Juggling pyramids and other things

Well the weather outside is frightful but the fire is so delightful... Sorry! With this weather, though, it feels like it's nearly Christmas!

I've been catching up with a bunch of UFOs (unfinished objects) and I think it's going well.

 

- I've been sewing up a tote bag with a Hot Hot Heat (videos) gig shirt logo I've had since 2004. I added fringing I bought last year and it makes it look quite BoHo.

 

 

- Yesterday I prepared a square of camp blanket to show my Scouts how to sew their names, sew on a badge, do blanket stitch, and maybe how to do a surgical suture on some wool cloth (if we have time!). I had thought of doing it with real pig flesh but then my common sense kicked in saying, "that's horrendous."

 

- I also (wow) found the foot for my sewing machine, FINALLY! My sewing room is so much like a lumber room, 'thing wanted always buried.'

 

- I am so excited to be using my Tweed, which was destined to be a quilt (but hey, destinies change), which I've sewn into some pyramid-shaped juggling balls and they look fab!

 

 

 

- Check out this knife sheath I have made too! My first foray into leatherwork but I think it's quite snazzy. It's great for my antler-handled work knife from Big Beynon's Blacksmithing 

 

 

Tonight I'm going to give my waistcoat a go and see if I can't finish that then sew up some mini wallhangings to paint, for work. I'm still working on some slings but I'm not too sure about how the pouches will work: Sigh. Woven or just sewing plaits together or maybe leather? So that's a good challenge and I'll figure it out! 

 

At least I have ticked quite a lot off the to-do list; I even managed to go to the cinema this week. Check me out!

 

Enjoy your projects whatever they may be! Always excited to hear what you are all working on too :)

Craft bags for my Knitters

Craft bags with all the stuff you'll need for "knit your own Blanket Square" workshop at Cherry Reds in Birmingham, UK.

Get more details on our events page or on our Facebook page

Workshop research

I'm really excited about the craft workshop I am running on Sunday. Although I am completely organised for what we will do at my Knit your own blanket square workshop, I always like to trawl the internet for a bit of extra insight about how it might go. I'm always finding great ideas for future workshops on Pinterest or by discussing ideas with friends!

If you're thinking of organising a craft workshop in your area, here is a useful link I found on Folksy - 3 Tips for running your own craft workshop.

I might test the knitting workshop on my dad. Always a useful guinea pig. I've also seen a Batman knitted square pattern that I'd like to try out before the weekend! I made my brother-in-law some Iron Man gloves recently and they seemed to go down well! I'm thinking for the next fingerless gloves I make I'll add fleece!

Tabletop success

Great Tabletop Sale today!

It seems a long time in the making but it's finally here! Idea to fruition in 3 months. I've really enjoyed organising and being part of the local community through Scouts and I think we'll do this event again! There was really positive feedback and lots to evaluate and improve on!

I had some brilliant helpers and everyone made it such a success by donating prizes, helping to put up tables, being so friendly, being able to promote their businesses, buying raffle tickets and serving drinks. This all adds up and means that we can maintain our building and get more inventive with Scouts activities like the one we put on last night!

Brilliant Tabletop Sale today and it was so much fun to organise and be part of! #Scouts #fundraising #events #projects #community #WythallPark #venue #eventplanner #eventsplanner #outdoors #raffleprizes #TransformingU #DaviesTimber #BahHumbugEarlswood

A photo posted by Alex Laight (@bodicea25) on Jan 31, 2015 at 8:50am PST

A big shout out to everyone who had tables, helped out + visited our Tabletop Sale @WythallPark today #1stTidburyGreen #Scouts #fundraising
— Alex Laight (@AlexandraLaight) January 31, 2015

PART THREE: Chevron style St. Clements quilt

So, woo hoo! I've sewn up 3 columns. 3 down, 2 to go! 

Then life happened and I think I left it on the side in my sewing room whilst I pottered about with other projects and more admin-y type things - the joys of making spreadsheets so that I can actually make my crazy craft workshops work for me financially: slowly but surely. I also talked to an Artist about exchanging French lessons for Batik classes and I am quite excited about that! We also discussed "Man Sheds" which I may blog about later on :)

Right, so what was I saying? Oh yes, once you have your 5 quilt columns sitting on your desk looking fab, but a bit floopy, ... well, what do you think?! You iron your seams! :) Yay! 

Ok, I promise no more waxing lyrical about ironing....

...Still... they look pretty ace all ironed and flat, right?

 ///GOES OFF TO MAKE A CUP OF TEA; EAT A NUTELLA SPOON AND SEE WHAT STAGE HER COLUMNS ARE AT, THEN DOES A BIT OF IRONING OF SEAMS (OH YEAH!) THEN COMES BACK TO WRITE BLOG///