Inspired by our 'nearly' summer...

Funny what can inspire a new design.  This week I was inspired by a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, a random purchase from Ebay and some yarn bought months ago because the colours reminded me of a summer garden.  The result was the Camellia Tote Bag.
 

 

 

The random purchase from Ebay were some unbleached cotton tote bags, which I intended to embellish with crocheted flowers but when they arrived they weren't sturdy enough for this.  But as only £1 each I was sure I could find a use for them and  I thought that they would be ideal for a lining to a crochet tote bag.

 

During the lovely Bank Holiday weekend, I was  wandering in the garden and admiring the camellia tree, about the only thing in flower, when I remembered a cushion I had made sometime ago embellished with camellia type flowers.  Finding yarn in summer colours in my stash completed the inspiration process and as the rain came down on Monday I got to work. 

 

The camellia flower in the centre was surrounded by a large granny square in these lovely summer colours.  The straps are green, pink and cream and are embellished with little lilac flowers where they join the bag.

 

 

 

 

 

The outer layer and straps were hand sewn to the lining.  There is something very soothing about hand sewing, sitting at the table with the radio on.