All wrapped up

I made my own beeswax wraps this week.

It was such a simple process, I don't know why I didn't make some as soon as I bought this kit from Mimi Hamill last May.

Maybe it was the glorious half metre plus of fabric included in the kit.  Created by Mimi, an Aberdeen based surface pattern designer whose scarves are fabulously colourful, I knew I needed to make something else to show off this joyous material.  But first, the wraps -

I've been using beeswax wraps for over a year now in an effort to reduce my reliance on single use clingfilm.  I've bought some (and been gifted them too - thanks Steph) from Good To Bee and Joanne de Pace so I just cut some squares of the fabric into the sizes I find most handy using my pinking shears.

Then there's some not too arduous grating, baking and wafting.  Mimi's comprehensive instruction sheet is laugh-out-loud funny!  And I'm done.  It's a wrap.  Or several.

Meanwhile, back at the craft shop, these balls of Rico Ricorumi fell into my shopping bag in the way that sweeties placed near the counter are designed to entice children and hopeless chocoholics like me.  A classic impulse purchase!  These wee balls of cotton yarn make me so happy, just to look at them together.  When I got home I realised they reminded me of Mimi's fabric and, if I just went back for another couple of colours, I'd be able to make myself something lovely.

Putting the skills I learned at Fiona Meade's mosaic crochet workshop at  Baa wool shop in Stonehaven last spring, I decided to crochet another purse from this pattern by Icelandic mosaic crochet queen Tinna Þórudóttir Þorvaldar.

This clever design starts with some chain stitch around the zip.  The back side of my chain stitch is not a thing of beauty so lining the bag would be the ideal way to hide my embroidery embarrassment and use my beautiful Mimi fabric.

Two easy side seams on the machine and some gentle hand sewing later, ta-dah, I have a new lined crochet purse.

So, not only are my half-lemons and onions and itty bitties of cheese stored thoughtfully in the fridge now in their beautiful beeswax wrappers, my make-up has a new portable purse with a lovely lining. 

All wrapped up.