Well, I know it has been a while since our last blog, but the shop and tuition have been busy, which is great.

At the moment we have had to delay the start of our workshops as we have a leak in the roof.  Hopefully won't take too long to fix and then we will post new dates for the workshops, so keep checking back.

I currently have been getting back into projects using felt.  I have been making little flower brooches using an original WW2 make do and mend pattern to  "brighten up your garment", for the re-enacting I do.  But this has got me addicted and have been playing around with needle felting wool roving onto the felt petals to create subtle shading and then carrying on with constructing the brooch. There are no pictures at moment as I keep forgetting to take them!!

Since the last blog, Janome have launched their new top range machine.  The Horizon 12000.  A fantastic machine, I must admit I really like this machine.  The hoop sizes for embroidery are massive, I can easily embroidery panels on a corset in one hooping, I also used the large hoop (11.8" x 9.1"), at Christmas and using the built in lace design stitched out 12 in one hooping, making me instant decorations for the shop.

There are a whole host of new features to the 12000, my two favourite might seem odd but I'll explain why.  The first is, it has 10 white LED lamps in 5 locations, one of which is hidden.  The hidden one is at the top of the machine and you pull forward which angles the light directly onto the sewing needle and foot, and the lights are bright.

The second is the software that allows you to create your own decorative sewing stitches.  Now I first thought that this would be just a gimmick, however having played around with it and created some great decorative stitches, I love it.  We have great fun creating stitches, that match our interests,  I love exploring castles and so I created a row of castle, Jerry loves motor and motorbike racing so we created a row of racing cars!  If you make for family, friends or to sell, the ability to create stitches relevant to the person I think is wonderful, whether for wedding, birthdays or men! etc.

We have a new list of workshops and dates available, they are

Getting more out of your sewing machine - Saturday 10th September 2011 - 10am - 1pm

Free Hand Embroidery - Friday 30th September 2011 - 10am - 1pm

Learn applique - A Christmas Theme - 10am - 1pm

For more details go to http://www.direct-sewingmachines.co.uk/userimages/procart10.htm

Last few days for our next workshop Beginners - learn your machine.  Friday 24th June 2011, 10.00am - 1.00pm.

This workshop is great for all those who may not have sewn for awhile and want a refresher on their machine, or have you been given a machine as a present and don't know where to start, or just unsure whether you will like sewing and would like to give it ago before purchasing a machine.

You will learn how to get straight seams, sewing curved seams with ease, how to overcast and neaten and most importantly getting complete confidence with you machine, learning tensions, needles, how to solve those little stitching problems and threading issues.

We only have 4 places per workshops, so the workshops have a personel feel, and yet are very sociable and relaxed.

To book, go to www.direct-sewingmachines.co.uk/workshop and click on add to cart, or ring 0117 9778216.

New Dates for workshops

Beginners - Learn your sewing machine - Friday 24th June 10.00 am- 1.00 pm. This course is designes for those who have never used a sewing macine before or as a refresher course in their machine or just wanted to see if sewing is for you before investing in a machine. 

Make New From Old - Saturday 9th July 9.30am - 1.00pm. Using old garment you will learn to make a bag, but the main focus of this workshop is designing and planning and how to incorporate existing garment features in new sewn items.

For more information or how to book please follow the link Sewing Workshops.

  This is a technique that I have been using for years and just love.  By satin stitching over thin wire around the edge of the petals, you can create these 3-D flowers by bending the petals back after stitching.

As promised the finished pictures of the cross stitch Union Jack bunting and the finished window.
                                                                                                                                
                                                                     

As the Royal wedding approachs, we are busy planning a red, white and blue window, featuring amongst other things bunting.  The trend for bunting is huge whether for garden parties, wedding or childrens bedrooms so it seemed a must but with a little twist.  I used the Janome MB embroidery software and on the cross stitch pattern, counted in a cross stitch Union Jack and downloaded it to the Janome 250E embroidery machine and stitched it out.  I am so pleased with the result that I had to mention it straight away.  Photo of bunting to come after stitching together.