needlesandhooks is the work of Sara Fowles a designer/maker using textiles and wool based in Birmingham.

needlesandhooks produces handmade accessories, homeware items and bespoke women’s and menswear. All of the needlesandhooks items are unique. They may be related in design or material but no two are ever the same and will never be repeated.

I’ve been a busy little bee this week.  I had a slow start to the week with the ongoing (and seemingly never ending) tidy up in my studio. On Wednesday however, things really started hotting up.

I went over to my good friend Ruth Green’s studio to do some screen printing.  It’s something that I haven’t done since I was at school but have been meaning to do for a while.  I was very lucky to have expert tuition and guidance from Ruth to ease my screen printing nerves.

So with plenty of tea and biscuits we got to printing.  First the background eggs

Then we printed some birds over the eggs.

I want to say a big big BIG thank you to Ruth for letting me use her studio for a whole afternoon and acting as my lecturer and technician.  I wouldn’t have been able to get so much done without your help.

Today I’ve been embroidering the prints with images of architectural details

I’m really pleased with my stitched pictures, they look great.  I’m most pleased with the machine control (yes I did it all freehand - no computerised sewing machine in this house).

Now I know what they look like I’ll be developing some other designs.

I’ve recently been having a spring clean in the studio - a bit late I know, but better late than never.  So I’ve built myself some shelves in the alcoves.  I’m really proud of them.  I did it all on my own, with some moral support from Dorian and Matt (thank you).

I know have my files, baskets of notions and record player all housed on purpose built shelves.  The shelves are even level.

In the midst of my tidying up I finally got around to unpacking 2 cigar boxes and a tin I’d been given.  They’ve been sitting on my desk since the start of the year, when I’d had a cursory glance inside.  Oh my my, what treats they did hold.

The larger box (at the back) had obviously been used as a sewing box and was full of needles, scraps of newspaper, old pins and a few reels of cotton.

One of the gems in the larger box was something called the Zigzagger.

Its an attachment for your straight stitch sewing machine to allow it to do zigzag stitch.  Most machines before the 60’s only did straight stitch.  This is what the attachment actually looks like.

The Zigzagger comes with a set of typed instructions which tell you that ‘the attachment is useful, effective and will fit any standard domestic type of sewing machine of the flat bed type’.  However, looking at the almost pristine state of the box I’m not sure how useful or effective it is.

I’d love to have a play with the Zigzagger to see if I can get it to work but I don’t own a vintage sewing machine that the Zigzagger will fit.

Talking of vintage sewing machines, folded up in the smaller cigar box was this.

An instruction chart and manual for a Vickers sewing machine.  The machine looks like its from the 30’s or 40’s but the printing on the poster looks so modern.  I love the way the red cotton is used to highlight the image and also tell you how to thread the machine.

Also folded in the smaller cigar box was this advert.

I love the fact that there was/is a Metrication Board to deal with all things metric and to smooth the transition from imperial measurements.

Last of the treats were all these reels of cottons

inside this rather lovely tin

The cottons will get used in my work as they’re Sylko thread which is my 2nd choice thread (after Guterman).  The cigar boxes will be great to display cards and brooches in at fairs or markets.  The tin will make a great edition to my ever growing storage needs.

If you’re in Birmingham this Saturday you should pop down to Moseley for the Moseley Festival.  There’s a whole host of things going on including CBSO players playing in the private park, summer cider tasting at The Fighting Cocks and an Art Trail around Moseley.

I’ll be selling my wares at the street fair on the village green (Alcester Rd and St Mary’s Row).  So do come, say hello and marvel at my new fabric and cut out greetings cards (pictured above).  I’ll also be selling my usual mix of accessories, cushions and stitched pictures.

This weekend I’ll be taking some of my wares to the Kings Heath Big Party.  The fun all happens on Saturday 19 June in and around Kings Heath High Street.

I’ll be selling my usual mix of unique handmade accessories and homewares.  They’ll be lots to see and do so if you’re in the area, do pop along and join in the party.  Or even if you’re not in the area, make a special trip to come and visit my stand.  For more information about whats going on where visit here

It was our anniversary yesterday.  13 happy years since we met. It doesn’t seem that long ago really although 13 years is a long time.  To celebrate we went out to Simpsons for dinner. My pudding was divine - carrot and walnut cake with white chocolate cream and salted caramel ice cream.

As a present I made Matt a bowling shirt from some lovely cotton linen blend that I bought in Copenhagen.  I really don’t understand why its so difficult (and expensive) to buy similar material here in Birmingham.  Oh well it does give me the perfect excuse to always go fabric shopping when on my travels.

Matt bought me a Bruce Gilbert record that I’ve wanted since going to see Michael Clark Company at Barbican for my birthday.

Heres to many more happy years