Craft Day!

Our Craft Days are always action packed and Saturday the 9th of November was one of our best days. There was a real buzz about the place with lots of laughter in the air. I am not at liberty to reveal the source of the horse laughs but rumours abound!!!!!!!

Magda was very busy with her crochet class. Everyone received personal tuition in learning to start a piece of work without using the foundation chain.

Izzy was was full of great ideas and boundless patience when she led her classes. At this point she was explaining how to do a simple form of free motion quilting to embellish a zipper bag. As you know, many people have bought sewing machines over the last two years or more because they have been inspired by Izzy to have a go.

Caroline had Roberta really intrigued by her crochet project which included adding beads as she went along. The completed Christmas Tree gift bag was stunning!

Dawn got some assistance with her hand sewing project which is a Christmas present for someone. Terribly hush hush! But if you ask her nicely, she tell you about it.

Donna was busy working on a baby quilt for her little girl. Hopefully, Donna will bring the stunning little quilt in when it is complete. You will be impressed!

Aileen brought one of her finishes on Saturday. This lovely little vest dress is actually a vest that has been altered and added to. Izzy's influence strikes again!

As requested, I've attempted to create a step by step guide of the Lavender bags, designed by Izzy, for the those who were unable to be there on Saturday. Firstly, cut a rectangle of fabric approximately 9 inches by 6 inches.

Next, do a zigzag stitch along each edge to prevent fraying and then fold one of the long sides in by about 1.5 inches. Sew it in place using a quarter inch seam.

Then, fold a ribbon in half and pin below the seam on the right side of the work.

Fold the bag over, right sides together. Please ensure that the ribbon ends are sticking out as shown. Sew down one side only and stop.

Finger press the seam open and then turn the the fabric as above. Sew along the bottom seam. Press. Fill with lavender.

Fran proudly displays her completed lavender bag. Another make to take home!

 Lyn arrived from Hobbycraft in the afternoon to do her class and brought Pudsey Bear along to join in the fun. He had great fun with the sewing machine but for some reason he was unable to master knitting!

Donna managed to spare some time from her sewing to participate in Lyn's class. This was the only time this crowd were quiet. Look at the concentration on their faces! Norma was well pleased with her make!

Back at the sewing machines ...... Izzy thought there was just enough time to make Mug Rugs with some of the scrap fabric from her stash. She gave a masterclass on how to attach a binding and create sharp corners.

This Mug Rug was almost complete in under one hour.

Caroline was delighted to show her little Christmas Tree decorations. Altogether now......Ahhhhh! Sweet!

If you feel inspired and would like to come along to our next craft day just add your name to the list whenever a new date is announced. You won't regret it!

Christmas Craft Day Part 3.

This was our impromptu demonstration. Dawn was showing Donna how to use embossing powder when stamping. So of course we all had a look.

First you used a clear ink pad and place the stamp on the card. You then gently sprinkle embossing powder over the wet ink.

Take away the excess powder and you should be left with an image as demonstrated by Dawn.

You then carefully heat the powder until it has a sheen to it.

Voila! One finished stamp with a metallic sheen. I have to confess I always wondered how that was done. Gives it a professional finish.

We also had some sewing lessons. I think you have already seen this one of Isabel being taught by Alison. Izzi was also up there at one point helping Donna and her sister Julie.

Zuzanna also wanted to have a go so Alison gave her a hand as she practiced on some scrap fabric.

This is what Donna and Julie have been working on. I think this is more Julie's project. Donna plans to stitch an advent calendar for baby Abigail.

Freya brought along her decoupage kit and I couldn't resist taking a photo as she worked on it.

 Here Freya is helping to show Zuzanna how to do it.

In between people were working on their own projects. Lots of knitting going on but a few non-knitting projects too. This is Caroline's set up. I was impressed with how organised she is. These are packs she set up so that on the day all she had to do was sew them together.

Izzi has also been working away the last few weeks for a friend. Her friend has a dolls house and previously she stitched a rug for her. Now she is working on a carpet. I had to take a photo because of the intricate details. Would you believe that Izzi hates cross stitch? I can't wait to see it finished.

Just one last post to go, I promise. That one will contain some finishes.

Christmas Craft Day Part 2.

Elaine once again delighted us with her baking. Once again she developed a class where she did the baking and then taught us how to decorate. This meant that no matter what the end result it would still taste good. This time it involved making Christmas tree cookies. This was her prototype but she suggested you could lather the icing on each layer or (if it was runny enough) pour it over the cookie tree to make it look like snow.

Photo of those cookies before we got our hands on them.

Elaine demonstrating layering the cookies.

What tree isn't complete without stars, tinsel and baubles.

Both Izzi and Alison decided to go with a green Christmas tree.

Margaret and Aileen went with the white.

Some finished cookie trees. I think that these ones were done by Izzi and Aileen.

Freya, Janice and Zuzanna had a go too.

Zuzanna with her finished Christmas tree cookie. I can safely say that she did a better job than I did. As talented as her mum.

The second lesson of the afternoon was the napkin folding by Alison. This was the same lesson as last year but not everyone made it along and a some of us needed a reminder.

Elaine following Alison's instructions.

Margaret's finished basket.

There were other lessons going on through out the day. Everyone is very aware of Isabel's amazing little projects. She finds a quick one and latches onto it (and has trouble giving the results away). Her little bunnies and the charity teds are just a couple of examples. When she saw Alison and Roberta's finished advent calendars she thought she would be done in a couple of hours.

However, poor Isabel was made to work.....

.....and work.....

....and it's still not done. Can you tell she's not amused? The end result will be well worth it though.

I have a couple of more posts to do and then I am done. More impromptu demonstrations, some finishes and a few photo's of projects in progress.