You know when you are single or just a couple, the two of you, it’s sooo easy to plan.  Then you have kids and that goes totally out the window.  Not for the life of me can I plan with any certainty how my day will go.  Take last week for example, one has a head knock, then contracts gastro.  She then passes it onto her younger brother, who not only has it for longer than he should, he kindly passes it onto me!  So whilst I still feel like I am in the thick of it I have managed to take some piks of the two new bags completed before all of this occurred.!

ella & jaks Tangerine Tango and ella & jaks Round in Circles (which is just how I have been feeling…LOL)

In the meantime I have been tinkering more with my crochet hook… tis the season!

Sandy

x

Oooh, here comes the cooler weather and of course that brings the cooler colours and textures of winter.

These are the two new bags, a tote and a handbag, just launched on my website; ella & jaks Peacock Blue and ella & jaks Kylie.

But as usual at this time of year I get the knitting bug and then end up having three or four knitting projects on the go, whilst still finding time for designing and sewing!

Here is one of the projects completed for my little nephew, just turned three, living in Tasmania!

So, now every night I can be found clicking the needles whilst watching TV, much to my husbands amusement! LOL!

I have a white shrug, a burnt orange headband and an orange shawl vest on the go, will show you the piks when they are finished!

In the meantime, take care, keep warm and go create!

Sandy

x

Hello again, my goodness, don’t the weeks just blitz passed.  However, I must say it’s been a rather productive blitz!  Here are two of my new designs, ella & jaks Toffee Swirls and ella & jaks Retro Weave.  Both feature inside zip pockets and zips at the top to fasten all your goodies inside.

It hasn’t all been sewing and no play, managed to whip in and make a carrot cake with cream cheese icing this morning, making my cup of coffee all the more enjoyable…. ahh but no rest for the wicked, I must be off, I can hear the fabric calling me…

Till we meet again, ciao.

Sandy

x

So I started the day ready to tackle the computer tasks ahead of me; finishing off an ella & jaks article I had started ready to distribute on the web, make some changes to the ella & jaks website and blog layout… etc etc, however the prospect of no morning tea to go with my morning coffee was too much to bear…  here are the fruits of my labour.

Whilst I am happy to say that I have now completed all the tasks I had set, I also enjoyed some choc-chip cookies with my coffee!  A good day so far all round I might say…

Mmmm, the sewing desk tomorrow!

Cheers

Sandy

x

PS for anyone who wants the easiest yummiest cookie recipe let me know, along with the secret ingredient!

This is my latest commissioned piece, a laptop bag to the specs of my client.  This ella & jaks laptop bag features cream leather sides, black leather base, three inside sections all padded with wadding and quilted with seriously stiff interfacing.  It has an open inside pocket (for pens & things) and a zipped outside pocket (for your keys and phone), and fastens with a magnetic clasp.  The strap is adjustable and is secured by antique brass notions.

It was a pleasure to make for my client and equally pleasing to see the end result.  So if you have something in mind, be it a laptop bag or something else remember that ella & jaks would be delighted to create for you!

Sandy

x

I am an avid listener of new music, my friends will not have any trouble telling you that Triple J is my favourite radio station!  I am also a fan of listening to the words of songs, and the latest addition to my music collection is no different.  For my birthday, March 8, my lovely husband and kiddie winks gave me a copy of Ben Lee’s ‘The Rebirth of Venus’.  I have now listened to this album on high repeat and am so enjoying the lyrics…  I do suggest that you give it a whirl…  ella & jaks recommend Ben Lee!

Sandy

x

So I am sitting on Friday night, watching Better Homes & Gardens, much to my husband’s delight…. LOL!  And it’s been some time since I have had the inclination to lift the knitting needles but the plight of the recent bush fires is surely awful.  It was then at Tara Dennis’ encouragement I grabbed out my size 4 needles, scrounged around for some long forgotten balls of wool and proceeded to knit away.  It was the least I could do…

So if you find yourself at a loose end in the coming days, consider picking up the sticks and gartering for a good cause.  Details are at the following site - http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/b/better-homes-gardens/11300/knitting-for-a-cause.

Happy knitting

Sandy

xx

There has been great success with ella & jaks Trees are Brown, and now I have created a new version, this one is called ella & jaks elegance.  But I have to confess that this first one is now comfortably slung over my shoulder, so should you wish for me to create one just for you please email me.  For now though there are a few on the cutting table, all of the fabrics will be different, combined with soft leather…

Cheers

Sandy

xx

ella & jaks - Geisha

Whilst keeping with the one-off designs concept I am introducing my first collection, Geisha.  This wonderful combination of blooms and stripes has been used to create these four styles, with a few more to come.  Keep an eye out for clutches, different handbags and perhaps a purse or two.

Best get moving on that then!

Cheers

Sandy

xx

Another bag finished, another new design!  Am rather chuffed at the outcome here, shall get in and make some more… this one the ‘ella & jaks candy shop poppies’.

Best go and get back to the sewing machine!

Sandy

xx