Sew why not have a change …

Sometimes you just need a bit of a change without adding to landfill or being wasteful. I recently helped a lovely friend to do just that! Her pale blue, expensive family sofa set had taken a bit of a hit just through general daily use and the family pet. Rather than replace the whole thing, like so many do, she commissioned my sewing skills to give her sofa a big makeover.

Wanting to shop local, we trawled some nearby fabric shops, (sadly few and far between in deepest darkest West Wales) but ended up ordering a beautiful blue striped Jacquard fabric from MyFabrics.co.uk. Unfortunately, the supplier made an huge error and sent just 2 metres instead of the 16 metres we had ordered. It was not so easy getting My Fabrics to believe that they had made this huge mistake, but after a lengthy email exchange they eventually sent the other 14 metres, albeit without a real apology. (Hmmm won’t be fabric shopping there again!)

Unfortunately their error and subsequent delay really messed up my work schedule and more than 33 hours of frantic sewing followed their late delivery. However, there were big smiles all around once the job was completed (almost to deadline).

The sofa transformation is simply gorgeous and this happy sewist now has completely delighted customers!

What do you think?

Sofa makeover in a beautiful
blue striped Jacquard fabric

Sewing Adventures …

I do like a little sewing challenge so when I received a link to an Udemy sewing class from ‘Adventurous Son Number One’ asking if I could “help” him make the Mountain Flyer Ultra Light Backpack I gave it a whirl.

My computerised Brother and modern day Singer really didn’t enjoy the waterproof fabric and multiple layering and so I turned to a proper old girl with a bit more more strength and experience for the job – a Singer 317 dating back to the 1960s.

Masks can be cool …

A good friend of mine has been spreading the word about the snazzy jazzy Kazzy Face-masks I have been making from The ThreadShed, Freshwater East. They have ended up all around the UK and even flew across the pond to Tennessee, which tickled me pink. Through the recommend I had a commission to make some masks with their logo on for The Queens Head in Eye, Suffolk.

As it was their official re-opening and I got sent a thank you and this stunning pic of the very gorgeous Millie wearing her mask. Now that is how to wear a face mask!

Special good luck wishes to The Queens Head, and all businesses slowly coming out of lockdown. Oh and if you need some Facemasks for your team then I’m your girl ❤️

The Queens Head, Eye, Suffolk

The Queens Head, Eye, Suffolk
Corporate Masks

You’ll never walk alone…

Football is most definitely not my thing. My family are all proud Swans fans and still tease me over the time we hired a box at the stadium for my Dad’s 70th birthday and I declared that I was “reading the magazine in the interval.” Apparently I was supposed to say “reading the programme at half time!” Me and The Husband are a match (see what I done there) made in heaven as football is definitely not his thing either! (Phew!)

However I do understand the pride, love, passion and sense of belonging that football brings to so many and so, when I was asked by a lifelong Liverpool fan to make a Memory Cushion out of his Scouser Dad’s football shirt, I knew the huge importance of this sewing task and the trust the family had placed in me.

You know I may not be a fan of football but I absolutely love how this very special Memory Cushion, instead of being tucked away in a drawer somewhere, can now sit quietly amongst the family. This Memory Cushion is a poignant symbol of their much loved and missed father and a sweet reminder that “You’ll never walk alone!”

Liverpool Football Shirt Memory Cushion

A Ton of Masks …

Just over 100 face masks have now left The ThreadShed and been posted around the UK to places such as Swansea, Neath, Birmingham, London, Andover, Nottingham, Manchester … as well as given to carers, friends and neighbours in and around Pembroke.

We absolutely refuse to profit even one single penny from that nasty bitch Covid and so they have all been gifted to friends, family and people that we care about in the hope that we are doing a little something to keep us all safer. The masks are double layer cotton with a pocket to put a hepa filter inside for a bit of extra protection.

Who’d have thought that a snazzy jazzy Kazzy face mask would be the must have accessory of 2020 huh?

Stay safe you all!

Snazzy Jazzy Kazzy Face-masks

Warmed my heart ❤️

As a follow on from the post on my snazzy jazzy face masks I have had lots of requests for these brightly coloured, pretty masks. Me and my trusty Brother will soon start sewing like crazy and I hope that everyone who ordered them from me will have them by next weekend.

In the meantime I have permission to share this fabulous photo of the very first recipients of Kazzy masks. These lovely ladies work in a local care home looking after vulnerable elderly residents. This photo warmed the cockles of my heart and I am sure you will all join me in sending them all virtual hugs and a great big massive thank you for doing such an amazing job with such care, love and devotion in these crazy times.

Blinkin awesome or what?

All masks bright and beautiful …

All masks bright and beautiful …

It’s been creative central at The ThreadShed over last few lockdown weeks. A dear key-worker friend put in a request for a supply of some face masks and sent me a fabulous free pattern from http://www.hellosewing.com. The snug fitting mask is made with two layers of tightly woven cotton and has a pocket between the layers to insert a filter (heppa paper or paper from hoover bags is a cheap option) if you want to.

Currently there are some very mixed messages about the use of face masks and evidence wise not much to go on, although the widespread use of masks in Hong Kong is what is believed to have limited the spread. The general advice is not to touch your mask once it’s on and to remove it for washing as soon as you get home. Right now some countries are making the public use of face masks mandatory (eg Austria, Slovakia, Bosnia) and some are now recommending the public wear them (USA). Only yesterday there was a lot of speculation that UK may soon follow suit.

The World Health Organisation advice that face-masks are not necessary is now under review as the previous advice is believed to be at least partially aimed at ensuring that all vital PPE supplies are kept for use by health care workers.

Whilst there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the public should leave surgical face masks for the healthcare settings I think snazzy jazzy home sewn masks are the next best thing, plus they look pretty gorgeous too. I sent out lots of little packages yesterday to some of my special people and if you would like any do let me know!

What do you think?

#facemask #ppe #ppeshortage #homesewn #homesewnfacemasks #stayhome #staysafe #staysafeoutthere #covid19 #homesewnfacemask

#lockdown #lockdown2020

Hey Ho Let’s Go …

The Ramones cloakroom finally has central heating. Of course, this may mean that we will linger a little longer than before, so it was time to tear down the scruffy Venetian blind and pop up a new curtain. It had to be a Ramones curtain of course… made by me with some white polka dot cotton and some randomly placed red vinyl. Hey Ho Lets Go!

Ramones Cloakroom

Bags of fun …

Soooo … it’s half term and I got to have another fabulously creative session with a lovely young lady who was once again in the area visiting her nanny. This creative 11 year old was gifted her first sewing machine for Xmas by her very clever mummy and so has already started to enjoy her sewing at home. She arrived at the TheadShed with a head full of ideas and said that she had been thinking of making a denim shoulder bag with a seaside theme. We were soon busy planning and hunting through fabric. We cut out some perfect beachy images from white vinyl, picked a navy anchor fabric for the strap and finished it all off with a beautiful true vintage shell button. I was very impressed – this creative miss transformed her lovely idea into a really cute bag in just a couple of creative hours. Absolutely blinkin’ fabulous!

Sew pretty …

Sometimes a fabric calls my name and this beautiful blue poly-cotton, with a vintage sewing machine print, shouted ‘buy me buy me’ very loudly indeed. A lovely customer in the ThreadShed last summer made a half circle skirt out of the fabric initially but there was plenty left for this gorgeous sash blouse just for me. I used a New Look pattern which was a fairly simple pattern to follow and one I would definitely recommend to any newish sewist. The pattern is multi sized from size 10-20 so if anyone would like to book into The ThreadShed and make a similar blouse under my expert support and guidance then just drop me a message!