The Modern School of Craft

Join me at my new address

Hello Blog Friends!

I'm leaving the wonderful place that is typepad to take up residence in a new and improved School of Craft home. It is very exciting - please come over and say hello

www.schoolofcraft.co.uk

I hope to see you all very soon.

Jo x

Raspberry Crush

In amongst the bramble of bushes at the bottom of our allotment I found the remnants of some luscious summer fruits! Arthur and I raided what was left (about 6 jewel-like berries) and scoffed them with our sandwiches. Delicious. After an hour or so of digging it was a fitting dessert. Next year with a little TLC, we will hopefully be harvesting boxes and boxes from our patch. That is a very exciting thought. But for now there is a lot more digging to be done and beds to be made and seeds to be planted before the weather turns wintery and cold. 

Today in the Guardian there is a thought-provoking article by Simon Jenkins highlighting the need for working with the hands as a necessity of human existence. And it's true - "Neglect the hand and you distort, torture and dissatisfy the brain". Working on the allotment complements perfectly my sewing and craft, my cooking and baking, and gives me a true feeling of accomplishment that I feel blessed to have. (But I still don't like getting my hands dirty!)

Have a wonderful Autumnal weekend!

Halloween's a-coming!

It's been busy, busy, busy at School of Craft! The beginners evening class started last night. Ladies - you did magnificently well!! Hopefully when the projects are complete they will let me share with you their stylishly chic cushions and bags. I have also been preparing some exciting new projects that I am going to be launching - Halloween Kits! Isn't that bat cute (even with blood dripping from teeth!). I will premiering (ok, so it's not a movie but I like that word, it has a certain gravitas!) the kits at the Apple Fair in Bromham, so if you are around on Sunday 17th Oct, please come along. 

The Lion King

Arthur has discovered the lion outfit that I made for his big sister a few years ago. Gggrrrrrr!! 

Have a great weekend!

New Fabric Alert

I've just received some new fabric in the post. It's lovely! 

This is hand printed by an Australian company called Spindle and Ink. It would look fab as cushions but I've had enough of those for a bit, so I thought i'd make up some little washbags, or make-up purses with a zip fastening. They would make great gifts for Christmas.

And I got these beautiful Japanese designs.

They are both a linen mix, and they are beautiful quality, soft and draping. I can't wait to make something out of these two. I think I'll make myself a skirt out of the oatmeal print and I thought a pair of pyjamas would look great for Arthur in the other print. I need more hours in the day! I bought them all from M is for Make (there is a link at the side column), she has some really lovely cloths.

I must finish those curtains....

It appears that the last gasp of Summer happened a while ago and so I fear that I can no longer put off what I should have finished about a year ago. Can you see that gap in the middle of this shot? Well, I have a cut piece of fabric lying underneath my bed, with lining and interlining all cut and ready to go, that has been there for too long. Groan. 

My advice to any curtain makers out there - Don't hang the curtains until you have finished them all, the entire set. Because, you see, that's what I did wrong here. My enthusiasm for this project has gone, in my mind I've done it, but in the real physical world, it's still there, mocking me! This window (draughty Victorian sash windows), requires 2 pairs of curtains. When we moved in the windows were bare, and I quickly made 1 pair - but I hung them up, and I loved them, I walked into the room more times than was necessary just to admire them and feel smug. Big Mistake! 3 months later I managed to make one more and by that time it was edging toward Spring and then Summer and who needs curtains when it's warm and bright? 

So, I'm going to have to get it done, in between all of the other projects that just seem so much more, well, interesting and exciting. I've learned my lesson - (Gritted teeth gnashing right now!)

September Slow-down

I've had that sluggish, sloth-like, September slow-down feeling. I've done hardly anything for days. Sewing that is. I've been making lots of soups, and making loaves of bread. What can compare with lunch at home with home-made soup and  home-made bread? My other obsession (apart from sewing and all things fabric-y) is bread. I don't profess to be any more than a novice. I have 2 recipes that serve me well for when I'm in need of an unadulterated wholemeal kick. But I digress...... I wanted to show some pics of cushions. Here are a few that I've finished. They are really easy to do. We'll learn how to do them on my beginners course which starts in a few weeks. Very Exciting!

Have a wonderful weekend!

The beach was calling my name

A momentary distraction from the cushion pile that I was going to be sewing this weekend. Well, the sun was shining and the campervan packed and ready to go.... So what's a girl to do? Go to the beach of course! Sewing- Schmo-ing. When the sun is forecast to shine you've gotta get going. And we hired a beach hut for the day. Arthur called it 'The Cave' we called it 'The Shed'. Very civilised it was too - pity we didn't pack the china. So, the sewing still awaits, but after a wonderfully restorative weekend i'll whizz up those cushion covers NO PROBLEM!

Cushion Crazy

I've cut and overlocked and I'm ready to go. Ten cushions. The countdown begins. Guess what I'm up to this weekend?

Have a great weekend!!

Say hello to the Allotment

We have just taken on a share of an allotment with a friend, and very exciting it is too! I know it's not technically craft but it's all about creating and doing it yourself, so from time to time I'll be updating you with what's going on. It's looking a little bit bedraggled at the moment, but with a lot of tender loving care there's going to be a bountiful harvest come next autumn - oh yes sir-ee! Of course the hard work (all the digging and bed formation - if that's the right terminology) is being ably executed by Mr School of Craft, henceforth to be known as Mr SoC. 

   
 

So, lots of green stuff growing here and it's not vegetables! But, only a few hours later and we (oh, I mean Mr SoC) has unearthed the black gold... soft and crumbly soil free of weeds. We've had lots of friendly advice from our very helpful neighbours and soon the first planting will start.  Yeah! 

There is a beautiful plum tree in the middle of the plot, and once we've got our shed I might even rustle up some waterproof bunting to add a little fun and frivolity. Why not? Indeed!