bags of talent

I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a nice handbag.

Not the celebrity-endorsed, cost-an-arm-and-a-leg, big-name designer sort of handbag (just as well – my budget would not stretch).

No, I like my bags like I like most other things: of the pretty, beautifully made, hand-crafted variety.

If you ask me, a girl can’t have too many.

I’ve oft been tempted to try to make one myself.

I did have a go at the most basic sort of tote, but anything more complicated and to be honest, all that struggling with straps and fiddling with snaps and pockets and buckles and the rest… well, it makes me hyperventilate at the very thought.

I know I’d never finish such a project. And if I did, I wouldn’t be happy with it. Best to leave it to the experts.

Especially when they are as clever as StarBags, a talented mother and daughter duo from Turkey, who sell their wares via Etsy  (where else?!)

Take a look at these and you’ll see what I mean…

I love that they don’t make just one style, but upcycle all sorts of pretty vintage bits to make each bag unique.

You can browse the rest of their lovely bags here. And as if that wasn’t tempting enough, they also make jewellery and sell gifts and supplies, too.

All of which makes me think… maybe it’s about time I started a birthday wish list?

pretty things … ninainvorm

I am a complete sucker for anything lovely which cleverly combines old and new, so fell hook, line and sinker for the adorable ceramics created by Nina Van de Goor.

Ninainvorm Cloud Pitcher

Ninainvorm is the beautiful etsy shop stocked with vintage ceramics which have been adorned with beautiful screenprinted images designed by Nina.

In Nina’s own words:  “Ninainvorm is all about color, ceramics and creative (re-)design. I work with both vintage and new materials, always looking for the perfect match… Ceramics are my first love, but you’ll also find many examples of my love for (screen-)printing and collage.”

Little Village Platter

Are you with me?  Would you love to own one of these beautiful creations too?

And now sadly it’s time to bid you adieu.  I have really enjoyed guest posting on modflowers.  It was a pleasure and I hope I haven’t bored you all to tears.  If you enjoyed my posts, you might enjoy reading my ramblings over at the linen cloud.

Lovely Ada of Vintage Sheet Addict will be entertaining you from tomorrow – I am a fan of Ada and her lovely blog and I can’t wait to see what fun she has planned for us.

Wishing you all a really Happy New Year, Bee x

holiday upcycle

We are off on holiday shortly.

Two weeks camping in France. Yay! An adventure!

As usual I am a perfect procrastinator.

Instead of altering the frock I want to take with me, or sorting out the camping box, I have been musing on holiday makes.

I have also been trying to give up carrier bags recently, after the stash reached such gargantuan proportions it threatened, like the blob, to take over the kitchen.

This bag is the result.

I got the idea from this simple tutorial by green crafter Betz White.

The fabric isn’t vintage, just something sturdy picked up cheaply on eBay.

It looked a bit, well, unfinished when I’d finished it.

So I added homemade trim, left over from a recent commission.

Et voilà, something functional but “meh”, transformed into something I’m happy to sashay with “sous le soleil”.

It looks so much nicer hanging up in the kitchen than before.

I might make more.

We could do with somewhere to store all those carrier bags…

can do!

A while ago I spotted this photo on Pinterest and thought: that looks good! And easy!

So I have been hoarding empty tin cans and amassing a little stash of leftover wrapping papers and wallpaper samples.

Its the weekend – time to have a go.

So easy! You just measure your tin, cut the paper to fit around it and secure with tape.

They make great storage pots:

And vases:

And the best thing? When you get bored, you can just remove the paper and cover them in something different!

Or put both paper and can responsibly into the recycle bin!

I’m saving up to make a blue set next, to use as vases on the kitchen table.

Its always nice to make something and think “I can do that”.