The Joy of Sew

Morning all! Today's How-Tuesday is all about how to save yourself a packet on a truly MAHOOSIVE range of fabrics - as long as you live near Walthamstow that is...

Alright, Joy of Sewers? I subscribe to a few blogs these days, probably to a few more than I should given how busy I am supposed to be, but there are a few which I return to often. A common theme this New Year has, of course, been new starts and fresh thinking. About changing your outlook to make the most of all the time you have at your disposal. About getting your groove back. Here are a few fab bulletins from the craft frontlines on this theme:

Isn't this a lovely thing?  I found it here.   I want one.  I'm just saying, is all. How far would you go to fit in your "hobby/wish-it-was-my-real-job" around your busy life? S x

Aye-aye shipmates. Yup, it's How-Tuesday - hasn't the week gone fast? I got given one of this kind of bag for Christmas by a very sweet work colleague and I LOVE it!  Seems like a perfect idea for a tute, I thought to myself.

hi loves Quite a few of the craft sites I'm keeping tabs on are full of Valentines Day craft projects.  Give what you love - and in my humble opinion it's got to be handmade, either by you or by someone whose work you rate.  As well as the trad hearts and flowers stuff, there is some genuinely funky and beautiful stuff to be had, as well as a growing anti-Valentine movement out there (s ome of which is a little gothy and hate-filled for my liking, but there are some funny things too). So hunt out or make something for that special someone (or someones...) which will allow you to express your love for them in an original and beautiful way.  It's not all about the money, money, money. So, I vote for less of this kind of sub-Clintons tut <shudder>: 

Some pretty serious sewing went on here, as you can see. The girls came round yesterday evening with their machines and a few projects in mind.  We cracked open the Mateus and the Maltesers and got our craft on! As well as laughing, drinking and nattering, we created between us, in the space of about 3 hours:

What ho, JoS chums! Well, for ages now I have been browsing that interweb they have now to try and purchase some of this amazing fabric.  "Some African what is that now?", I hear you say...  It's vibrant, stiff cotton used extensively to make West African formal outfits.  Go forth and Google it, I say! There are lots of outlets online but I couldn't choose and I really wanted to see and handle it before I committed myself.  Some of the patterns are so bright and in yer face, that photos really can't do them justice. I havered and dithered. Then late last week, as I marched back from work through the cold to collect the Little Boy from nursery, I passed a local dry-cleaners and noticed for the first time in the 3 years of passing it that it SOLD WAX FABRIC!  I'd seen that it seemed to specialise in cleaning the amazing formal clothes made from this stuff - they are hung all over the walls of this tiny store - but never before spotted th...

Morning my lovelies Today I though I'd bring you a lovely tutorial which I found on one of my favourite blogs, How About Orange . It's for a clever and extremely cute coin purse which is entirely made out of a zip! It requires hand sewing, a long long zip and some mind-bending spatial awareness. This month's edition of Mollie Makes mag has some super-cute ribbon as a freebie, so I may give it a go. If you don't hear from me for a bit, perhaps one of you could pop round and cut me free...

Evening, Joy of Sewers! I knocked up these A6 machine-sewn cards using some gorgeous mustard-coloured handmade paper, which my lovely mother-in-law gave me for Christmas, and some purple thread.  Super quick to make - so quick, in fact, that I also had time to write in them and have now written and even posted ALL our Christmas thank yous.  This is a personal best (well, at least since the days of childhood when I was forced on pain of death  - or confiscation of Sindy dolls, much worse - to write them all on Boxing Day, usually while 'Genevieve' was on telly, if memory serves). Anyway, I am VERY pleased with myself. I'm considering refining these a bit and adding them to my Etsy store.  Do you like them?  How much would you pay for a set of 5 with envelopes?  Ping me a comment, would you, loves? Mwah! S x

Just found these lovely things on Etsy by a very gifted lady from Dundee called Nikki McWilliams. http://www.etsy.com/listing/52886091/tunnocks-teacake-screen-printed-cushion http://www.etsy.com/listing/75431505/tunnocks-caramel-wafer-screen-printed?ref=pr_shop Cushions and cakes, what's not to love?  If you're ever wondering what to get me as a gift, look no further... Find her here: www.nikkimcwilliams.blogspot.com www.twitter.com/nikkimcwilliams www.facebook.com/NikkiMcWilliamsDesign Laters, my lovelies S x

Well, I'd like to spread the love today.  A few words about two women of my acquaintance who exhibit admirable craftiness and style: Nikki Simms of Modern Maker and Sara Jackson,  my friend and neighbour, who is not selling her stuff... Yet...  In fact she'll probably come over and beat me up for even MENTIONING it.  Sorry, mate, just had to.

See this AMAZING haberdashery website: http://merchantandmills.com/ .  I am in danger of electrocuting myself due to the copious volumes of admiring drool on my keyboard... S x

Chin-chin, Joy of Sewers! Do take a moment to check out the latest product in my Etsy store - only one set of these gorgeous vintage fabric napkins remains.  How perfect for a hostess or house-warming gift, or to grace your own table, you lovely people. Click here  to view the listing in my store. Dive in, darlings - ooh and happy New Year! S x