Make a Skirt Workshop

We are delighted that our friend Diana Uprichard will be holding a Make a Skirt Workshop at the Patchwork Dog and Basket in Lewes. It will be held in two sessions on Tuesday 5th July 6-8pm and Tuesday 12th July 6-8pm. 

So if you need a new skirt or just need to brush up on your sewing skills then come along to this 'Make a Skirt' workshop. During the classes you can make an 'A' line skirt whilst learning some sewing basics including:

-working with a simple dress pattern

-using your sewing machine

-making a simple skirt with a zip and even customising it to your own personal delight.

The cost will be £30 for the 2 sessions 

Class size limited to 4 with one tutor or 8 with 2 tutors.


To book a place you can reach Diana here.


Look at her lovely logo.

Much Ado About Books

On Saturday I had a dream day. Kate and Nash at Much Ado Books in Alfriston (a beautiful village near here) asked me to come and sit in their bookshop and, using old books that would otherwise been shredded, make things from a wonderful book that they stock called Playing With Books by Jason Thompson who runs the Rag and Bone Boutique with his partner Ilira Steinman (they have a lovely on-line store and really inspiring blog).


I sat at a table upstairs and a stream of Alfriston's finest women joined me and helped me eat the fantastic chocolate bread that Kate fuelled me with. We made origami flowers, stars, bracelets and book sculptures. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it and loved meeting everyone. It is fascinating how when our hands are busy what conversations arise. I hope they invite me back.

Hmm. Not much bread left.

The Handmade Pledge...

The other day I came across The Handmade Pledge and took the plunge and made the pledge. I often do give handmade presents  but perhaps not consciously. I have given one present since I made the pledge, a lavender bag made by Sam Stas who lives in Lewes and makes all sorts of nostalgic and witty household items and accessories. She is incredibly chic and smiley and brightens my day when I bump into her in town. Here it is:

It's lovely isn't it? You can have one too. Sam sells them at Not On The High Street.

This has got me thinking. I have decided to make another pledge. I am going to make ALL my Christmas presents (sorry, dear family and friends). I will share with you the trials and tribulations along the way, along with the inspiration and patterns that I find. I am very lucky because I live near my dear friend Diana (who often helps out at Make Believe Café), we were at college together and spent most of our time there making our own clothes or butchering perfectly good clothes and shoes to great, and not so great effect. She has agreed to join me in my quest. Watch this space!

Emma x

Patina

For the past ten years all the children who live in Lewes (and thereabouts) that are moving on from primary to secondary school take part in a ceremony called the Patina Moving On Parade. All the children parade through the streets of Lewes wearing the most fantastic costumes made from withies (sticks of willow) bent into shapes, covered with tissue paper, to form animals, flowers, anything. Last year’s theme was the jungle and the streets were crowded with exotic plants, crazy insects and frightening beasts. As well as being a spectacle, it is also extremely moving. 


I have always wanted to know how to make these structures and this weekend I 'volunteered' to learn how to do it so that I could help the children in our school prepare for the parade. The theme this year is Dance and our school are going as characters from Grease. In the end I didn't end up making a structure from withies, although I did learn how. Instead, with the help of Nicky, our allotted artist and genius withie-smith, I made a gigantic quiff out of newspaper. It's not finished yet but when it is I know it will be the favourite costume accessory in my family for years to come.


Emma 

Made in Hastings

I had a day in Hastings yesterday with my friend and four children. I love Hastings for a day out. It's a great mixture of beach, chips, seagulls (poo), crazy-golf and quirky shops. My husband met us and we managed to install him and the children in a wonderful children's book shop (complete with café) called Bumper Books while we ran along to Made in Hastings, calling in at Robert's Rummage (bargains) on the way. It's quite a small shop but there was a great assortment of locally produced craft. I hastily bought a custard cream lavender bag and fabulous hankie, which I might frame.

Ta da!

Emma x

PS I have been sorting out photos for out new web-site and found these lovely knitting dollies that I photographed in Amsterdam and I thought you'd like to see them.

Free Crochet Event

Just to let you know that Lou and I (Emma) are leading a free crochet drop-in at Much A Do About Books in Alfriston this Saturday. We are encouraging people to drop in and crochet granny squares which will be made into a blanket to be raffled at the Alfriston Festival this summer. For more details visit Much A Do About Books' website. It's a great opportunity to visit this lovely bookshop and have a crochet and a natter. We may also be holding a class for beginners in the morning.

Come. You know you want to.

Emma x

Sam's Open House

Last night Kelly and I ventured into Brighton to visit our friend Sam Reece who helped us pimp our pants in February. She was having a private view to mark the beginning of her open house, part of Brighton's wonderful festival. Sam's jewellery is an extension of her lovely home which is like a treasure box of beautiful found objects, lights made from old teacups, ornate birdcages filled with fairy-lights and a mantelpiece displaying a collection of heart shaped stones from the beach. Sam's young daughter has started making jewellery too and Kelly came home with one of her pendants, a vintage car and tiny silver dolls' spoons hanging from a fine chain. I bought a patchwork cushion made from squares of old embroidered napkins and tray liners. My photo's don't do it justice, nothing to do with the Pimm's that was flowing, it was candle lit which is rubbish for the amateur photographer.

We weren't quite the last to leave.

It was interesting to see Sam's desk with all her bits and pieces.

Even the babies had fun.