Back Up and Running (with scissors)

Well Running With Scissors is finally back up and running after taking a few months off to have a baby. I've had a busy time with the new arrival and all is now going well. At Running With Scissors H.Q. we have some exciting plans for 2011 and the first few workshops are now up and ready for booking via the website. More workshops are in the pipeline with some external tutors and I'm very excited about using our new venue - the new church opposite Heeley retail park. If only there was a couple more hours in the day.....

In the meantime here's a nice picture of an origami fabric flower which you can make in one of our new workshops

Patchwork and Quilting Workshop with Janet Bottomley

This post is all about Janet Bottomley who is running the Patchwork and Quilting workshop on 10th April. I first met Janet a few months ago and we immediately clicked through our love of crafting and VW camper vans. Janet even brought along some VW campervan fabric for me but I can’t decide what to use it for yet as I want to make the most of it!

Janet is clearly a patchwork and quilting junkie, have a look at one of her blogs at http://www.aquiltersjournal.blogspot.com/ if you need the proof! This is a picture of one of one of Janet’s mini-quilts which won an award at the Harrogate Quilt Show. (We'll be making a mini-quilt at the workshop on 10th April)

As well as having a husband, 2 sons, 5 cats and 3 rescued ex-battery chickens Janet also finds time to travel from Barnsley to Skipton, North Yorkshire, every month to continue her love of quilting by undertaking a city and guilds certificate in ‘Patchwork and Quilting – Creative Techniques’ (Janet already has a Certificate in Patchwork and Quilting!). You can follow Janet’s work on her blog

http://www.cityandguildspatchworkandquilting.blogspot.com/

I am very jealous, as they seem to do some fantastic assignments where you can let your creativity run riot. Here are a couple of my favourite pieces from Janet’s course




Janet also likes to incorporate used fabrics into her projects, here’s one with the odds and ends of shirts which weren’t used in other projects. I really like this one!


As if that’s not enough Janet is also involved in producing memory quilts and charity quilts, runs workshops and arranges talks from national quilting specialists!

Here’s a couple of images of Janet’s quilts which I’m sure you will agree are absolutely fantastic.






At the Running With Scissors workshop on 10th April we will be learning the techniques of piecing, appliqué and quilting, using all the necessary equipment and materials. If you’ve always wanted to have a go, this is an ideal starter session to learn the basics, take home your very own mini-quilt and have the initial skills to be able to create your own quilt later at home.

Hope to see you there!

Pins and Needles

I have been meaning to compose a post all about pins and needles for some time, sounds a little strange, I know. It all started when and friend and I went to York for the day where we visited the sashiko exhibition at York City Gallery. Sashiko is a type of traditional sewing technique in parts of Japan. It is created by lines of tiny running stitches through a number of layers of fabric, some of the stitch lines sometimes converge into ornate patterns. The sashiko technique was mainly used to create working clothes for working class people, such as loggers, builders, fishermen etc. The layers of fabric made the garments warm and practical and many examples in the exhibition had been patched several times. The art of sashiko is now dying out in this modern age, so many of the pieces were from early last century, but also there were other examples of modern day sashiko garments created by the designer Tokunaga Miyoko which were absolutely stunning. Heres a picture of a sashiko garment, as they are quite hard to describe with text.



Also in the exhibition was an information panel on the Hari Kuyo Festival. This is a thanksgiving and memorial service for worn sewing needles and pins. It's held in Buddhist temples on 8th Feb every year and holds the belief that both living and inanimate objects have a spirit and soul. As needles are laid to rest in trays of tofu the giver also takes that moment to console themselves by burying secrets too personal to reveal. Even today cloth makers, fashion students and other people regularly using needles and pins take the day off to go to the temple.



....and on that note here's a picture of some new pin cushions I made for the first Running With Scissors workshop. They worked out quite well and what's more they didn't cost a penny being made from recycled tins and scraps of fabric and paper.

Wolf spotted in Sheffield!

A rare snow wolf (Mitchus Snowus) has been spotted in Sheffield. Believed to be friendly but should be approached with caution. Experts say he may be around for the remaider of the week.

Project Runway Update

I thought it was time to have a bit of an update on Project Runway (for those of you new to the blog its kind of like The Apprentice for fashion designers in the States). The last two challenges have been to design an outfit for the US Olympic team to wear at the opening ceremony and to design an outfit for Brooke Shields character in a drama called 'lipstick jungle' (the garment was also judged by Brooke Shields). The competition is hotting up - I think that Daniel and Blayne are hanging on by a thread and I'm surprised that Stella has managed to hold on as she only makes garments out of leather. On the strong side I think both the black women are good designers with a keen eye, and Keith (who won last week) I think creates some really nice pieces and the guy with the goatee (can't remember his name) seems to be doing OK. This weeks challenge should be great - it's to design an outfit for a drag queen which should be really entertaining - lots of sequins and feathers! - it will be right up Blayne's street if he doesn't try too hard, but I think some of the others will really struggle with the challenge..

Tune in for the next exciting episode

Sky 3 (freeview 11 or 12) Sunday evening 7pm (rounds off the weekend nicely)

Running with Scissors sewing machines

I have been meaning to share of photo of the Running With Scissors sewing machines with you all for some time. Finally here is a image of the lovely machines - Janome 525S (recent winner of 'Which' sewing machine Test)

Happy Valentines Day

Valentine's Day buns (with quality icing) for the love of my life x