Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly.....

My lovely nieces turned 21 last week and I managed to co-incide a trip up to see my mum with their birthday bash this weekend.  Hannah and Bethan are truly beautiful girls, inside and out, who want for nothing so trying to decide on birthday gifts is always a trauma.  In the end I made two Graceful Kelly bags...

for Hannah

for Bethan

The frames are from U-handbag as is the *free* pattern.  Easy to follow, quick to put together, great finished product!  The fabric is Melody Miller (I am obsessed) and the lining fabrics are Anna Maria Horner Innocent Crush First Impressions (Hannah) and Amy Butler Midwest Modern Roses in sage (Bethan).  I was hoping to get photos of the girls with their bags from their dad - I will chase him and let you see how gorgeous they are.

The only other progress last week was work on the Sparkle Punch quilt - 1/3 sewn together.  *deep bow*.  Erm....  no wait, even though I was hoping to make the wheelchair cape/grobag ensemble for my mum before heading up to Scotland, I decided that, with the mixed messages about what was required, I would wait until my visit to confirm design etc.  Thank goodness that I did because "if I wanted to cover my shoulders, I'd wear a shrug" came the response to my cape question.  So we worked out the design.  Mum really disliked the grey fabric chosen for the exterior ["I don't like the birds", "Mum, they're flowers", "Hmmmm, I still don't like the birds"]  so we went through some online fabric shops and she chose

Alexander Henry fabric for Home Glendon in Ripe Avocado

Not quite the choice I was expecting BUT the order has been placed and the fabric has been despatched.  I have all the measurements from the wheelchair and I know what she is wanting (famous last words?) so now I need to draft a pattern and crack on. 

So a lesson learned - never try to second guess your mum.  Along with another lesson (haggis suppers are always better in theory than practice), it was an instructive weekend!

Linking with Manic Monday and WIP Wednesday