I’ve been evicted from my studio.  I’ve had to pack up my fabric mountain and move out.

It’s all in a good cause though.  I’ve had to move so that the builders can insulate my studio, replace the window and put a radiator in.  They’ll also be building a new bathroom and storeroom in the unused loft space.

I’d forgotten how much room there is up there.  It was quite hard to see it hidden behind piles of fabric and pattern paper

So for now I’m taking over the front bedroom as my studio and working around boxes of music equipment and old bank statements.  It’s a bit cramped but I can’t complain, I’ve managed to get my cutting table in which is the main thing.

All that’s left to do now is argue with Matt about where my studio goes after the work is done.  I think I should have the big front room, he thinks otherwise…

Things are hotting up here at needlesandhooks.  It’s not just the beautiful weather we’ve had over the weekend.  I’ve just received a new commission to make a wall hanging for a stair well.  Design has just been approved by clients.  Now begins the fun part - fabric shopping.

I’ve also just finished a commission for a private client in London.  I’ve made a large cushion set with flight embroidery using vintage 1940’s wool crepe, printed Japanese cotton and recycled satin polyester.

Am really pleased with the cushions - in fact I would like to keep them.  If you want to see more photos click here

I’ve had a bit of machine envy recently.  Whilst buying needles at Frank Nutt I saw the new, all singing all dancing Bernina 830.  Just a mere £6,500 buys you this very expensive toy.  It has an electronic switch to lift the sewing foot up and down and a really long arm.  No manual lifting of levers here or squashing fabric under the arm.

To be fair I wouldn’t really want one as if I was going to spend that kind of money on a sewing machine I’d be better off with an industrial one.

It does make me think who would buy these type of machines - they’re not made for professionals and they’re quite expensive for hobbyists. I also have a bit of a problem with the automated aspect of these computerised machines.  Is it really you embroidering that picture if you set a machine to do it?

Whilst on the subject of machine envy I went charity shopping on Friday and went past a drycleaners and alteration shop in Harborne.  They had miniature machines as a window display.  They are really beautiful and they actually work

I have my own miniature sewing machine which actually works.  It was a birthday present a couple of years ago and it has pride of place on our record shelves.  I think I want to decorate my studio with more of these.  They’re slightly more affordable than the Bernina 830 and probably more of an inspiration.

So have spent the last 2 days embroidering my display boxes.  It was a slow start but after just 2 days all of the embroidery is complete.  I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help of Gillian and Olga - a very big thank you ladies.

Here’s a sneaky peek at what they look like

My studio is overrun with cardboard boxes.  In fact not just my studio but the landing outside my studio as well.  It’s alright though they are there for a good reason.  They are going to be my display furniture at Mid Century Modern on Sunday.

It all started when I realised that I needed freestanding display furniture for the show.  My initial idea was to borrow some ladderax shelving from Fragile Design.  It was a great plan - I borrow the shelving to display my work,  Fragile Design get some extra space at show - everyones a winner.  Sadly not - my stall is next to large glazed wall so everything needs to be freestanding.

Cue lots of questions.  How will I display my work?  How much is it going to cost?  How will I get it to London?  Then a bright idea from Matt - shelving from cardboard.  It didn’t take much longer for us to come up with the idea of modular shelving made out of cardboard boxes.  They’re cheap to buy, can be packed flat for easy transport and will easily support cushions and purses.  It also very DIY which is something I like - I get to create my own display.  Hoo-rah for Matt - he does have his uses.

So I took delivery of 30 cardboard boxes on Wednesday from Cardboard Box and have built a mock up of the display in my studio.

At the moment they are quite bare and boring but by the end of the week the sides will be decorated with beautiful embroidery. I’m using DK black wool to embroider and I think it’s going to look great