october 1st

well hello to October and hello to you dear friends who i have made through this space here. I hope you are all well and that life is good.

 image taken by my 10 yr old of the changing of the seasons & used with her permission in exchange for  cookies

 it seems that  i disappered for most of September, not intentionally but life has been so terribly busy.  another 'good' busy you will be pleased to hear (though i still have no cooker but not long to wait now!)

Alice and i have run lots of crafty and sewing courses during September and although i am a little tired i have really been enjoying it! I feel very fortunate to be combining two things i love; creating and sharing with earning an income.

Teaching brings many rewards including seeing the look of pride on a persons face when they have mastered a new technique and when they realise that 'they CAN' do it, getting to meet many different personalities of all ages and all the conversation that this brings and also helping me to  challenge myself and allowing me to experiment and develop my own learning so i can share this with others.

it's funny but i remember that as a child i enjoyed playing 'schools' with my dolls. I would make registers and plan lessons.  perhaps this is always what i have been destined to do? I read somewhere  that our childhood games often hold the key to what we may enjoy doing as proffessions as adults. I find this both fascinating and interesting. as a child i also loved making things...

The down side to being busy is that i have not been taking any photos. I got my camera out for the first time in weeks a few days ago to photograph some winter brooches i have been making.

I am so drawn to wools, suede and velvets at the moment. these are the first batch i have made. I have lots more cheery flowers  cut out in autumnal colours ready to stitch up. all the fabrics i have used are either recycled from garments, small pieces from swatch books or remnants, some are vintage too such as the ticking. they are backed with either wool, wool felt or recycled felted woollens and of course the buttons are salvaged too.

I am hoping to add some for sale to my not on the high street shop (if i can remember how) and my own site(s) at sweetmyrtle & aliceandginny (also if i can remember how as it has been a long time since i have added any thing for sale). now i need to work out pricing and sort out some images to upload.

I designed these little flower brooches some time ago now and if you wish to make your own you will find the patterns and instructions in our first book  'Sew Fabulous Fabric'.

The project is also included in the lovely little beginner sewers box set 'How to Sew' . Both books are published by David and Charles and are available  from www.rucraft.co.uk

and if you do stitch any up we would love to see them and if you email us we can also add your pictures to  our flickr page.  (which needs filling up a little!)

edit to add wow i have just seen that the embellishments book  (which the brooch project is in) from the 'How to Sew' box set is now available as an e-booklet 

Wishing you all a happy weekend

g x

Comments

[Kitty]

I have two of your brooches Ginny - won in a giveaway - and can tell you that both have been worn a lot. The turquoisey one is perfect on a teal top I have. The other lived for quite some time on a handbag, but is now on a coat! I love the autumnal ones - so pretty.

Keep up the good work :) x

[Helen]

Your brooches look beautiful - I love the new ones you're making to go on winter coats and bags - really stylish.I also really like the pretty summery ones shown on the cover of your first book.
Thank you for visitng me on my blog and your sweet comment. It's really nice to be meeting up (at last!)through our blogs. Have a great weekend - hope the sun is shining where you are.
Helen x

[simone]

Lovely to hear from you again Ginny. The winter brooches look lovely and tactile. It is a good idea to exchange photos for cookies too!!! x

[harmonyandrosie]

Your brooches are beautiful, perfect for putting on winter coats (which we'll be wearing pretty soon I'm sure). I'm pleased to hear I'm not the only one who has to offer a little 'incentive' shall we say to our young in return for photographic favours.

Have a lovely weekend.

Kate x

(By the way, I thought I had left a comment on your previous post but it doesn't seem to have appeared but thank you for visiting my blog.)

[Carolyn Saxby]

Lovely winter brooches, particularly those dark rich reds ... yummy ...

Thank you for visiting me and my blog. I loved what you told you did with the Rose Fairy poem. It's such a wonderful verse. Thank you.

Carolyn xo

[The Curious Cat]

It is so amazing that you get to do what you love for a living! I'll be looking at your courses when I return to England for good as I know you are not far from me! Funny about the childhood thing...not sure what that means for me - I liked to hunt for ghosts, pretended I came from Narnia and I tried to start a gardening club...hmmm...I guess there was a lot of make-believe in there...one to ponder on...maybe it would help with making decisions today! xxx

[Tracy]

Hi, Ginny! LOVE those flower brooches--they are so stylish! And I like the recycle/reclaimed. Sounds like great times for you just now.... Happy Days :o) ((HUGS))

[red-handed]

Lovely to see them all heaped together like that.