on bags

A bag for my lovely friend Emily.

I seem to make her a bag every year (2007 2008 2009...) and as I had this upholstry weight floral Cath Kidson fabric I thought why should this year be any different. A girl can never have too many bags right. And the more I sew the more I learn and the more I think I can do better than the bag I made before. So, sorry Emily, you are the recipient of the evidnece of my learning curve ;)

The design for this bag just seemed to come together one day, as these things sometimes do. I saw a bag with a woven strap (on the street, on the internet, who knows where) and when I was thinking about a present for Emily that image popped into my head, and it seemed to suggest a curved bag, to follow the line of the strap. So I cut out some shapes, a front and a back and a flap and a gusset, and sewed them together with thinking about it all too much. Kind of like having an image of a finished thing in my head, then closing my eyes and moving towards it without worrying about going of the track. A kind of intuition? Of having had enough sewing go wrong to get a certain feel for the right direction? Certainly a feeling of freedom that could perhaps get quite addictive.

I just looked back through my archives, looking for a bag I'd made in the past to compare this one to and realised I've actually made quite a few... Perhaps all this bag making practice is starting to sink in...

Friday

At work I am lucky to be surrounded by lots of talented people; artists, designers, print makers and all sorts. My manager (after a bit of persuasion, he's a modest type) has decided to offer some of the beautiful books he makes at PapercutBindery on Etsy. His books are even better in the flesh, his attention to detail is something I aspire to (I'm definitely up for a bit of 'if no one will see it then maybe it doesn't matter and I can get away with not doing it', where as Roger's spines are lined to perfection..) Anyway, he's taught me a lot about binding in the years I've worked with him and I thought you might like to have a look at his work...

This sketch book is my favourite so far I think, but he's got more on the go in his little cellar bindery, including some gold edge gilding, so I can't wait to see those. The traditionally bound Japanese books (paper stitches and everything) are beautiful too, real craftsmanship...

Next I'm going to get him to start a blog...

All images copyright of Roger Grech 2011

...

I've been really enjoying sewing recently. I've put a new table in my workroom (the old table from the kitchen, which has been replaced by an even older, more appropriately sized, table) and its great to be able to sit to the machine. Previously I had it propped up on a box and I sat on a cushion to sew pressing the presser with my knee. Worked great but bad for the back. Anyway, sitting to a table and having the iron to hand has been good.

Every night for a few weeks I cut a little bit, sewed a little bit and it was quite relaxing. I miss it now I'm working lates again (although summer is nearly hear, 6 more weeks I think). I made my third attempt at a tree quit, and this time I think I've cracked it. Cream linen background instead of white cotton, more limited colour pallet (perhaps this is my downfall; colours look nice in a rainbow so I try to use them all...) and slightly more ordered layout. More space between the trees.

A quilt for Samuel, my newest cousin, with lots of love ♥

saturday

Gardening today after the rain, surrounded by trees and earth and promise...


Peonies and peas and forget-me-nots, and a soon-to-be lawn (if it grows...)


And the cats are out, free! They love it too :)

carousels...

As part of the Meadowsweet exhibition I've been doing book binding workshops in some of the primary schools which are local to the venues the tour will visit; making carousel books and flutter books and generally having a fun time. The children so far have all been a pleasure to work with, enthusiastic and friendly and inquisitive, and so creative. Makes me want to become a primary school teacher (until I realise what an exhausting job it must be really... all those questions!) Anyway, some details of the lovely books from Pegswood today:


A selection of pages from Dent School, and their work on display at the exhibition last weekend...


Looked very good indeed, I was so proud of them :)

monday

Back from a windy weekend in Dent, and the opening of the Meadowsweet Contemporary Craft Tour...


I wish I had some better pictures but I was so busy talking to all the visitors and demonstrating work I didn't really get chance, and I'm still processing it all so don't have many words to say about it, sorry! But if you're up north in the next couple of months you might get chance to see it all for yourself, a list of upcoming dates and venues here...


The venue in Dent was the lovely Meditation Center, and my dodgy phone camera photos don't really do the space justice. The light in there was beautiful, a lovely space to spend two days. And the views from Dent station aren't bad either!