I hate colds.

Feeling a bit low as I have a streaming cold. I felt it start on Friday and its just got worse and today I have not done any work properly on my website. Thursday's workshop for the Keswick Embroiderers' Guild went very well and the purses looked great but I did not have my camera as DH took it with him up Helvellyn. Friday was sort out and tidy up day ready for some real work all weekend that was the theory until the bugs struck.....

Anyway, I am fighting back tonight and so I thought I would post some of the new purses I made for the workshop.  First up is a little number I made at the workshop and just finished adding the beads at home.
It does up simply by pushing the strand of beads inbetween the two fabric buttons, really neat and they hold it closed very well too. It consists of Tussah silk with silk throwsters waste laid on top and then some snippets of 22 carat gold leaf ...   atchoo,  sorry but the hankies are needed constantly.... I'm through a box already.

This next one is made with Mulberry silk which is a bit harder to lay down but worth the effort with throwsters waste on top. Next I simply added a few snippets of organza bits and pieces in lighter pink and green and then decorated with some crosses which I tried to make look lazy. Finally, a handmade Dorset button sets it off as a simple fastening.

The next one was made smaller and is inspired by Brides and the idea was to make a small purse which could contain a favour for the Bridesmaids or special guest etc. It could even be a ring holder for the Bestman to keep in his pocket. Anyway, it is made in Tussah silk which is undyed and then beaded and given a few french knots. The small gilt button and the simple fastening finish it off. Oh yes and it also has a few snippets of 22 carat gold leaf incorporated in the paper.

It looks a bit yellow but I could not seem to get a better photo and I was not in the mood to mess about.

This last purse is my personal favourite. Hey I am having finger trouble tonight too, this blog has just jumped to publish before I finished, must be my head is a bit fuzzy. Anyway, don't try blogging with a bad cold is my advice. So as I was saying this is a pretty little purse which I like because it is understated and because I made it with just throwsters waste and then added some tiny snippings off a previous throwsters waste purse (the cut out left the exact shape I needed) So I added it to the edges of the purse and then did a few french knots. I found an old antique looking filligree button which is stunning and this is it......

I did not take a photo of the inside but this one has more of the purple silk paper under the flap which is really cute. Anyway, I have more in the pipeline as I made quite a few really good bits of silk paper. Also the lampshade might just be improving and if it looks good enough I might post a photo. Now if only my 'dose' would stop glowing in the dark I might be a happy bunny and get on with finishing my website tomorrow.