Create kits by Coo & co

Oh now Im very excited about these little beauties!
For ages Ive been wanting to make little kits - I love the idea of people making their own little fabric sculptures out of vintage fabrics and I really loved the idea of them making them out of Coo & co fabrics!
Well when Arteria in Lancaster asked me to come up with a new idea for their Mums that make exhibition I Knew the time was right!
I hasnt been an easy task by any means - very hard to get a simple but effective pattern designed- good bird shape but not so many pattern pieces that would  put people off- I think I have got the balance right, you can make the project as simple or as complicated as you like- with extra embellishments and embroidered details.
The kits will come with 2 pieces of fabric printed with the template, 2 pieces of wire for the legs, leather for the beaks and a paper instructions sheet- you can make 2 birds out of one kit! super
I have also designed a moth kit- thats nearly ready to go- all will be launched 10th May in time for the Mums that make show!
very cute and great fun! I now want to make a whole flock of little birds to show off what can be done xxxxx

Spring range 2013

Finally I can share the new range of bag shapes- it has been month in the making- literally!
I wanted to keep them all very simple and classic shapes- I needed to have a more durable bottom if you pardon the pun! so I have used a waxed canvas, which is water proof and very strong, but also adds to the interesting textures of the bag, with the canvas , the linen and the leather handles its a visual and textural feas.
Ive just managed to fill the etsy and folksy shops with items but now I need to update the website - which will involve much more use of my brain (smell the burning!)
In other news- Ive nearly finished a bag tutorial I want to share here to compliment the book- its a block printing tutorial and a trendy bag pattern to make! just got to finish off editing the images to go with the text then I share it here - exclusive!  pip pip for now x

Book launch

The day has finally come- March 14th 2013 my book Handprint and make your own bags is out!

It’s been a year in the making and a long hard slog but it out and I’m proud!

I'm having a little giveaway over on facebook, pop over and like my post to be in with a chance to win a copy!

The whole thing feels a little overwhelming the facebook promotion alone has gathered over 25,000 views in 24hr! I’m a little scared of being judged by all these new people! I just hope people will take from the book what I intended- to inspire and start people on their creative journey with a project. I couldn’t have included everything I wanted; it would have been 100,000 pages long! I tried to write it so everyone could get something out of it, from beginner to experienced crafters. I have hundreds of craft books on my shelves and I have made the assumption that it’s the same for many crafters, when Im making a project at home I use at least 2 or 3 book, pulling inspiration from them all. 

In my book there are 35 bag patterns to make, all different sizes shapes and uses, all with a different printed fabric- the beginning of the book gives some basic printing tips and instructions and at the back there are some basic sewing tips. I hope that people using my book will feel confident to experiment and have a go at making themselves a unique and special bag to show off on the arm.

In order to celebrate the book I have been putting together a little tutorial for this blog- a hand printed bag tutorial! I’m going to have a go at illustrating it myself so as soon as its finished Ill share it here- it will be you very own exclusive bag project!

Now begins the adventure of promoting the book and seeing people enjoy it! I already have the shoots of ideas for book number two beginning in my sketchbooks so watch this space for more!

Xx Jenny

oh forgot to say its available from all good bookshops and online ones of course
Please support you local independent bookseller
Handprint and make your own bags
by Jenny McCabe
published by cico books march 2013
xx