.........see you there, i'll put the kettle on. Debs x
Sunday 30 March 2014
Saturday 29 March 2014
My name is Clare, and I am a fabricoholic.
It all started last year, when I happened to see an advert for Deb's Modern Applique class on a lamp post in Prestwood (I frequent all the best places don't you know!)!
After an internal tussle - could a woman whose sewing experience was making fabric hearts and lavender bags possibly take on something huge like a quilt, I took the plunge, emailed Deb, and here I am, a year later, wondering what on earth I did before I found sewing and the Wendover Sewing Bee! As the wonderful Mrs Bobbins by Julia Icenogle says:
Going to the first applique class was scary - I was sitting with all these women who seemed to know exactly what they were doing and what all the terms meant, I honestly thought I had made a huge mistake.
So, after the class I looked at Deb's instructions in the peace and quiet of my own home (a big bar of chocolate and a cup of coffee helped!), and I read them again. Slowly it made sense - I understood what I had to do, so I picked up my freezer paper, my fabric glue, chose the fabric and off I went!
Once I had started, I didn't want to stop! I followed up my Modern Applique class with the Simple Sampler one - and am so pleased with the finished quilt top for that one...the hand quilting is also becoming slightly addictive..
I am now fully in the grip of the sewing bug - some days I might not sew a stitch, some days I manage to sew a lot when my two boys have gone to bed, but do you know what, it doesn't matter, because I do it when I can and not having to worry about deadlines and timetables makes it all the more enjoyable!
I have also met some of the most incredible, warm, hilarious, life affirming women who make every class and Bee a pure delight - we all love to see each other's projects, completed quilts and blocks are greeted with 'oohs' and 'aahs' that we might not get at home, and you leave feeling that whatever else might be happening, for that brief period of time, all that mattered was you and your sewing.
Even my previous shopping trips have been replaced by a new adrenaline high - the search for the perfect fabric! The thrill of knowing a certain collection is going to be released, tracking it down, working out if I don't have a takeaway coffee and buy a magazine for a couple of weeks, I can buy a bundle of fat quarters guilt free, and then lovingly looking at it, stroking it and putting it back into the cupboard as it is far too gorgeous for me to contemplate cutting!
Maybe this is why this cartoon makes me chuckle every time I see it...!
My name is Clare and I say with pride I am a fabricoholic!
It all started last year, when I happened to see an advert for Deb's Modern Applique class on a lamp post in Prestwood (I frequent all the best places don't you know!)!
After an internal tussle - could a woman whose sewing experience was making fabric hearts and lavender bags possibly take on something huge like a quilt, I took the plunge, emailed Deb, and here I am, a year later, wondering what on earth I did before I found sewing and the Wendover Sewing Bee! As the wonderful Mrs Bobbins by Julia Icenogle says:
Going to the first applique class was scary - I was sitting with all these women who seemed to know exactly what they were doing and what all the terms meant, I honestly thought I had made a huge mistake.
So, after the class I looked at Deb's instructions in the peace and quiet of my own home (a big bar of chocolate and a cup of coffee helped!), and I read them again. Slowly it made sense - I understood what I had to do, so I picked up my freezer paper, my fabric glue, chose the fabric and off I went!
Once I had started, I didn't want to stop! I followed up my Modern Applique class with the Simple Sampler one - and am so pleased with the finished quilt top for that one...the hand quilting is also becoming slightly addictive..
I am now fully in the grip of the sewing bug - some days I might not sew a stitch, some days I manage to sew a lot when my two boys have gone to bed, but do you know what, it doesn't matter, because I do it when I can and not having to worry about deadlines and timetables makes it all the more enjoyable!
I have also met some of the most incredible, warm, hilarious, life affirming women who make every class and Bee a pure delight - we all love to see each other's projects, completed quilts and blocks are greeted with 'oohs' and 'aahs' that we might not get at home, and you leave feeling that whatever else might be happening, for that brief period of time, all that mattered was you and your sewing.
Even my previous shopping trips have been replaced by a new adrenaline high - the search for the perfect fabric! The thrill of knowing a certain collection is going to be released, tracking it down, working out if I don't have a takeaway coffee and buy a magazine for a couple of weeks, I can buy a bundle of fat quarters guilt free, and then lovingly looking at it, stroking it and putting it back into the cupboard as it is far too gorgeous for me to contemplate cutting!
Maybe this is why this cartoon makes me chuckle every time I see it...!
Friday 28 March 2014
Fabric baskets for boys
My husband was so impressed with my Fabric Basket made at the wonderful PlainStitch class recently that he chose his own fabric for his very own desk tidy! A lovely mix of 3D effect retro camera print mixed with a vibrant yellow GeekyChic glasses print from Riley Blake ....I'm taking advantage of the very kind offer of add to the Wendover SewingBee blog with this little project....
Now can I remember how to lay out the pattern?...time for a caffeine hit and a bit of focus. I am also just a bit excited about my new Janome sewing machine, I sold my pretty purple one on Ebay to a lovely lady in Cumbria and upgraded to this one having spent a wonderful sewing day (AKA Therapy Thursday) at the PlainStitch Workroom using one of Debs' brand new Janome Sewist 525S (as seen on British Sewing Bee) (Was I using Elinor or Jo?)
My new purchase of a magnetic pin cushion is making life with pins so much fun..
I just hope this basket turns out as well as the first ..this time without the generous lovely kind
ladies in my class by my side! will let you know...
well........a bit later....and
TA DAH
These bags are seriously addictive - hope you love making yours at the
PlainStitch Fabric Baskets Class
Now can I remember how to lay out the pattern?...time for a caffeine hit and a bit of focus. I am also just a bit excited about my new Janome sewing machine, I sold my pretty purple one on Ebay to a lovely lady in Cumbria and upgraded to this one having spent a wonderful sewing day (AKA Therapy Thursday) at the PlainStitch Workroom using one of Debs' brand new Janome Sewist 525S (as seen on British Sewing Bee) (Was I using Elinor or Jo?)
My new purchase of a magnetic pin cushion is making life with pins so much fun..
well........a bit later....and
TA DAH
These bags are seriously addictive - hope you love making yours at the
PlainStitch Fabric Baskets Class
Thursday 27 March 2014
Share Your Sewing
Friday 14 March 2014
Bee - Benefits
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Just a little note to remind Bee members that there are several benefits to having one of our lovely Bee cards.........
You can present your card at Whitewaters cafe Deli for a free hot drink when accompanied by a paying friend.
New! You can redeem your full Bee card at The PlainStitch Workroom in exchange for a fat quarter of choice.
Tea and fabric shopping.. all you could need... and all in Back Street, Wendover.....what could be nicer!
debs x
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