Jez Designs

13/10/2026

This. THIS!
This is why we remakers and makers make things for people!

That's the board she's giving to her grand-daughter, with the bag I made for it.
An older lady not used to using Etsy but we got there anyway and it is a perfect fit!

And while I like to try to make things from preloved fabrics these days, this joy of making a just-right thing for someone is why we get into this space in the first place. Upcycling makes it even more special when you can do it too.

If you fancy a nice pouch to put a special gift in and maybe a unique upcycled one, come and look in my shop- we're getting to that time of year again! The tall ones work really well as w**e bags too.

And of course make sure you reuse those cloth bags (yes even the Amazon ones, they are not actually disposable!)- I and a friend have two bags we swap most years with chutney or w**e or some fun edible treat in- and we've been doing it for over 25 years now!

**e

11/10/2026

Hooray! I'm celebrating the arrival of a new and vital tiny shop locally to me this month!

Ma So Tailors in Wickford, Essex have opened a tiny Haberdashery shop 3 doors down in Southend Road. People kept asking them for thread, zips, etc so it makes sense! I am very happy as suddenly I have a real shop again where I can buy everyday items I need at good prices, from Moon Thread and interfacing to cord, zips and the odd bit of fabric.

The shop is staffed by Csilla (hiding from my camera) and Benjamin who are both very helpful, from 9:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday. They're in Lower Southend Road, SS11 8AB. It's near the Royal Mail Depot ?Marco Poloand you can pop in from parking and shopping over the road at Aldi!

They are also now stockng a few bits of posh fabric from my excess stash- organza, voile, satin and taffeta (see photo)- if you want some just ask as not everything can go on display at once. They're also trying a few of my ready-made items like travelling sewing/mending wallets and needle storage wallets.

And if they don't have something, often they can order things (but do pay up front! Small businesses need respectful customers to help their cash flow by not getting them to order things they won't then buy).

So far I've been in there every week- it's definitely a good place to go!

10/10/2026

What do you do when your chess set is bigger than the customer's? Improvise for the photo!

Inside there is an Ikea tool set, and some boxes of pins and labels, to make something the size of the thing they want to put in the bag! This means I can check the fit and give the customer some idea of what it will look like in use.

The customer wanted a velvet bag for her granddaughter's main present, a boxed chess set, but my ready made bags were too small. I took them through how to get a custom order with me on Etsy, sorted out what kind of colour, and what size was needed, quoted a price and showed them some options.

I made a custom listing once they decided and then made the bag quickly so they should get it in time. This make is all matching blue. What colour lining would you use with a royal blue velvet bag?

Swipe to see the options we explored!

If you'd like to see my ready made Big Posh Pouches in silk and velvet- great for games pieces and storage, or gifting you can find them here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/jezdesigns?ref=seller-platform-mcnav§ion_id=6040048

Many of them are one-offs or upcycled!

29/09/2026

29/09/2026

Why should syringe driver bags be boring, flimsy or not waterproof? And why do very few have at least one pocket(s) for you phone or keys?

Last week I made these fro my sister in law. She's been wearing a lot of green and white so we discussed the batik one, but I wanted the sari patchwork one to be a surprise. She has a denim jacket upcycled with lots of bits of sari sewn on, so I wanted to use some of my sari and silk scraps to make something special for going out, or just enjoying!

They both have a soft pocketless back to go against her body and adjustable tie straps to be worn crossbody. I did fnd some really mad vintage (velvet?) fabric to line the sari one, and the green one has acrylic felt as the liner (hard to sew but hardwearing and soft on the devices).

They're cleanable too- important when you wear them all the time all day long! And possibly at night/when napping or moving around with insomnia at night.

Next up a wtaerproof one as we're expecting wet winter weather in the UK...certainly today we have tropically warm mistiness!

22/08/2026

I know, I know...but someone has just bought the first Xmas card pack so...here's an Xmas in August/September offer for you all!

If you buy any Xmas card apck in my Etsy crafts store until 30th September (2026) you can have my upcycled cards bauble tutorial pdf file for free!

The system will let me know what email to send to- I will send it out and you just need to save it to look at or print.

It's designed for beginners and multi use as it also includes Easter eggs, landscapes, mosaics and woven cards.

It might even keep the kids etertained for th last few days of the summer holidays?

Choose your Xmas card upcycling pack here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/JezDesignsCrafts?section_id=11752408

19/08/2026

Restocked and new colours!
Did you know Liberty of London always print the classic version each year (top left), but have seasonal and yearly variations?

New colourways are in gold/brown, pink/red, green/baby pink and purple themes.

My tiny Liberty Print ring/gift pouches are back in my shop again.
I use small scraps of these lovely prints to make special storage or presentation pouches. Great for special occasions!

See them here:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/jezdesigns?section_id=31652563

16/08/2026

I've been (safely) setting fire to things this weekend. Burning tiny scraps of second hand bedlinen to identify any fabrics where the label is missing or worn to a blank.

My cupboard was all mixed up and I didn't know what was what so I went through it and some other pieces to finally sort the cottons from the polycottons! Some of the biggest duvet covers have gone into storage bins in the sewing room or spare bedroom separated by cotton/polycotton, a couple are off to the charity shop, while the cupboard is now rearranged and restocked with a nice mix for use on my future projects.

Some will go into project packs, anything from yardage or FQs/layer cakes to mini charm squares.

I even have some pale stuff for dyeing, when my friend comes over next week.

Where's all the purple grey and green? Ah, a lot of it is downstairs waiting to go into the winter/summer quilt for the spare room...I needed to identfiy everything as that will hopefully be ALL cotton.

How do you know which fabric is which by burning a scrap? Firstly do it safely on a cooker top (power or gas OFF) in a fireproof dish, with ventilation. and water or a fire extingusher to hand. Cotton burns reluctantly unless it is loose woven, and leaves a silky grey ash behind. Polycotton burns more merrily, the more polyester is in it. The poly leaves behind a tarry black mark, sometimes a fine charred black ghost of the burnt area and gritty residue. I had a mystery one that was smooth black ash, which I think is viscose. Be careful not to breathe the smoke/fumes! And let everythign cool down before you touch it or dispose of it in a bin.

Where do you get your fabric stash from?

07/08/2026

Treated myself to a machine embroidery workshop today with Alex Waylett. Great fun and got to use some of my posh small scraps!
❤️