The Make and Do Studio

Spring, the BBC and I should have posted this earlier!

I really should have posted this a few weeks ago.....but for whatever reason, things just got too busy.

It is about my movie debut on the BBC!

I was asked to attend the launch for the Webwise website (which the film was part of) at the new BBC Media City in Manchester. I didn't really have time to think too much about it as the invitation came at a really busy point in my week, but when we got to the brand-new just out of the box premises, I realised that it was a proper launch.

With wine and food.

And the head of BBC North.

And all the people involved with the creation of it.

As my friend (who came along as my plus one) Jane pointed out, maybe we should have put on more than a pair of jeans. But I really am a "pair of jeans "girl and so is Jane. However, we did think to take a camera so Jane took some photos for me to share.

The weather on the night was gorgeous - one of those warm springsummeriscoming days. 

Someone told me that the inside of the building looks alot like a hotel...and it does!  

The circles that you see are actually meeting area's for two - they appear to have really utilised the "hot desking" mentality and many of the sections are set up for imptomptu meetings. 

The one thing that also took me a bit by surprise is that they created an installment to compliment the series - here I am by my little part of it (I look like I am holding a burp in... I assure you I was not!).

Okay, for the actual video, click on the photo below, it opens up a webpage and press number 11.

That is us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What a great experience  - how lucky am I?

 

Winter - it's all in the way you look at it!

I have been so busy that I suddenly noticed...it is winter!

"The Invincible Summer," a quote print by Matthew Kavan Brooks for Society6

You could forgive me for not noticing it as much as the weather has been so mild that one would, at times, confuse it with Spring. But I also have been so busy....obviously not blogging you may have noticed!  But in my defense, I really have been busy:

 - being filmed by the BBC!  Okay - if you have been following the Studio on Facebook and Twitter you will be sick of me going on about it but it was such a great experience that I feel a bit like I need to shout it from the rooftops!  The five minute movie will be ready for on-line viewing sometime the end of February or March. I am in a bit of a hiatus whlist it gets edited but I really want to have fun with it when it does finally become available.  I am thinking I may have to do a movie premiere locally - when will I ever get this opportunity again I ask?  

- I have started writing a section for the Crafty Network called This Crafty Business- which started after a few conversations with the ladies who run the Crafty Network about wanting to include a business section but one that is focused on the special needs of small,creative businesses. I love being crafty but there is a part of me that loves how technology makes it so much easier to own and run a small business - from blogging. to photo editing to using something like Folksy - all of these are essential to running a small business and technology and the introduction of software for the small business arena has made it possible.  I want to make sure that anyone who is starting a business does so with the best possible chance and that is what technology will give you!

- I have added a few additional workshops based on feedback from folks - Loopy about Crochet and a sweet little workshop on Basic Alterations.  These two have been a long time in getting organised as I couldn't seem to find people to do them and suddenly, like busses, two arrived at once!

-and to help make the winter a little more bearable, we will be having Open Craft Night at Coffee au Clay - a local ceramic arts studio - the third Thursday of each month. But just to be a bit awkward - the first one will be 26 January and is an open night kind of night - people can come and meet the tutors and see what the Open Craft Night is about. I will post more details next week on Facebook and Twitter.....watch this space!

So please forgive me for my lack of contact......maybe 2012 is the year I blog with vengeance? 

 

Sh*t I love this post....but you may want to close your ears!

I saw this post from BrandCamp and oh, how it rang true!  

You can read the rest (expletives included!) clicking on this link but anyone that knows me, knows that swearing has helped me get through some rough patches. At my previous job, I worked in an office with two men who were not un-used to the odd swear word over the monitor, but when it was really getting sticky (like in the middle of my divorce), the words flew thick and fast.  So much so, one of my office mates asked me if I had swearing related tourettes symptoms!

But I have discovered that it acts as a release....when I feel like it is all getting just a wee too much and that "here comes overwhelming" knocking on me door, it just makes me feel....better. And better=stronger. 

And when something makes me feel stronger, it does help me tap into that creativity.  

If you happen to be in ear shot of me when I am on a good rant. I apologise in advance.

The only thing I can say in my defense.....I learned it from my very creative mother!

 

 

Your sewing machine is your best friend....treat it that way!

I love, love, love sewing machines - old, new, reconditioned, etc. We have our Lending Stitches programme, where we happily (and most importantly - freely!) loan out sewing machines - these have been given to me by the general public and are a bit like a lending library of sewing machines.

But all sewing machines - not just the older ones that have been given to me -  need TLC to keep on chugging, and when I saw this blog post  The #1 Reason Sewing Machines End up in the Shop - from the very useful website Prudent Baby, I wanted to pass it along to you.  Take a peak and see if it saves you from an unnecessary trip to have your machine looked at! 

Can I also add a few extra tips that I feel are important  - firstly, use good thread!  Anyone who takes my All You Need to Know to Sew workshop knows how I feel about having good thread.  It doesn't leave that dust that cheap thread does - it is like a fine mist of dust that gathers around the needle of the machine as well as inside around the bobbin casing. Eventually, this dust makes its way inside the machine and that is when it can start to act up. I do suggest Guterman as that has always worked for me....but feel free to suggest other cotton if you feel that it does the job for you!

And I strongly suggest that you educate yourself about your machine before you take it in for a service or a "looking at".  I have a five point check system that I show people that allows them to troubleshoot what the problem may before they take it in.....perhaps that will be for a later post!

 

It's a bank holiday weekend - follow your bliss!

From a quirky ETSY shop magalerie....what I really love is the South of France feel that Anne (the photographer/owner of Magalerie) has in the photos she takes.  

Whether you are here in the UK or decide to go elsewhere, have a great weekend folks!  

Want to order your fabric on-line? Here are some helpful hints...

I love the website Whipstitch - I have been following the progress of her bricks and mortar shop in Atlanta, Georgia as well as dipped in and out of her book Stitch by Stitch. If I had the time and the resources, hers is the business model I would look to emulate!. She had a posting via another website I love - Made by Rae about how to shop for fabric online I thought worth pointing your way...

For the rest of the post, click here...

I thought that point number three about drape (I tried to explain this concept to Vicky in my dressmaking workshop last week and this does it better) and point number five (I always check the selvedge for who produces the fabric so that I can "follow" it if I really like it) were ones worth paying attention to.  

Off to sew some bags today (starting to get ready for a our summer change of direction....but all good!)  - hope this was helpful or at least gave you an excuse to stop and have a cup of coffee!

 

Part 2 - want to know my OTHER favourite (small!) on-line shop!

Just back from a few restful days in Edinburgh and am getting ready for our workshops that we have coming down the pipeline - the next one is the Dressmaking Isn't Rocket Science on Wednesday. For this workshop, I use the pattern Schoolhouse Tunic from an American company called Sew Liberated via the Backstitch website.

The package came delivered the next day via First Class post, wrapped in paper with a lovely ribbon and Backstitch sticker holding it all together. I was impressed with the care taken for such a small order - and the fact that she had the pattern in stock! Her price was great too.

They also have a fantastic selection of fabrics - and the website is a breeze to get around.  

What more could a modern day sewer ask for?  Oh - I know - she is on Facebook and also on Twitter @BackstitchShop -  so there you go...

Hope you all have a great weekend and get some sewing/crafting/creating time in!

 

If I am thinking of sewing this dress, I must be on the mend!

I must be feeling better as I think I am going to have a go at this really simple pattern found at Oopsey Daisy  for her simple Paper Bag Dress. 

I have moved from "no sew" mode to "low sew" as this does look really simple. I always wonder if this will make me look......well, like a telephone box as it looks as if it might be slightly on the shapeless side. If I make it, I will try and post a photo so you can decide for yourself!

It is a lo-sew day here at the Studio!

I am still trying to kick this cold so am on low output this week. However, I did see a few postings about bunting, that involved ++no sewing++, so thought I would post it as a "lo sew/no sew item".

I had a posting last summer, where you could print individual letters on paper bunting and then string them together to make what ever word(s) you want. Great for birthday parties when you want to be a bit different! Want to up the anty on bunting this spring season? How about this great complimentary bunting, brought to you by Jennifer Jones at How about Orange. You can download the PDF here

And if you just can't get enough of the bunting thing, instructions for making a bunting birthday card can be found at the lemmemakeit blog.  

Have fun! I am off to blow my nose....

In the know - creatively at least!

Good morning everyone!

For those of you that have a lunar calendar that is guided not by the moon, but the school holidays, today is the first day of two weeks of holiday for the little scampers. I like to take this time to regroup but as I am not feeling 100% - I had a really busy few weeks and I think may have overdone it - I am looking forward to getting back to healthy again.  Plus I have so many e-mails to reply to that it is untrue! However, I thought I would post a few things that I think are helpful, interesting and related to crafting... please let me know if you found them useful and I will keep on the hunt for other items of similiar interest!

• I love the fact that e-magazines/digital magazines are gaining in popularity (I miss the wide variety of creative magazines that you get at book stores in American - wahhh!)  and I thought it was worth pointing out Nuno, the Spring issue is called Rustle.  It is a bit quirky and combines crafting with eco sensibility - I really like the felted rock ring in the issue before this one (might have to get Beryl to have a go at that one!).
• Want to know how I keep from going crazy when tracking all the blogs I read?  Bloglovin !  It has a lovely interface and allows me to break the blogs down into sections like "sewing, creative, felting, children" etc so that they get put in the categories I need to have them in to make any sense.  
• Here at the Studio, we have had so many people come through our doors who have learned a craft, and is some cases, they have gone on to take their craft and make it available to the wide world via etsy, folksy etc.  Starting and running a small, creative business can be the most rewarding and at the same time, exhausting venture that you can be involved with. You have to wear so many hats that times you aren't sure which hat is on and what it is doing there!  However, about four monthes ago, we started the Creative Co-Operative, whose mission is "to support small creative businesses by establishing  a collaborative environment in which to share ideas and  provide hands on help for problems unique to being an independent business owner". We had a workshop style meeting last week about using the web and Wendy, who owns 1stuniquegifts, wrote a better write up than I ever could about the evening, via her blog.  If you want to come along to any of the get togethers, please e-mail me or better yet, just like either the Make and Do FB page or the Creative Cooperative FB Page and you will get the FB updates.

 I think that is enough blather for now - please feel free to comment on anything posted here as I like to hear your comments!