🐝 The Crafting Bees are HERE!

Introducing Ernest – Our First Seasonal Leather Sew-Along!

A lovely excuse to get creative, learn something new and enjoy a good old natter!

We are SO excited to announce that The Crafting Bees are officially open for bookings! 🐝

If you haven't heard about our new seasonal sewing club yet, the idea is simple. Every three months we'll launch a lovely new leather-making project, complete with a pre-cut kit delivered to your door, step-by-step recorded tuition and two live online making sessions with me!

The idea actually came from something I started doing with a few of my seamstress friends. We'd get together once a month, put aside all the work we should have been doing and make something just for ourselves.

No deadlines, no pressure, just a few hours of creativity, plenty of cups of tea and a good old catch-up!

I love those evenings so much that I thought, why not do something similar with all of you?

And so The Crafting Bees was born! (Bee's cause I'm Bex and everyone always calls me B)

Bookings are now OPEN, and I can't wait to get making with you!

🤎 Meet Ernest – Our First Crafting Bees Project!

Say hello to Ernest, our lovely new Double Zip Leather Satchel!

Based on our much-loved Arthur Clutch, Ernest is a rather handsome little bag featuring two zipped compartments joined together, a beautiful soft suede flap, a turnlock closure and a vegetable-tanned leather crossbody strap.

He's got a bit of a traditional satchel feel, with a modern twist!

It's a lovely project for learning different construction techniques, fitting zips and hardware, working with leather and suede, and creating a really gorgeous finished bag.

And the best bit? All your leather pieces arrive pre-cut and ready to sew!

Make Ernest Your Own!

One of the things I love most about bag making is seeing how completely different the same design can look depending on the leather and hardware choices.

For Ernest, you can choose from nine beautiful leather colours:

• Tan
• Black
• Red
• Taupe
• Dark Chestnut Brown (as shown in our sample)
• Fuchsia
• Navy
• Teal
• Dark Green

Or why not mix things up and create your own colour combination?

You can also choose your preferred hardware finish:

Silver, Gold or Antique Brass

And your vegetable-tanned leather crossbody strap comes in a choice of:

Tan, Black or Dark Brown

I can't wait to see all the different versions of Ernest everyone comes up with!

🧵 What's Included in Your Crafting Bees Kit?

We've put together everything you'll need to get started, so you can spend less time preparing and more time making!

Your kit includes:

• All leather components, pre-cut and ready to sew
• Beautiful suede flap
• Vegetable-tanned leather crossbody strap
• All required stabilisers and lining
• Zips, turnlock and hardware in your chosen finish
• Copydex glue
• Gum tragacanth for polishing your leather edges
• Double-sided tape
• Matching thread
• Leather-point sewing machine needles
• Optional Teflon sewing machine foot
• Downloadable PDF pattern
• Your very own Crafting Bees badge! 🐝

Already Made One of Our Kits Before? Save £4!

If you've already got a Teflon sewing machine foot and leather-point needles, there's no need to receive them again!

Simply enter the code NONEEDLEORFOOT at checkout to remove these items from your kit and receive £4 off your order!

🎥 8 Hours of Recorded Tuition

Alongside your kit, you'll receive access to 8 hours of step-by-step recorded tuition, split into two 4-hour lessons.

I'll take you through the whole process of making Ernest, from preparing your components and fitting the zips to constructing the two compartments, attaching the suede flap and adding those lovely finishing touches.

You can pause, rewind and watch whenever you fancy, working through everything at your own pace.

And you'll keep access to the recordings, so you can come back to them whenever you like.

Your recorded lessons will be available from Wednesday 25th November 2026, possibly a little sooner if we can get all the editing finished!

☕ Let's Get Together! Our Live Sewing Sessions

This is the part I'm particularly excited about!

Once you've had a chance to get started on Ernest, we'll all get together online for two lovely live making sessions.

Our First Crafting Bees Live Zoom Sessions

Wednesday 2nd December 2026 — 8pm–9pm (UK time)

Wednesday 9th December 2026 — 8pm–9pm (UK time)

I'll be demonstrating different techniques, answering questions and helping you through any tricky bits.

You can make along with me, have some of your project prepared in advance or simply join us with a cuppa for a good old natter!

There's absolutely no pressure to keep up. That's what the recorded lessons are for!

✂️ Suitable for Domestic Sewing Machines

You don't need an industrial sewing machine to join us!

Our projects are designed with home makers in mind, and I'll be showing you how to work with leather using a domestic sewing machine.

Whether you've made one of our kits before or you're looking to try something a little more adventurous, I'd love you to join us.

📦 Important Booking & Delivery Dates

Bookings are OPEN NOW!

We're only taking orders until Monday 23rd November 2026, so make sure you book your place before then.

• Monday 23rd November: Last day to order your Crafting Bees kit.
• Wednesday 25th November: Kits dispatched and recorded lessons available to watch.
• Wednesday 9th December, 8pm–9pm: First live online making session.
• Wednesday 16th December, 8pm–9pm: Second live online making session.

This gives everyone a little time to get their kit, watch the recordings and start making before we get together in December.

🌼 A Little Creative Time, Just for You

One of the lovely things about The Crafting Bees is that you can make it work around your own life.

You might fancy setting aside a whole afternoon to get stuck in, or perhaps an hour here and there once the house has gone quiet.

And if you can't make the live sessions, don't worry! You'll still have your recorded tuition to work through whenever you like.

There's no monthly subscription or ongoing commitment. Each seasonal project is purchased individually, so you can join us whenever something takes your fancy.

And of course, everyone who joins gets their very own Crafting Bees badge.

Quite frankly, that's worth signing up for alone. He he he! 😂🐝

🐝 Ready to Join Our Little Hive of Makers?

Choose your leather colours, pick your hardware and get your Ernest kit ordered!

I really can't wait to see what everyone makes. I think we're going to have such a lovely time together!

Right then, get your sewing machine ready, pop the kettle on and let's get crafting!

Bex xx 🐝