New(ish) design .... inspiration strikes!!

I was asked to make a babychange bag for a friend, Fran - I already have a babychange bag on DevonBear Designs but Fran wanted something different. So I turned to my (extensive) collection of vintage craft books, many of which featured in my own childhood and were passed down to me by my mum. Eventually I came across a design for a circus train wall hanging .....

..... and Fran just adores the Cath Kidston circus fabric - what serendipity!

If you've very kindly been reading this blog for a little while, you'll know that I just love vintage fabrics and designs. I also hate waste - even the tiniest scrap of fabric is preserved and sooner or later is likely to find a home in one of my designs. So I rummaged around in my workroom and found some brightly coloured felt that I've saved since Rosie was doing crafts as a tiny child (she's now 20!) I added some vintage feedsack scraps, some offcuts of ric rac braid and a multitude of mismatched buttons.

I was off !!! Here is the (nearly) finished front panel for the bag. You'll see that I've simplified the train slightly and changed the smoke to bubbles - much simpler.

I don't think they come out very well in these snaps, but I added some bugle beads to the roof of the hippo's wagon. I sewed the buttons on really really well, and of course this isn't a toy so it was OK to use them.

Now I have to finish the panel and make up the bag - but I couldn't wait to share it with you. I'll post some pictures when it's finished - complete with Cath Kidston circus lining - and will also post the pattern and instructions in case you'd like to try it too.

Back soon!!