A bag of apples

The sun is shining, the washing machine is working, and I have finished making the sweetest little bag - there's three good things for you with very little effort.

I know it was raining earlier, but I can hang out the backlog of laundry now, thanks to the third Mr W M Repairman in a fortnight paying us a call this morning. Today's Mr W M Repairman was very young, very polite, did not shake his head or draw in his breath ominously, and didn't even trip the electricity while I was working on the computer. We definitely like him, and have great hopes that we can get more than two loads of laundry done before Mr W Machine gives up the ghost again.

I have been distracting myself from laundry griefs with a wonderful Keyka Lou pattern called a Belted Tote Bag. Working through some patterns might add to the stresses and strains of life, but not Michelle's - her instructions are definitely Pomona-proof, being very clear and copiously illustrated, and enabling me to produce a very fetching little appley bag. It has come out so well that I somehow feel that someone else must have made it when I was scrubbing the floors or making tea for Mr Repairman or preventing a most vicious Little Stranger from hurling herself and her teeth at the neck of Charlie the friendly neighbourhood labrador who makes a point of escaping from the confines of his garden on a regular basis to come and play mad games with his friend the Mad Dog.

But no, I really did make it - in some lovely Alexander Henry apple fabric, and lined with yellow Lake house Dry Goods fabric by Holly Holderman called Annie's Seed Catalogue - the only Annie's Farm Stand fabric that I have found on these shores so far. I love fabric with writing on, and was recently discussing with Isisjem the fact that I keep seeing wonderful projects using text fabric, but never seem to find it on sale  - although I have just seen that Amy from During Quiet Time has produced her own range, so maybe I might even get to be ahead of the curve for once, rather than trailing behind.

Having also seen Annie's post announcing that it is 100 days to Christmas and time to start making presents, I think that these bijou bags might be just the thing - depending on the fabric used they could be an ideal gift for a teenage girl, a knitting bag for a granny (no, I am not going to use this one for a knitting bag, well, maybe) or as a pretty eco shopping bag to carry around in your handbag so that you don't have to pay 1p to buy a plastic monstrosity.

Are you going to make your Christmas presents this year? If so, time to start now - you know if you leave it until November you will be a gibbering wreck by the time Christmas Eve arrives, and have to rush out as the shops shut to buy all the presents you so optimistically thought that you could make. Actually, I am sure you will be more efficient than that - as for me, I start off with good intentions, but by Christmas Eve I will be a gibbering wreck, . . . etc, etc.

So take it from me, just start making your Belted Totes now and come Yuletide you will be a very happy bunny.