Pretty in pink

 I designed this pink sarasa print for Makower UK recently. It's part of a collection called Tropica that includes jungle animals and tropical foliage in a bright colour palette. This sarasa print comes in three colour options but the pink one works especially well for bag-making.

I mocked up a few bag styles to see how this print would look. The first one is a cute clutch bag which would make a great addition to a wedding outfit or summer party frock.

I love these cross-body bags which always seem o fit so much in, despite their size and they fit conveniently across the body. The adjustable strap means you can also make it into a shoulder bag if you wish.

I love a tote bag and this one would be great for the beach. It's big enough o fit all the essentials for a day by the sea,

Tropica

The 'Wildlife' print I designed for Makower UK comes in three colour palettes, but this is my favourite, I love the rich jewel tone colours against the purple background and think it would make a great print for various sewing projects.

If you're feeling really bold, a summer dress would look great in this print. I chose a 1950s style dress and added a bright pink belt to accentuate the waist.

If the dress is a little too much, adding accents of colour to an outfit is easy to do, using accessories. I love this roomy tote bag pattern, great for taking to the beach or for picking up provisions at the local market. The pink straps complement the pink in the main design.

I love this cute little top, perfect for using a tropical print with, The sash tie has been made using a solid dark pink fabric as a contrast.

Mix the little top with this full skirt, which also has a dark pink fabric at the waistband. Alternatively, wear it with a bright pink or bright green t-shirt for a more casual look.

I love these little shoulder bags, which are so versatile and fit in a lot more items than you would expect. The strap is adjustable so it could be used as a shoulder bag or as a cross-body bag.

 

Crystals

I designed this crystal print a while ago and you can find it in my Redbubble shop on a wide variety of products. I'm loving it on the selection of different bags available, from tote bags and backpacks to gorgeous little zipper pouches. 

This sturdy crystal print backpack is perfect for using as a school bag and fits most standard laptops. It's made from 100% polyester fabric and has two adjustable padded straps and an external mesh pocket, perfect for storing a water bottle in.

For a different type of backpack, check out this crystal drawstring bag, a sweet alternative to the traditional backpack. It has soft cord straps and an internal zipper pocket to keep valuables safe.

For a roomier option, this crystal duffle bag is perfect, and makes a great gym bag or travel bag. It's made from polyester and has a padded adjustable shoulder strap as well as an internal zipper pocket and a mesh outer pocket.

I love this little crystal zipper pouch, which comes in three sizes. They're great for using as a makeup bag, pencil case or travel bag.

I love a tote bag and this crystal tote bag is sturdy and stylish with a vivid double-sided print. It's made from polyester and has two cotton shoulder straps which are super sturdy for carrying your items.

For a lighter option, this cotton crystal tote bag is perfect and easily foldable. It's great for taking to the farmers market.

Tartan Tote

A good friend of mine recently asked for a specific bag commission and I felt very chuffed that she asked me to do it. It involved a tartan kilt that her mum had owned for years. It had been given to her by my friend's dad but, after living in the wardrobe for years, she decided it was time to take it to the charity shop. My friend secretly removed it from the charity shop bag and brought it to me to see if I could make it into something that she could give to her mum as a gift for christmas. The kilt is a gorgeous combination of blues and greens and I knew it would be a joy to work with.

I love a commission and especially something so personal, so we put our thinking hats on and came up with an idea to make a tote bag. Here is the result!

We spent some time deciding on a lining to go with the bag, as well as which straps to use. I have a selection of sturdy canvas straps and this soft green version was a great contrast to the main fabric. For the lining we chose a navy blue and green polka dot fabric.

We thought it would be nice to have a contrasting base to the bag and so I used this lovely grey wool fabric from my collection.

As a little extra, I decided to make a little zipper purse out of the same fabric.

The purse will be great for storing smaller items in her bag such as earphones and mobile phone.

I really enjoyed making these items and love recreating a new gift from something old and cherished. If you have something that you would like to be reimagined, please message me here!

Club Tropicana

Summer is well and truly here and I've recently been working on some summer designs to get me in the mood. I've also been creating some fun items for my store. I'm so inspired by the tropical references that are out there at the mo - from flamingos and pineapples to toucans and tropical leaves. The colour palette of the design reference below is nice and fresh. I love the peach and mint combination with a touch of acid green to funk it up.

And if you're looking for something a bit brighter, the colour palette below delivers! I love the funky combinations of purple and pink with orange and yellow thrown in.

Cheeky Leopard has been busy creating some fun summer items and my favourite one at the mo is this fab pineapple cosmetic bag in shades of yellow and turquoise.

The bag has a turquoise gingham lining and I decided to add a bright yellow zipper as a contrasting pop of colour. This is a great size for carrying smaller items in your travel bag.

For more pineapples you can find this little selection in my store.

The most recent item to be added to my store is this fun flamingo glasses case. It has been printed onto a beige background which makes it slightly more sophisticated! The pink and white polka dot lining ties in with the pink of the flamingos.

Toucans are still a popular tropical reference and these little guys are so sweet. The toucan coin purse is big enough for small change, notes and credit cards and has a black and white spotty lining.

The toucan tissue holder is a fun way to carry tissues for this summer sniffles.

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Tote-ally awesome!

I've just added this beauty to my store. It's made from a vintage Japanese obi fabric (the 'belt' that goes around the kimono) and is a woven fabric in stunning shades of red, green and metallic gold. It makes quite a statement! You can find it in my store here.

Hello kitty!

We do love a kitty cat print here at Cheek Leopard and this lovely one has just been added to my store. I found the fabric in Tokyo at a fab shop called Tomato and I just had to have it. I love the little cat heads and the fact that there are a combination styles on a deep purple ground. Some of the heads are coloured, some are just back and some are just a gold silhouette. So far I have made a cosmetic bag, tissue holder and tote bag, and each one has a complimentary black and white cotton circle lining. You can find them in my store here.

Cosmetic bag

Tissue holder

Tote bag

Feeling fruity

We're feeling a bit fruity here at Cheeky Leopard with the addition of this fab little pineapple print. It's so bright and summery and the perfect fabric for making fun items for my store. So far I've added a cosmetic bag, glasses case and a fab tote bag, perfect for a shopping trip or a day at the beach. Bring on the sun!

You can find all these cuties in my shop here.

Cute couple

Check out this cute couple! They're pretty stunning aren't they? The combo consists of a large clutch bag and a small clutch bag, both made from stunning vintage Japanese fabrics that I bought in Tokyo last year. They've just been added to my store and you can find them both here.

The small clutch bag is made from a gorgeous red and cream vintage floral Japanese kimono fabric.

I decided to give it nice turquoise blue lining for a flash of colour.

The large clutch bag is made from a vintage obi fabric in vibrant shades of green, orange and lilac with a lot of metallic gold thrown in.

This clutch has a bright red cotton lining. Wow!

If you're looking for something a bit more casual and roomier, it also has a matching tote bag, made from the same stunning obi fabric.

 The sturdy red canvas straps and red cotton lining add a nice flash of colour.

You can find all these items in my store here.

Going for gold

I've been getting rather busy with the tote bags recently and have just added another beauty to my store. This one is made from a vintage obi fabric and is pretty stunning with its mix of terracotta, green and orange, mixed in with the all-essential metallic gold. It makes quite a statement and could just as easily be used for a shopping trip as it could be for a big night out. It has two sturdy canvas shoulder straps, a vibrant orange lining and a gold metallic snap closure to keep everything safe.

You can find it in my store here.