Christmas Stocking

For the first project using my new sewing machine I decided to make a Christmas Stocking for my great niece who just turned 1 last month. I found the material by Henley Studio in a local sewing shop so purchased it giving me the front of the stocking, I also purchased a coordinating piece for the back and then some plain red material for the lining. I had some wadding already in my limited new sewing stash.

I started off with the tag, and stitched round each section of the tree before sewing the edges m. Next I stitched the lines on the stocking and went round a few of the stars to add some more interest. I created my own loop and binding for the top of the stocking (with some help from YouTube) and then once I had my front and back pieces completed, I stitched the 2 sides together. Instead of adding more binding to the inside seams I used a zigzag stitch to stop the edges from fraying.

I am really thrilled with the finished stocking and this project has given me confidence with my new machine. 

I am delivering the stocking tomorrow night and I hope that Maisie loves it and will keep and use it forever...

Thanks for looking!

Tracey x

New Sewing Machine

Following my crafting weekend last month and my new found love of sewing and fabric, I decided to upgrade and purchased a new sewing machine. Based on recommendations from a couple of my crafting friends I went for a Janome SMD3000 from Sewing Machines Direct, once ordered it arrived the very next day. 

The machine came with a table, scissors plus threads and a few other accessories. I also decided to buy the additional quilters pack which included a walking foot.

Needless to say, I am thrilled with this machine, the set up was easy and I couldn't wait to use it. I created my first project on Sunday and I'll show you the finished piece in my next post.

Thanks for looking!

Tracey x

Fairy Slippers

During my weekend away Barbara had a pattern and article on making Fairy slippers. They looked so beautiful that a couple of us decided to have a go at making our own pair.

Now we didn't really have the supplies but Barbara also had a beautiful piece of painted silk with some pretty shiny sparkly stitching already adde. We attached the material to a piece of red felt and then cut out the two shapes from the template to create each slipper.

I then added some shimmer from a spray made of glimmer and alcohol and attached sequins and beads to the top piece. I stitched several lines on the soles.

Finally I had to hand sew the two pieces together to make each shoe. It was very fiddly and my fingers were still feeling sore the next morning!

They are just so cute, don't you think.

Thanks for looking!

Tracey x

Book Cover

So whilst I was away at my craft weekend last week, the girls were making some book covers for diaries and note books. They had made them at our previous retreats but this was my first time taking a sewing machine and trying some sewing projects for myself. Jacqui and Jo gave me some supplies and Jacqui also lent me her sewing machine for a couple of hours so that I could have a go at using it as I was thinking of upgrading and buying the same model (which I have since done).

Jacqui walked me through the project step by step which started with a piece of felt over which I laid strips of material and ribbon until I was happy with the result (the fabric Jacqui gave me was Tim Holtz so I was in my element)!

Jacqui's sewing machine had some fancy stitches so I spent some time getting to know the machine and adding a mixture of these stitches to my material strips in order to add some interest.

Once the base layer was complete, I added some extra elements just to the front of the book cover.

When I came to stitch the top and bottom edges, I included a piece of dyed ribbon to be used a place holder for a page plus some dyed elastic ribbon to help keep the book closed.

I am so pleased with the finished book cover and my new found love of sewing! I am using the book to note down all my future sewing project ideas and supplies!

Thanks for looking!

Tracey x

Advent Calendar (number 2)

So this time last year I made myself an advent calendar using the 12x12 Kaisercraft kit as the base. Since then I've received lots of comments and decided to make a second but this time for a friend!

Again I used espresso acrylic paint dabbers, brushed corduroy distress ink, gathered twigs distress stain, but this time I chose Graphic 45 'twas The Night Before Christmas papers. I then used twine, gems, pins, tissue paper and glossy accents.

Again I am really pleased with how it's turned out and my friend was absolutely thrilled when I gave it to her tonight.

Thanks for looking!

Tracey x

A new bag

So my first sewing project of the weekend was to create a small bag which was made from a 12x12 square piece of fabric.

Barbara gave me some very pretty fabric with small toadstools on it and I used a cream piece of curtain fabric for the other side. The two pieces were pinned together inside out and stitched around the edge leaving a small space to turn the bag the right way round. I then stitched up the small hole by hand. The fabric was then folded and stitched in ways to create 5 pockets of varying sizes. I added two matching buttons and a hair band to keep the bag closed.

It was a fun project and although I didn't quite follow the pattern with the final folds, I am happy with my little bag.

Thanks for looking!

Tracey x

Christmas Bunting

Well it's been a while since my last blog and to be honest I hardly craft nowadays, but I have just been away on a crafty retreat with my friends this weekend so have a few projects to share. I absolutely love these weekends as it means that I get to craft and spend time with my creative friends at least twice a year!

This time it was suggested the I tried something different as over the last year or so a number of the group have really enjoyed creating projects with their sewing machines. Now my Sister bought me a basic machine for Christmas 2 years ago and I have to confess that it sat in the box until this September at which time I needed to alter a costume for my Spartan Beast obstacle course race.

Anyway I decided to accept the challenge and take my machine but had absolutely no supplies. I found out about a sewing shop in the Town where I work and visited to buy supplies to create some Christmas bunting, I thought this would be an easy first project. They were very helpful and I came away with the 3 items below.

It was daunting being a complete novice and I did have to ask for some guidance and the girls were great help sharing their knowledge, time and materials to help me. To make my life easier I borrowed a flag template plus pinking shears and purchased some plain material and bonderweb to go between the 2 sides of each flag.

I created 20 double-sided flags and spaced them with a 1 inch gap between each flag.

In the end I found my way and I really enjoyed creating something for my home. I have lots to learn but it looks as though I have found myself a new hobbie (that I don't have time for).

*I will insert the photo of the bunting in place once it's hanging up.*

Thanks for looking!

Tracey x

Wendy Vecchi - Make Art in England

ScrapMap recently hosted a trip to England with Wendy Vecchi and on the last day here there was a workshop available for us Brits to attend. Of course I was desperate to go and have had a few Twitter conversation's asking Wendy to come to teach in the UK over the years so I just had to book up and was lucky enough to get a place.

So on Sunday 2nd August I was up very early and along with one of my crafting friends, Jacqui, we travelled to Central London with excitement for the day ahead.

I have to confess to having a few of Wendy's Studio 490 products in my craft room for a while now but I've never really used the art parts or clearly for art so had great expectations of getting some inspiration.

Well I wasn't disappointed, the table was already set out with the project and it looked fab. There were only 40 of us in the workshop and the hotel provided plenty of refreshments throughout the day. Wendy took us through each step as we went along and then we went away and had a go at our own projects before moving on to the next step.

In the morning we altered the box, I used new products and learned new techniques and the completed box is fantastic. No two completed boxes were the same as we had a choice of different ink colours, stamps and stencils (of course I chose brown)!

After a lovely buffet lunch we created 4 beautiful tags, again I used some new products and I learned some great new techniques which I'll definitely be using again! I am so pleased with these four tags and it was great fun creating them. I chose not to venture away from Wendy's originals as I just loved them.

We even got to bring the items in our workshop packs home, thanks to Ranger, Stampers Anonymous and Wendy.

It was an absolutely brilliant day, I got to meet up with some crafting friends and it was wonderful to finally meet Wendy. I loved using her fantastic products and learning some of her great techniques. If ever you get the chance, you should take it up.

Thanks for looking!

Tracey x