Crafting with Family – March

It's been a while since I have posted and my post is all about a craft meet up two months ago! Mum's house is quite a good meeting point for her, my sister and I to meet up.  We managed to meet up in March and here's what we got on with: Having purchased a lovely new Singer sewing machine recently, my sister put it to the test by having her first attempt at appliqué!  Not one to be daunted by a challenge, she decided to appliqué a friend's name.  A very impressive feat, going around all sorts of twists and curves when you're still adjusting to a new technique and how your new machine works! The great part about this bright and colourful cushion is that it's all made from remnants.  The main cushion is made from an ex-display curtain from a department store, with the money going to charity.  The letters were cut from a swatch book, which had been picked up the same way from the same store. I didn't embark on a sewing project this time, but I did finish the second sleeve to a short sleeved cardigan I began two years ago!  It's now at the sew up stage before the neck band and button band are tackled... There's the progress of my mum's doll, which she began in our February meet up.  It's coming together now it has a head!  She wasn't able to progress with it that weekend, but she did hem up someone's new net curtains by hand!

Continue ReadingCrafting with Family – March
Read more about the article Mother’s Day gift making – bath hats and bags

Mother’s Day gift making – bath hats and bags

It didn't take long to come up with this year's mother's day gift - mainly because I knew she wanted a new bath hat! I made her one years ago from the Cath Kidston "Sew!" book.  Unfortunately, the waterproof fabric I chose for inside the hat was quite thick and stiff.  Also, we have big heads so I think the pattern was designed for a smaller circumference head! I'd made my nan this green bath hat above using material I got online which I think is used for making tents.  It was much more versatile than the thick waterproof plastic for bath hat #1 anyway!  I made a much larger template for this hat and added a brim and bow! As hat #2 was a much better fit, I went along with this design for mum's.  However, I tried a new lining.  The fabric I used was a white showerproof material from Fabricland in Bristol.  I was apprehensive about using this, as I wasn't sure how robust it was for using for practical and wearable items.  However, it seems to have turned out to be the cheapest and most shower hat like option of the three tried and tested! Still chirpy from making a toiletry bag for my dad's birthday, I felt that the hat required a matching toiletry bag.  As I wanted the bag and hat to match, I added a strip of the duck material to the top and appliquéd a duck on it too.  I couldn't resist having another go at writing with the sewing machine, so I wrote "like a duck to water" on it. I really enjoyed this gift set make.  It's something I am considering to sell on my Etsy store in time for people preparing for their holidays!

Continue ReadingMother’s Day gift making – bath hats and bags
Read more about the article My college of handcraft
My craft studio

My college of handcraft

Hello! Welcome to my blog. The goal of this blog is to charter my journey through my own rather roughly laid out 'craft school'! Last year, faced with yet another temporary job coming to an end, I decided to apply for a part time position instead.  Sure, not the best option when you are renting, have no savings and your boyfriend is due to finish his PhD in the next year! Okay, so this may turn out to be a financial mess in the end!  But on this occasion, I have decided to follow what I want to do and enjoy, rather than opt for financial security. I write this blog for those who look back at their education and wish they had studied something else.  I enjoyed my education, but I've never learned to do any textiles or crafts- any of my hobbies- in an educational setting, and that is what I am focusing on now. Since September, I have been going to some glass fusing and ceramics classes for fun.  Neither are my forte, but it's fun to try something new and something I really couldn't afford to do at home (or have the space for)!  I am very lucky to live nearby an adult education centre which puts on classes which are affordable and although it is a outgoing expense, it is a fraction of the cost of going back to college to study - and a lot closer to home. From January, I have been extremely lucky to be a part of a free machine embroidery class.  It's a technique I have always wanted to get round to but never have.  I'm hoping to follow these sessions with a creative textiles course after Easter if it runs.  The stitching class is a real boost to my inspiration at the moment. I have a lot of extra space to fill in my 'craft working week' so this blog will charter the gaps between my official classes too.  This may include putting what I learn in short courses into practic or undertaking my own challenges. Besides learning new techniques and setting up projects, I will be looking into the entrepreneurial side of hobbies as businesses (well, I believe the government likes all courses to have an enterprise module included!), so I will be tracking my endeavours with my recent little start-up: Clobber Creations. In the next blog, I'll be letting you know how I get on tackling some unique birthday gifts for my dad.  In the meantime, I am following/taking part in the #miymarch16 event by @thatwendyward and @dressmakerssocial which involves a themed photo on instagram a day!

Continue ReadingMy college of handcraft
Newer Posts