So pretty!

A handbag is a vital part of any women's daily routine, I would even consider it a kind of security blanket in some respects.

Looking at one of my favourite handbags this morning, it prompted me to do this post and question 'what is in my handbag?'.

My bag of the moment is the Cath Kidston Briar Rose Day Bag...

I love it! I am definately a big bag girl and the thing about this bag is that it is like a tardis :)

It is crammed full of essentials that I need throughout the day, still with room to spare. Here are the basics...

Cath Kidston Candy Flower Green purse, Bath flowers pass holder, varierty of make-up, deodorant, my favourite perfume - Chanel Coco Mademoiselle, tissues and leather gloves (it is cold in the mornings you know!)

In addition to the above pictured essential items, I also carry around the following:

- my keys
- my Blackberry
- earphones for Blackberry
- scissors
- sellotape
- pritt stick
- couple of pens and highlighter
- mini sewing kit
- spare bracelet and earrings (in case I need to instantly change my look)
- standby chocolate
- inhaler
- spare neck scarf
- couple of memory sticks

There is often further additions but I would consider all of the above as permanent residents in my bag.

There are a multitude of sneaky pockets and zips in all Cath Kidston bags which I love. Everything has to have a place in my life and to have a bag that enables this too is fantastic!

I would like to thank Cath Kidston for their creative and practical bags which makes going about my day-to-day activities a lot easier whilst being fashionable too!

So what kind of bag to you use and do you carry as much as I do?


Disclosure: I was not paid to write this review and all photos are my own.

Updates on January Monthly Makes

I had a slight panic at the weekend because I have been so busy and felt that I hadn't been crafting with the possessed-glaze that I had at the beginning of the new year. The difference being that I am back at work now and I work full-time. The last couple of week's have been a little full-on at work.

I have managed to finish the Cath Kidston Patch bag though...

             

I am quite please as this is the first thing I have sewn (bar buttons and odd repairs) in a long long time and I have to say that I really enjoyed myself. You may notice that I have substited the suffolk puff that is meant to be in the middle with a large blue button. I wasn't keen on the puff ;)

When I sat down to work on it I was amazed at how quickly it came together. However, when it came to sewing and hemming the actual bag I resided to the fact that I 'needed' a sewing machine.

Those of you who follow me on Twitter or read my blog will know that recently got myself a small sewing machine. I wasn't sure what to expect about it's quality and what I will be able to achieve with it.

I can however say that I have had a little play with it on scraps of material and got a little frustrated to say the least! Not wanted to be defeated, a little browsing and research about using sewing machines followed on the t'internet. I learnt a few key things and attempted another dual. This time I came out the victor.

I have a project lined up and I feel that the Beldray will be a vital asset. With my love of Cath Kidston, I bought a bundle of mixed Cath Kidston fabrics already pre-cut into 4" squares. I am going to endeavour to make a feature for a quilt cover. I fear that I won't have time to complete this Make before the month is out though, so am planning ahead for a February make :)

In the meantime, my make is two-fold. I signed up to Me and My Shadow's - Take One Jumper Challenge and the produce is going to be part of my January Monthly Makes.

Now this was my first time at felting, so off I went and I found myself a 100% lambswool sweater from a local charity shop. I felt a little bad as its by Jaeger but I justified the planned felting of said sweater as ok because it was three sizes to big for me anyway and it only cost £2.99. So I proceeded to whack it in the washer on the highest setting, followed by a hot tumble - as per the instructions that peeps had given me and I have ended up with a sweater that would easily fit a six year old!! (and duly felted of course)

As I said, I am not going to divulge my plans for the sweater but will post them as I go along :)

Update on January's Monthly Makes

In my previous post you will have seen my first project for the Monthly Makes 2012 - the Cath Kidston 'Patch' kit.

I was planning on making the cushion but changed my mind and decided on the tote bag instead!

But that was the least of my worries. After stitching all the petals together and laying the petal round on the bag material I discovered a problem… the end of the petals were too close to the edge of the material. It was then that it had dawned on me that I had traced the template wrong!! L

On careful inspection all could be fixed though. There was enough material to use the current petals with the new template. So I literally snipped away, re-tacked and stitched the round back together again at a slightly petite size. I think my error made me stitch quicker as I finished super quick.

Upon laying this ‘new’ petal round on the bag material, it was perfect! Plenty of material for the overlay, the seams and not forgetting the obligatory Cath Kidston badge J

I pinned the round to the bag and delicately stitched away until it was completely attached, then I proceeded to stitch the sides of the bag.

  

Then I was side-tracked…

Be more crafty!

And that's not in a sneaky, coniving kind of way either :)

I have always been the creative craft type of person but it is having the time to fit everything in.

I have been reading some great craft and thrift blogs and they have inspired me to start making things again. Whether its knitting, crochet, painting, felting, sewing, carving (not sure here!?), emblishing, scrapbooking, anything really...

I have come away from some blogs with a few ideas already and to motivate me I have joined up to Monthly Makes 2012 through The Felt Fairy, whereby you have to make something every month. To find out more, click on the picture to the left or here

So being the 1st January and not being able to do much else because of this poxy chest infection, I decided to start my 'January Monthly Make 2012' :) and here it is...

Its from the Cath Kidston (I love her stuff!) Patch! book. The kit was all included and you have the option of making a a tote bag or a cushion. I'm going for the cushion and here is what I have done so far...



 Its going well!! think it might be finished way before the end of January though :)