What’s Up

What’s keeping me busy at the moment!

Scrappy Days

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Like a lot of stitchers I end up with lots of odds and ends of fabrics that I cannot bear to throw in the bin, but decisions have to be made or I will be swamped!

So I have taken the plunge and decided on a herringbone style scrap quilt pattern and will put it together using quilt as you go. I have not attempted this before, in fact I have not done any patchwork and quilting for 3 or 4 years.

So far so good, I am pleased that there is no need to choose a definite range of patterns or colours, I like it comes together quickly and finally it is not a show stopper if you are not quite exact! For me that is the icing on the cake!

A few blocks put together.
Just a few scraps.

Slouchy shoulder bag remake.

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I put together this useful bag for a friend who kindly tidied her fabric collection in my direction. She was obviously being very brave moving her precious stash along so I made her this bag of what I thought would be her favourites.

I hope she approves. The pattern was from Simply Sewing magazine. A nice quick make and a great way of showing off small pieces of special fabric.

Love Animals?

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On 3rd June Sewn Up Gifts was at RSPCA Block Fen Wimblington Cambridgeshire for an open day. This was a special 20 year anniversary of the event and an important fund raising event for the animal charity.

As a result I was very very busy in my sewing room surrounded by animal print cottons and bags in order to represent as many domestic and wild animals that sometimes need our care. UK is well known as a country of animal lovers but sometimes things go wrong which is why the work the RSPCA do is so necessary and important.

It would be really amazing if this years fund raiser was a bumper one. There were over 70 small businesses attending including, live music from musicians who perform at Cambridge Folk Festival, classic cars, dog shows, food drink and craft stalls . Something for everyone!

Even after all the recent Bank Holidays the centre was buzzing on the day, the sun shone, the ice cream vendor made a fortune and even the animals were smiling. And the target was reached for the charity so a tremendous success all around.

But best of all it was a most enjoyable day and I met some lovely people and pets. Now when is the next event for Sewn Up Gifts? The 24th June at Godmanchester plant nursery. Better get sewing again I think!

Tra La.

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I was all satisfied with my soft furnishing Repair a couple of days ago and I now have been sent a pic of the finished cover! Looks just like new.

#upholstery. #sandersonfabrics. #handmade #recyled

Short Cuts

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Over the years I must have shortened hundreds of jeans and trousers, always too long from the shops. What do you do with the chopped off hems?

Having watched the Great British Sewing Bee last night, and it being their recycling week I couldn’t put these sawn off cuffs into landfill. Any ideas from you crafty lot? Any thing considered!

Jeans and jog bottoms

Luna Lapin, is it a hare or rabbit?

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Shes called a rabbit but has the ears and long legs of a hare, I am confused but I am going to call her a habbit, with no connection to Hobbits!

A very kind friend gave me the book by Sarah Peel ” Making Luna Lapin” as she knows I have a liking for making rabbits! My others were made from a ’40s pattern by Edith Moody. Now I am all up to date!

Many of you will already be acquainted with this felt and cotton bunny, she has a capsule wardrobe and a comfy armchair and pouffe to lounge those long legs on. I also gave her a tote bag and necklace to complete the look.

I hope you like her as much as I enjoyed making her. x

Oh I’ve had a hard day!
Do you like my bag?
And my arm chair?

Royal Botanical Gardens Kew

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A long overdue visit to this amazing UNESCO World heritage site did not disappoint yesterday. I am not going to try and tell you its history do not worry. There is loads of information on line if you want to learn.

Of course it was raining but it didn’t matter, we went prepared and enjoyed the fragrances from the flowers all the more.

From now until October Dale Chilhuly is holding an exhibition of his innovative architectural glass masterpieces, which are dotted around these wonderful gardens. You suddenly see one through a space and are amazed.

The Hive is also not to be missed. Designed by Wolfgang Buttress it is a multi-sensory experience revealing the secret world of the honey bee. Fascinating!

Leather Craft Work Shop

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  • My finished work





  • Cutting the hide.
  • Fixing the tabs
  • Saddle stitching with contrasting thread
  • Some leather working equipment
  • Two lovely bags.

Yesterday I went with my crafty daughter to this amazing Leather Craft Workshop and came back home tired and finger sore but very happy!

A messenger bag hand stitched and finished in a day. Wow we were so impressed with our day here at http://www.leathercraftworkshopdays.co.uk

There were just the two of us booked onto the day and so we were able to learn so much about this ancient craft from Richard who was so patient and meticulous with his instruction. I do hope he has a well deserved rest today!

We are both now planning our first creative journey into leather, I will now have to make my own version of the messenger bag as I have given mine to my long suffering husband. It is a replacement for a knitted scarf I promised him 50 years ago, and yes it still gets mentioned!

Heidi Hen

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Hoping you all had a Happy Holiday, and here’s to a fab New Year. I have started my creative year by sewing a hen. Perhaps not the first thing to spring to mind when you are unable to get into the sewing mood or room because of all the festivities and bodies around?

But I was given this pattern from “Quilters Trading Post” web site and couldn’t resist!

I am thinking whether to make some more of various sizes with perhaps a nest or hen house with chicks, maybe in time for Easter .

Heidi Hen a Quilters Trading Post pattern