Make it: Fabric Haul

I promised pics of the fabrics I bought last week in London, So here they are.  These pastel sewing themed beauties were from Antique Angel at the Knitting and Stitching show.

  These were all from The Make Lounge, I am hoping H got commission.

And these Japanese cottons were from the Gorgeous Ray Stitch

This photo courtesy of http://www.raystitch.co.uk/

I have a fabric addiction... I'm working on it. What should I make with these gorgeous fabrics, add your suggestions in the comments below....

Make it

Sammy xxx

Live it: Knitting and Stitching show at Ally Pally 2011

I have always wanted to go to the Knitting and Stitching show at Ally Pally, my customers are always talking to me about how great it is, but it has always been on a weekend when I have been working, So this year when the dates were announced I booked holiday!

I have to say I may have set my expectations a little too high. Don't get me wrong I was glad that I had visited, the displays of creative embroidery and handmade textiles were stunning, but it was soooooo busy I found it really hard to see any of the stores properly. I felt like I was missing a lot of things and I didn't feel like there was much in the way of new trends or products that I really wanted to get my hands on.

This was the decopatch stand, lots of people covering papermache in little bits of paper, looked really cute.

The thing I did love was that there was colour everywhere! Gorgeous displays of fabric, threads and beads!

So I decided to get some fresh air and walk back to the tube station, and I am so glad I did, I got a lovely view of London in the Autumn sunshine.

And a really good look at the outside of Alexandra Palace, oh yes and the old BBC radio tower.

I jumped Back on the tube and headed over to visit the lovely H, Interning at The Make Lounge.

I had been meaning to check it out for ages. So I scooped up Heather and we popped down the road for Tea and Cake....obviously!

We ended up at Fig & Olive, where they have the most amazing Lampshades and Awesome Cakes!!

On our way back we popped in to Ray-Stitch which has also been on my want-to-visit list since it opened its doors a few months ago. I gave in to temptation and bought some fabrics.... bad Sammy!

Back at The Make Lounge, H showed me round, and yes I bought some more fabrics, before heading home.

It was a busy day, and I was glad I had visited the knitting and stitching show. Maybe I have been spoilt by having my own business by going to trade shows as opposed to public shows and being in the industry, But I feel as a consumer that I much prefer visiting independent stores to buy crafts and haberdashery than a big show like this one, it is nice to see lots of businesses all in one place, but it was so overwhelmingly busy I felt I didn't get to see anything properly. Maybe I will try and go again next time and head in earlier to beat the crowds.  

So now I just have to come up with some lovely things to make with all the fabric I bought.

Sammy xxx

Live it: London in the October Sun

So what a lovely weekend we just had!  Just to confuse us all that little bit more, the hot weather comes back to us for October!!!!!

It did however present itself with an opportunity to meet up with a friend for a lazy afternoon and visit a new haberdashery shop at the same time - good times!

So, firstly to the shop.  Its called Ray Stitch and its in Islington, London (which is managing to become a bit of a hub for these places).  It is a haberdashery shop and cafe and they also do classes too.  I popped myself in and had a little nosey around the shelves.  Lots of Print fabrics, including Japanese quirky prints and a few ribbons and buttons.  You can also pick yourself up a coffee and some cake after all those creative juices get the better of you and you feel like you need a sit down!

Its well worth a visit when your next in the area.  Some of the items are a little pricey, but as the website says, you can mix and match with what you already have and that's the beauty of a place like this, its all about picking up little bits to add to your ideas!

Next on the list was to meet up with my friend, handily in a pub garden, and it was an opportunity to give her the scrapbook I had made for her.  She has just been to New York for a few months and I wanted to give her something that she would be able to put her ticket stubs, photographs and other memorabilia in.

It started life as a plain sketchbook from Paperchase and then with a little glue, fabric and ribbon, it became a scrapbook that she could put everything in that was original to her.  Some fabric she liked, a few photographs handily stolen from her Facebook pages and some New York buttons found in a shop called 'All the fun of the fair' off Carnaby Street, London.

Then, there was a chance to relax and unwind on a beautiful Saturday afternoon and let the day descend into night, where I think this post should end!

Live it
H