home makes – The haberdashery Blog.

I’m At My Happiest When I’m Creative !

Image• Posted on September 10, 2020September 10, 2020 by Ami

children's sewing bee, Fabric, home makes, New Stock, sewing studio, Workshop and classes

More Summer School Creations and a New Class !

Posted on August 19, 2016 by Ami

Hi everyone,

it’s been a fun packed week with summer school.

This weeks been all about our young stitchers and this week we tackled the dreaded zip. However as usual nothing phases them and they coped with it fantastically. All zips fitted and working perfectly.

Then their challenge was to make a pillow pal. This has been a great project for them as its requires different textures of fabric, yarn, machine stitching, hand stitching, decorative stitching, buttons, beads and ribbon…… they took to it like a duck to water.

On Wednesday and Thursday afternoon I opened up the Sewing Studio to invite new children to join me. We started off with a bit of hand stitching then it was on to practising and learning about the machines. I had a couple of projects in mind and they went down a storm.

Sadly my Summer School has come to an end, but I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who join me. You’ve all worked really hard and your so dedicated.

But Sewing Bee still continues on Saturdays and we’ve got lots planned. Alongside other projects we will be planning for a homemade Christmas with gift ideas and essentials……so excited.

The Sewing Bee is growing with my Saturday classes full and a new class about to begin on a Monday and I’ve got plans to open another class on a Wednesday. If anyone is interested please get in touch.

More exciting news….

We are now stocking a gorgeous range of hand dyed yarns by the lovely Debbie at Down Sheepy Lane. They are so soft and the quality is amazing.

And lastly in between classes this week I did manage to fit in a little bit a sewing time in.

A mini art quilt. It’s a great way to relax when you drawing with your machine…..what do you think?

As you can see it’s been another fantastic and eventful week. Thank you for reading and supporting me, I couldn’t do it with out you.

Ami xx

children's sewing bee, City & Guilds, home makes, New Stock, sewing studio, Workshop and classes

It’s the holiday’s!!!!

Posted on July 29, 2016 by Ami

The holidays have started and I have a helper with me 🙂 Although I’m not to sure he’s exactly helping lol……

Staying on the subject of little ones, over the last couple of weeks my little stitchers have been stitching away making some fantastic things……take a look

I think you’ll agree I have a super talented bunch 🙂

Our July quilting course has started but running a week behind schedule, but we are still on the way to make beautiful quilts.

In between all of that I have managed to fit some crafting time and some essential coursework hours.

And on the hottest day of the year so far…..a wool delivery came…..yes nightmare.

All in all a very busy and creative couple of weeks……an absolute pleasure to be here and witnessing it all.

Lastly can I say thank you to everyone who contacted me about the fire on Wednesday night at a charity shop extremely close by. My shop was not affected by the fire but unfortunately other were.

Thanks to everyone for following and supporting me and my business.

Ami xxx

children's sewing bee, Customers, home makes, in the haberdashery, News, Workshop and classes, www.simplyneedlecraft.com

A Sale & A Giveaway !!!!!

Posted on June 11, 2016June 10, 2016 by Ami

Hi everyone,

Wow its been a warm week :).

If you like me I haven’t got much crafting finished this week :(.

So let’s get on with this weeks news and updates.

My quilt has finally been finished and has a new home in the haberdashery. This is my favourite quilt I’ve made so far……

And we’ve also had a quilt donated by a customer that she made 20 years ago….

Isn't it great….now hanging proud in the Haberdashery — Isn’t it great….now hanging proud in the Haberdashery

This weeks makes coming from my little stitchers…

My 8 -12 yrs are up first with bags (fully lined), more bows and a star.

Then its was my older group 12 -16 yrs…. HOWEVER over the last 2 two weeks I had set them a project. The mission was to make something that they had already made in class and adapt it/put your spin on it…..They all did a fantastic job.

Molly's pencil case with collar — Molly’s pencil case with collar

Mia's bag with embellishments — Mia’s bag with embellishments

Hope's patchwork tote bag. — Hope’s patchwork tote bag.

In the heat I did manage to finish off one project….. A part of my town & Country project… A country Scene.

It’s all happening on FaceBook this week ……If you don’t follow us CLICK HERE

Were having a FB Giveaway……Timeless Treasures Fat Quarters.

And we have start to advertise a few of our FQ bundles……We post first class.

And this week I’m getting to grips with our website..

I'm a technophobe unless its a sewing machine. — I’m a technophobe unless it’s a sewing machine.

Anyway we have a summer sale on until 19th June. 10% off everything SEE HERE

Let me know what you think to the site. Its a work in progress, there’s so much to put on.

Anyway a productive week, have a fab weekend and see you again on Monday.

Happy Stitching

Ami

xxxxxx

children's sewing bee, Crochet, home makes, sewing studio, Workshop and classes

Job Satisfaction !!!!!

Posted on May 13, 2016May 13, 2016 by Ami

Hi everyone,

It’s an under statement to say I love my job. A shop filled with fabric and yarns is bliss, a Sewing Studio that is an inspirational room, light, airy and full of laughter. But the pinnacle part of my job is sharing passion of creating with others in our workshops and seeing what they go on to do at home. And this is my starting point on this weeks blog.

My Mum joined our April’s 3 part quilting course as a complete beginner (as were the other ladies). She made a beautiful lap quilt using the rail fence design…..And then produced this gorgeous around the world quilt at home.

I've created a quilt addict x — I’ve created a quilt addict x

The quilting courses are extremely popular and within days of advertising June’s course the places had been snapped up. Bearing this in mind I I’m considering running day long quilting workshops if the demand is there. I have no confirmed dates as yet but if you are interested in joining us please email me with your details –

The May 3 part course kicked off on Tuesday. My four ladies are on their way to making a lap quilt using the disappearing nine patch design.

Part One – Learning about equipment, choosing fabrics, seam allowances, piecing blocks.

Part one complete….

And my little stitchers have been at it again….

So our Sue took over the Sewing Bee with her needles, hooks and yarn and introduced them to knitting & crochet. Now this isn’t my forte so I was eager to join in…… Kids were a lot better than me 🙂

We fitted in a little bit of sewing…

Now who’s ready for the return of The Sewing Bee and Patrick Grant?

Every year Singer hook up with the Sewing Bee ( which starts on Monday ) to run a fab competition. Prize……win a sewing lesson with Patrick Grant. Anyone purchasing a new Singer from an authorised dealer will be able to enter. The competition runs until 31st July .

One last thing before signing off. We have a new section on our website….The Guest Book.

If you have visited us in the Haberdashery or Sewing Studio and would like to leave us any feedback please visit Our Guest Here. All feedback and comments are appreciated.

Its been a great week, thank you for all of your support in the haberdashery, sewing studio and online. I’ll see you all again next week.

Keep crafting!

Ami xxxx

WELL HELLO EVERYONE……..

This week has just flown by………Probably because I’m getting older ( I celebrated my 35th birthday on Sunday )

This week has been super busy as always. So lets take a look back on this weeks fun.

In no particular order –

Lets start with our Sue….

Progress report on the crochet workshops

The ladies our continuing with the crocheted jumpers and making good progress….. even though all we can hear is laughing 🙂 I have it on good authority that they will be modelling their makes once finished and will take part in a photo shoot (me with a camera).

Sue has also been a busy bee preparing projects for the children in our sewing bee……and look 🙂

Our little sewers (8-12yrs) have also been busy in the Sewing bee. Designing and making these gorgeous little needle cases.

I'm so proud of them — I’m so proud of them

On our adults quilting course this week we have concentrated on piecing our blocks together using chain piecing, basting and even a little bit of quilting was started…..everyone is making great progress.

Sticking with the Sewing Studio whilst we are on the subject….

Our new machines arrived. Four of the fantastic Singer Ones have now entered the room. Great machines. I have been putting one through its paces over the last month and also been tried on some of our adult classes to make sure they are user-friendly and up to the job…..I pleased to say they passed our rigorous tests with flying colours.

Anyone wanting to have a look at the workshops available, dates, times and booking just pop over to our website…. have a nosey

And finally

I made that – Campaign.

Meet our very loyal and long time customer Caroline. Caroline hasn’t been sewing that long really but you wouldn’t guess by the quality and originality of her makes. Caroline suffers (like many of us) with having the confidence to admit that she does a fantastic job. Below pics our Carolines latest makes using an old handbag and shopping tote. I absolutely love them…..Cant wait to see what see up to next week…..Keep them coming Caroline x

So that’s it for another week.

I’d like to thank everyone that supports us both in-store and online, Facebook, twitter and Instagram.

Have a fab weekend and I’ll see you Monday morning.

Ami

xxxxx

A week in the life of a Haberdashery

behind the scenes, Fabric, home makes, in the haberdashery, in the hoop, New Stock, News, Workshop and classes

A Sale, New Fabric and Shop Alterations

Posted on April 25, 2015April 25, 2015 by Ami

Good Evening Everyone,

I hope you have had a good week because we certainly have.

It started off on Monday with other huge fabric order arriving with fab cottons, poly cottons and a little bit of gingham for good measure….

Then Butterick decided to have a huge sale and all patterns are half priced until Saturday 2nd May…

In between that we’ve had some exciting alterations happening to the haberdashery which means I can order even more fabric…….it still wont be ready for a week or so but here’s a sneaky peek…

my gorgeous hubby working hard :) — my gorgeous hubby working hard 🙂

This week I managed to finish my topsy turvy lap quilt …(seems to be everyone’s favourite and I’m quite pleased with it)

On the subject of quilting I’m getting asked more and more if I would run a workshop so I’ve finally picked up the courage and I will organise some dates and times and let you know ASAP. I’m also looking at doing a few blog tutorials and a quilt along.

All in all a fantastic week.

Thank you for all your support its so amazing and we are so grateful.

Have a good weekend and we will see you on Monday.