Selvedge Fair Spring 2012 - Top Picks - Tamara Fogle

There is always a small flock of bag enthusiasts around Tamara Fogle's stand as her bags never fail to please - these bright yellow and green ones, new for Spring Summer 2012, are my favourite. She also uses vintage textiles such as the German flour sacks which are behind the yellow bags in the pic below, and Indian quilts, which come in a range of colours.  Most of Tamara's bags are made with frames (for that Mary Poppins-ish look), a style I particularly like, and some have turn-lock closures; all of them are beautiful, and are handmade in London.

Palm purse and Marlow bag

Grab bag

coming up: Selvedge Fair Spring 2012

I'm looking forward to the Selvedge Spring Fair which is coming up soon - this Saturday, 31st March from 10am to 5pm at St Augustine's Church Hall in London N6 (just off the Archway Road - for how to get there info click here). I've been a couple of times before, and it never fails to please partly because you have the opportunity to meet and talk with designer-makers and see the things they have crafted, but also because of its setting in a church hall, decorated by Selvedge for the Fair, which always seems to be flooded with beautiful light.

A list of their exhibitors is here. I'm looking forward to taking a look at new creations by Gabrielle Vary and Tamara Fogle, and seeing wallpaper and textiles by Ivo Prints. There are also designer-makers from outside Britain such as Claudine & Compagnie from Belgium who make collars and accessories, and Parna a company that sources vintage textiles from Central and Eastern Europe.

Mrs Osborn goes on a spree: more Autumn Selvedge Fair

More goodies from the Autumn Selvedge Fair in St Augustine Church hall, off the Archway Road, N6.

Handmade wallpaper by Dunford Wood printed by hand from an original lino block designed by Hugh Dunford Wood in Lyme Regis, Dorset

Matilda Rose based in Whitstable, Kent embroiders blankets by hand and machine with squawking parrots and nautical themed motifs such as ships anchors and mermaids. Her pieces can be bought from her Etsy shop Matilda Rose Emporium

Tamara Fogle's frame purses

and handbags using antique fabrics such as....

...German flour sacks

 ...and Indian quilts

(Tamara will also be at London Fashion Weekend

more on that soon)

Tamara Fogle's purses and bags

I love those old fashioned 'frame' purses, in fact they are a bit of an obsession (via Mimi, they were the starting point for my interest in British made things), and Tamara Fogle makes a whole range of purses and bags which feature the old fashioned-style frames that make a pleasing snap when they are closed.

Palm purse (I have one of these - large enough for credit cards, cash and other bits and bobs if you want to travel light on a night out, such as mobile phone, lipstick, whatever)

I like this bag that looks like an old fashioned doctor's bag - the Landsdowne, in brilliant red

Tamara also uses antique fabrics such as Hungarian grain sacks; the Grab Bag below uses a quilted Indian textile: