Luvit Barmouth: Meet the maker

Today I spent a lovely morning with Helen from Eleanor's Attic. I turned up at her workshop with a bag of honey buns from the local bakery which went down rather well as a sugar fix for the start of the day.

We then pottered down to my favourite coffee shop in Dolgellau - T.H.Roberts. This is a must if you are visiting Dolgellau. It's housed in an old ironmongers in the centre of town and in my opinion serves the best coffee in the area, also has fab cakes.

T H Roberts, still with its original features.

The old counting house now made into a snug to enjoy your choice of beverage.

After putting the world to rights we finally got down to then reason for my visit - Eleanor's Attic. I got out my note book and pen and started reeling off my questions.....so many to ask !

When did you first start making?
"My Mum taught me to sew. My very first project was a pair of flared jeans which I added a piece of triangle red fabric with flowers on in the flare."

Why did you start making bags?
"I use to collect bits of vintage lace, buttons, fabric from car boot sales. I wanted to use the lace so started making tote bags and adding the lace and buttons."

Why did you start using the oil cloth to make the bags?
"I was given a piece of oil cloth from a friend, and asked "what can you make with that ?". I then happened to see another oil cloth in polka dots that was a great combination with the one I had been given. I found a supplier that made oil cloth table cloths, in various sizes . So I called them and asked what they did with the off cuts. I was told they filled a skip with them and they went to landfill. So they let me buy all the off cuts, and we still have orders from them today. If there are any we can't use I pass them on to local schools etc. Nothing gets thrown away. However Eleanor's Attic has grown since then and we also have to buy oil cloth on rolls."

Do find oil cloth easy to work with ?
No, it isn't flexible and it all has to be cut by hand with scissors which is time consuming. Where as the linings, can be placed in a pile on top of one another and I can cut around them with a special machine doing a load in one go. Where as the oil cloth slides around and doesn't line up if you do the same with them.

How many do you have working for you?
"I employ 4 part time staff."

How many stockists do you have?
"Over 180 stockists, as far afield as Switzerland,Sweden and Norway."

Do you find people collect your bags?
"Yes, some have a number of different ones."

What is your favourite part of your job?
"Definitely putting the colour combinations together when making up the bags, also coming up with new designs. The combination of different oilcloths on the bags , having the stripes of fabric is what makes ours stand out."

Eleanor's Attic new Guitar cases (coming soon)

Have you any new designs in the pipe line?
"Yes, we have just developed a guitar case. Also a Laptop bag."

Some people sew as a hobby. What do you like to do in your free time?
"Sew! I like to make things for myself. I like to create things from start to finish. I love to make dresses."

I know you use to have a stall on the Farmers Market, do you still do that ?
"It's the 10th Anniversary this Sunday of the Farmers Market at Dolgellau, and I was at the first one selling cakes and jams. As my husband called it 'Fags and Mags' money.Well it was back then. It has turned into something more than that now."

After our chat we walked balk up to Helen's workshop in the back streets of Dolgellau. It is an Aladdin's cave of vintage furniture housing her collection of fabric.

Lovely collection of bright oil cloth .

Lovely set of vintage haberdashery drawers housing all Helens bits and bobs.

I love this Retro Kitchen cabinet.

A big thanks to Helen for letting me spending the morning with her at her workshop, seeing how the bags are put together and getting an insight into Eleanor's Attic success story. Helen won the Craft worker/ Artist of the year in 2012 , from Gwynedd Taste and Talent , well deserved !