Stand Still

This week, my crafting has hit a little bit of a brick wall. I have been having problem on top of problem.
On Friday, I finished making my bunting, which I just love, but I finished whilst Mr Bee was still sleeping, so not wanting to waste precious crafting time, I got on and started making a little wallet. Only sewing through a few layers of cotton and then elastic as well, my needle couldn't cope under the strain and snapped. It was my last needle :(
With nothing else that I could do by hand, I made plans to head in to Leicester to get a replacement needle. However, I was mis-sold some truly awful needles, all of which broke almost immediately.

So I dug out Clive, to try and carry on my project, however I was having problems with the stitches. So basically, I had to wait to get some more needles for Percy. What a palarva!

This morning, I went to the Sewing Cafe in Hinckley, for some advice. We came to the conclusion that the machine needed special needles, not just universal ones. So I called Nana Bee, who was in town at the time and asked her to have a word with a specialist in John Lewis, and she brought some needles back for me.

They still weren't right though, they were falling out of the hole. So I asked Papa Bee to have a look, and after a bit of tinkering, he managed to get it in there and working. So 4 days later, I managed to get my cute little wallet finished!

Here she is:

Made from the beautiful fabric that I found at the Sewing Cafe, I love it so much I have bought some more :)

Latest Makes

Christmas Bunting

 Floral and Polka Dot Cushion

'Stocking' Decoration

All of the featured items have been made using fabrics that I have picked up from 'The Sewing Cafe' on Castle Street in Hinckley. It is such a lovely little shop, with the most beautiful selection of fabrics and bits and bobs. I purchased the christmassy fabric and the floral/polka dot fabric when I did the Sewing Machine Cosy course, and have been dying to use them! I nipped in the other day to pick up some more felt to get creating!
I am really pleased with the 'Noel' bunting, I am going to make a couple more for my craft fairs. If you are interested in purchasing any of my makes, please visit my Facebook page :)

With the left over floral and polka dot fabric, I started sewing a little wallet, however it bent the needle on poor old Percy :( Which means I will have to pop into John Lewis in the morning for a new one. I was totally in the zone though, so dug out Clive from the wardrobe. However he didn't want to cooperate either, so it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Clive

The Sewing Cafe

Last Tuesday evening, I went down to the Sewing Cafe in Hinckley for an evening tutorial class. I had never even visited the shop before, but the prospect of making a sewing machine cosy was very inviting. 

When I got there, I was invited to choose the fabric that I wanted for my cosy and a ribbon to match. Then we went into the back room with all the machines.

I think I fell in love! With the place, the machines, the fabric, everything! I had such a fun time making my little cosy, even though I think that next time I would do a more challenging course.

The sewing machines were such a beauty to use, very simple to get the hang of, it didn't need any introduction for me. I am confident that I could use one again for various things. I intend to visit again when I want to do some quilting, as it will be much easier with their machines!

So here is my finished product, Percy's little cosy. I do have plans to tweak the cover slightly, as Percy is only a mini and I can take him where I need to. I plan to put some buttons around the bottom edge and create some straps so that I can button the strap on to make it into a bag, 2 in 1!

Of course, a shop as lovely as the Sewing Cafe was full of wonderful goodies and I couldn't leave without taking a few things home with me.

Such beautiful fabrics, brand new in floral and polkadot fat quarters which I will put to good use I hope. Also a bundle of Christmas fabrics which are just stunning and a roll of christmas coloured felt. All in mind for getting ready for my Christmas craft fair.

My craft area seems to be well stocked at the moment, with lots of new things, a bundle of Cath Kidston fabrics, my new things from the Sewing Cafe, this months Mollie Makes magazine with coverable buttons, and some dies for my Big Shot machine which should be arriving tomorrow! Although I have taken a little break from crafting since my fair, it certainly has been exciting, I can't wait to get started for Christmas!