I’ve been a bit lazy about telling you what I’ve been up to lately.  So over the next few days there will be a wave of posts.

First (and I think quite importantly) Created in Birmingham have a shop - in the Bullring - not in a dusty corner but opposite the Apple shop

(Photo courtesy of Katie Graczyk)

There are some needlesandhooks goodies on sale.  Embroidered and appliqued purses and new stitched pictures (photos to come in another post) as well as lots of other things all made here in Birmingham.

I popped into the shop on Thursday evening to do a bit of birthday shopping and bumped into Ben Waddington installing his jewellery.  Jewellery isn’t something that I normally associate with Ben so I was intrigued when he asked me to take a look

The rings (size R) are made from £1 coins with the centre ground out.  It’s done by a clever computerised process and leaves just the very edge of the coin as a ring.

I then asked if it was illegal to do this to a coin of the realm but Ben assured me that it wasn’t.  Another thing it made me realise was that I have no idea what my ring size is.  Will need to find out before Matt can buy me a yellow diamond ring

Well its about time that I gave you an update on what I’ve been doing.  I’ve been busy working on none related sewing stuff including the rather marvellous Supersonic Festival and a project in Coventry with Triangle Theatre.

But your not interested in that really.  I have been doing some work on the wall commission.  I went shopping while in Paris for fabric.  There is a whole section of the city (just round the corner from the Sacre Coeur in Montmatre) dedicated to discount fabric shops.  My idea of heaven.  Thanks very much to Fuzzy Galore for the shopping tips

I managed to acquire (using my rudimentary French, the international language of hand signs and a guide book) some quite fabulous fabric for the main part of the piece.  I bought some really lovely linen, some upholstery weight loose weave cotton and a woven patterned velour.

I’m going to create a patchwork background and then applique and embroider the design on top.  So I’ve created a sample block to show to clients.

I’d better get back to my studio and get making more blocks

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.

As promised photos of new cushions are up on website.  You can have a look at them here.

There is still a bit of technical jiggery pokery to do but you can see most of the items which were on sale at Mid Century Modern.

Hope that you like them and that the kittens kept you entertained while you waited.

A big thank you to Penny who shot all the work.

As the title suggests there will be some photos of all the products on sale at Mid Century Modern up by the end of the week.

Without boring you all it takes a little bit of time to do, so please bear with me while I upload the images.

While you wait - here are some cute kittens playing

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

I’ve had a busy day with a trip to Wolverhampton to install purses and brooches in a display cabinet at Light House.  It’s part of the Plot scheme which supports creative people with all kinds of helpful stuff including marketing, business advice, training and exhibition space.

I’m really pleased with how things look - you can take a look yourself below.  Also a big thank you to Kate Spragg for all her help.

All of the items are for sale and will be on display until Christmas

hello everyone

I’m writing my 1st post on my new website.  Hope that you like it.  I would like to say a big thank you to Ian John and Jacob at Heavy Object for doing a brilliant job on the website.  My they are very clever boys.

Over the next few days and weeks I will be uploading more images of past work and showing you what I’ve been making recently.

But for now I’m back off to my studio to get some more sewing done

ta-ra

SARA