Crafty matters.

 

I am full of good intentions.........so when I saw this new magazine I decided to take advantage of the introductory offer. I have a couple of sewing machines and thought this would be the gateway to great projects. After receiving 12 issues I decided to stop my subscription before the price rose....why you may ask? Because I hadn't opened the 12 issues I had received. So today I have opened them all and filed them away. Each issue contains instructions to:-

 

1. Make a square for a seaside themed quilt.

2. Make a home themed object for the house.

3. Make a gift.

4. Recycle something into a gift/product.

5.Sewing skills

6.Stitch school

7. Templates for the various projects.

 

As I have 12 issues it would seem I have enough sewing projects to see me through the year. Full instructions come with each of the projects so we'll see how I manage.

 

I also received various tools of the trade to help me along. The scissors I will keep for my sewing projects - all too often they end up in the general kitchen tat drawer never to be seen again!

I have a lovely sewing box my sister in law bought me years ago - I will dig it out and organise everything.

We wont be doing any further house decorating until after February as we have our holiday to pay for which will use a fair amount of our hard earned money - we only have two bedrooms to decorate which is quite a small project compared to some of the work we have done over the past couple of years. However I am going to beaver away with the de-cluttering and organising of the books and craft materials.....I definitely have sufficient materials to keep me going for the next year so I am setting myself a target of using everything in the house rather than buy anything new....so I am organising for Britain! I feel copious lists coming on!

I was lucky enough to win this book, kindly donated by Maria It is absolutely bursting with ideas which I am going to try. Again, making full use of what we have in the house......and that's quite a lot of stuff!

I am not one for making New Year promises but as the month is panning out I have my cookery challenge and now my organising project to keep me busy - ideal tasks for a wet day....
oh and did I mention I have enrolled on a pottery class?

Watch this space!

F is for Freida!

I must admit I am struggling with my sewing ABC theme......yes I have been doing some sewing but other things creep along. I have 2 wedding commissions on right now...see here for what I do and I find I have to keep focussed on what I do - if I start sewing my commissions will suffer. The sewing is just a hobby, but it simply has to go on the back burner as the one thing I know about weddings is they have cut off dates, deadlines and goals which must be met!

 Today I had to do a delivery for Jon's business...........so I took the opportunity to take Freida on the beach for some FRESH air to blow away the cobwebs!

 

 

 

 

 

For more ABC fun visit my sidebar.

D is for.......Designs!

I have 3 wedding commissions on right now. I love it! Of an evening sometimes I find myself not being able to sleep because I am too busy thinking through my ideas and thoughts.Any ideas I have I text myself - then I sleep like a baby knowing I will not forget my ideas..........I decided to experiment with some sewing - afterall this ABC is all about my sewing adventure.....here are a few I was playing with last night!

For more ABC fun visit the link in my sidebar.

C is for...Completed Cushion!

I have only just finished my cushion! Even if I may it myself I am quite pleased with my first project in my sewing adventure!

I need to find a better pillow to stuff it with, but this will easily be remedied next time I go shopping later in the week, I didn't want to make a special journey - too cold anyway.

It matches with the other cushions on one of our settees.

I did make a slip up - but only I can see it!

This is my C entry in Round 10 of ABC Wednesday. I must admit I found it a really good goal to aim for - I wantred it finished by today - and I did, only just.

It is also just in time for a pledge I signed up for here........

Phew! Just made the end of January! I am keen to see what others have done - will be a humbling experience I'm sure, but at least I am on with my sewing adventure and enjoying every minute of it all!

For more ABC Adventures visit the link on my sidebar.

My Sewing Adventure !!

For my ABC Wednesday theme I have chosen to focus on my sewing adventure. Basically I want to be better than I am and want to extend my sewing skills....although I chose A for Adventure last week I am doubling up.....2 for one this week....

A is for Applique.

In its broadest sense, an appliqué is a smaller ornament or device applied to another surface. In the context of ceramics, for example, an appliqué is a separate piece of clay added to the primary work, generally for the purpose of decoration. The term is borrowed from French and, in this context, means "applied" or "thing that has been applied."

Appliqué was first discovered when clothes ripped and needed fixing so they used to sew over the top of the rip patches of different material otherwise known as patch work.
In the context of sewing, appliqué refers to a needlework technique in which pieces of fabric, embroidery, or other materials are sewn onto another piece of fabric to create designs, patterns or pictures.

B is for Buttons.....

This technique below is called "yoyoing".....I am still experimenting!

All in all, I am pleased with my efforts and hope to show you the finished product next week.......C for completed........??????

For more ABC fun visit the link on my sidebar.

For cat lovers and owners, make sure you see my Giveaway post yesterday!

A is for Adventure......of a sewing kind!

ABC Wednesday is now entering Round 10! How amazing is that? A meme I started 5 years ago is still going strong, bringing together bloggers from all over the globe each week with a letter of the alphabet!

I try to have a theme to my contributions - I have used random photos, literally going out of the house, armed with camera "looking for a D" or whatever. I have also just taken in inspiration as I go about my daily business thinking "That will make an excellent E contribution" or whatever. The last round I mauinly focussed on our DIY projects, but this round I want it to be a learning experience....for me.
Whilst I did not make any New Year's Resolutions I decided to try and develop my limited sewing skills. I know Blogland brings us into the pressence of wonderful crafters and I find myself in awe of their talents. I often say I will learn to knit  but I never seem to do it. Yes I can make and enjoy making cards and benefit quite well from wedding commissions etc, but I can sew - be it very very simply.......
so my ABC Round 10 is going to be a learning adventure on a journey of sewing!

I have Jon's Grandma's vintage sewing machine......

But I also have one of these!
Bought for £20 at the local OAP's Table Top Sale. A dear lady sold me this, I feel I owe it to her to use it! It has been in the porch for a couple of years and it was only when talking over this and that with my good friend |Jill did I think to get it out and use it - so we are sharing it and bringing it to life.........Jill is
further down the road than I am, but I am here at the beginning of my adventure........
Watch this space!
For more ABC fun click on the link on my sidebar.

Look!

Watch this space!

New Year Stuff!

Over the past few days I have been doing some hand sewing - the lounge curtains to be precise. My talanted neighbour, Anne is an absolute whizz with anything fabric, in particular curtains and helped me (well did) pin the hems on the curtains. My job was to hand stitch them and I must say how much I have enjoyed doing them. Quite theraputic I must say, especially with the radio for company. Obviously each curtain took a while and indeed I have one more to do today, but having a break I have found and bought 2 interesting books - thanks to one click buying from Amazon. I reckon by the time I have finished the curtain and lining and  ironed all the curtains I will be ready for another little project, ideally and hopefully the books will be a source of inspiration. I think it will be a great project for New Year.....reading many blogs that feature knitting and crochet projects always make me feel inadequate - I can't knit or crochet......my mum spent endless hours trying to teach me. I did consider trying to learn YET AGAIN but felt the sewing idea was a better option as I have the basic knowledge and would not be liable to "throw the towel in" when things did not go to plan - as I fear would be the case with a knitting or crochet project.

I certainly have an idea for some cushion covers..........watch this space!

Infact I have joined in here.....