New Bag Design (3)

April 17, 2016 | Tiddleyworks

It’s finished and has turned out just as I hoped it would. This bag has three panels as opposed to the larger bags which have five.

As you can see from the photo, I have used the same lining material as in the first attempt, but as it frays a lot I stabilised it with some iron-on interfacing. This also adds more substance and shape to the bag. It stands up on its own.

The first pocket was only small and there wasn’t enough space to have the long divided pocket as in the large bag, so I added a bigger pocket as well.

Now I’ve worked out my pattern properly and seen that it works, I’ll be making more of these in different leathers, so watch this space!

New bag (front) with original Tiddleybag design

New Leather Bag Design (2)

April 15, 2016April 15, 2016 | Tiddleyworks

The new bag I’ve started designing is beginning to take shape. As with most creative processes “It always takes longer than you think”. This bag is smaller than I was aiming for. It’s pretty cute though and stands up nicely on its own. I can’t quite decide on the handles for it yet so it will have to wait awhile till I get my head together.

I do like the lining fabric though so that is a positive. I will reinforce it with interfacing for the next attempt as it frays a good deal.

So it’s back to the drawing board again. I’ve been sketching out some more ideas and thoughts as you can see. Will keep you all posted!

New Tiddleyworks Leather Bag Design

April 14, 2016 | Tiddleyworks

Hazel and I (aka The Leather Ladies) have recently taken delivery of another load of leather offcuts containing a good quantity of pieces large enough to make more bags.

The sorting and dividing-up-between-us process is hilarious “One for you, one for me. Aawe! I want that one…etc”. We can be very childish and extremely silly but so far we haven’t come to blows. So Hazel has pootled back home to her workroom with her stash and I am looking at the mound of super leather that’s threatening to engulf my workroom. These colours are calling me at the moment.

I’m going to try to design a medium sized bag, about 10 inches by 12 inches. I’ve started cutting out sections and mulling over lining materials etc.

Let’s see how it turns out! I’ll be back with more news soon.

Blue Leather Bag Commission

April 12, 2016 | Tiddleyworks

I collected this commission last Sunday at Middleton Hall. The customer wanted one of my smaller bags with gold chain but in the sky blue leather. Luckily I had a piece of the blue leather just large enough to make one. I’ve finished it today and here it is.

The customer asked for it to be trimmed in pale tan leather and have a dark green lining. I made the internal pocket in the pale tan leather as well as it looked well against the dark green.

I threaded a continuous strip of blue leather through the chain as I really like the “Chanel style” feel and extra substance it gives to the strap. It’s not a speedy process, mind you, as the strap is a metre and a half long. I persevered and have perfected the knack of joining the strips of leather together within the chain and also the fiddle of rejoining the chain links after the chain has been threaded through the eyelets.