Curtain number one complete

One curtain finished and hung!
Now it is neatly pleated and waiting for it's partner.  Did you know that if you arrange the curtain into neat folds this this and leave it like it for a few days, it will always fall into the same folds when you draw it back?

The other curtain is all pinned up.  It needs to be hand stitched all the way round, then 
have it's pleats sewn by machine and finished by hand.  I had to break off from curtain making this afternoon, to make this bunting.

And so ends another lovely, busy day.  I've had such a lovely week of meeting new and interesting people, especially the "crafty" ones!   There could be some joint ventures coming up next year.  Maybe some craft workshops and maybe even somewhere to display and sell some of the things I make.

Must get on with some Christmas presents now!

Slow curtains

It seems to take ages to make curtains sometimes........I think not actually having time to pick them up over the weekend made progress seem very slow.  The only sewing I did over the weekend was taking in two pairs of jeans for my gorgeous (and slim) daughter!

I did take all my Christmas bunting and peg dolls etc. to the HITand Mencap Watford4Watford Family Fun Day on Saturday and sold lots of bunting and took orders for more!  Some for girls and some for boys, with their names on.......like this........

I'll be going to look for some pink girlie fabric and some, boyish boat, trains and cars fabrics this week!  This bunting would make a great Christmas present at £2.50 per flag with a letter on it (the plain flag at each end is free).

Back to the curtains........as you can see, the first one is getting there.  This is the hem.  You can see the interlining and the lining.  There is a weight sewn into the corner too.

This is the top.  As you can see the window is still bare and waiting for curtains!

You can see the buckram (stiffening) at the top.  

It's all pinned together now and will be hand stitched this evening.  Almost all the sewing in well made curtains is done by hand.  Only the seams and the pleats are machine sewn.

I hope to show you all a curtain hanging over this big expanse of black window very soon!!

I could also teach you how to make your own curtains............

Late night blogging!

This has been a long day!  I'm doing an extra caring job this week which had me up and working at 6am!   Not natural for me to be awake that early, let alone, talking and functioning.  However, I managed and was home with a whole day to myself by 8.30am

I imagined that I'd quickly put up the Christmas decorations, then spend the rest of the day making up those dining room curtains.   It didn't quite work out that way.........doesn't it take a long time to put those decorations up?   Probably best that my spinal surgeon doesn't know that I went in the loft to get them (I'll expect some nagging from some readers too!).  I have to say I was pleased with my efforts this year.

This was a new display for this year and it does look very pretty.  Yes, I painted the furniture.  Another little crafty line of mine.

It also took ages to measure  and cut the curtain fabric, lining and interlining.  Here it is with the bare window in the background.......

Then there was the matter of matching the pattern (always easier said than done)

I still have the same size pile of fabric, but it's all cut into the relevant lengths for curtains, pelmet and cushions now.   Hours of sewing to do now!

Well, not exactly now, as I've been up 17 hours already!

No time to sew!

Can you believe I haven't had time to turn the computer on for the last couple of days?!   Well, I guess, I could have found time, but I decided that spending an afternoon chatting with my sister was a priority yesterday, because I hardly ever see her, and then, I was out singing in a Christmas concert last night.  Yes, I think I managed to sing the alto part fairly accurately!!

The extent of my sewing activity for the last 2 days has been sewing up 4 buttonholes on a chunky cardigan to stop the buttons coming undone too often........however, I did finish the back of this Aran cardigan while chatting with said sister, yesterday.......

.......... I wonder which winter I'll get the rest of it made?

Sadly, the dining room curtain fabric hasn't moved yet.   Maybe I'll do the seams on my new overlocker.     This is a type of sewing machine, but as you can see, quite a complex one!

After reading the instructions (and a moment or two of sheer panic) I managed to thread it.....it has 4 threads and two needles...

I'll let you know how it goes when I'm bave enough to try sewing with it!!!

Curtains by Christmas

That's an interesting colour combination for the text!

Is that a bit easier to read, though?   Just experimenting with colours similar to the one s in my new dining room curtains.

Looking at this picture, you may notice that aren't any dining room curtains. That's been the case for nearly 4 years for one reason or another, however...........

...........this is the beginning of the dining room curtains.    No that isn't loo roll on the top!

I will keep you updated on the progress, which may be a bit slow, in between all the other Christmas preparations.  We will have curtains by Christmas.......full length, interlined curtains made to City and Guilds standard........and maybe even a pelmet!

Return to networking.....in person....

I think we'll have the words the colour of the sky today.  After a few days of dismal weather in Watford,  it was a beautiful sunny day today.   A little bit cold after a frosty start (do I sound like a weather girl?) but it is almost December!

I was in a very happy frame of mind as the day started because my youngest son, who has severe learning difficulties, was the most communicative ever this morning.  This and the sunshine got my day off to a good start!

So, I did lots of household "stuff", then donned my smart, recently made plaid jacket to attend a networking lunch.  I know this blog is a form of "social networking", although it doesn't seem very sociable, but I mean actually meeting real people.

I wore this jacket to show off my sewing skills as I was going to be talking about all the hand made items I now sell and the sewing classes that I'm starting.  I took some simpler sewing projects with me too!

It was a smaller meeting than I expected, but dynamic, none-the-less.  I met a few people I knew and met some new people.  I also found out a lot more about the businesses of some people like Paul Walling and the very helpful Jo Giles from Flea Magazine (watford.theflea.co.uk) in which I shall be advertising!

I talked to Martina and Ronnie from GKF Business School.  Did you know we had a business school in Watford?   Well, we do, and they might be adding sewing to their curriculum soon.

I met Linda who makes cakes (linda@filledwithlovecupcakes.org) and sampled her cakes.  I met Cynthia who is a hypnotherapist (cmhypnotherapy.co.uk) but didn't sample her work.......this time.     

"social networking" is all very well, but I still prefer to actually socialise and network.  Does that make me very old fashioned?

Ring a ring o Christmas wreaths

I had my first foray into the "business networking" world for a few months this morning.  I went along to the Biscotti meeting at the Mercure Hotel in Watford.   At first I was disappointed that it seemed a bit quiet, but I soon remembered that it is not the number of people you meet at these meeting that count, but the quality of those people.

I was only there for about an hour and only spoke to a handful of people, but came away felling encouraged and with the possibility of a venue for sewing workshops.  Although, as I typed that, I  thought I can do sewing workshops anywhere!

This Christmas wreath is an example of a project than can easily be made in a workshop......or at a craft party.   They were very popular at the Christmas Fair on Saturday, too.

They are a super simple textile project.......there isn't even any sewing involved.  So, how about inviting a few friends round one evening before Christmas, to make one?

I'll bring everything you need, so all you need to do is put the kettle on, or heat the mulled wine!
It will cost £15 each, and you will all have a beautiful Christmas wreath to decorate your home.

This is what they look like in production!