I was recently inspired by my friend @sewmesarah to make some clear vinyl project pouches, like the ones she keeps her WIPs (works in progress) and UFOs (unfinished objects) in. It has been quite some time since I looked in my box of UFOs and thought if I got them organised into pouches I might […]
I'm excited to announce that my new 'Tucked Away' Pouch Pattern is now available for general sale! I first designed and taught the large size of this pouch over a year ago as part of my 'Tucks and Pleats' class, fully intending to write up a full pattern!! Well it's only taken me 13 months! […]
The end of the 2nd week of our Instagram Designer's Collaboration has produced some inspiring 'retreat ready' projects! Katy had very kindly made available to us her bumper Retreat Pattern Pack, a collection of 6 patterns for items to get you organised and equipped for going on a sewing retreat!! And what do you know, […]
To enter my 10 year blogiversary giveaway click here. At the end of this month (30th January, 4pm - 7pm) I will be teaching another live zoom workshop for Crafty Monkies. Their theme for January is all about using what you have available (following the post Christmas slump!) and so repurposing some old jeans into practical […]
I'm 10 years old!! Yay! I started blogging on 20th December 2010, encouraged by of one of my best friends @sewmesarah who had just started her blog a few days previous! What a lot has happened since then, and oh my, how the time has flown by! To celebrate, I'm hosting a giveaway! I recently […]
My daughter needed a secret Santa gift for a female work colleague so I offered to make her a pouch! With no information about the likes or dislikes of the recipient, I had free reign to come up with whatever I wanted! Yay! Let the playtime commence! I had recently been pinning some mixed textile […]
This week in The Kindred Spirits Quilt-Along we are making Dresdens! During the 1920's and 30's, Dresden, Germany produced porcelain plates decorated with elaborate designs using flowers, fruits and foliage. These plates became the inspiration for the Dresden Plate quilt block throughout Europe and beyond. While some Dresden blades can have smooth ends, often […]
Firstly, apologies for forgetting to announce here the winner of my last giveaway (my bad)! The lucky winner was Michelle Green @elsie_and_alice and was announced on Instagram & Facebook. Thank you to everyone here who entered. Fingers crossed you will be luckier with my next giveaway. ************************************************************** Today is the end of week […]
Our Just Jude designer collaboration is well underway! (You can read all about this new initiative here.) For our first week we have been making Svetlana's Lola Pouch (there are 2 sizes to choose from). I had the privilege of pattern testing the Lola Pouch for Svetlana so I'm familiar with […]
I'm so excited to annouce a new designer collaboration during the month of July, which will be running on Instagram! I'm teaming up with 4 talented quilting designers to make 1 pattern from each designers shop or book. Each week we will showcase a designers pattern and let you see 4 different takes […]
It seems like an age since we were last in class creating a holy mess with strips of fabric, wool fibres, thread and hospital bandages (don't ask!!)! We were well in the throws of making Textile Art Pictures, using a water soluble fabric technique for the background, and then building up a picture on […]
Hello everyone! I hope you are all keeping safe and well during these strange days. With much more time available to us, I guess you are all making lots of headway with all your WIPs and UFOs!!!!! (wink, wink!) With no classes to teach, I thought I'd have a go at teaching online!! […]
My daughter has recently been serving with a Missions organisation called YWAM (Youth With A Mission). As a team leader she has had the privilege of nurturing 5 students through a Discipleship Training Programme, 4 months in the UK and 2 in Japan. At the end of the programme the students have a […]
You may remember the first block of classes this year was all about Tucks & Pleats. We manipulated fabric a few different ways in 3 projects: A pouch with twisted tucks: A cushion with open tucks: A pleated bag: (free pattern by U-Handbag.com) It's fair to say that […]
I've recently gifted a selection of 'cork pouches'. I love working with cork! It goes with just about everything, comes in lots of different colours (including sparkly!) can be rotary cut, pieced, quilted, ironed (medium-cool heat setting) and is 3d friendly! Did you know it's vegan too (though I don't recommend eating it!). […]
Well it's hard to believe that we only have 1 more week of classes left for 2019! Where on earth did that year go!! I can't wait to show you the beautiful wreaths folks have been making as part of our (optional) class project this term. They're stunning! But before one term is […]
If you read my last post, you will know that I've been making gifts for my #Threads Across the Sea quilting friends. Here's what I made: I love the organic nature of kantha stitching, an ancient form of Indian embroidery. Originally used on saris, kantha now makes appearances on apparel, home furnishings […]
It was a milestone weekend in the Hollies' household! I dropped my baby off at University of Liverpool to start her 3 year degree, and came back to an empty nest. I've had children at home for the past 24 years, so not having 'on hand' mummy duties and living alone […]
I got to hand over another little handmade gift last week! You may remember the Tilda & Cork pouch I made for a friend during the summer? Well this one is for her mum. My friend recently gave me a bag of small fabric samples, the perfect size for pouch making! […]
This week I'll be delivering 2 more handmade gifts. Today, I handed over a sweet little Tilda and Cork patchwork pouch! My friend is an interior designer and very kindly supplied me with the sample swatches I needed for my daughter's Teacher's present. This is another sewing friend, so I […]
