Looking for some advice - can you help?

Hello all you lovely people out there, how are you all today?  It has been a wonderfully sunny day here and, although I have been at work for most of it, somehow it doesn't seem so bad when you look out the window and see the blue sky.  It is still sunny and I am sitting here with the doors open onto the little patio we have, although the weather forecasters say that a change is on the way so I should enjoy it all while I can.  I hope you are all enjoying some good weather and are in fine health.

Now as you know I have been following Lovely Lucy's Jolly Chunky Bag pattern and I must say that it has been so easy to do, even for me as a novice.  I have really enjoyed doing it and it all came together quite nicely.  I have now reached the stage to do the handles and fix on the cute little buttons which came with the pack.  I cannot wait to get started on the pretty flowers.  The bag is destined for a good friend of mine but I want it to be right and I am thinking that this one may have to be the dry run but I will see what you all think about it.

As you can see below, I have loads of yarn left over so can easily do another one.  The problem I have is that I think my tension is wrong as the bag seems to be a little on the larger size.

I tried the 'standing up' test as Lucy did but hers does look a very neat little model as mine resembles the type of bag you might carry the potatoes home in!  What do you think?  Now lovely Readers this is where I need your expert advice.  I want to line it with some pretty fabric so will have to work out how to do this in the neatest way I can..........also I am not sure that the crochet handles will be substantial enough for this big beast.  I am hovering between fabric handles which match the lining or putting on some leather type ones which might give it more structure.  There lay the two problems and I would love to hear from you all about how I could line it properly and what handles would be best to use.  At the worst I can finish it and use it myself and then make a smaller one for my friend or give her this one if it turns out ok.  Any ideas or advice very gratefully received.  Oh, and the other thing would be should I go down one or two sizes with my hook to be able to crochet a neater bag?  Questions, questions, questions, hope you can help Folks. 

Now I don't know about you but I have always loved the vintage Laura Ashley.  I fell in love with her fabrics and dresses in the 1980s/1990s.  They were quite expensive but I saved up to buy a couple of dresses and felt the bees knees in them, just wish I had kept hold of them now as they would be lovely to have.  I can vividly remember the patchwork squares and hexagons coming out in her shops and fell in love with them.  I couldn't afford many of them at the time as they were £5.00 each but I did get some and you might remember that I started to make them up and then forgot about them.

Now when I was mooching around Ebay last week I came across a lovely shop Folks, do have a look for yourself.  Alison from Farmhouse Traditions is the most lovely seller I have ever been in contact with.  She is so friendly and helpful and has all these gorgeous Laura Ashley packs ready to be sewn up into something fab.  Yellow has never been my favourite colour but I have always loved Laura Ashley's yellows for some reason, they always seemed so fresh and lovely.  I have a dozen ideas floating around for these beauties and no doubt will be calling on Alison in the very near future.  Do you like them?  I think they are irresistible.

It is such a small world as Alison and I found out that we are both in similar vocations and I realised today when my gorgeous packs arrived that she lives in glorious Cornwall in the town where I applied for my first nursing post many years ago.  I fell in love with the place as Cornwall was always the place I was going to live.  We have visited Cornwall for every holiday when I was growing up and I never tired of going there - I loved it because it was full of countryside and seaside, a perfect combination for me.  I got the post and my husband as was then always got a job in the town but it was a difficult time to uproot the boys and we had to decide, very sadly not to go.  I always regretted it and I know the boys did later on.  I wonder what would have happened if we had moved?  Do you ever think that Folks, we take one fork in the road which takes us to one place, but what if we had taken the other road.............all very mysterious.  I feel that I have made a new friend in Alison and hopefully we will keep in touch.  Do call in to see her Folks, her shop is just lovely. 

Now let's have a few ideas of how I can use up these fabulous pieces - I am thinking of a cushion or maybe a bag for myself (I usually make things to give as gifts) or a couple of small quilts for the Peeps to use with their dollies?  What do you think?  You always come up with such great ideas.

Here is the sweet note I received from Alison - a big thank you for being so helpful.

Finally Lovelies I have to go soon to get back to my marking - yes it is still here waiting for me........have a look at my special bag which I got from my Peeps. I never thought I would be so pleased to have a bag with Grandma on.......but I love it and have been carrying my crochet around in it.  Thank you Peeps, my bag is adorable.

Lovely Friends I am still catching up with all your news and do apologise for being so slow in doing this.  Hopefully the marking will calm down soon and I will have more time, meanwhile have a wonderful evening/day depending on where you all are.  Sending you all the biggest of hugs and loves.  Please leave a message if you able as I do love to hear from you all.  Dorothy :-)xxxxxxxxx