Going forward

It has come to that time of year when we all start to think about what we have done and what we would like to do in the future. I’m no exception and I have been making forward plans.
For me, my life is filled with sewing and making. So it won't be any surprise to you that I intend to sew more next year and to bring you more workshops and classes.
As for my own sewing, this year I have completed (some items started life some time ago) 38 sewing projects, these are 4 quilts; 2 cushion covers; 12 items of clothing; 6 bags; 2 items of kids clothes; 5 sunglasses cases and 7 other miscellaneous items.
But for me it is not the quantity, but the value they bring. I have found that the crafty community are a generous bunch and we tend to make things for other people. Of the 38 items I have made 7 went to other people as presents.
Many of you know that I have had a challenging year, and I am so grateful to you all for sticking by me. Part of my future plans are therefore to get classes back up and running, but this won’t be easy. Due to my ill health I am currently under scrutiny in my day job. I am being monitored for my capability to perform my current roll. This takes time and I need to devote my energies to it. This will mean that my usual Tuesday evening classes will be not, unfortunately be starting in January 2020. But, don’t worry, they will be back and I will let you know in due course.
One thing that has gone from strength to strength and, I for one really enjoy, is the now monthly Sunday Sewcials. These are every third Sunday of the month and are for sitting and sewing. I do not provide tuition on this day, as I will be sewing myself, but help is always available. Due to their popularity, these are now a ticket only event and will be published monthly on Eventbrite. Best thing to do, is to log onto Eventbrite, search for Sewcial Sunday, then like me and choose to have updates when I publish a class.
I am presently seeking alternative places to hold classes and workshops and hope in the near future to bring you tailored classes, hopefully in bag making; patchwork and quilting; soft furnishing; and of course, garment making. Again these tickets will be going on Eventbrite.
I have just one more fact to tell you. In 2019, you bought 15 miles of thread from me. Which is the equivalent of me travelling to Barnsley and back. Thank you so much for your continued support and custom over the last year.
All that is left for me to say is:

May your heart be joy-filled
and
your life sew-blessed

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When Patchwork goes wrong!

Don't we all love to buy fabric? I do. So when I asked to develop a beginner’s patchwork course I was on the hunt. I have used Dashwood Studios before and loved them. The ones I have used successfully have been September Blue and Pettite Street. But these are very pink and girly and I was in the mood for something grey and black, also in my mind was mustard. When I came across Bloom I thought I had the perfect collection.


To check the colours I arranged them and took black and white photographs, wow they were stunning!

Planning was next underway and I had designed the mini quilt.

The first couple of blocks looked great, but I soon got to realize that something was wrong.

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The block patterns were disappearing in the beautiful patterns of the collection. My fault. I should have bought some solids to mix it up.

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DSC_0315Lesson learnt and I pulled out another fat quarter bundle from my stash. Funny how that happens – that we sewers just seem to happen to have some “spare” fabric. But with this I added some solids and the results were so much better.


As for the Dashwood Bloom, I’ll put it in the UFO box and finish it when I fancy. Or is that just Claire speak for never, or frogged?

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