By Special Request: iPad Case + Cable Storage

Earlier this year, during one of our weekly Skype chats, my Mum did something she's never done before, she asked me to make something for her.  More specifically, she asked me to make a case for her iPad, something like my daughter, Flicky, had made for her Mac using one of my tutes.

Essex Linen & Modern Monet Travel Bag Collection

If you're a blogger do you have projects that you make and forget to share?  I've recently discovered quite a few from last year so it's time to air them publicly - here goes!!!

Today I'm sharing a bag collection I made for my Mum and posted over to her last Christmas.  She enjoyed a very handmade Christmas as I also sent her this full collection of goodies for her kitchen - and given that I remembered to blog about these earlier in the year you can read more about them here.

Anyway, back to the bag collection - of course it had to be purple, Mum loves purple, do you remember the purple flower cowl I knitted for her for Mother's Day?

I started with a cosmetic bag...

 

 

...and matching tissue cover.

Then I added a lingerie bag - totally necessary for all her trips and holidays and Mum goes on a lot of trips and holidays!!!

And finally a matching tote

Fabrics:

Robert Kaufman Essex Linen - Yarn Dyed Black

Robert Kaufman Kona Solid - Eggplant

Modern Monet by Maywood Studio Fabrics

Cosmetic bag lining - Bold & Beautiful Basics by Maywood Studio Fabrics

Thread: Gütermann SULKY Col 4109

and the whole collection together

Mum joined us recently in Seville, as eager as we were to meet Oliver - the latest addition to our family.  I was delighted when I spotted the travel bags in her hotel room, isn't it a fab feeling when you see something you've made being used and appreciated?

Have you ever spotted someone using something you've made?


Disclaimer: 
This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.

 

 

   

   

The Colour Purple - Old Age Or Eccentricity?

Be eccentric now.  Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

                                                                                             Regina Brett

Last Thursday I was teaching a class at The City Quilter and one of the students raised the question of why woman over the age of 65 fall in love with the colour purple?  Well I have no answers, and neither did the women in the class, all I know is that my own Mum adores the colour purple, she can't get enough of it so when I saw this cowl on the Black Sheep and Ewe stand at Vogue Knitting Live in Manhattan back in January and spotted that they had it in purple I just knew I had to make it for her.

This 'Flower Cowl' pattern and yarn are available to purchase online at Black Sheep And Ewe.

Today, Sunday, 30 March is Mothering Sunday in England 

- we celebrate our Mother's Day on the 4th Sunday in Lent dating back to the 16th Century.  The rest of the world celebrate Mother's Day on several dates but the majority on the second Sunday in May as introduced by Anna Jarvis of West Virginia, USA in 1908 -

so it was a perfect gift to send off to Mum.  Fortunately Flicky was around last week to model the finished cowl for me.

 

a close up with the 'flowers' included in the yarn.

To be honest I'm disappointed with the finished shawl.  It doesn't look as good on Flicky as it did on the model at Vogue Knitting Live, maybe a different colour or outfit underneath would do it more justice and, now looking at the model I can see we haven't hung it quite the same way, it could look better with the twist off to one side.  Not one of my better projects :(

I guess what matters is whether or not Mum likes it.  I spoke with her tonight and she told me that it's her favourite colour - well who'd have known?!!!  

Something to do with her being over 65 maybe - we still haven't got to the bottom of that one ... thoughts anyone?

Update at 7.11 pm, 31 March 2014

Mum went out in her cowl tonight - she wore it over a three quarter length sleeve round neck purple top and a full length purple skirt.  People stopped her to say how glamourous she looked, friends have tried the cowl on too and now they're keen to get hold of the wool and the pattern now over the pond!  When she got home Mum skyped me so I could see how she looked, she'd read my blog post and knew I was disappointed with the cowl and wanted to tell me how much she loves it.

I asked her if she could take a selfie and send it to me and here it is

She's never taken a selfie before and quickly realised she couldn't stand far enough back from her iPad to get the whole outfit in - she even tried using a spatula to take the pic but to no avail.  After giving us both lots of giggles and scaring me with how much she's looking like my Grandma (her Mum) these days, she's gone to bed now and I've told her to check back here in the morning to see this update.

Enjoy Mum, you look fabulous and I love you so much, Happy Mother's Day xxx