Welcome to my web page and my wonderful world of bags.
I began to make handbags four years ago as a diversion from my passion for all things quilted and patchworked. After 20 years of sewing quilts I re-invented myself and brushed up on my knitting and crochet skills that I had learned as a child but put aside in favour of stitching.
My bags are made from a variety of materials. For many of the knitted bags I use video tape. I found that I had invented a new fabric, and mixed with other yarns, they made strong and fancy handbags. So began a new passion which has evolved into more and more fancy textures. After a while my collection grew to such proportions that I began selling them at craft fairs. They have been very well received and this has spurred me to carry on. It's always lovely to have one's work praised! Each bag is named after the video tape I knitted it with!
I now make felted bags too. This involves knitting a huge bag using pure wool and then shrinking it. There is always an element of surprise to this as the results can't be foreseen , every wool shrinks at a different rate. Some surprises are good and the not so good ones can be cut up and made into attractive, trendy felted flowers, some of which I use to decorate my bags. Others are hidden from view and not talked about!
Patchwork is still a favourite. You can take the girl out of patchwork, but you can't take patchwork out of the girl! It's fun to make a bag from scraps and lengths of fabric collected over a number of years (a great number) and no two bags are alike. After making king size quilts a handbag is a doddle and what could be nicer than a lovely flowery print bag for the summer months. Some of my patchwork will be on view at my Open Studio event. Whatever materials I use I'm always eager to move on to the next project. Handbag making is very addictive. Try it! You'll love it! .
annehilluk@googlemail.com
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Ruby
Hand knitted using pure wool yarn, felted in the washing machine and finished with a felted flower.
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Dorothy
Knitted with video tape and a grey eyelash yarn. Decorated with a flower and a beaded handle. 27cm wide x 28cm high.
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Shawshank
Knitted with video tape and an acrylic yarn with an eyelash trim at the bottom. Decorated with a black flower. Black shiny handles fixed with black buttons. 29cm wide x23cm high..
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Scarlett
A bright pink evening bag knitted
with video tape and sparkly metallic yarns.
Finished with a pink beaded handle.
27cm x 22cm.
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Tiffany
Black and silver bag knitted with video tape
and a black eyelash yarn trimmed at the top with
silver eyelash yarn.
Finished with a black and silver beaded handle.
Size 30cm x 26cm.
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Autumn
Hand knitted bag using felting wool and mohair.
Finished with i-cord handles and a felted hand made flower.
Size 31cm x 28cm
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Casino
Small evening bag knitted with video tape, and acrylic textured yarn
and a gold eyelash yarn.
Finished with a beaded handle and brooch trim.
28cm x 19cm.
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Bouquet
A large bag knitted and felted using pure wool and mohair.
Fastened with a magnetic clasp and
decorated with hand crocheted flowers.
50cm x 29cm.
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Crazy Bag
A small crazy patchwork bag made with
dress weight cottons and denim.
Finished with a hand crocheted flower.
Size 28cm x 23cm x 6cm.
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Diamonds Bag
A small bag knitted with a variegated wool yarn and a mohair yarn. Decorated with felted squares and balls. 30cm x 27cm.
Size 28cm x 23cm x 6cm.
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Forest
Hand knitted using pure wool, and felted. Flap closure and flower and feather detail.
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Festival
Hand knitted using pure wool and mohair. Embellished with a fancy yarn at the top.
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Tapestry Bag
Tapestry fabric bag in lightweight upholstery fabric, finished with a button feature.
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