edgeof thefrontlining+pocketpanel.
Stitchtheotherlongedgeof thespine
tothebottomedgeof theback
lining+plasticpocket.Pressthese
seamstowardsthespine,takingcare
tokeeptheironawayfromtheplastic.36
Centretheouterpanelof the
toteontopof thebagbatting,
rightsidefacingup,andpinit inplace.
Machinequiltintheditcharoundthe
embroideredpanel,alongbothlong
edgesof thespineand^1 ⁄ 8 ininsidethe
outeredgesof thepanel.Trimthe
battingtothesamesizeasthetote.37
Laytheouterpanel+batting
outflat,withthebattingside
facingup.Laytheinnertoteontopof
thebatting,rightsidefacingupand
pinthelayerstogether.Again,stitch(^1) ⁄ 8 ininsidetheouteredgesof the
paneltoholdthelayerstogether.
FINISHING
38
Foldthetwo 31 ⁄ 2 x 19^1 ⁄ 2 instrips
cutforthehandlesinhalf,
rightsidestogetherandlongedges
matching.Sewdownthelongraw
edges.Turneachstriprightsideout.
39
Pintheendsof a handlestrip
41 ⁄ 2 ininsidetheleftandright
edgesof thetoteonboththefrontand
backpanels,asshowninDiagram5.
Stitchtheminplaceusinga^1 ⁄ 8 inseam.
40
Cuta 4inlengthofrat-tail
cord.Foldit inhalf.Pinthe
twoendsofthecordsidebysideover
theseaminthecentreofthefront
patchworkpanelofthetote.Stitch
theminplaceusinga^1 ⁄ 8 in seam.
41
Join the three strips of dark
pink print fabric cut for the
binding together, end to end, with
diagonal seams to make one long
strip. Trim the seams and press
them open. Fold the binding in half,
long edges matching and wrong
sides together, and press.
42
With raw edges together, sew
thebindingtotheedgeof the
outertotewitha^1 ⁄ 4 in seam allowance,
mitring the corners as you go and
referring to the Binding Diagrams on
page 95 for details. Lesley recommends
starting and fi nishing the binding on
one side edge of the tote back.
43
Turn the binding over to the
inner tote and hand stitch
the folded edge in place.
44
Stitch a button to the top
edge of the inner pocket and
the other one to the back of the tote
in positions where the rat-tail loops
will slide over themandkeep
everything secure.
LESLEYMCCONNELL
Pleasedescribewhereyouliveand your
workspace.Shorncliffe is a prettybayside
suburbofBrisbane– a bitofa backwater in that
it hasn’tcaughtupwiththecoming of age of
ourgrowingcity.It’soneoftheregion’s special
places,languishinginitssleepyatmosphere of
summerbreezesandtree-linedavenues. We
havelivedherefor 45 yearsandnever want to
leave.Ourshopis a largestructure that we built
behindourhome.It drawslocalsas well as
visitorsfromallovertheworld.
Tellussomethingaboutyourfamily life –
partner,pets,children?Kevin,my husband of
47 years,is‘thewindbeneathmywings’. Over
the 23 yearswe’vebeeninbusiness, he has
supportedmydreamcompletelyand without
him,FaeriesinMyGardenneverwould have
happened.Previouslyanarchitect, his
computerdrawingskillsareputto good use
increatingdetailed,accuratepatterns of my
originaldesigns. We have four grown children
andhaveonly recently acquired our gorgeous
kittenMishka, a rascally lovable fluff ball who
hasbrought us so much joy in the eight
monthswe’ve had her.
Whotaught you your crafting skills? Did you
learn‘atyour mother’s knee’ or master them
asanadult? My Mum inspired me to sew.
Memories of lying on the floor as a little girl,
watching Mum’s feet pump the treadle, are still
with me – such a happy place that sewing room!
Study, university and work intervened, then
marriage and children, but sewing never lost its
appeal. Patchwork was always a little light in the
corner beckoning me to come inside; and that I
did in the early 1980s with a beginner’s course
at Ruth Stonely’s Highgate Hill shop Patchwork
Supplies. Gradually my craft evolved through
trial and error, and over the years, embroidery
seemed to creep more and more into my work.
The marriage of quilting and embroidery is as
natural as breathing, and this is the style I’ve
worked with for the last 15 years or so. My aim is
to inspire and encourage those who choose my
designs, and I’m so grateful to these wonderful
people for allowing me to create.
Embroidery and patchwork are your
‘business’. Do you like to do these crafts for
personal pleasure and if so, in what way are
these endeavours diff erent from your
‘work’? Passion is what fires my designs and
‘driven’ is a word that comes to mind. With
these two elements, it’s diff icult for me to
stitch anything that is not ‘for the business’.
Work and pleasure blend imperceptibly, and
I feel odd if I haven’t put needle to cloth for
a few days. It’s what gets me out of bed in
the morning and gives meaning to my life.
However, for family and special friends, I try
to make something personal that has nothing
to do with the business – or very little anyway!
From where do you draw inspiration?
Love and romance are probably my greatest
inspiration. The fabrics I choose, the designs
I create, all of these reflect in some way this
beautiful theme. Simple as that.
Do you ever see yourself stopping or
diversifying? Never say never, but I’m in love
with embroidery within patchwork, so I can’t
see myself diversifying much, or ever stopping.
Developing, growing, exploring in more depth,
but staying within this genre. I feel I’ve come
‘home’ in my creative endeavours, and there is
still a huge unexplored vista out there to keep
me interested.
Do you teach your skills to others in your
shop or do you have tutors? I prefer to design
rather than teach as time is so short when you
run a business. We have a beautiful embroidery
teacher, Kate Morris, whose gentle manner and
wealth of knowledge are an inspiration to our
students. Classes are held several times a year
and people keep coming back for more.
How would you describe your style and
what makes it unique? My twist on traditional
embroidery is that it adorns ‘useful’ items such
as quilts, bags, cushions, sewing accessories
etc. Many embroidered items languish on the
wall in frames. My style is to make items that
can enhance the home and be enjoyed.
What is your advice for beginners? Just go for
it! Don’t hold back. Trust yourself, keep learning,
don’t be too self-critical, and don’t waste a
minute of creative time. Life has so many duties
and demands that we need to breathe in the joy
of being in the creative zone as often as we can.
It enriches and enlivens us and helps us to
understand ourselves and our world.
Gett ing to know ...
82 Homespun