tab and handles. A thinner, more distinct lining fabric would also have worked much better. I also had no fuseable stiffener and choose a rather thick wadding, which made for difficulties when sewing the bag together. I also had no magnetic catch so decided to use a button and a buttonhole. After the second attempt at a buttonhole and a second waste of pretty fabric (I am really rubbish at buttonholes even with my friend Janome!) I decided to use a snap closure instead and put a pretty button on the outside. Ah! well -  I shall know next time.

The cut fabric

The first pocket went well

The second pocket also went well

The lining fabric looked great

After a bit of a struggle it began to look like a bag

Now for the mammoth sew

Beginning to go together
Do you like the button?

Working on the pockets in the colourful interior

An almost finished bag - needs some tidying up and the button/clasp sewn on

Pansy from The Button Lady

I must just give you a closer glimpse of the button. Isn't it cute? It came from  The Button Lady whose amazing buttons I just cannot resist.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters

A Truly Beautiful Sight

This stunning garden was the worthy Gold Medal Winner and    Best In Show Garden     at this years Hampton Court Palace Flower Show 2012 and so deserved a post all to itself.

"Bridge Over Troubled Waters"
Gold Medal Winner
Best In Show Garden
Sponsored by Astellas Pharma Limited
Build by Neale Richards Limited
Designed by Anoushka Fieler (Bestique)

This garden was designed to bring the condition of overactive bladder to the attention of the public!

Apparently this condition effects millions of people in the UK and Astellas Pharma wanted to publicise this with this ingeniusly designed space, which takes the viewer on a journey representing the condition and eventually the help available to alleviate the problem. The beautifully planted bridge symbolises the calming pathway to eventual freedom and relief. The whirlpool feature, which errups unexpectedly throughout the pool symbolises the unexpected need to empty the bladder!

Whirlpool features

For me it was just a stunning garden and the symbolism was totally lost on me until I really read the programme carefully - then I realised just how very clever it all was - as well as truly beautiful and well executed.


To read more about the garden and to see some excellent photos do go  here ...

http://www.rhs.org.uk/Shows-Events/RHS-Hampton-Court-Palace-Flower-Show/2012/Gardens/Medal-Winners?tn=silver



And to remind you where this beautiful evocative title came from do go here ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=q-XCmb6t6Zw

Hampton Court Flower Show 2012 - Part 2

Gardens Of Desire

There were so many wonderful sights at the 2012  RHS Hampton Court Flower Show  that I felt it important to give you all a little glimpse of some of the other things that caught my eye. Here are a few more photo's of the gardens and exhibitions and stands. So sit back and enjoy the views ...

"This Is Me"
Bronze Medal Winner
Built By Simon Flory Works
On Behalf of West Berkshire Dyslexia Association
Designed By James Callicott

"The Essential Indulgence"
Silver Gilt Medal Winner
Van Arnhem Nursery Limited
Designed By Raine Clarke Wills And Chris Holland

"Coastal Drift"
Gold Medal Winner
Wyevale East Nurseries
Student Design And Build 2011
Designed By Susan Willmott and Adele Ford

"Preserving The Community"
Silver Medal Winner
Built By Pretty Nostalgic Limited
Designed By Anthea Guthrie And Nicola Burnett

I so want this to be my village shop!

Perhaps outside my own house?

This wonderful nostalgic village shop really caught my eye. It was conceived and  built to give life to a local community and as a meeting and working space. Garden fruits and vegetables are sold and some turned into jams and chutneys by, and for, the local community. What a wonderful idea - I want one right here!

"Our First Home Our First Garden"
Gold Medal Winner
Landform Consultants Ltd
Designed By Nilufer Danis

Detail Of "Our First Home Our First Garden".

"Falling Leaves"
Gold Medal Winner
Built by Plumpton College
Designed By Elizabeth Seymour

"The Wheels Of Time"
Bronze Medal Winner
Built By Southend Youth Offending Service
Designed By Tony Wagstaff and The Youth Offending Team

"A Corner Of The World"
Silver Medal Winner
Built By Field Work Rest And Play
Designed By Nick Buss And Clare Olof

This garden was a stunning sight

So calming and special

Isn't it just gorgeous?

I particularly liked the garden called "A Corner Of The World" designed by Clare Olof and Nick Buss. (They can be contacted at  Clare@fwrp.co.uk  and  Nickpb51@hotmail.co.uk ) This lovely garden won a Silver Medal.

It was designed as a sensory room with colour therapy for the needs of autistic children. The space was calm and peaceful and so imaginative with tubes of bubbling liquid dancing throughout the space and reflecting the suble planting. There were areas of visual stimulus and also intense  smells to arouse the interest of the child.  Some wonderful willow wicker work by Judith Needham provided a comfy zone with colourful cushions on which to rest and play. I so loved this garden. Do take a look at more expert photos on the RHS website  here ...

What fun it all was!

Hampton Court Flower Show 2012 - Part 1

Celebration And Jubilation






Hampton Court Flower Show
2012

My lovely friend, the clever garden designer Jayne Thomas has done it again! After a well deserved Silver Medal Award for 'A Midsummer's Nights Dream' Garden in 2010, a Bronze Medal Award for' Mont Blanc' Garden in 2011, she now has another Silver Medal Award for the beautiful, well executed and stunning 'Celebration And Jubilation' Garden at this year's Hampton Court Flower Show.

"Nestled among swathes of patriotic-coloured red, white and blue planting, there is an area to sit and enjoy refreshmentd during the Diamond Jubilee festivities. Commemorative roses and insignia mark the royal occasions". (Quote from RHS website).

Below are a few photos of her design. It is extremely difficult to take pics at a flower show due to the crowds (who do not want to be photographed), therefore, the overall picture is fairly disjointed while I dodge among the crowds. So ... apologies to Jayne ... and if you want to see more and better photo's and an explanation of the garden please go   here ...

The Very Regal Jayne Thomas!

Congratulations
Well Done Jayne!