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Thursday 18 October 2018

New and Updated Digital Patterns

I seem to have spent the last 48 hours glued to the screen, well I have slept a little... I have been neglecting my website for so long that I decided this was the week to get stuff done. Having been told that my provider has updated all their systems and that I'm on the old one, it appears that I will now have to update every page.... ahhh!! Don't you just love ever evolving technology! 

Anyway, I thought this was a great opportunity to update my collection of digital patterns, many of which have been Pre-Cut Party patterns offered to my Newsletter Subscribers for free for a month before going on general sale - you can subscribe now and join the party!


As you can see on the Digital Patterns page, each pattern has a button which takes you through to the relevant Payhip page, from here you can read more about what each pattern includes, fabric requirements and skill level. Once you have purchased a pattern, you will receive them via email together with any templates.


Among this collection of 23 patterns is last month's Pre-Cut Party pattern for my Christmas Wreath Tablemats, which don't have to be festive at all! I was so happy to see this version on Instagram made by Katy. Instead of the mats, she used the pieced design to make this beautiful bag, isn't it stunning! It still amazes me how patterns can look so completely different depending on the fabrics used. Thank you so much for sharing Katy.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Thursday 11 October 2018

New Pre-Cut Paper Packs and a New Road Trip Cushion Kit

As my collection of curved EPP kits grows, as does my range of paper shapes, all designed by myself and cut on my trusty Brother Scan N Cut. Not only does it allow me to cut any shape I wish, but I can also add drawn guidelines to the shapes before they are cut - genius!

The kits are proving quite popular, especially with my Newsletter subscribers - but once you have a kit and are completely addicted, you may want to make more versions, so I thought I should start supplying the papers on their own. 

Designed to work in conjunction with a pattern or previously purchased kit, these papers don't include the instructions for construction. However, you can always watch my free Curved EPP Cushion YouTube tutorial for a comprenhsive guide to curved EPP - the templates for which are included in the new collection. 



As well as two size of Hexies and a 60deg Diamond, there is the Crescent shape used in my Overlapping Circles cushion, a small Dresden Plate, and the Flower temps mentioned above. This week I have also added the papers used to make my Christmas Wreath table mats.

Talking of curved EPP, I couldn't resist making a new Overlapping Circles Cushion kit from Alison Glass's new Road Trip fabrics - these abstract prints in luscious jewel colours look amazing backed onto Robert Kaufman's Essex Yarn Dyed Metallic linen - it's so glittery!! This kit comes with all the fabrics for the front, pre-cut papers and full instructions.



Until next week, happy sewing everyone!

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Thursday 4 October 2018

TeesCreatives Open Day


I'm so proud to have been involved in the setting up of Middlesbrough's newest creative space, TeesCreatives. The brainchild of Jen - a friend as addicted to dressmaking as I am to quilting, her plan was to offer a space where fellow sewists can come and learn, develop their skills and be sewcial with like-minded makers. Jen is actually a hairdresser by trade and owns a beautiful Victorian terrace building down Middlesbrough's main road. While her salon is on the bottom floor, she once rented the rest of the building to students. However, as her sewing addiction took hold, the dream of a sewing space started to grow, and when she mentioned it to me and a fellow dressmaker and retailer, Laura who owns Cotton Reel Studio, we jumped at the chance to get involved.

The first course of action was to de-student the rooms which involved a lot of work on Jen and her lovely husband's part, then there was painting, and more painting.. ahhh! Finally with a couple days to go before the Open Day, everything was coming together. Laura and I did some last minute cleaning while Jen took the steamer to that beautiful tiled floor, as you can see, even Henry the hoover had had enough!




With Cotton Reel Studio's and Sewmotion's pop-up shops all set up and the machines all raring to go, we had a well-deserved day off before the big day. Jen actually went to a SewUpNorth get together where she met some Instagrams sewing mates, and even bought a few of them back! Did I mention, the building also has a couple of AirBnB rooms on the top floor for visitors to book Sewing Weekenders and for visiting tutors to stay over? So these lovely girls were our guinea pigs, and by the sounds of it they had a great time!


The Open Day was so much fun, we had our 'guinea pigs' working on some projects at the machines, fizz and cake were handed out to the many visitors and there was a lot of excitement about our class and workshop plans - a great day was had by all. Now the real work begins, we're hoping to start running classes and workshops in late November, with the website being launched soon. You can follow us on Facebook and on Instagram to be kept up to date, and if you're from the Teesside area, we would love to hear which  classes you would like to see run, is there a creative skill you have always wanted to learn? We are also inviting tutors to get in touch and work with us in this great creative space.

So thank you to both these gorgeous ladies, and here's to an exciting and creative future!



Linking up with Let's Bee Sewcial, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday