The genius behind my newly lined bags.

I love making bags and I'm a little bit obsessed with them. Over the past couple of years in particular (needless to say, we've all had a bit more time on our hands over 2020/21), I've made so many of them and I love them all. But! There was one thing that was bothering me, they really would be even more appealing, sturdy and usable if they were lined and to be honest, sewing is really not my thing. My sewing teaching at school made it quite clear that she thought I was useless and despaired of me most of the time. These were times when positive reinforcement wasn't a natural quality in the teaching profession, it was more about teaching what needed to be taught and if you didn't have a natural talent, you were pretty much ignored (or occasionally, shouted at).

Back in my early years in the UK, in what now seems like a past life, I was actually a teacher. I trained in Australia and in 1991 ended up in London working as a nanny. After a year of nannying duties, some wonderful, some not so much, I decided a return to teaching would be a good move. That's when I met my very dear, and very talented friend, Karen. We met on a maths course run by Kings College and have been friends ever since.

Karen took off Manilla in 1993, then again to Hong Kong in 2013 to teach at the International Schools in both locations, returning to the UK in 2020. Because of Covid, we didn't manage to catch up until summer 2021 (during the times when we could actually visit other people's homes) and that is when I discovered her incredible talent for sewing. After knowing Karen for nearly 30 years, I had no idea that she could sew.

Anyway, having seen her gorgeous work (check out her Etsy shop), I had a lightbulb moment 💡- she could help me with my bags. Long story short, Karen is now my master sewing genius, making up my shortfall in sewing skills and now my lovely bags are even lovelier. I gave her free rein with the fabrics and finishes that she felt would be the best fit and I must say, I'm incredibly grateful for her wonderful taste and delighted with the results.

Read on below to for a a bit more about Karen, in her own words...

A little hello from Karen...

After many, many years teaching in the UK and overseas and repatriating from 7 years of living in Hong Kong during the height of the pandemic, I decided it was a good time to give some thought to what I wanted to do now I was back ‘home’. 

I have always loved sewing but not since being a student have I had the time to do any more than run up the odd pair of curtains, make a blind for my kitchen or repair knees in my boy’s trousers when they were little!

Out came my machine, off I went shopping for material, I began watching Youtube videos and joining Facebook groups about bag making and all of a sudden I had my first bag which I proudly sported on a trip to London earlier this year. I was thrilled when Cathie asked me to sew some linings into her beautiful bags and it gives me lots of joy to choose fabric to complement her fabulous designs.

I was recently brave enough to open my own Etsy store and thrilled when I made my first sales. I’m looking forward to adding more products to it and it becoming more successful. In the meantime you’ll find me watching YouTube tutorials and sewing away at my machine!

Purple Gecko Creations