Robson & Mason - Haberdashery and Home.

happy Easter!

Handmade birthday and Easter cards! I hope that you all have a lovely Easter, and have fun decorating cards, eggs and baskets. 

everyday colour

I spent 5 minutes outside today, and was amazed by all the beautiful colours, inspiring.

Inspiration really is everywhere.

Review of: Toyota Design For Living ES21 Sewing Machine.

The guys at Toyota kindly sent me this beautiful machine to review and use to demonstrate here I was really excited and I can say I wasn't dissapointed it's the best machine I've used in a long time, and it only costs £99.00 inc. Delivery.

I think it's great for this credit crunch period, when lots of crafty people are trying to sew their clothes, and make things to sell, or maybe customise something old.

It actually comes in several other designs (See Here)- but i actually chose 'In Bloom'  as I think it's the prettiest, and will look most at home on the new bookcase. A bonus about being so pretty is it now lives in the Lounge along with all the colourful books I have.

( The other designs to choose from- I must admit it was a close tie with Tropical)

I was actually very suprised when I unpacked it, how perfect the size is! It weighs enough, not too light so it  bounces all over the table when going at a quick pace, but at the same time it's not so heavy you struggle to lift it. (It weighs 7.5Kg)

When I started to use it, the first thing I needed to make was a Tutu for a little Girls Birthday, it glided through two layers of elastic and 8 Layers of tulle, but the thing that delighted me most was the way it is so whisper quiet compared to my other 2 machines!

The bobbin was easy to load, the stitch selector was easy to read, a brilliant machine for an experienced sewer or a novice.

 

The Machine also includes:

• Free-arm by removing accessory box which is great for sewing sleeves and smaller items.
• Changing foot with clip
• Extra high lift presser foot for sewing thicker materials
• Compact electronic foot control which is nice and wide and very responsive.
  
• A Bright Sewing light
• Extra length straight stitch (5mm)
• 21 stitch programmes including 4 step buttonholes and stretch stitches
• Buttonhole balance compensation control
• Push lever reverse for going back and fourth, reinforcement.
  
• Built in tension control featuring simple 'follow the arrows' threading- so you never forget how to thread!
  
• Clip on presser foot, no need for tools, just clips on in one easy step!
  
• Fabric range: fine, medium, heavy including: quilting, denim, leather, suede, curtains and soft furnishings- So far I've sewn a range of thicker fabrics, t-shirts, tulle, silk and cottons.
  

The accessories included in the £99 also was really delightful, it includes:

• Zigzag sewing foot
• Bobbin (3 pcs) and one already loaded with thread.
• Zipper foot
• Standard needles
• Buttonhole foot
• Ball point needle 
• Buttonhole cutter
• Screw driver (small)
• Needle plate screw driver
• Spool pin (fitted)
• Oiler

The only thing I do miss is a thread cutter on the left side of the arm, but hey?! I have scissors right!

Overall, a beautiful, powerful and perfect machine which does everything you want it to.

(If you buy one, leave me a comment  I'd love to see your machine on your blog!)

New Designers 09

I know it's early, but I wondered who will be attending this years New Designers? 

Let me  know if you're going to be there, as I'd love to stop by and say 'Hello'- 

My good friend, Samantha is going to be there, and I will be posting photos of the event.

 

( Wearing Samantha's work, I know the pictures are back to front, that's a Mac camera for you!)

Design rights, Samantha Beeston Design.

colourful March....

( No I didn't grow the Pineapple, unlike the beautiful flowers. But it looked so pretty sitting in the sunshine. I hope it tastes as good as it looks.)

{home} What's in my fabric pile?

Since I showed you the fabric pile, I thought only fair, to show you the favourites.
I sometimes buy fabric, and then decide that i can't find anything 'nice enough' to actually make.( Silly - I know) So sometimes- it just sits there, looking pretty in a beautiful pile.

However- this should soon be different, with the new things that are happening I have a feeling the fabrics going to be used very soon!

I actually have been buying new fabrics, for the upcoming projects I have in mind. Fabrics that were meant the be delivered on Friday, that didn't arrive, then the fabrics were meant to be here for a FedEx Saturday delivery- but still no sign? I wonder where they might be?

Cute hey?

{home} sunshine through my window, that's what you are.

It really feels like Spring is here, hooray. It's my oldest and dearest  friends birthday soon, the weathers improving, and in general it feels more Spring-y. Although I adore the snow, and cold as you know, I do like some sunshine too- I loved this Sunshine streaming through my window- just wonderful.

And then, I went into our indoor garden aka the Bathroom, which is full of plants (mostly Orchids, as I collect them and have lots of them throughout the house) and saw this happy face covered in dainty water droplets.

I can almost taste the summer days around the corner, sunshine and beach-huts, mackerel fishing on the beach at 4pm, out on the boats on the weekend for sea trips, and other things I hold close to my heart. Summer I'm waiting...

{home} Weekend Sortings.

So, do you ever get in the mood, where you decide that your crafting stuff / fabrics/ threads/everything needs sorting out? Hmmm. Yes. I do. And I did,

I started by pressing the fabrics on my iron press ( if you haven't got an Iron Press- your mad! - ok maybe not litterally, but they make Ironing/Pressing so much quicker and easier) I pressed them all into rectangles and then stacked them, and they looked so neat and fun piled together.

I then canned/ Kilner Jarred my threads, which is pleasing on the eye, but also very useful to. It's also great as the jars are inexpensive and can be reused.

What do you use to store your crafting goodness?

{home} New!

New exciting things are happening here, the last blog described one of them.

I now have new fabrics:

A large pile, full of exciting fabrics, just asking to be sewn. I love the pink and white star one best I think, it's just so simple yet fun.
The weather  today is gloomy, but whilst having lunch, sitting next to some colourful fabrics makes the day good enough for me.

I also have some silks, for an upcoming project, I'm just dying to get my hands on.
Sorry I can't tell you much yet, but it will only be a couple of weeks and I can reveal all.

I also have a new bookcase, I've been needing one since we moved into our home 2 1/2 years ago, but I just haven't gotten round to getting one. All the furniture in my home is Solid Oak, mostly very sleek and simple, and I was worried about getting a dark bookcase, so I colour-coded them last night until 11.30pm to make it feel more 'us' ( you know when it just feels like it belongs in your home?) and now the selves zoom from Purple through to Yellow, passing thought pink and orange inbetween.

I just took a quick snap shot of it whist sitting early early this morning. ( I bet you're all trying to read what books are on the shelves aren't you! ) - something I always always do when I'm flicking through magazines!

Any books I should know about? Recommend me some in the comments!

eeeping with excitement.

Whenever I'd thrilled with excitement, I have a habit of making an 'Eeeeep' sound to express the excitement, well yesterday was one of those moments.

I can't really mention it all yet- but I can tell you I'm going to be writing  very special Craft/ Sewing things very soon. Right now, I am searching for fabrics, trimmings, colour schemes and other fun and exciting things!

I really wish I could tell you more! I will be back when I can with the whole news....

And here's a photo of my new Orchid, if you needed a bit of colour today: