Meet the Maker: Buntings & Things

Meet the Maker: Buntings & Things - Andrie Designs

Welcome to the first instalment of our brand new blog series, Meet the Maker, where we will be getting up close and personal with some of your favourite bag creators. Discover what they love about bag making, and what they kinda-like-but-think-maybe-we-should-just-be-friends. They may even share a few of their own hints, tips and favourite bag making tools (and perhaps even the odd give away! Woohoo!!! *hint hint*).

Meet the Maker: Buntings and Things - two pretty poppets
Pattern: Stand Up & Tote Notice by Andrie Designs (Photo courtesy of Buntings & Things)

The first guest aboard our Meet the Maker train is the lovely Mel, from Buntings & Things. As a busy stay-at-home army wife and Mum to 3 boys at home, plus 3 step kids, soon-to-be 5 step grand kids, and a boxer dog named Bundy, it’s a wonder Mel can find the time to breathe let along create her beautiful bags. She assures me that she hates real coffee, but I suspect her addiction to Dare Espresso (and who can blame her) might explain her superhero levels of energy. Like many Aussie gals, Mel loves a hot bubble bath in winter and an ice cold beer in summer. Just don’t ask her how she feels about cats…

Meet the Maker: Buntings and Things - two pretty poppets
Mel from Buntings and Things (Photo courtesy of Buntings & Things)

How long have you been making bags to sell and how did you get started?

I am the face behind Buntings & Things, where I started sewing custom personalised buntings and cushion covers a little over four years ago, before expanding my skills and repertoire to purses, and of course, BAGS!

I sewed my first bag two and a half years ago. I had joined “The Sewing Library” Facebook group to pick up tips and inspiration of things to make. After a while I was repeatedly seeing posts about the NCW (Necessary Clutch Wallet by Emmaline Bags), I just had to see what all the fuss was about! So I made one…and that was the start. I was amazed that I could make a real life practical item like a purse (wallet) that I could USE every day! So that led me to ‘well if I can make a purse, surely I can make a bag!’ and my new addiction began.

These days I test patterns for a few designers, run several Facebook sewing-related groups, and am making a paper drafting mess at my house on the pursuit to one day become a designer myself. I’m also very much a night owl… There’s so much sewing and networking to do, but so little time!

Meet the Maker: Buntings and Things - two pretty poppets
Pattern: Necessary Clutch Wallet by Emmaline Bags (Photo courtesy of Buntings & Things)

What’s your favourite part of making bags?
The friends I’ve made along the way. I’ve made some of the best friends in the sewing community from all around the world from bag making, it’s amazing and I love them. And the range of bag design options available, seeing how the same bag pattern looks in different fabrics, the never-ending combination possibilities! And always learning new sewing techniques.

Meet the Maker: Buntings and Things - two pretty poppets
Pattern: Summer Lovin’ Beach Tote by Andrie Designs (Photo courtesy of Buntings & Things)

And your least favourite…?
I’m still trying to make friends with piping and binding. I love the finished look (when it works)….but I do cringe whenever I have to do it. Especially piping with bulky seams.

And not enough time to MAKE ALL THE BAGS!! 🙂

What are you working on right now?
My 205th NCW.

Meet the Maker: Buntings and Things - two pretty poppets
A Necessary Clutch Wallet in the making (Photo courtesy of Buntings & Things)

What is one tip you would offer someone new to making bags to sell?
Don’t ever think you can’t do it. However, get HONEST constructive criticism along the way, and learn from it.

Do you have a favourite tool or notion that in your eyes is an absolute life saver when it comes to making bags?
Walking foot, and lately I’ve discovered a regular office stapler is a life saver when sewing bulky seams, putting a few staples in the seam allowance to help hold it together.

 

Meet the Maker: Buntings and Things - two pretty poppets
Pattern: Little Freehand Pack by Andrie Designs (Photo courtesy of Buntings & Things)

A big THANK YOU to Mel for inviting us into her bag making world! You can find out more about Buntings & Things at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handmadeloveme/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buntingsandthings/

Meet the Maker: Buntings and Things - two pretty poppetsThank you all for joining us for the first instalment of our Meet the Maker series! I hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about the lovely Mel from Buntings & Things and to help kick this series off with a bang, Mel and I have decided to run a little giveaway for all our wonderful readers! Yay!!!

Ooh so what’s up for grabs I hear you ask? Mel has generously offered to make the winner a custom made, large sized Stand Up Clutch – my latest pattern to be released. If you’re not sure what the Stand Up Clutch is, you can find all details for this pattern here. I will also be donating one copy of the Stand Up Clutch pattern to the winner as well.

(If you’ve already purchased your copy of the Stand Up Clutch pattern, don’t worry! Please still feel free to enter the giveaway and if you end up winning, you will be more than welcome to gift your winning copy of the pattern to a friend).

To enter: simply answer the question below and add your answer in the comments at the end of this post (make sure you include your name and email address in your post so we can contact you if you are the winner!).

Question: If you won, what would you use your Stand Up Clutch for?

Perhaps for a night out with the girls? Or to give to your Mum for Mother’s Day (coming up soon here in Australia)? Or maybe you would give it to your daughter or granddaughter? Or something else entirely? It’s up to you!

The fine print –

Entities close midnight, Sunday. 27th March (Australian Eastern Standard Time). The winner will be chosen by Mel and I and all decisions are final. The winner will be contacted shortly after the giveaway ends via the email address provided on their entry comment. Only those comments containing a name, email address AND an answer to the question will be considered as valid entries for the giveaway. The winner will be announced on my Instagram account, on my Facebook page and in my Facebook patterns group. If more than ONE WEEK passes following the drawing of the winner and no contact has been made from the winner, the giveaway will be redrawn (after all options have been exhausted to contact the initial winner). If you have any questions regarding this giveaway, please feel free to contact me via the Contact page.

Best of luck everyone and thank you for popping by!

Lisa x

36 thoughts on “Meet the Maker: Buntings & Things

  1. Karen K Wackus says:

    Hello Two Pretty Poppets and Mel from Buntings and Things. I am new to these bags and clutches. I have bought a few patterns but haven’t made any yet. If I won, I would give it to my daughter – in – law. She’s like the daughter I never had and includes me in their lives. Thanks for sharing with us.
    Karen K Wackus aka Grandma KK

    • Lisa says:

      CONGRATULATIONS KAREN!!! Thank you so very much for reading this first post in our Meet the Maker series and I’m thrilled to announce that you have been chosen as the winner!!! Congratulations! I will be emailing you shortly to arrange receipt of your prizes. 🙂

  2. Nina says:

    I think it would make a brilliant carrier bag for my coloring book and pencils 🙂 and plenty of room for a couple of sneaky chocky bars 🙂 ..

  3. Nyssa Lesniak says:

    My sister and I go away for a few days together once a year, I would use my clutch on my trip because it looks like it’s a good size and I’m an ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ kind of girl

  4. Maggie Gibson says:

    I would fill it up with goddies and send it to my Mum in the UK
    for her 80th birthday in May.
    she would love it ?

  5. Andreia Velander says:

    I do a lot of sewing and embroidery on the go, you know, swimming lessons, footy and so on, and I reckon this would be great to hold all my things.

  6. Lyn George says:

    I would proudly use it as a gorgeous carry bag to take to our daughter’s home while I recover from my wrist surgery. I am unable to sew for the next few months and this would enlighten how I feel at the present moment. ? Lyn

  7. Gwen says:

    Well since it would be from Mel it would sit in my sewing room where I could see it everyday!!! Great interview my dear friend!!! Xo. Gwen

  8. Kellee Butterfield says:

    It looks like the perfect size to keep my cup and cutlery in for work. Or perhaps sunscreen and wipes/hand sanitiser for the car. Or maybe charger storage for the many probable devices we seem to accumulate these days! Really the possibilities are endless!
    But let’s face it when we are busy making things for everyone else who has time to see something this beautiful for themselves?!
    Great blog post ladies 🙂

  9. Lady Annie says:

    I would use it for all those little things you can never find, the little things my Great grandees love to hide,my phone my keys,the remote control, could scoop them up with one fell swoop in my perfect stand up clutch …

  10. Kathy Waterbury says:

    First thank you for being so generous! I love to give my bags away. I’ve only made a few so far but have several patterns picked out to make more. I would either use the bag to carry my travel crafts or give it to a friend. I love paying things forward…so rewarding.

  11. Connie Borth says:

    I would use my stand up clutch for a night out with the girls & then I will have her replace my purse that I carry everyday to show her off.

  12. Ellen Wiedman says:

    Hi ladies. What a great little look into the life of Melanie. This will be a great series.
    If I won I’d donate it to a charity for auction.. Probably a bowl or Brest cancer group.

  13. Janine Casey says:

    Wow what a wonderful give away. I would give this stand up clutch bag to my active 90 year old mum. It is a perfect size and very colourful. I can just see her showing it off to her friends around town. She would carry her various craft bits & pieces in it and would love it. I would use the pattern to make one for myself.

  14. Cherita Montoney says:

    I actually have 2 thoughts. First is I would make 2 of these for my 2 nieces. They are so perfect for a little girls first “big girl” purse!! I have been looking for something to make them & these are perfect!

    Also I think if I add a zip & some insulation it will make a SUPER cute lunch bag/soft cooler 🙂

  15. Monica Fennema says:

    My daughter is getting married and I would use it as clutch to carry the little necessities needed for that day. Thanks for sharing your wonderful creation.

  16. Sandra Alderman says:

    Depending on the colour, I would use it as a bag to use at any time (I love purple) or as a bag for those every important sewing tools that you always use and really cannot afford to lose.

    If it were the pattern, I would share it with my 83 year old mum who I regularly sew with and then make some for my daughter-in-laws and sister-in-laws as I had no daughters or sisters to make for.

  17. Natasha says:

    I have been wanting to make clutches and bags for my sisters but have been to nervous to do , if I was to I would fill it up with toiletries and all the essentials a mum to be would need for their big day and then give it to one of two of my sister who are pregnant and only a couple of weeks apart, and then I would try and build up the courage make my other sister one because they look amazing and I can’t choose one sister because I love them both 🙂
    One of my sisters is 22 weeks and the other is 19 weeks so happy for them both

  18. Jayne Ross says:

    I am going on holiday to Thailand with my daughter in May and would love to take it to put all my bits and bobs in. Just beautiful well done girls

  19. Linda says:

    I’m afraid I would be selfish and keep the clutch for myself. I’d love a pretty bag, I only have a plain boring black one – I don’t often treat myself I tend to do the treating!

  20. Dallas hill says:

    Would use it to gift to others who have been there for me. I’m disabled and sick…sewing makes me happy,way happy. I would also put sewing notions inside. I’m a big organizer.

  21. Karli says:

    It’s my sisters birthday next month (she’s 11 – going on 21, I swear!) so I would gift it to her. She would LOVE one! If I could bear to part with it though – Mel’s work is AH-MAY-ZING! Perhaps I’ll keep it for myself and use the pattern to make my sister one instead 😉 hehe

  22. Kimberley Morland (Kimberley Andreassen) says:

    Well as part of my transition towards grandma-hood at the old age of 28 ;), I would use it to carry some yarn and crochet needles and head to Adelaide crochet cafe (such a cute idea) and learn how to crochet!!

  23. Tanya says:

    I never get to make myself anything so I would keep it for me to keep all my “go to” sewing supplies 🙂 Fantastic job Mel on all your bags 🙂

  24. Lauren says:

    I’d use it as my bag on my trips out without my kids. Carrying a very obvious nappy bag when you’re by yourself is a little uncool so I’m hoping this bumps up my coolness factor!

  25. Natell Webb says:

    Yay!!! I am so pleased to see my very amazing friend Mel was chosen as the very first Meet the Maker star!! and what a star she is!!! Thanks to her I have made some amazing friends (Mel included!!!) and learnt sew much. So…what would I do with a Stand Up Tote made by the amazing Mel??? Decisions, decisions….keep it, gift it, perhaps both if I keep it home for my gorgeous 2 year old granddaughter (who already has a love of bags!) to use for carrying around all of her little toys when she comes to visit. Congratulations Mel!

    • Cynthia Phillpotts says:

      If I was lucky enough to win I would give it to my beautiful daughter-in-law (love) to take out to dinner with her handsome husband whilst I babysit my gorgeous 10 month old grandaughter. She would look so classy with it and it would make me her favourite mother-in-law (love) ?

  26. Lisa says:

    We have a winner!!!! Congratulations Karen K Wackus!!! Enjoy your beautiful new Stand Up Clutch made by the amazing Mel and the copy of the pattern I’ve sent you as well! 🙂

    Thank you SO much to everyone for entering this little giveaway! I truly hope you enjoy reading the future Meet the Maker posts as much as I enjoy preparing them and who knows, maybe we might have to have another giveaway at some point! 😉

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