Four lessons in the bag this morning

I’m up to a lot at the moment.

After having had a four week break from running due to illness, I’m currently trying to recover the whole minute I’ve managed to lose off my km time but that aside, I’m ploughing through my novel, learning new skills and getting busier on the freelance writing front.

So, I snatched a few hours out of my busy schedule this morning to finish making this little bag, all thanks to my Christmas gift to myself – the very useful Bag Making Bible by Lisa Lam.

An extravagant use of time, I thought to myself sitting in front of my sewing machine post school run, but skimming the iron over the finished project at lunch time, I decided I’d learned/relearned a few lessons:

  • No matter how often you read the instructions, make meticulous notes or draw complex plans, the only way to learn something new is to get stuck in (and make mistakes).
  • Creative projects never sit in isolation (my novel notepad is now full of scribblings).
  • Doing what makes you happy probably will.
  • Maths is everything.
It might look chaotic but bag making and novel writing happen in the same space, both mentally and geographically
It might look chaotic but bag making/novel writing happen in the same space, both mentally and geographically
Hidden zip, hidden inside pocket, hidden cockups in the striking blue lining
Hidden zip, hidden inside pocket, hidden cockups in the striking blue lining

Rookie mistakes carefully stitched into the lining, I’m off out for my (slow) run.  It occurs to me that I have extra creative time today because my daughter is staying behind for her after school stitchcraft club this afternoon

As my Dad would say, she didn’t get it off the carpet.

Lisa Lam's brilliant guide to getting the bag you want
Lisa Lam’s brilliant guide to getting the bag you want
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The Little Things I love This Week – mid March

Bike along the river
The view from my handlebars – my fellow cyclist runs ahead to check out some tiny flowers

 

 

It’s nearly a year since we lost our big car.  A huge Ford Galaxy with much room for camping gear, trips home to Cornwall and outings with carfree friends.  She was a workhorse of a vehicle and when she finally turned up her toes, we were pretty stumped.

One year on and although we now have a beautiful blue banger outside the gate, my daughter is more than used to cycling to school, I’ve taken up running (as well as cycling) and inspired by all this, my husband has also dug out his bib shorts and running shoes.  We live next to the calm Blackwater River, which means that if the ground is dry, getting around traffic-free is simple and with each week the colour palette changes.  Delightful and much more fun than sitting at traffic lights.

I’d given up cycling for the winter but with the bikes checked over and helmets dug out from under the stairs, we start again in earnest next week.  Can’t wait!

To rival my Mother’s little black and gold visitor last week, look what turned up in my front garden.  I’m well happy.

Tiny bee in the crocus

And finally, if you’ve had enough of me banging on about spring, look away now but

I spent good Sunday morning chill out time changing beds last weekend, just for the sheer joy of seeing the sheets blowing on the line – the first outing my peg bag has had this year.  For me, this is a big deal because I hate washing hanging around the house and I just love the fresh linen smell of bringing it in off the line in the evening.

This is the pegbag I made last year to celebrate spring.  The stichtwork on the front is a little difficult to see, so I will post better pictures sometime soon but it’s based on a pattern from Christine Leech’s rather delicious book Little Sew & Sew.

Have a happy week, people.  If you have your own spring rituals, do share.

A little rabbit, a shirt and a pair of unmentionables adorn the front of the pegbag, worked in backstitch with tiny roses, sequins and buttons.
A little rabbit, a shirt and a pair of unmentionables adorn the front of the pegbag, worked in backstitch with tiny roses, sequins and buttons.
The back of my simple patchwork peg bag
The back of my simple patchwork peg bag
Looks tropical but it's only my sunny backyard
Looks tropical but it’s only my sunny backyard

 

 

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