Oh Great - They've Changed The Layout

Just as you get used to doing it one way the powers that be "upgrade" and they have done this with blogger so I have just had to search for "create a new page" so I hope this one is worthwhile!

On Saturday I went to a workshop to learn how to make fabric covered baubles.  I have been looking forward to this for some time and it was everything I hoped.  Held by the ineffably energetic Sue from Springwood House Designs the group of lovely ladies gathered there all did the projects they wanted to learn from and several including me made baubles.

This is the first one I attempted and it was the "home spun" look I was aiming for -

The picture is a bit dark but hopefully you can get the idea.  This is the simplest design and works really well with this sore of fabric.  Of course I had to buy more of the fabric before I left and Sue has an Alladin's Cave where you can find all sorts of wonderful items for bauble making and other Christmas decorations.

The second one I tried was of the more traditional glamourous type -

  

There is something really satisfying about accomplishing these glittery ones.  Sue has many hanging in her shop and they are "wonderous to behold".

On Sunday night I wanted to go on and just sat, without too much thought I finished these.  

                               



I used material I already had and felt they were better just using one design.  I don't know about you but these felt more Victorian than Home Spun but I rather liked that.

Someone at the workshop said they sent one to their grandchild each year so they would have a set to start their own home with later on - what a lovely idea.

Well, that's all my crafting for the moment but I am full of ideas for Christmas and presents.  I hope you are having a fun time too.

Happy Crafting.

A decision had to be made

As long time Granny Crafting followers will know, over the recent year or so I have been looking at how my daughter and I could set up a business using my crafting skills and knowledge.  Out of the original research we decided to set up Katie Chucklemouse and we have had a lot of fun with that.  Unfortunately, as many of my friends and forum friends are aware my mother now needs more of my time.  Add to this the fact that Kate also has some exciting projects which will take up most of her spare time (which with working and a family isn’t much!) I felt it best to end our efforts with Katie Chucklemouse and concentrate in the areas where we are currently needed.

So … we have tucked the little mouse up in a well-padded box and told her it’s time to hibernate.  If Kate finds she has time in the future we will wake her up again and Kate will take over, driving the business forward and I will be readily available to help where I can.

This is not the end of Granny Crafting however.  I will continue to blog my crafting projects, what I learn and whatever I can share with you.

Thank you to all of you who supported us in the enterprise and …

Happy Crafting

Little Box

I have just added a Personalised Stocking to the shop but at the same time I took photos of a little box I made as a Christmas present for a stitching friend (who doesn't "do" computers, thankfully). 

No stitching for this one just sticking but I did find sticking fabric easier than I have found sticking paper!  It needs filling with scissors and other sewing goodies but I put a thimble in the middle and some needles in just to show how it works.

The start of the workshop season …

and last Saturday I went to my first in lovely Pately Bridge.  My attitude to driving caused more mirth within the family when I explained that I enjoyed the journey back more than the journey there but it made sense to me – there is a big drop on my side of the road on the way there!  It's all worth it though because the countyside is stunning.

I was going to the studio of Kirsty Hopkins and I could see from her website that she is a very talented fabric artist but, of course, with a new subject, you really don’t know what it is all about or how you will take to it.  I had been looking into free motion embroidery and wanted to know more and Mum came up trumps with the offer of the workshop as a birthday present.  I have to say it was a wonderful day.  It is a one to one course, well actually one to two as Kirsty’s lovely mum, Charmian, is part of the business too and her input gives you an extra angle with your learning.  This makes it a concentrated day but you cover an awful lot.  There are some really important things to know about when deciding which course to sign up to so I will cover those first.  The tea/coffee is provided unstintingly – most important.  The atmosphere is quiet and very conducive to learning.  Both Kirsty and Charmian are very encouraging which I found really important as I see myself as much more of a crafter than an artist so being able to using this artistically was a bit of a leap of faith. 

I spent the morning and a little bit of the afternoon learning different stiches which would outline or fill parts of a design.   The concentration needed was intense as this is quite a new way to use your sewing machine so prepare to be very tired by the end of the day if you are doing this course – tired but very pleased with what you have learnt in my case.  Finally I used some of the stiches to see just what I could do when making a picture.  This was what I produced.

I can really see me using the tequniques I learned to enhance the applique I am loving doing at the moment.  Kirsty and her mum also told me of courses local to me where I learn how to use free motion embriodery for traditional quilting.  I have booked for one of these and will be telling you about that next week.  It does feel like full on learning at the moment but it will be such a useful skill taking my sewing forward.

I am putting a "page" on the right hand side listing useful courses.  Again, if you know of any in the area please let me know and I will add them.

Happy crafting!