A sewing Story

Such a story of sewing and friendship

 &

 an inspired gift

Out of the blue I received a little card from an old friend, a friend whose friendship I had let lapse...I hadn't seen her for about ten years and our only contact was a yearly Christmas card.

The little card read as follows

Dear Glenis,

I have been thinking about you today and wanted to drop a line to tell you how very special you are to me.

The time we spent together will always be a precious memory even though I must have been a right royal pain at times.

The influence you had on my life was HUGE, your sage advice and getting me going in crafts really set me up. I'm off to buy my second Over-locker today... plumb wore the old one out! 

Hope this finds you well and content, you will always be my first and very loved friend.

xxxxx

 Well I don't ever think anyone has written a letter so lovely to me, I was tearful and so taken back. Memories of a simpler time came flooding back, a time of stay-at-home mums, babysitting kids, school gala's, rushing home to cook dinner and sewing up a storm.

She was a very young mum with four little kiddies, living on the farm and not a lot of money to spend. 

I taught her to sew, but she was a natural and became an amazing dressmaker... clothing her family beautifully.

Yes we were friends and I had forgotten!!!
This is a lesson to us all about the power of handmade, the joy of sharing your talents, of how a common love of making brings together women of all backgrounds.
I really can never get over the pleasure I get from using my hands to create beauty, there really is power in it.
So rare these days to pen a letter but I have done that and made a sweet gift to go with it.

Yes it really is a sewing story.

I adore this lovely fabric from the Sweet Orchard Range by Sedef Imer, the soft warm pink spot and the cheater print show off my hand embroidered little mouse clutching his gifts.

This is the back sweet orchard really is just that, so sweet.

The little mouse with his tokens of love.

I have added this to a link up 2016 Q4 FAL
Happy sewing
Glenis

Pincushions... drawing with thread

Mini Pincushions... free-motion applique, drawing with thread 

I really must start this post by saying that my latest passion, drawing with thread has been inspired by a lovely book 'Sew Illustrated' by Minky Kim and Kirstin Esser. I had seen wonderful work by Minky on Pinterest and had greatly admired it, I love the sketched look to it all, the combination of the fabric and the thread drawing is really so appealing to me.

So I bought the book and started a few small projects from it and was soon slightly obsessed with it all.

The pincushions are adorable and quick to make I have added my own slant to them making them slightly bigger and adding a band of fabric to the bottom. I do all my work free-motion so I sew with the feed dogs down, you need a firm hand and you move the work around rather than the machine pushing it through for you.

My illustrations are not perfect but I personally like that sketched look, a little bit quirky.

You can see I have added a little tape tag to one side and backed them with different fabric.

Anything goes really and a 4'' square of fabric uses all ones scraps.

The little sewing machine pattern is from the book but as you may notice I have a left handed sewing machine... silly of me forgot to mirror image it. The other patterns are my own, the cats are my favourite but the little potted plants are sweet too. 

Fun and simple to make and I have a garden fete coming up in the summer, its a fundraiser for the children's hospital... these will go well on my little stall.

Happy sewing

Glenis

The DOLLY SISTERS.. soft toy for Homespun Magazine

The Dolly Sisters

Some great opportunities have come my way this year but to have a pattern published is such an honor.

Almost a year ago I was contacted by Susan the editor of 'Homespun Magazine' to see if I would like to design a Doll for them.... this was so exciting for me.

Much thought was needed to design something reasonably simple but still appealing.

These are the 'Dolly Sisters', sweet simple little dolls with bright button eyes.

I loved designing this doll, putting in sweet features that bring the face alive.

The little headscarf with it's flowered trim, freckles anyone....just French knots, buttons for eyes and simple stitching gives her just the right look.

The little skirt has a inserted border just to add interest, frilled sleeves and a petite collar just finishes her off.

Homespun is a great Australian craft magazine with a pull out section containing all the patterns, it has a global feel with talented crafts people from around the world contributing to it's success.

 I do feel privileged to be part of this and I was truly ever so grateful to be asked.

I do believe you can order it online from Zinio.

Happy sewing

Glenis