I spent Monday and Tuesday this week on a workshop with Rutsoku Sakata, and the lovely ladies from Region 3 IFA making sculptural berets and bags. We all had a wonderful time.

This is my bag sitting on its resist and slowly taking shape; it literally took 9 hours to place all the stitching, my finger tips still feel sore and bruised today but I’m pleased with how the shape is developing. This is definitely going to be a one-of-a-kind type of bag!

the front

The back

Now I just need to figure out what the strap / handles will look  like and how to attach them…

Some of the participants and their wonderful creations

I can’t believe it has been 3 weeks since the bag workshop with Judit Pocs and the Region 1 (Devon and Cornwall) IFA ladies. Another very successful and brilliantly fun 2 days. Most of the participants (myself) included were a little over-ambitious with what we could achieve in 2 days and barely managed to get our bags to the prefelt stage before we had to pack up and go home. I  finally finished my bag nearly a week after the workshop ended but I think it was worth spending nearly 3 days toiling over. The green diamond on the front is a button made from felt that holds the front flap down.

The purple bulge in the strap is a little pouch for your keys.

This is the back side with an extra large pocket.

Last week I attended an incredibly intense, 3 day workshop making a “furry felt” bolero jacket with Heidi Grebb (more on that next time) and this weekend I have been making a snail hat, it is still damp and and the light was fading when I took these photos, but I think you get the idea…