Back in the saddle again with a retro bag and a couple of sales

After such a long break since I moved house in July I was expecting it to take a while before I started selling again. So I'm super pleased that I've sold one of my bags I mentioned in last weeks blog and taken a custom order which I'm currently working on.

I was amazed when, within an hour or so of listing in my Folksy shop I sold this lovely peacock themed bag. This one seemed really popular, so maybe I'll make a couple more with the fabric I have left.

I've also taken a custom order for one of my messenger bags. I haven't made one of these for a while, so I'm looking forward to doing a few of these at the same time.

 

 The custom order is in chocolate brown faux suede, with this lovely quality embroidered fabric. I love it when I get custom orders that I'm really excited to make - and this is definitely one of those. I've wanted an excuse to use this fabric for a while.

I've finally finished my large retro shoulder bag, having, at long last, had a go at piped handles.

I'm a bit taken with the size and fabric on this one so I'm not sure whether to sell or keep!

Just time to check out what everyone else has been p to on Handmade Monday.

Back at it - and working on a premium range!

It seems I've been away for an age! So, what have I missed on Handmade Monday?

Bag making has taken a bit of a back seat to other things I'm afraid. As well as (starting to) decorate the new house and helping Mr HbyH with his woodburning stove business (always a manic time from September to Christmas!) I've also treated myself to a leather bag making workshop.

Here's what I made....

.. with a lot of help from the lovely ladies at GDH leather.

I've come back with lots of ideas. My trademark is using lovely fabrics in interesting ways (i think!?) so I'm really keen to start using a combination of leather and high quality upholstery weight fabrics like this one....

.... to try and come up with something unique but that still has the feel of HandbagsbyHelen.

I've done a few sketches and grappled with the idea of using hand sewn leather with fabric - without the aid of an industrial sewing machine! I'm hoping to have some stuff to show you soon.

But in the meantime I've been finishing off a few other projects which have sat around making me feel guilty for a while.

These two mini-messenger bags have finally been finished and are in my Folksy shop.

And this large weekend style bag is almost there......

My first leather venture is going to be a chocolate brown and peach cotton patchwork messenger bag, but with a leather strap.

And in between there's still been time to enjoy the amazing views from our new (is it still new after 6 months?) home.

Time for a little celebration!

I don't seem to have found much time to take part in Handmade Monday since we moved house. We've been busy decorating - well, I've been busy decorating. Mr HbyH has been busy plumbing, so that we can run our heating and hot water from our wood-burning stove (inspired by the shock we received when ordering our first tank of oil - HOW MUCH!)

And, of course we've still been enjoying the lovely countryside. I still can't quite believe how luck we are to live here.

Still got lots to do, but I'm finally back at the sewing machine in between odd-jobs. AND...I have a nice new sewing room all to myself.

And to top it all off, my Facebook page has reached 900 likes. So I've decided to have a little celebration (I know, I could have waited until 1,000 but that just seems like aaaaaages away!). I'm giving away this teal and brown cross-body messenger bag to one lucky person who leaves a comment on my Facebook page.

There (may) still be time to enter by the time you read this. So if you want to pop by my Facebook page and leave a comment before 8pm this evening (29th Sept) then I'll add your name into the draw.

Ahhh, it's good to be back.