As you say in Italian, I am the arm and not the brains behind Ella's lovely new tote. Does that make sense? I mean that I sewed the tote but Ella chose all the fabrics for the tote and how to place them. She chose to add different sized covered buttons on the front of the tote and on one of the handles. I love how it turned out.
The pattern is from the free project book "Jeni Baker's Vintage Summer" included in Issue 10 of Love Patchwork & Quilting magazine (so the pattern brain is Jeni Baker's!):
There are so other lovely projects I would like to try out like the Flower Power Throw Quilt, good for showing off large prints. Still got to catch up with a lot of Bee Blocks though so I'll have to wait a little while...
Ella's version is a little smaller than the original because, to tell you the truth, she chose a fabric that was too small so we decided to fit the size to the fabric. In the end this tote is the perfect size for a nine year old to carry all her precious games and secrets around. It is resisting very well to "overfilling" too! I knew it was going to be filled up to maximum capacity so I did make sure I secured the handles as well as I could with extra stitching! Little women carry a lot of stuff in their handbags too!
There is a very handy pocket inside. Ella decided to use the same fabric as the handles for it (Waterfront Park - Shattered).
I love how Ella decided to place the covered buttons (which she covered by herself, by the way). I must admit I wasn't sure about fixing one on the handle but she insisted and, you know what, it looks really good and doesn't get in the way at all.
Ella is taking it everywhere with her and so this is where these photos were taken:
One of my favourite places ever: the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso on Lake Maggiore. There are 242 steps to walk down to the church (but they've recently installed a lift too) and the view is absolutely stunning. No wonder the rich merchant who landed there during a storm decided to become a hermit and live there for all his life!
Don't miss the website for Santa Caterina del Sasso to see the wonderful photos of the church taken from the Lake.
