Another vinyl shopping bag

Using the same pattern I drafted for this bag, I made one for my sister as a birthday present.  It was lucky I knew from the start that this one wasn't for me, or I would have had a hard time giving it away!  Fortunately there was a bit of vinyl left over so I can make something for myself too.



She requested a navy lining and navy handles, which go really well with the vinyl (which is from John Lewis).  Inside is the usual zipped pocket for your phone, chocolate (!) etc.



These bags are the perfect size for your swimming kit, or a trip to the shops, or your packed lunch and a book to read at the park...whatever you want!



I fancy trying one in dark waxed cotton (I have some brown), with leather handles and a really, really bright lining - maybe patchwork!



With the leftover vinyl I'm planning to make myself another zippy pouch (or two!).
Vicky xx

Mike's next chair

I love this! Mike has made a second dining chair, a lovely modern design:



Like the first one (here), this one is made from ash.  The back spindles and legs are turned by hand on a lathe



and the crest steam bent, then shaped by hand:



To me it seems to go particularly well with the yellow kettle we keep on the stove!



I'm hoping there might be a set of these along sometime soon...

Vicky xx

Star or snowflake?

I recently became the owner of a glass kiln - a Skutt Firebox 8.  It can do amazing things to glass, one of which is to turn glass rods into these lovely decorations.  But: are these stars, or snowflakes?


At first I thought they would be stars, but now I think they're snowflakes, especially the pale green and blue ones.  Each one is made from pieces of 6mm diameter Bullseye glass rod (buy it here) and fired for six hours in the kiln.



Getting the glass to fuse together took a bit of experimenting, but eventually I got the design and the kiln programme right, and by Christmas I should have enough for some special glass presents!



To hang them, each will have a silver bail:



More adventures with glass coming soon - I can also use the kiln to fire special glass paint, to add detail to stained glass pieces!