Back to School pencil cases

The summer holidays are coming to an end, and most families are getting their kids ready for the new term. On occasions like these it's common to present the younger children with a 'going back to school' package to sweeten that awkward first day. This may include a new writing set, note pads, a set of colour pencils, and pencil cases. Here are some I made. The cat and dog appliqué were a lot of fun to design. In fact, that doggy actually exists - he's one of our neighbour's dogs!

doggy pencil case sold

Lotus pencil case

here kitty pencil case sold

New Year, New Challenges

School starts here on 7th January, which means I will be occupied the next couple of days preparing and getting ready for my role as tutor/agony aunt. As every year I will be hearing a lot of amusing holiday stories; there will be happy faces from those whose parents have indulged their every whim, and long faces from the ones who didn't receive the latest cell phone model they had hoped for. I presume I'm going to be seeing more long faces, as even the more well-off parents will have undoubtedly tightened their spending budget! I will also be working on setting up my own website. I admit, I am not proficient in HTML, but I'm up for the challenge! Who knows? Some of my students can probably help me out here! The image shows a little coin purse I made from a bright red polka dot fabric. (Sorry, for those of you who are nursing hangovers today - this pattern not being easy on the eye! haha) The flap closes with a hand-painted wooden button. You can click to enlarge if you want to see a close up of that button! Have a great New Year's day!

Pretty kitties

Now this simple tote was one of the first bags I have ever made. I've had that cat panel for ages, and it was originally destined to become a cushion cover, however I changed my mind: with everyone - myself included - leaning on it, I wouldn't be able to see much of those cute kitties, would I? I'm rather partial to fabrics featuring cats ☺, and I have another bag I will show case here as soon as I have made proper photos - made from an interesting gobelin fabric with a whole bunch of lovely cats! Today being the last school day of this year, I can already hear a few moms sighing relief from the daily school runs! Everything is slowing down here, and I also look forward to a much needed break!