Monday 24 March 2014

A Day at Sewing for Pleasure.......a couple of makes and new stash.

Hello, how is everyone? I hope you all had a good weekend!!!!!! I'm back today to share my day out at the NEC, with you. My friend, Lyn and I caught the train, early on Thursday morning (well, early for me) to the Sewing for Pleasure show at the NEC in Birmingham. The train was full, so standing room only, full of people commuting to work and fellow crafters on the way to the NEC. Perhaps you are wondering how I know they were on their way to the craft show, well, they'd all got trollies or large bags, in anticipation of filling them by the end of the day, with all the wonderful treats on sale over the four days!!!!!

We grabbed ourselves a cup of coffee to take on the train, to keep our energy levels up through the day and arrived at Birmingham International at about 8.50am. We then trekked from the station to Halls 11-12, it seems to get further away each year and takes about 15 minutes to get there or maybe I'm just getting older!!!

When we reached the halls, people had already started queuing so we joined in line with them, we all got talking to each other, finding out what people were interested in. One lady had travelled all the way down from Carlise for the show. There were workshops to attend over the day but it was on a first come, first serve basis.

There were two free workshops, that we wanted to attend, so when the doors opened at 9.30am, our plan of action was set in motion!!!!! Lyn went one way to book a workshop and I went the other way to book the other one!!!!!

The first workshop we attended was at the Sizzix stand, where we got to sew this beautiful needlecase as Sizzix now sell dies for quilting. The needlecase was a very simple construction, great for a beginner like myself. The large butterfly that we appliquéd onto the front is one of the Sizzix dies, especially for appliquéing.

One of my first purchases were some Sizzix Hexagon dies, I've been wanting to do some English Paper Piecing (EPP) for some time now, but have put it off as I haven't had the time to start all the cutting out. These Sizzix dies have different sized hexagons, just for this purpose, so you buy one to cut the fabric, which gives you a seam allowance and one to cut out the papers. It is so much quicker, you can cut out up to 32 hexagons in one go, depending on the fabric plus they have different sizes that you can mix and match, I went for the 1 1/4" and 1", giving me a 1/4" seam.

After the first workshop, we started looking around the stands, there was so much prettiness in one place and was spoilt for choice. I picked up these gorgeous fabrics at only £2 per fat quarter, I thought these were great value for money and great for Patchwork or EPP.

One of my larger purchses was a large self healing mat, a grid ruler and a rotary cutter as I want to get more into sewing. I've been collecting bits of fabric over the years and I'm going to be taking a Patchwork Quilt workshop, next month, so hopefully will get to use my fabric, over the next few months.

By this time, it was time for my second class, Lyn chose to do a different class to me but I chose to make a baby's bib. The reason, I decided to do this class, is I've recently found out, I'm going to be a Nanny, for the first time!!!!!

This class was sponsored by Vilene but the tutor was Laura from Made Peachy, she was a great teacher and I believe she's going to put all the patterns and instructions for her workshops, on her blog soon. So here's baby's first bib, keeping in mind this was a free class, we were each given a goody bag with a fabric marker, a vintage style mini sewing kit and some iron cleaner!!!!

Speaking of irons, I also bought this table top ironing board and travel iron, the bit of sewing I have done, when I come to iron seams, I have to get the full size board out from downstairs, so spend half my time running up and down. I thought this was a great idea, it tucks down the side of my desk, when it's not in use.

The only yarn I bought was from New Forest Mohair, it is so soft to the touch. They are a lovely couple who keep Angora goats on their small homestead. Last year I bought a skein of 4ply, so this time, I went for a DK weight, I love the colour and can't wait to cast on a project. They also had some mini skeins, all about 20g and at 50p for each one, I couldn't resist, you can see what I picked up in my lace bowl. They will be perfect for co-ordinating borders.

It was a long tiring day, we didn't even sit down for lunch, there was just too much to look at and I ached when I got home but it was a fun day out, I learnt lots and can't wait for the next one!!!!

Have a good week, my friends and thanks for stopping by.

xxxxDebxxxx

 

13 comments:

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

How fun!!!!! I want to learn how to traditional sew so bad!!!! I have been sewing on papers for years ... but I am SUPER failing every time I take the machine to fabric! LOL!!!!

Emma said...

The fabrics you chose are beautiful, very suited to spring! The show sounds fantastic, I might need to find out the dates of the next one! :)

Amy at love made my home said...

Congratulations to you and your family on your exciting news. Glad that you had such a great time, it sounds as though you found all sorts of new things to try out! xx

Unknown said...

How lovely! I would love to go to an event like this, but usually they are too far away! Congrats on your great news.

Unknown said...

Congratulations!!! That is wonderful news! And what a very sweet bib, made with love in every stitch...and no doubt will be a keepsake! Glad you had such a great time, sounds like there was a lot to do, see and learn...Chrissie x

Jo said...

Very jelous deb! Dont forget to buy a sewline glue pen from simply solids to temp glue your paper pieces to the fabric then you can get straight on with the patchwork. They are fab. Gilly told me about them. Jo xx

Joy said...

Well first off - that is wonderful news Deb, warmest congrats to you and your family; exciting times ahead! And what a day you had, I must go back over this post to take more of it in, I have been mesmerised by all your info - AND - if I had had those little shapes at the time I did my paper piecing hexies for the little travel sewing kit, what a lot of time could have been saved!
Beautiful yarn you picked up too, and what a bargain for those colour filled small amounts.
Happy knitting/ sewing, and thanks so much for this post! Cheers, Joy xo

Unknown said...

That sounds like a blast. And how fun to do it with a friend.

Hugs~

Unknown said...

Huge congrats to you and your family Deb, that IS wonderful news indeed! Oh, I can't wait to see all the lovely things you're going to knit for the wee one ;-) Lovely fabrics/stash btw, so pretty! Ira x
Ira’s Crea Corner

Ros Crawford said...

Sounds like a fun day!! Those vintage bobbins you have on your photos ... I have lots of them and more vintage sewing stuff from my Gran's sewing stuff ... bear in mind she would be 121 years old now so they are old! Congrats to you and your daughter too!

Stefanie said...

What a fun class to take. You made two splendid items. The bib is especially cute.

Clare said...

Congrats to you and you're family, the bib is adorable. It looks like you had a wonderful day, and got some wonderful new supplies
Clare x

thesnailgarden said...
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