To cut:

Cut two pieces of hessian and PVC 50 x 40cm each, for the front and back. Cut three strips of hessian and PVC for the gussets, two pieces 9 x 40cm and one piece 9 x 50cm. Cut one 30 x 30cm pocket from printed fabric.

To sew:

1. With right sides facing, attach the gussets to the side and lower edges of the front and back. Overlock all the raw edges. Join the PVC pieces for the lining in the same way.

2. Fold a hem around the sides and lower edge of the pocket fabric. Fold a 2cm-wide pocket facing at the top edge of the pocket and top-stitch in place. Now stitch the pocket to the front of the bag, placing it approximately 5cm from the lower edge.

3. Cut the twill tape in half. Start at the lower edge, follow the stitching line of the pocket and pin in position to form a handle at the top edge. Top-stitch the tape in position along both edges.

4. Place the lining in the bag with the seams on the inside, making sure they align. Tack the top edge of the lining and bag together. Fold a 4cm facing along the top edge and stitch in place, stitching across the twill tape at the same time.

Miniature nature (bonsai)

You will need:

To make:

1. Buy a bonsai tree from a nursery and make your own watering test stakes by cutting balsa wood into strips. Sharpen each stake by cutting a V at one end. The stakes are used to check the water content of the soil. Insert one close to the base of the tree, leave it for a while and if it comes out moist, the tree doesn't need to be watered again.

2. Type a few special messages that will fit onto the stakes on a computer. Choose a font type that resembles Chinese lettering and rotate it on the computer using the Rotate or Flip functions to get a mirror image. Print out and transfer the image onto the balsa wood by placing it onto the wood upside down. Rub the image with a piece of cotton wool soaked in nail-polish remover or benzene.

3. Cut a tag from balsa wood and write the care instructions on the back with a fine black felt-tipped pen, or use the transfer process described in step 2. Punch a hole in the tag and attach it to the tree with natural string.

4. Add pruning scissors with handles covered in natural string to complete the kit. Start at the base of each handle and wrap a piece of string around it, ending in a knot each time. Repeat this until the entire handle has been covered.

Easy herb dressing

You will need:

To make:

Whisk all the ingredients until well mixed. Pour into a glass bottle and seal. Refrigerate until ready to use.