Modern Smocking

We had an order from Kuwait this morning! It seems that smocking is popular worldwide! Many people are ordering from Amazon but to be honest it's cheaper to follow the links on the right and go straight to Vivebooks web site, they have an offer of a reduced price for parts on and two...

Or try this one!

https://www.vivebooks.com/product-category/sewing/?affiliates=14

And those of you who have bought, please let me know what you've made and how you get on!

A good smocking day!

I'm having smocking withdrawal symptoms... havn't done any for a while so the thimble's out, suns out and this is my plan for the day today!

Coffee table makeover!

This nest of tables was ready for the tip, old and varnish peeling, they were really cheap and I've had them for years. So, I sanded them down and found a lovely pale grain, cut the front from a Union Jack giftbag, glued it on with wallpaper paste, sanded the edged to make them look old, and used a matt varnish to seal them. Tomorrow they're going to my daughters flat, she loved them!

Sewing room's finished!

Sewing rooms all finished! Can't wait to make a mess of it again!

Half Yard Heaven

My book is at number one in the best new releases home and garden section on Amazon... that's the highest yet and I'm so excited! Number 41 in new releases of all books, including novels!

Update... now at number 30!

Smocking iron on transfers

I've had some iron on transfers made for making grids on fabric easier to mark, they are 35" square and will iron on at least two large grids. They can easily be cut down for smaller projects. They are available from www.thimblelane.co.uk for £4.99, and take the hardest part out of marking your fabric! More details on the web site,

Sewing room makeover

So I had to order a new carpet as the bathroom above leaked. To clear the room was a nightmare, I never knew I had so much 'stuff'! And to try and put it back after fitting was even worse, but I have to admit I've never been so organised! Can't see it lasting though...

Before...

Slowly getting organised...

smocking book update

I think I've crashed the publishers web site! Should be back to normal tomorrow, I'll keep you posted,

Deb

These are some of the designs from the smocking e books... I so enjoyed making these cushions, it's amazing the texture you can create with a bit of thread and some fabric!
Links to the books are in the column opposite...

 Giftwrap

 Four point tiles

Bows

 Bones

 Waves

 Bows

Lattice

Festival of Quilts

Here's some pictures from yesterday...

This is my stage! That was a bit daunting... the hall is huge!

One of my favourite pieces...

Kaffe and Brandon

Hayley West teaching free motion embroidery

One of the more 'simple' designs!

Canadian Smocking

The books finished... it's a wrap! Published on the 1st September with Vivebooks and I can't wait! I hope you'll love it too...

FOQ

I'll be in Hall 9 on the stage on Thursday at the Festival of Quilts, pop over if you're there! I'm interviewing Annabel Rainbow, Alicia Merrett, Kaffe and Brandon between 11.00 and 3. I'm then presenting one of the prizes at 6.00. I'm so looking forward to the day!

Come and say hello if you can!

Keeping you up to date... and a bit of typography!

Not been here for a while but I have been keeping myself really busy! I'm just prepping my 7 o clock show for tonight on the Oekaki sewing machine, I havn't done any free motion embroidery for a few weeks and I'm really enjoying it. I'm combining applique from my Slice.
Oh, and I have a wonderful Brother Innovis 400 to trial for a show next week and I'm besotted with the thing!

I found this image on the internet so thought I'd have a go at making my own... I'll post later if I'm sucessfull!

Here you go... not bad for a first attempt I think!