Saturday, September 27, 2014

Peacock Bag

Some time last summer I discovered this design of nine funky peacocks on Pinterest.  I had a heck of time finding the original source pattern as often happens with those pins, but I put on my x-stitch detective hat and kept looking.  I finally found it in an on-line only magazine,  Antique Sampler Stitcher  Issue 8, August/September 2009.  I had never heard of this magazine before. It has very homegrown amateur feel about it.  They sell back issues pretty cheap so I took a chance and ordered it.  I received the .pdf file in a wink so I'm at least one customer who can vouch for the site in case you see anything you like there.

This design was earmarked to become a sling bag at that time.  But somehow, I kept getting interrupted to stitch other things.  I'm usually a one-project-at-a-time stitcher so I don't exactly know how it got delayed.  Anyway I finally got around to completing the stitching and managed to take a slice of time to finish the sewing.  I used the suggested DMC colors, but the finish is much paler than the model in the magazine.  At first I was disappointed, but now I've come to appreciate the subtlety.  I mean who wants to scream "Peacocks!"  wherever they go.

The fabric is 36 ct Edinburgh Summer Khaki linen.  This one uses iron-on fusible craft fleece for stability and it came out with just the right amount of stiffness. Sometimes I have trouble getting that stuff to adhere properly to the fabric, but this time it worked out fine.  I think I may not have had my steam iron set hot enough on some previous attempts.  Final size is about 7"x8", perfect for most of my needs.


22 comments:

ArchangelDecker said...

Love your finish! And I must simply have those peacocks. Love em! :)

Jane said...

Oh, that's pretty! Lovely colour fabric too

Vickie said...

Wonderful! You did a fantastic job Annie.

Kissy said...

So pretty just the way it is! Beautiful fabric!

Margaret said...

Wow! I love the design, and I also love the finishing! Fantastic! Glad you went to all that effort to find the design.

Gina E. said...

Love your work on this, and the colours are beautiful - very subtle. I wonder if the person who designed that is the same person who designed a peacock sampler and put it on her blog for free. Some of the patterns on your bag look very similar to the sampler I've been struggling to finish for two years!

KimM said...

This is is pretty - and thank you for the link to the magazine. Love the finish - well done!
xxx

Blu said...

Very pretty! I love the fabric you've used for the bag.

Jackie's Stitches said...

I can't imagine having only 1 project on the go at a time! I'd probably get more finished though!

Very nice finish! I love peacocks. They're always particularly beautiful in stitching I think. Your bag is no exception.

Ranae said...

Lovely finish

Anne said...

Oooh Annie! I adore this little pouch and those peacocks are so beautiful!

Mii Stitch said...

So so sweet!!! These little peacocks are just great and your finished bag looks fantastic. Well done!

Carol said...

How on earth did you manage to track that down, Annie?! Good detective skills... I had never heard of that online magazine either, but I'm glad to read you had a good experience with it.

Your little bag is so cute and I love how the colors showed up on that linen. You must be quite the minimalist if everything you need can fit in that size bag :)

Enjoy your week, Annie!

Brigitte said...

Oh my gosh, this is simply amazing. The stitching and the finishing. IT must have been difficult to discover the source of these beautiful peacocks, at least when I think of some of my own attempts to find something like this on pinterest. Thanks for the link to that magazine which was completely unknown to me.

Melanie said...

It's wonderful! I'm always jealous of a neat zipper, too. That takes SKILLZ. :)

Those 'antique' peacocks pop up in designs here and there and I love them.

Brenda A said...

That is so cool. I love how practical it is too!!!

Karen said...

This is really beautiful, Annie!

Anonymous said...

Love this peacock bag! How delightful. Also love your altoid tin. What a lot of work that was. Is this for yourself or a gift? And your little ghosts with the cattails and pumpkin is adorable. They appear to float over the scene! All of your smalls are wonderful. You always seem to make the prettiest things!

Sheryl said...

This design is lovely, the colours are beautiful and the stitching is perfect.

Annette said...

Your searching skills are as awesome as your crafting skills, what a wonderfull bag you made.
You did a great job!!
Noe you can finish enjoy your search

Hetti said...

Your search is really rewarded Annie, they are so different but also so beautiful these peacocks !!
And the color of the fabric fits very nicely.It is a lovely bag.
XXX Hetti

trillium said...

Totally gorgeous! I have a friend who wants something peacock-themed for Xmas. This will be just right for her gift.