Calico Bags...

Ok, so a few weeks ago I saw some wonderful decorated calico bags on Efemera Ink and I really wanted to have a go, so I order some bags from eBay and over the last couple of weeks I have been making them (I have six on the go, all just about finished now). So finally I have three that I can show you. These are the three designs and the colours are a little different on each of the others...I have done three birdcages, and three dressforms.

If you click on the photos you will see a larger/closer view. I was lucky to be RAK'd the birdcage template as it was cut from a Cricut Cartridge that I don't own....Thanks Gail. The dressform one was all my own idea, I love dressforms and thought it would make a great alternative. So I drew myself a template and cut it from the backing of a notebook. I used glimmer mist to colour the fabric and used embroidery thread with a plain old backstitch to emphasis the template, the ribbon and bird are stuck on with a very strong fabric glue and I have sewn on some buttons. The flowers were made using a pair of my old voile net curtains that I cut into rough circles and sprayed with more glimmer mist, and then turned the heat gun on them. It is a similar technique to the burnt fabric flowers I showed you last year, but the heat is coming from a heat gun instead of a tea light candle...so a little less of a fire hazard.

I am hoping people will like these and buy them at the Summer Fayre next weekend....fingers crossed. I have already had a request for one....so lets hope other people like them as much.