Over-committed!

I admit it... I totally over-committed myself this Christmas.  What with a few commissions, plus a whole heap of Christmas gifts I decided I was going to make, I find myself in full on panic mode with a ginormous list of sewing left to do, no Christmas cards sent and no present wrapping done!

And this kind of panic leads to sewing disasters....

but first the good stuff :)

One doorstop completed for a commission due on Christmas Eve.  A remake of the hungry caterpillar to match is on it's way too.

Another commission, two kids book bags (for twin girls) and a large cushion cover.  The cushion was fun because I was handed the old one (on the left) and asked to replace it "in the same colour scheme but a bit more interesting"....I really hope this will fit the bill!

And a large washbag destined as a Christmas pressie for someone who I think doesn't read my blog!

There's more, but I can't show it just yet.

Did I mention a sewing disaster?  Sigh. 
It all started pretty well. The request is for four dining room chair cushions destined for brother number 2 and his girlfriend (also hopefully not blog readers).  I've never made these before so I'm in "make it up as you go along" mode.  I started by purchasing four cheap cushions and unpicking the covers on them (Tip: this worked out at half the price of having foam cut to order!)

Using the old covers as templates, I cut my fabric for the first one, added a zip (ha ha, so easy to type, but not so easy in real life) and stitched the top and bottom together, with piping and cotton tape for the ties.

It's a bit messy at the zip ends, but it's passable.

Encouraged by this, and with the learnings of zip number 1 under my belt, I embark on cover number 2.  It goes like a dream, the zip, the piping, the corners...I even finish the insides with a zigzag stitch.

Number 2 is on the left...can anyone spot why I am officially a Doofus?

Yes, the fabric is upside down. I think I want to cry :(

James says it won't be noticeable when people are sitting on them....had to smile at that...am giving up for this evening and am going blog surfing...goodnight all!

x

 

Extreme sewing!

And before you say it, no, I am not sitting naked at my sewing machine (!), it's not that sort of extreme. Nor am I sewing at high altitudes...it's more about the amount of sewing that's been going on round here.
This is evidenced by the following facts:

• I'm on my third 500m of white thread this week
• I haven't written a blog post for over a week
• There is a serious washing backlog
• My blog reader stands at 786 unread items (I'm so sorry everyone, I will try and catch up!)
• I've broken two needles
• I've done another two craft fairs and updated stock in both shops
• I've learnt some new skills including piping, and inserting zips into cushions
• Felix has spent time with her Dad, Granny and Grandad, and Nana and Gramps and our childminder (I know you've had fun little lady, but sorry to pass you around :(   )
• My Mum arrived on Saturday and ordered 5 items for Christmas presents, some of which are to be taken with her when she leaves today (I'm not moaning at this, since she is a big fan of my work, she pays well, AND she and Dad are brilliant with Felix!)

and finally, the most compelling evidence of extreme sewing...

I broke a bobbin!  This has never happened to me before and was a bit of a shock when I was hit by a flying piece of plastic and then thread cascaded all over the place...no harm done, except that I'm down to three bobbins, which is just not enough! (Christmas present hint, Mum!)

So sorry I've been AWOL and not reading everyone's blogs, I will remedy that this week...but in the meantime, here's some pictures of some of the latest makes:

Zippy overload:

Make-up bags:

Cushions made from single fabrics (trying a different tactic at the craft fairs), but snazzed up with piping and a covered zip on the back

Bucket bag with leather straps:

and finally, a little travel tissue holder for Mum's friend (and fabric benefactor) Mavis!

Whilst the craft fairs have been fun, I am looking forward to a little respite and some "me" sewing in the new year!

x

Craft fair fun and frolics

First of all, many thanks to you all of you for the best wishes for Felix.  She is fortunately now fully recovered and the only lasting symptom seems to be a complete aversion to eating anything other than fruit, yoghurt or  baby Wotsits.  Not the best diet in the world... hmmm... any tips for getting a 17 month old to eat casserole? or carrots?!

In other news, the products of my stitching have had two outings in the last week.  The weekend before last, everything I'd sewn went to a large Christmas fair near Lewes with my friend Clare who is a talented buyer (and, as it turns out, seller!), and then this Saturday, five of us shared a stall at a local hotel.

I didn't make it to Clare's fair, as that was the weekend that Felix was ill, but got feedback on the Saturday that she'd only sold badges. However, the clientele was completely different on the Sunday and the more pleasing grand total was:

• 17 badge sets
• 2 Makeup bags
• 1 purse
• 1 washbag
• 1 tote bag
• 1 cushion
• and......believe it or not....The Hungry Caterpillar!  (Apparently, he could have sold twice as someone came back and asked for him later!)

I quickly sewed up a few more make-up bags and here was our stall this Saturday!

And my little section:

(I can't claim credit for the handstitched (!) bunting which belongs to felt queen, Perdita)

The sales tally:

• Lots more badges
• A tote bag
• A wash bag
• 3 make-up bags
• 2 little purses
• And some fabric covered handbag mirrors (that we were making on the day!)
• ooo plus a friend has since asked to save her a doorstop and a cushion..

It was a lot of fun, having some grown-up time, talking to people and having a nosey round the other stalls so between us we've signed up for another three in December...well I've got the stock  (...except for make-up bags!)

The learnings?

• Some of my stuff is a little too bright for the more traditional customers that seem to attend smaller fairs round here.  People admired the cushions but couldn't see where they'd fit in their homes
• Pocket money purchases are essential to keep your morale up
• Order your business cards well in advance, so they are not still in the post when you want to be handing them out (doh!)
• REALLY REALLY don't be disheartened if things aren't selling. It's easier said than done, but from Claire's experience...the same products at the same fair sold much better on the second day.

The sum of all this efforts?  £170!  Doesn't sound loads but I'm really pleased with it...a couple more fairs and my Tesco's vouchers are going to fund Christmas (well almost!)

x

It's been a busy week (or two!)

 I've been a bit remiss on the bloggy front recently (both reading and writing of blogs!).  It's been a bit hectic round here, but hopefully normal service will be resumed next week...

First off there was the wedding in Ireland

which was a boozy three days long and much fun (this picture is day three, and the bride is the radiant blonde on the left!).  The Norwich girls were reunited which was brilliant.  Hopefully they are now subscribing by email to keep in touch with my ramblings :)  Hello all!


Then there was a day out with Terri, gorgeous Brit Bee friend

where there was much chatter and a teensy bit of fabric browsing

All whilst working on a commission and stock for the new shop which is opening in a weeks time.

(Oh, and Felix has decided long morning naps are for wimps....)

So here is just a bit of the sewing that's happened around here:

The second two cushions are commissions.  The rainbow one is made from all sorts of fabric, including 3 silk scarves, 2 skirts, some of the scraps from Jan and Ilona, some red and gold sparkly tops, and a pair of jeans!  Interfacing was used with anything sheer or vaguely stretchy but piecing it was still a little tricky!

I also made the same customer a doorstop using my treasured Ruby Star Rising "vintage ladies". 

The last door-stop I made was half the size of this and filled with rice.  The problem was it just slid across the floor with the weight of the door.  So this time I made it twice the size, and filled it with play sand.  The sand is in a food bag and there is a calico lining so this should be safe enough...it's definitely heavy enough to stub your toe on :)

oh, and look what arrived from Amazon...  how did that happen?!

More things to sew!  anyone got a time machine?

x

The one that almost didn't get away...and a spot of virtual reality

I finished up a couple of items for this new shop I'm supplying in St. Leonards-on-sea.  The first is one of those cushions I posted about a couple of days ago.  It has an envelope back using a light beige soft furnishing fabric.  This a bit of a diversion from my normal dark grey backs and I like it, with the lighter back and apples it feels all a bit retro Scandinavian!

The second is try number two of a bag.  It's another tote bag with an external pocket but this time I went for a single strap, made from the bargain car boot cotton webbing I picked up and a strip of stripey fabric.

I bit the bullet and cut into my Melody Miller Ruby Star Rising print, for a patch on the front and an inside pocket...

I wasn't sure about this bag in the process as I used another biege-ish furnishing fabric (a bit so-so, I thought) for the body of the bag, but by adding that delicious print and the strap, I suddenly found I was really really quite fond of the finished product!

I handed it over to the shop though, through smiley gritted teeth, and silently vowed to make another similar one, and maybe pop online and treat myself to some more Melody Miller :)

Whilst on one hand I'm selling some handmade things, I did also manage to purchase a handmade gem today.  We went to Brighton on shopping mission for James and stopped by at the Brunswick Festival because my virtual (and now real!) friend Ilona from I Drew this had a stall with her mum-in-law, selling clothing under the brand "Oui made this". Not only did I get to meet the lovely Ilona but also her gorgeous daughter Olive, and clever stitching mum-in-law, Maureen!

(here's us trying to get Olive to look at the camera!)

They had set aside a big bag of scraps at a bargain price for me, and look what I bought for Felix!

The fabric is designed by Ilona and the reversible top is made by her mum-in-law (as well as those fab hats the littles were modelling!).  No chance to get a photo of Felix in her new top yet  - she was far too grubby by the time we got back from the beach this evening!

x

Work in progress (every other) wednesday

I missed last week's Work in Progress post due to a lack of progress (!) and I almost missed it this week due to lurgy.  Yep, I'm writing this from my sick-bed - some weird shivery, ear achy thing.  One of the few downsides of being a mum is catching all the minor (hopefully) illnesses that babies (and their baby friends) seem to get :(

Anyway, that aside, there have been a couple of finishes this week... here goes with Work in progress (linking up with Freshly Pieced!)

Projects completed:

• Cushions for the shop in Hastings.  Done, and handed over!  You can see three here, and the last I finished last night is below.  When I got there this morning, they'd already sold the sample I'd given them - good start!

The shop in question is aptly named "Made in Hastings" and it's deliciously relaxed but stylish in all in go. We had a chat about me doing some baby quilts too, if I can get the pricing to work.

• Bee Europa March block - a purple strip for Muriel

• A mug rug for Mothers Day - in my rush to post this in time for Sunday, I forgot to take a picture - darn!

Work in progress:

• Sliced coins quilt - still on hold but the metro circles in fuschia for the backing arrived yesterday - hoorah!
• Supernova quiltalong at Freshly Pieced - am SO enjoying this quiltalong.  Was hoping to show you three colours completed, but lurgy has meant I haven't got round to sewing them together! You can see the red block here, and orange and yellow progress below.

New projects taken on this week:

• Bee Europa April block - Miriam would like us to make a block based on this piece of artwork! (Anyone got any tips for piecing curves?!)

• "Dressing a girl around the world" - this is an initiative which believes that all little girls should own at least one dress, a encourages sewers to make simple pillowcase dresses that will be distributed to poverty stricken areas. I found this via Louise at Sew Scrumptious and was touched by the idea and opportunity for me to help...so I've committed to make a dress by June. (see below for two dresses being modelled beautifully by girls in Haiti)

If that weren't enough, also on the list is:

• A trial baby quilt for Made in Hastings
• A set of cushions for my brother's dining room chairs
• A bench cushion for my friend Sian's new house

I love it that there's lots to do!

x