February Book Challenge..

Right my lovelies, it's time to launch this months Book Challenge, the basic rules are the same as last month, here is a quick reminder:

To be eligible to win a copy of the book each month, you need to make a project from a book (or magazine) and:
 1. Add a link in comments with your blog post in that month for a book/magazine made project, something crafty, embroidered, sewn, or quilted- mention this competition, and link back to my blog please.

2. For an extra entry, be a follower (you must have linked up a project), and tell me your "on screen" name

3. And for a 3rd chance to win, tell me about your favourite sewing project ever, and why you enjoyed it so much.

The Rules The project doesn't have to be completely finished if it's a big one, so for example, if you're making a quilt, and the whole top is pieced, that counts for an entry, but if you're making a little pouch or cushion, then it should be pretty much done.  It can also be a project heavily inspired by a book pattern.

And this months prize book is the fantastic Modern Designs From Classic Quilts (don't worry, i'm not planning on sending you my now dog-eared copy, yours will be brand spanking new!), reviewed here.

Well, after last months successful completion (remember this baby quilt I finished)

I need to decide on my own plan for the month, what shall I make?  Nothings springing to mind just yet, I had better get browsing my beautiful tomes.  


Ange x

Stitch, Craft, Create Business

One of the lovely ladies at Stitch Craft Create Business, asked if I would like to review their latest offering for crafty people (that is people who craft!) looking to turn their hobby into a business. As you probably know I'm incredibly nosey, so I took the opportunity to check it out.  

For those that don't know Stitch Craft, Create, it is the online resource/shop with it's bricks and mortar UK shop based in Newton Abbot in Sunny Devon.  I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon there when we were holidaying in that area a couple of years ago, and I was in need of an escape from my little darling.  It was a lovely shop filled with beautiful fabrics, wonderful books and crafting supplies, well worth breaking free from your fellow holiday-goers a visit if you're in the area.

Stitch Craft Create are extending their knowledge and expertise, like I said, into the crafting for business area with an online resource.  For the annual fee of £25, it is a "members only online encyclopedia of essential resources for your craft business. Whether searching for craft magazines to send your press release to, a craft fair at which to exhibit and sell your creations, or a funding scheme to help you purchase new equipment – this essential online reference will be your first port of call." (quote directly from their home page).  

There are a great range of information areas in the members only encyclopedia, and review and access to some of these will definitely save a wannabe crafty business person a lot of time and effort hunting out the details of the key contacts and places to develop their business, whether it be in terms of social media, finding funding for equipment, or to start the business, developing a supply chain, or getting seen in print to raise their profile.


The additional benefits to membership include:

 A 10% discount on all items from the Stitch Craft Create shop, free shipping over £25, and special deals for volume orders of product from the shop.


A free e-book written by Emma Jones of Enterprise Nation, which includes all of the guidance and advice you'll need to get your business up and running.

Over £500 worth of partnership discount offers with leading brands including Moo, Vistaprint DHL and Staples, to help you get all of your promotional material and stationery in order.

And finally 25% discount on Creative University courses, if you want to formalise, focus and develop your business skills.

If you want further details on this offering, head over to the website, I also noticed there is a free (i.e you don't need to be a member) e-book on Pricing and Selling Crafts, looks like an interesting read, and some free online training courses for standing out within online retail, and Demystifying Google Analytics.  : )

Ange x

In the interests of full disclosure, I am not paid by anyone for this review, I have been given free access/membership in order that I can offer a review, but no stipulation has been put as to the exact content of the review, this is fully independent.  

A Finish and Fresh Sewing Day.

Pouch pattern from: http://www.sewtogether.com.au/1/post/2011/03/a-tutorial-how-to-draft-a-pattern-and-make-a-zippered-purse-with-a-flat-bottom.html

I have finished the pouches (bleurgh) that I've been working on for the Pretty Little Pouch Swap, and I'm rather pleased with them, although there was a little bit of (pardon my french) fannying to get to this point!  It is always tough when the person does not give much feedback, but I went with the hints about their style, and checked out her blog, which left me with some ideas.

On the front of the main pouch, lets call it a zippy bag, is a feather using Anna Maria Horners pattern (but reduced down considerably), with some handstitching, and for the back I made a paper pieced, mini square in square block.  The fabric is Sweetwater, and the cool earthy colours will hopefully be right up my partners street (fingers crossed).

I also made one of the little Scrapppy Pouches from Katy Jones tutorial on Sizzix this week, and I can confirm that it does indeed take about 30 minutes, which is unusual for me, as usually a so- called 30 minute job is more like 2 hours!  

I also managed to fit in a couple of new blocks yesterday for the Pile O' Fabric Skill Builder BOM, which was fun, I really enjoy working with solids (sorry Hadley!), and these feel pretty bold, I rather like them.  

And so, as a quick round-up of January, I'm joining Lynne's Fresh Sewing Day, and I need to re-do my list for the new month.

I felt like I had done way more than this, but then I guess there are 18 blocks there, lots paper pieced and with a lot of prep, not much I can do about it now, it's a new month, lets start afresh!

Ange x

January Book Challenge Winner Is.....

Well my lovelies, we have a winner for this months Book Challenge competition, and it is number 11, Liz at Dandelion Daydreams, yay!  


I will be contacting Liz for her address, and she will be getting her prize book shortly. 



Thx for everyone who entered, and i will be running the competition again this month, so get working on your projects : )

Ange x