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Busy

March 14, 2012 – 12:03 pm

I had someone in a one-on-one class today who made mention that I hadn’t made a blog post in ages – she is completely correct of course but it actually surprised me that she does in fact read what I write – surprising!!

Sew-Along Classes

Well as much as I would have loved to have spent the past two months since my last post (eeek!) lazing around I have in fact been running my little butt off. Girls are back to school, Heidi has started kindy – all good & I now have two days to myself to do me stuff.

Sew-Along classes are a real joy & this term we have been quilting & teaching how to make hats & skirts. The quilt class was all about teaching how to cut & piece accurately & there have been some beautiful quilts made, all with perfectly matched seams & joins! We are running another quilt class next term teaching different skills but focusing on how to quilt, both by hand & machine – should be a fun class!

 

Rainbow fizz Quilt & cushion for next terms Sew-Along class


Heidi in her new hat made in Sew-Along hats & Skirts class – I used up all my Dr Seuss scraps . . . its reversible!


Jemima & I did the last Perth Upmarket together to really promote Sew-Along classes. It was (another) hideously hot day, which made it long & painful -thank goodness for the fabulous Lisa at Cookie Dough who eased our pain with her Big Elvis cookies. It wasn’t all bad – we had a good show & hopefully there will be lots of fabulous new people who join us in class next term.

Easter Madness!

I’ve gone a bit Easter bunny mad lately & I have made about a thousand (ok, I am exaggerating) Easter bunny egg cosies. Aren’t they silly! Love to make things that make me laugh – hopefully when I go back to the UK for Easter, everyone around my family table on Easter morning will get a little joy from their bunny sitting proudly over their egg keeping it nice & warm.


 

Hope you have ordered you copy of the May Homespun magazine – I have a BIG project being published!!!

x x x Claire

more Easter bunnies to make you smile . . .


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happy days & farewell to a friend

January 30, 2012 – 11:37 am

I have just returned from a glorious few weeks away with my family camping in what has to be one of the most glorious parts of our country. The beaches & bays around Margaret River, Meelup , Eagle Bay & Bussleton are simply breath taking. I have to pinch myself that a girl from the cloudy UK has ended up being somewhere so perfect.


Amongst all the beauty & laughter of the holidays there was a bit of sadness when I learnt that a very dear lady that used to sew with us every week in the shop passed away. If there is one thing that I have gained through my sewing journey is the wonderful people that I have met along the way – Georgina was one of those ladies. We shared some wonderful times in the shop & at sewing groups at her house. She would entertain us all with her stories & delight us with her recipes (we always took turns to do lunch) She was an absolute treasure & a joy to be around. Many people walk through your life & it may only be for a short time but some very special people leave their mark & you never forget them. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.

This photo is for Georgina as I know she’d appreciate that this is the only way to eat a lamington on Australia day


x x Claire

 


p.s I have had to close down my comment section as I have 1800 spam messages for body enhancing medication to erase!!!!


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New year . . . new classes

January 16, 2012 – 7:54 am

A very happy new year to you if you are taking the time to read this . . . it’s much appreciated!

A new year means a fresh start & I have been busy re-organising, re-planning, clutter clearing & labelling (there is a vague hope that if I label EVERYTHING in the house that my family will learn to put things away!!)

Jemima & I have planned the next two terms Sew-Along classes & the first terms evening classes are already looking pretty full (yippee!) We will both be at the March Upmarket with all the samples for term two so if you are around the March long weekend, come & have a look.

Join us at our Wednesday Morning Sewing Groups!

Our day time Sew-Along classes still have vacancies. They day classes are a great way to catch up, make some new friends as well as learn new sewing skills & make some fantastic projects along the way. This term we are teaching our first quilt – quite a simple design but we will be teaching the importance of accurate cutting & piecing . . . no don’t be put off, it really is quite easy! If you would like to join us then Jemima is taking bookings so you can contact her at tiedwitharibbon@gmail.com & don’t forget we are always happy to have groups of friends along.

This is the quilt we will be teaching you. The finished size is great to cuddle up under on the sofa with a glass of wine, a good movie in the coming winter months!

Later in the term we are running our hats & skirts class where you can make for yourself of any little girls that you know. We are also running a class to make things for your mum with mothers day in mind. There is a great market bag, makeup bags, sunglasses pouches & a notebook keeper.

All the details & prices for the classes can be found on my classes page or by clicking here

I’m busy making new samples to show you which hopefully will get finished once the kids have all returned to school . . . then I might have to start on working up some of my new designs!

Take care & hope to see you soon x x

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more Gnomes !

December 22, 2011 – 6:43 pm

You might remember this . . . .

It is my new Gnome quilt which was a commission piece for a friends grandaughter (& you may see more of it next year in a magazine publication . . . watch this space!!)

. . . well it has found a new home, ready & waiting for the arrival of a new baby in the new year.

I was asked to make a few other bits to go with it to make the nursery a very warm & friendly place for this special new baby . . . thought you might like to see what has had me chained to my machine for the past week!

My Gnome cushion has made another  appearance along with a toadstool shaped cushion complete with a woodland friend behind the door! I was also asked to make a few storage buckets to keep all the baby ‘stuff’ tidy

I was pleased with how it all turned out & no doubt the lovely customer in question will get plenty of time to appreciate it with all those 2am feeds she has ahead of her!!

. . . well , that’s me done for the year.

It has been a good year with my little venture. A hard slog at times but rewarding. I’ve learnt some new stuff, met some really lovely people, fried my brain, put a machine needle through my finger & made some interesting discoveries!.

. . . & as much as I truly love what I do, I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to not seeing my sewing machine for a week or two!!

Merry christmas to everyone – hope Santa is kind to you & if you have families, I hope they are even kinder!!

See you in the new year

x x Claire

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Kids holiday Sew-Along classes

December 16, 2011 – 4:38 pm

With the long school holidays upon us, Jemima & I are offering some holiday sewing classes for kids if you are in the Perth area.

We have classes for the younger beginner stitchers where we will be teaching some hand sewing skills & letting them loose with all our buttons, beads & embellishments!


For the older kids who might already have had a bit of a go on a sewing machine we will be running classes to make an owl softie cushion & a class to make a cover for a notebook or drawing pad.

All the costs, details & booking information has been posted on my classes page here.

 

If you have any queries regarding the classes feel free to email me!

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Me in Homespun Magazine!!!

December 10, 2011 – 7:12 am

Look what arrived in my letterbox yesterday!

Finally my copy of Homespun arrived with my first little published project &

. . . . a profile all about me!

Very exciting!!

 


Even though it is a small project it’s a start & makes way for the two other MUCH larger quilt projects that are going to appear in the magazine next year!

Put a subscription on your santa list . . . you won’t be disappointed x x x

 

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November Upmarket Goodies

December 8, 2011 – 9:53 am

I haven’t made a blog post for a while – running a family & trying to build a small business takes up more of my time then I thought. Not that I am complaining . . . i just need my kids to grow up a bit quicker & perfect their sewing skills so that they can take over the sewing load!!

Only joking . . . no child labour here!

Last month I attended the last Perth Upmarket for the year. I know I have said it before but if you haven’t been, then next year take the time to go. It is a haven of very clever crafty people who all work their little socks off to make beautiful beautiful things that get sold for way way under what they are worth!

I had a little stall selling some of my new sewing patterns, kits & cushions. It was a great day & as usual I was surprised at the number of kits that went. It is so great to see that people are still happier to spend $30 for a kit & make it themselves rather then spend $50 to have one already sewn. You go girls! Get those sewing machines out & wear away the tips of your fingers hand sewing . . . who said needlecraft was a dying art . . Not in my world!

See . . . . my little stall of cushions!

 

I do a  bit of paper art too! – ‘Goldilocks & the three bears’ paper collage – for sale at Paper Fusion in Mt Hawthorn. I am running classes there next year too.


Designs got used on pencil cases as well as cushions.


It was a fun way to spend a Sunday & got me out of having to do the Surf Club run.

I’ve got one more week left of Sew-Along classes before we take a break for the holidays – yay! The classes have been MOUNTAINS of fun & a real surprise for me this year. I really didn’t have any intention of teaching again but I have thoroughly enjoyed it & Jemima & I have lots & lots of fun stuff planned for next years classes so bring it on!

The schedule for next year is about to be uploaded & if you are looking for something to do with the kids then we are running classes to teach them how to sew too! . . .

. . . can’t let sewing become a dying art now can we!

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A retreat treat

November 6, 2011 – 11:32 am

A few weeks ago I was invited to go on a ‘retreat’. There would be a group of girls sewing & a group of girls scrapbooking. It was going to be the first time in twelve years that I would leave my family to do something just for me. I have over the years spent the odd week in Sydney on business but they were weeks spent at craft fairs, on my feet all day, & totally & completely exhausting.

This wasn’t going to be like that.

This was going to be a room to myself. A bathroom to myself. Food cooked for me. Nobody asking me to do anything for them. Nobody having any requirements of me what-so-ever. It was going to be bliss . . . . pure soul food!

It was the best thing EVER!

My girlfriend & I made the ‘long’ journey from Perth to Rockingham on a friday afternoon & arrived just in time to be ushered in for dinner. Dinner that I didn’t have to think about, prepare, cook or clear away. We then set ourselves up in our own little corner of a large room to sew & mingle with a group of like minded people.

Its amazing how much you can acheive when you are uninterupted. Over the next day & a half I made a quilt for a double bed, a dress for Heidi & a bag – I even taught my non-sewing scrap booking friend to sew her first bag! The days were calm, peaceful & productive. I met some lovely, gorgeous & inspiring people. I learnt that Parlan is better then Pellon (thanks Janelle & I’ve got a bolt on order!) & I passed on the knowledge that Clover pins are the only way to go.

We also got to see some ‘real’ quilts as there were a few other quilting groups there!!

I also discovered that there is such a thing as a muffin fairy as miraculously warm muffins arrived in our own private kitchen social area every morning at 10.30.

I also learnt what it must be like for a man as I could quite happily work right up until someone told us that dinner was served. Oh I want to be a man!! (you may have guessed we are a camping family not a stay-in-hotels family – although we might be now!!)

I got to get up when I wanted & I got to have a shower without stepping on a four year old.

I also got to explore the Rockingham Spotlight – twice! . . . . note to self: must remember to pack all the cotton that is needed!!!!!

The very best part about it all was that I came back a happier & calmer person then when I left.

I now realise just how very important it is to look after ourselves as it makes our jobs as mothers & wives a much easier & happier experience.

Bring on the next one x x x


 

 

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All systems go!

October 24, 2011 – 11:31 am

Finally . . . .

finally I have a shop up & running! There have been a few teething problems but I think I am there. My Etsy shop has made its first few sales & although the whole process was relativley easy to set up it was quite complicated & confusing for my little design brain to figure out . . . but with a bit of help from Jemima its there.

Yay!!!!!!

There has been quite a bit going on in my artsy crafty world lately & if my power cord for the camera would descide to reveal itself I’d have more photos to share with you but it has obviously gone on a holiday.

 

PERTH UPMARKET

Upmarket was a great success, just about killed me & I’m sure my adrenal system will take more than a few months recover but I was delighted with the response. My new patterns flew out the door as did my made cushions. My Red Riding Hood paper collage found a delightful new owner so I didn’t even mind letting that go (even though I had already worked out where it was going to go at home) I have to now ramp everything up for the next Upmarket which is at the end of November.

Upmarket wouldn’t have been possible without the help from my ‘support team’ so big thanks to Claire, Ali, Jo Jo for your late night at the printers, my health guru Paul at Capacity Health (yes I”m drinking lots of water!!!!), Matilda & her beautiful garden, Sheena Cooke Photography & my kids for being happy to eat a lot of omeletes & Jemima- big love to you all x x x x

photos to come!!!!!!


Wanna see whats for Sale?

you can buy at my Etsy shop –  just click here

Rainbow Squirrel Applique


Ooodles of Poodles Applique


Pip and Ellie Applique


Happy Rabbits Applique

 

A Family of Owls Applique

 

Rosies Garden & the Gnome

everything is available as a pattern or a kit, if you’d like a kit then drop me an email

x x Claire

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a real sewing room . . . & some new classes

September 25, 2011 – 4:07 pm

In my last post I said that I would show you my sewing room.

Since I signed up for next weeks Perth Upmarket I have been living along side my sewing machine, my kids have joined me & my husband has brought me many cups of tea. It has become a place of madness – fabric scraps, cotton threads, pages of designs, & empty cups everywhere! Creativity at its best!

Well, not in the manner of the majority of bloggers with their shiny workrooms, I’m going to show you how it really is!

I always have a silent sigh to myself when bloggers post about their sewing spaces with all the neatly folded fabrics & polished surfaces . . . . that’s not a REAL sewing space . . . . this is a real sewing space!

(please note the large teddy for four year old to use as a pillow for afternoon naps . . . not sure why the scooter is there tho! )

Now I know you want to see a glamorous workroom, all designed to within an inch of its life – inspiring pages torn from arty magazines stuck artistically to beautifully covered pin boards, & elegant stacks of fabric arranged in colour coded piles,  well I have news for you . . .

I’d like to see that too! I’d love to be that tidy person!

Whilst I like to get into a neatly made bed every night, I seem to work better in creative chaos!

Just & I emphasise ‘just’, sometimes my space can look like something from Real Living magazine . . . to be honest, its usually only gets a clear up just before Jemima, my Sew-Along partner comes over!.

But despite its’ seeming chaos it is a productive space & somewhere that I can loose myself into a world that makes me supremely happy.

I am very lucky to have such an large space to work in & spread out but it’s not something that you need to get creative. Check out Aneela Hooeys work space. She is an amazingly productive & creative lady & she works off her lounge room coffee table! Not sure I could cope with that but it just goes to show that all you need is enough space to park your machine & rest your tea cup!

 

. . . MARKET NEWS

Upmarket is a week away & for the first time ever I am going to be selling stuff that I have made myself other then just selling patterns . . . which, by the way I will be selling as well. I will be letting you have a sneek peek of what will be on offer everyday on my Facebook page this week so keep your eyes out & come early to the market as I have only made one of everything as I’m not really into mass production as there is always a new design to make!

before I leave you,  thought you might like to see what is on offer in next terms Sew-Along classes . . . details have been listed on my classes page.

x x x

KIDS CLOTHING – shorts, summer dresses & hats.

 

MORE CHRISTMAS – Advent Calender, Christmas Angel, Santa Sack

 

BAGS & CUSHIONS – beach bag, reversible handbag, applique & plain cushions with piping & zipped backs

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