Interview Update...

google images/ Sodahead

Due to the interviews being late in the afternoon I shall not know the outcome until tomorrow. I am not sure what that will be. All I know is that I did not do too badly and I answered all of the questions Put to me, and asked some of my own.

So I shall see you back here tomorrow. Knitting club tomorrow too. Where are the weeks going?

xx

Still here.....just

I am still here......just. Picked up my purchase which I need to photograph tomorrow. Been very busy. Sophie's school Christmas Fair on Friday, a Christmas lunch with the Embroiderers Guild on Saturday, my works Christmas 'do' that evening, Christmas shopping in Plymouth and my new purchase on Sunday. Plus Mock exams and other paperwork! Phew!!

Now, I have to get some beauty sleep for my job interview tomorrow. Boy am I looking forward to a break. More on that tomorrow!

Take care, crafty news will resume tomorrow.

xx

Softie Monsters...

As part of the new GCSE course recycling is a major aspect. So this term we have been making a series of small projects to introduce this concept. We needed to dispel the idea that recycling is dirty and rubbish. I think we have now gotten past that as the students were really keen to make these softies using the theme of Monsters. The top picture shows how they came up with the pattern (after having designed it) and then developed it into a 3D shape. This was quite a spontaneous project and the students did not have any prior warning of what they would be making.

They really enjoyed making this latest project and it is one that I shall develop further for next September. As we have gone along this term the students have become so much better using the sewing machine. I often feel sorry for my machines as they are constantly putting up with abuse! So I did point out the improvement ( I know, tempting fate but when praise is due.....) and lots of smiley faces said it all really.

I couldn't help but think of Monsters Inc whilst we were making these. I must confess that I have drawn mine but not yet made it. I shall post it when I do.

The next project is on Thursday, and we shall be recycling part or all of a duvet cover...........can you guess what we will all be making?

(Yes, I have made this one to show the students which is why the monster is still in pieces).

I missed Knitting club tonight as I had to dash off and make an important and costly purchase, all shall be revealed when it is delivered. My TA stood in for me and I left them all talking about making knitted pink pigs!!??

Take care and thank you all for leaving comments, found a couple of new blogs this past week.

xx

Knitting Club..the first make.

You all remember a few posts back me mentioning that two of us had set up a small knitting club with the youngest students (by student request) We started off with 4 and it has increased to 6 already. As you know my knitting is not at a particularly high level but my colleague can read patterns etc so together I think we have it covered. I do like small, simple and quick projects so a few little booklets that I have collected as freebies with knitting mags has proven to be very useful.

So here is the first completed item from the knitting group. Ele the knitted finger puppet!! It went smoothly first time and her creator is delighted!


There are other versions which can be tried, including a pig, penguin and dog. All of the other students are in the middle of projects that they started at home and intend to finish with us. Then we shall progress onto bigger items.
Sophie is picked up by Dad and is dropped off at my school so that she can come along as well! She has made a few little bits, but she has also started a much bigger item which is very nearly done and will be featured here too.
It may be a small group, but they are keen.
Have a good weekend xx.

The issue of Skirts..

You may remember a little earlier in the year this skirt. I made it using some lovely fabric from IKEA. I went to the Bristol branch a couple of weeks ago but they did not have any more in stock which was a shame. I am visiting Bristol again in two weeks for a course so I shall try again.

This is a simple wrap around skirt using a NEW LOOK pattern 6637. I wanted something simple that i could make with my GCSE students. We have yet to do this but I have put it to them and they are keen. It can be adapted and the fabric changed to something thinner so that it can be used at the beach. If we ever get any proper summer weather again!

I wanted to have another go as I did not like the a couple of things and I made the skirt for my size but as is often the case my body shape is not the same as a pattern envelope. It was ok and I did wear it that summer.


This time I made it a size bigger so that I could fit it to me better at the darts in particular. I used IKEA fabric again as I like the way it irons and it is a little bit thicker so it is not necessary to wear an under slip. As yet I have not worn this due to the poor weather over the summer!

I have now bought another skirt pattern to try out, a simple skirt with a zip in the back. I ordered it from the NEW LOOK pattern website. It is pattern No. 6843 and if you want to see it made up then pop over to Darling Petunia's blog as she uses this pattern a lot. She has a link in her side bar. There are too many links to put here. So this is next on the list of garments to make and I am also now on the prowl for a tailors dummy!

Completed some more student work today which I shall upload at the weekend and I have a special order to start (yes Pamona I have not forgotten, just need to headaches to go. It took two days, four paracetamol but it was the three soluble aspirin that cured it!).

Back tomorrow, many thanks for the nice comments on the previous post. I would also like to say a big hello to the new visitors who have been commenting lately. I am trying to do a return visit to say hello. I like to find new blog sites and your links via my comment box is a good way to do this.

xx

AWQB Latest Block 18...

This is my latest quilting block for the Around the World Quilting Bee that I am involved in. When the quilt arrived I was not really sure what to create, all of the other blocks were so good. I did notice that there was not a log cabin block amongst the many lovely blocks that had been made.
So I decided to go back to my favourite faithful Log Cabin block. I tried to include the main colours that had been used by the other quilters and on the outer edge I made use of some more of the Cornish Tartan that I had bought for the last block I made. It seemed to fit in with the world and map theme that some of the other blocks had featured on them. I am quite happy with it and I hope that Anita likes it too.
Take care all, really tired so off to bed early. Yet another blasted headache. Roll on the Christmas holidays.
xx

Giveaway Link

Go on.....click and join in.....you never know you might win.

Organised by Sew take a Hike.

xx

Organised by Sew take a Hike.

Christmas hats....HO! HO! HO!.....

I thought that you might like to see some of the Christmas hats that my Year 9's finished this week......

All of the white strips have been stitched on separately. I bought some fur to go around the hat and with the left-overs we made some fur pompoms.

The lettering has been cut out by hand and carefully stitched on. This hat turned out really well indeed and with only verbal assistance from me and having taught her for 3 years on the trot, she had gained the confidence and skill to make this herself.

This hat shows the fur pompoms that we made. This hat also has fabric trees stitched on to the front.

Now, when I saw the final design drawing for this hat I was a little worried that he would get a little bored of cutting all of the squares out. However, he did cut 24+ squares out in a lesson, and started to sew them together. It has turned out brilliantly and I am doubly pleased as he is also in my tutor group.

We also made some blue Christmas hats which turned out very well. I found some snow flake sequins which were carefully stitched on and the fur really has finished these hats off really well. I shall certainly get some more for next year.

Lots of sparkle!!

Just for good measure, a pink one too. With silver sequins hand stitched down the side.

HO HO HO everyone. What do you think?

It is mobile phone cases next.....

xx