Sunday, 9 October 2011

Where did the summer go?

This summer has been like a whirlwind what with one thing and another, cold days are on the horizon ...
  Mittens 
made from pre-loved recycled jumpers
That`s fingers taken care of, so what about keeping those ears warm... 
thermal fleece lined 100% wool headband ear warmers are the answer warm and funky!


Monday, 27 June 2011

Busy busy weekend

Wow my feet didn`t touch the ground this weeknd - all week infact!
All week I have been sorting and sewing and stashing, mostly in preparation for my daughter returning home from University in Leeds and shes finally here YAY!
A long hot trip down to London in a dodgy white van and umpteen boxes carried  down from 6 flights of stairs did the trick. A car boot sale is now imminent to get rid of surplus stuff - both hers and mine!

A whole day on Saturday was spent displaying and selling my wares at The Waterfront Festival in Leeds with Artsmix.  There was a Dragon boat spectacle, lots of lovely food and music and to top it all the sun shone for us all.



I have big news of a new stockist, a lovely new shop called  Nouveau Leeds at Bird’s Yard, Leeds, are going to be stocking lots of my stuff. From quote cushions & key rings to fabric covered journals & egg cosies Its all down there! 



83 Kirkgate. Leeds LS2 7DJ

Bird’s Yard, is behind the Leeds Corn Exchange and offers an eclectic mix of independent designers and makers. It’s got three floors of independent shops and is chocca block with gorgeous handmade, vintage and quirky things. Its great to be involved with like minded souls - Pop down and say hello!

Thursday, 9 June 2011

This week has been a good week!

The thing about being a self employed designer maker is that some weeks go by and all it is is sew, sew, sew however some weeks go by and you cant seem to get near to the sewing machine for love nor money as there is so much of everything else to sort out!


This week has been a lovely balance of sewing, cutting out, teaching and scavenging for supplies ....and that my friend is my favourite part. Fabric shops, car boot sales, haberdashery shops- don't even get me started... and then there`s eBay I can even source goodies in my nightie. Let me tell you its dangerous!


I have my daughter arriving home this month after 3 years at university in London and I cant wait, although there is one problem with that and that is where the hell am I going to put her? I seem to have spread from my appointed sewing room and taken roost in her room too. When I say taken roost its like ...`OK ,wheres the bed gone` So this week I have been shoving things in the loft, I have been re arranging cupboards and drawers to disappear things. I filled a few charity bags and I even threw some stuff out and I found it! there`s the bed, it was there all the time but obscured from view with a huge bag of woolly jumpers ready to upcycle into mittens for my winter fairs.

Mittens recycled from a Next jumper








52 pairs of mittens all cut out and ready to sew
So the huge bag of woollens is now half empty because I actually got round to doing some cutting out and managed to cut out 52 pairs of mittens all ready to sew up for the winter.
Hmmm glorious outside and I am cutting out mittens sweating like a good `un

This week I also found a fabulous recycling place where they sell the most amazing range  of stuff. Its all the things that would otherwise end up in landfill,  much of it from industry,
Scrap Creative are well worth a visit if you get chance! I have always felt that other peoples rubbish can be my treasure and this place just proves that its not just me.

Heres one thing I bought any idea what it might be?




Each hole is about as big as a pound coin






Answers on a postcard please :)





Its the most beautiful quality  double thickness felt. Not quite sure why I bought it apart from the fact that I love the colour, neither do I know what it will end up becoming. If I have things around me for a while they usually speak to me. All I can say is watch this space

While I was trying to unearth my daughters bed I found some other stuff dying to be re-born into something beautiful. check out this bag I made from a mans checked jacket. It makes me smile each time I look at it

The underside of the front flap. All you need is love don't you know!


The back using the existing pocket from the jacket
The front view using the lapel of the jacket

A flowery inside pocket


Back to school tomorrow for a day to educate young minds about the glory of shading and tone and how to stay in their seats and listen for more than 2 minutes at a time and then I have a stall at Notton Gala on Sunday. Oh please don't let it rain between 1pm and 5.

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

Fascinators & Brooches Workshop

Well! I have been getting excited  all week about my first ever Touchy Feely Textile Fascinators workshop @ the Barnsley Civic.
My lovely ladies were eager to get started and after some basic making of flower shapes the magic began to happen as they began to get inventive with all the fabrics, feathers, net and buttons. The people who come to my workshop never cease to amaze me with what they make during the day.

Take a look what we got up to!




Fascinator Overkill

Organza, ribbon & ladybirds


Keeping it simple

And to finish off have a guess what these might be for.....


Wednesday, 11 May 2011

Touchy FeelyTextile Goodies


Touchy Feely Quote key fobs & fabric covered journals

Fabulous  Handbag Mirror & Pouch





Sunday, 8 May 2011

Hello World!

Just a quick first post to introduce myself. My name is Jill and I am a self confessed Textile Junkie.

I spend my time making quirky cushions, purses, key fobs, peg bags and fabric covered journals all of which contain quotes from song lyrics, famous people proverbs and childrens stories
  Here`s my `Touchy Feely Textiles`craft stall at my local Mall
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