Mad Sewing

I have gone slightly mad sewing recently. My old machine broke just before Christmas which weirdly made me want to sew even more.... So when I got it back I went a bit mad....

This was what I made for my kids for Christmas. I copied the pattern from a friend who made one for her kids the year before. However when I bought the fabric with a considerable hangover I didn't buy enough fabric. I had to make a feature of the top, which I think looks OK. Cost me a tenner in fabric so didn't mind too much! Anyway the kids love it and you can put it away at the end of the day which is always a bonus in my book.

I also made the bag which I am using to put all the things I have made ready for the shop. Probably will become a toy bag eventually. I made up the pattern for this and its really thick with a lining and felt to give it a bit more strength.

When I went to pick up my old machine from the shop, I kind of fell in love with some other machines....... They kind of told me there, that my machine wasn't really up to the job anyway and wouldn't a new machine be just the thing! I was sold.... and I managed to persuade the other half that it would be a good joint Christmas and birthday present. Hoorah! So pleased with it but also in awe of it - it has over 500 stitches and I don't know really what I am doing with it. Here's a little sampler I did to just try out some of the stitches - it is amazing! Luckily the machine comes with free lessons, which is just as well because it's like learning to sew all over again.

My brain is whirring with lots of different ideas......

Christmas Swop

I've just taken part in a Christmas swop, organised by Louise from Sew Scrumptious which was great as it made me sew again. You had to send a handmade decoration, chocolates and a Christmas card to a random person Louise partnered you with. I sent what is pictured above - I made the ceramic hearts from a course I did this year.

Bizarrely I now realise that I have been put together with one of my sister-in-laws friends from London - handmadejane. The sewing world is a small world indeed. Anyway she sent some lovely decs as pictured on my Christmas tree, some lurvely chocolates and a handmade card. I was well chuffed! Thanks Louise for organising it!

I'm in I love Crafty!

Have kept quiet about this for a while as it was a bit of a slow start.... but have got my things in this lovely shop in Clifton. It's called 'I love Crafty' http://ilovecrafty.blogspot.com and sells fantastic handmade things from local artists/crafters. Laura who runs the shop is really talented and seems to make anything - jewellery, soaps, cushions.

The shop is just perfect for the things I make and best of all I don't have to stand all day on a cold craft stall.

My retro rabbits seem to be selling well and my son (with a bit of help) has even made something for the shop, which has sold already! Wonder if I should give a 6 year old his £16.....

Just started to make some needle books like this. They were really easy to make...might even keep one for myself for a change.

On the sewing theme, there seems to be so much crafting, knitting etc everywhere - this was at Paintworks in Bristol a couple of weeks ago. It's one of those old airstream caravans. Love it.

Check out these giveaways:

http://sewscrumptious.blogspot.com/2010/10/its-giveaway-time.html

Wallace & Grommit!

Thought I would share this picture - that's me in the middle before I had my hair cut off last week!

My friend Gill, who I wrote about in last post is raising money for the Cots for Tots campaign. She has loads of ideas to drum up some cash, so when Bristol had a Bike Festival she was straight down on her bike with her cousin dressed as Grommit. My son Ethan absolutely loved it and insisted on joining the parade on his bike. I unfortunately was pushing Tom the 2 year old in his buggy... So basically I had to run round the whole of the city centre trying to catch up with him! I was absolutely knackered, I think I have quite a healthy glow in this picture........ I think I must have looked quite a sight - 6ft woman manically pushing buggy after bikes.....

On the sewing front I am making some crochet needle cases, which have come out really well...... Just need to go and buy some crochet needles and I will put them on folksy. I absolutely love the Singer charms I have put on them. I am going to try and make some necklaces with them as well.

Last week I helped out at my friends charity event she organised at her house. She's trying to raise £8,000 for the Cots for Tots appeal to provide more incubators for premature babies. My friend had twins at 31 weeks - I think they were about 1lb each so she is trying to give something back. She managed to raise £800 which was amazing considering it was mostly bric a brac. Of course the amazing cakes went down very well.. I sold a few things and gave 10% to charity along with my friends prints. It rained most of the day, but luckily it didn't put off people. I even managed to get an Indian Head Massage when things were quiet which was absolute bliss.

I got some fantastic comments from people and lots of suggestions on where to sell my stuff. I've also sold some things on folksy last week which was a bit of a confidence boost as well. I haven't really had a plan of what I'm going to do. It's really just a hobby that pays for my addiction to fabric, but it has started to make me think.....

I'm going to be doing a craft stall at the Bristol Kite Festival on the 4th September and there might be an opportunity to get my things into a shop. I will keep on investigating. Someone also suggested I try selling my stuff in Fishponds at a play group where they think my stuff will go down well.

I think I need to be sewing a lot more, but it's so difficult to fit in between kids and work and all the rest of it, hence I am tying this while the kids are watching TV on a Saturday morning! Anyway here are some pictures of my friend's event: