Sian Riley Tote Bags: Product Catalogue

The Sewing Box and Pattern Bodice Eco Tote Bags product catalogue is now available to view on Issuu.com. Press play on the lookbook below to take a look.

Available in two designs, the ‘Sewing Box’ and ‘Pattern Bodice’ are a fun take on the nuances of sewing and pattern cutting. Each design is screen-printed by hand on 8oz cotton canvas totes in natural and black. 

The bags are manufactured by hand in a fair trade factory and are made from sustainable, ecological materials that are produced in an ethically responsible way.

For more information including wholesale enquiries, please email: studio@sianriley.co.uk

To purchase the bags, head over to the Sian Riley Studio shop on Etsy for the perfect way to carry around your sewing and pattern cutting supplies.


About Ypres: The Poppy Cenotaph

The Poppy Cenotaph is the creation of Terrance Clark, who wanted to create a poignant memorial to those lost in the First World War and the history surrounding that time.

Centrepiece by Terrance Clark
(Photo: Sian Riley)
Design Model of Final Piece
(Photo: Sian Riley)
The centre of the memorial is a 7 metre high by 2 metre wide sheet of steel, with an inverse and 'out-verse' symbol of a poppy cut out of the side. At the base of this, 2016 poppies have been hand-made by blacksmiths from all over the world. No two poppies are alike. There is also one single white poppy to remember all those who suffered from shell-shock and were branded 'cowards' at the time.


(Above: Photos: Sian Riley)

Surrounding the base of poppies are 25 individually made panels, designed and made by blacksmiths from around the globe and are their personal responses to the events that occurred during the First World War.

For a complete list of all of the Panel Designers, click on the link: http://www.ypres2016.com/design/masters-panel-designs/

Here are some of my personal favourites:

By Ambrose Burne, UK
(Photo: Sian Riley)

By Sandra Dunn, Canada
(Photo: Sian Riley)
By Steven Laurijs, Netherlands
(Photo: Sian Riley)
In addition to this, a wreath of poppies has been made by the blacksmiths and local school children, and was presented at one of the nightly memorial services at the Menin Gate on the 5th of September 2016.

Poppy Wreath
(Photo: Sian Riley)
The Poppy Cenotaph, poppy base and surrounding panels have now been moved to a permanent memorial site in Langemark-Poelkapelle in Belgium.

To find out more about this amazing project, take a look at their website: http://www.ypres2016.com/


The Results: 5 Day Young Designers Sewing School at MAC Birmingham

Some amazing work was created during the 5 Day Young Designers Sewing School. Here's a little sneak peek at some of the things that were made. Hope to see you all again soon!

For more information on up-coming courses, head over to my courses page for listings and dates.

Tomorrow: Young Designers Sewing School at MAC Birmingham

Tomorrow is the beginning of my 5 day Young Designers Sewing School at MAC Birmingham.

Looking forward to meeting everyone and sharing my love of all things sewing!

There are still a few places left for the course starting tomorrow. Head over to
https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/summer-school-young-designers-sewing-school-sc304 to find out more.


Tomorrow: Introduction to Sewing Juniors at Mac Birmingham

Final preparation for my introduction to sewing juniors course tomorrow at Mac birmingham .

Packing everything up in my sewing box bag, now available on etsy . Head over to the shop page to buy one. Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Although the sewing juniors workshop tomorrow and on the 1st of September are both sold out, there are still places left on my Young designers course next week and sewing juniors workshop in October. Click on the links below for more information:

Introduction to Sewing : Juniors . 8-11 years
https://macbirmingham.co.uk/event/introduction-to-sewing-juniors-sc313

Eco Sewing Tote Bags featured in Megan Nielsen Patterns Facebook Page!

A huge thank you to Megan Nielsen Patterns for featuring my Eco Sewing Tote Bags on their Facebook page.

To buy the bags in the UK, head over to my Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SianRileyStudio?ref=search_shop_redirect

To buy the bags in Europe or Internationally, email me on: studio@sianriley.co.uk