Handmade handbags - It started with a (vintage) dress!

Bit of a change for this weeks handmade Monday. I thought it was time I came clean about where this sewing handbags malarkey all started.

My interest in sewing only really started when I got married in 2010. I knew when my then boyfriend proposed that I wouldn't be quite settled until I found the right dress. You see, i'm not really a dress wearer - more a jeans kind-of-gal. So the idea of 1) being the centre of attention and 2) being the centre of attention whilst wearing a long white dress, filled me with fear!

But then I started looking at vintage dresses (I'd always loved the 50's: Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn). I liked the idea of something knee length and in a 1950's style.

But everywhere I looked, all I could find in my price range were long, strapless numbers. Just not me at all! So, although i'd not used a sewing machine for years, and certainly never made any clothes I decided to buy a vintage pattern to make my own. Every time I googled 'vintage dress', the images I was drawn to were always by the same designer - Ceil Chapman.

I finally managed tracked down this pattern.....

....and went along to a nearby village hall where I'd heard there were weekly sewing classes. I'll always remember walking into the first class and seeing lots of people making curtains & cushion covers. I tentatively asked if they did dresses - the tutors response; 'Just as long as it's not a wedding dress' - uh oh! 10 weeks later, and with the help of some lovely, lovely, patient ladies I finally had my dress made.

Fabric for dress £40
Fee for classes £3 per week (+ 20p for coffee)
Ticket for the weekly sewing class raffle £1
Experience of making my own dress, with the support of a lovely bunch of ladies - priceless!

My obsession with fabric and sewing had begun. And my vintage bug didn't really stop there either. My latest purchase is this beautiful sewing machine.

It hasn't quite made it to the spare bedroom yet. At least sat on the sideboard I can still admire it!