Embroidered Town Ruck and a purse

Hello, dear reader, how good of you to drop in!

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Unfortunately my cat doorstop has taken longer to make than I thought, plus everyday things have gotten in the way, so it will be a few more days before I can show you the completed doorstop.

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However, today I am joining Super Mom - No Cape's Stitchery Link Party, and would like to show you what I call my Town Ruck and its matching purse.

I've only been embroidering a few years and this was one of my first projects.

I stitched the flap of my bag in Cotton Perlè, there are stem stitches, stab stitches, french knots and sheesha mirrors in the yellowish circles.

The main body was backed with cotton wadding and machine quilted.   Inside, the lining has two pockets, with elasticated tops, one approx 5" square which holds keys/mirror and a smaller pocket (approximately 1" x 5") to hold a pen.

There are also two outer pockets of different sizes on either side, one for my umbrella and the other for a water bottle.  I know it looks a tiny bit lopsided but I wanted to be able to see quickly which pocket held which item, and it seemed a good idea at the time....... it actually does make it easier to remember what is in each pocket!

Before the cord carrier had been completed.
This picture is the truest colour of the fabric.

Work in progress.

 Deciding where to fit everything.

As with many quilters I like to add my signature
 label to most things I make.

The bag is closed by a draw cord, and covered by the embroidered flap (edged with piping) and finally held shut by a hand made, lightly sanded, varnished log button trimmed from a branch of our very own cherry tree!  (Log button made by Darling Hubbie.)

Complete with varnished log button

As the bag is quite small there is a 6" zip, hand stitched into a side seam to allow easier access.

The bag has removable shoulder straps.
You can also see the carrier loop clearer here.

I also stitched this little purse around the same time. The embroidery was stitched in stranded thread.

Matching Dumpling Purse - again with "signature".

The flowers on both sides were stitched to match the
hexagon on the flap, as closely as possible

Ahh, the date on the purse does rather give the game away - and that is when I started my embroidery journey!

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After finishing this post, I was trying to get to sleep when it dawned on me there is more embroidery which I stitched in the same style, and so here is another photograph. This one too has stem stitch, lots of french knots, chain stitches, small and large sheesha mirrors and satin stitch and was stitched using both stranded cottons and Cotton Perlè. I will be making this into a larger bag to carry my projects to my handicraft classes.

The patterned fabric has a bit of a shine on it,
 would you believe it - too much sunshine!

It is still waiting to be completed, is that a familiar story with you?

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Assuming you are not visiting me from Sue's linky party, do pop over

 (each and every Monday)

to see what lovely projects everyone else is working on.

The link for:

"Super Mom - No Cape" 

 is at the top of my side bar.

Hope you manage to find time this week for some crafting, 

and that you call by again soon.

Barbara xx