Please keep looking for this young man

I want to cry every time I see Andrews face- he looks just like my son did. My son has been stopped three times as the likeness was uncanny.
Please if you know anything however trite you might think it is please contact the police. It is the right thing to do.
Janie xxxxxLarge Square Banner

Merry Christmas!

It's really close now to the unmentionable big day and I have managed against all odds to finish my Christmas present sewing! Yay! My back is still killing but I am determined to have a brilliant time!
I've got lots lined up for 2012. I have been given oodles of fabric from my dear uncle John's home. Sadly he passed away recently which is pretty pants if I'm honest. I have decided to use it to make "memory" bags for the female folk in the family. Got lots of ideas in my head - I think they will look brilliant when finished. It feels really sad but on the other hand his memory will live on through the bags as well as our hearts.
Well better get my sketch pad out and work on those designs ............

Take care amigos and have a peaceful and creative sweats tic 2012xxxxxx

The missing diagram for no sew cushion

This diagram didn't upload with the instructions below. It must have had too much festive spirit!

Sew amazing last minute quick and easy project

Sew ......we are all broke and have suddenly realised we are a couple of christmas pressies short! There is only one thing for it, we are going to have to get creative and quick! If we don't the kids will hate us or great aunt Dorothy will tell the whole family what a selfish old harridan you are!

Having a quick scan around the net I came across a website called Disney Family Fun. It's got some interesting projects etc on it but I thought the one for the blog today was particularly useful.The pattern idea and the pictures below are from DFF

It is a really versatile pattern and can be made in many different shapes and even decorated if you have a couple of spare minutes!

*EASY PEASY NO SEW CUSHION*
You need:
*Fleece that is eight inches bigger all around than your actual cushion size (using two colours looks good)
* polyester stuffing
* scissors
* paper to draw your template
* chalk

*HOW TO CREATE IT!*
* draw a heart shaped template eight inches bigger than you want your finished item to be. Draw an echo of that heart as per picture below eight inches in. Use your chalk for this
* place your two pieces of fleece wrong sides together
* cut to the inner heart line approximately two inches apart to make your strips around the edge do both pieces whilst placed on top of each other for a lovely even finish
* tie strips together - one back one front to secure your cushion Continue until you have about eight inches left to secure.
* stuff with filling, shape it and shake it about etc, possibly swear a bit as you make it look good!
* complete tying it up and hey presto you have the finished article!

Impressed with yourself? You should be!

I just want to take this chance to wish you a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful 2012. Thank you don't supporting me through a pretty tumultuous 2011 x

The blog will be back in January 2012 with lots of new ideas. If you have any sewing queries drop me a comment and I will answer them in the next chapter of Sew Amazing!

Take care and remember to get yourself some crafting "me time" over the break.
J x

Sewing wins wars!!!!!

Well allegedly!
When I was sidetracked from my research last week and got looking at the notion of making knickers from sheets, I found some great articles on sewing possibly winning wars!!!!! Yay I thought we lovers of textiles are pretty tough!!!
Sew not only could us women dig for victory or become Rosie the Riveter we could also sew for victory - good one!
Looking further in to this area I stumbled across a brilliant story involving the Singer sewing machine plant in Yeovil. Asked by the government if they could stop producing machine needles for consumers and to make them for a top secret war mission. Singer replied that whilst they were unsure as to the nature of their use they would happily help the war effort.
Have a look at the top secret diagram that was recently made public..........the needles were used as weapons with a toxin on the tip!!! Guess what? They were never used as they were too light to fly and impale!!!!
So it looks as though it was the women themselves sewing for victory "what won it"!!!!!!
Have an amazing week and happy sewing!
Janie xxxxx

Make your own knickers girls!!!

You know when you are doing a bit of arty farty research and you get sidetracked?........well I be jiggered that very thing happened to me this week!
There I was looking at seascapes and before I knew it I was wickedly diverted by an unknown energy to a brilliant article written for women during the war.
Now I am all for upcycling and I hate waste so I thought I just better give it a quick scan! Some sensible ideas....cut down trousers for shorts, rehash your bed sheets etc but imagine my horror when I discovered that the government of the day was telling women to up cycle their sheets, pillow cases and shirts to make ............knickers for herself! And that ladies is exactly what I thought of that idea!!!!!!!!!

Knowing that you probably aren't going to make your own knickers here are couple of ideas for you;
* appliqué over a stain to hide it
* if you have gone off a dress you bought and wore to death cut it just above the waist, turn the waist and stick a zip in for a new skirt
* Old silky or satin shirts make fab bag linings!!!!!!!

NO SEWING PROJECT OF THE WEEK - fab seasonal bunting.

I've come up with another "no sew amazing" project this week. We are so close to Christmas now that you don't have time to get the old sewing machine out and follow intricate patterns!

What you need
* selection of seasonal fabric scraps
* couple of metres of contrasting ribbon about half an inch wide
* wooden pegs
* decorative scissors

What do I need to do?
* cut yourself a template of a pennant shape with a 10cm base and 12cm in height. If you plan carefully you should be able to utilise your fabric really well
Now peg your pennants onto the ribbon. Space evenly and hang up your seasonal bunting!!!!!! Gather around it withe family and sing "we wish you a merry Christmas"!!!!!!!!

NB if you can't resist some sewing on this project the sky is your limit!
Add embellishments to your pennant such as glittery bugle beads or buttons,
or add lace or ribbon stripes........

Please send me your photos of your finished project. I am starting a rogues gallery so along with your picture send a few details about yourself too!

Until next week keep sewing and have an amazing week
Xxxxx Janie xxxxxx

Oo mrs I've been playing with stockings!

Who wouldn't enjoy playing with stockings at the weekend ( or any weekday!)?

Ok before you envy me out there I guess I should clarify!

I have been making a garland of Christmas stockings! I am living in hope of course that Santa will pop down my chimney and fill them!

They haven't taken too long to put together. If you are watching your fave telly programmes this week you could make them for your own mantelpiece after a couple of episodes!

I sewed them all by hand using blanket stitch but if u don't sew I guess you could use fabric glue but of course you won't get that hand crafted finish.

I've got some yummy claret polka dot ribbon and old fashioned dolly pegs to finish the garland off.

Now all I've got to do is be patient - I know its too early to hang it up! Whilst I'm waiting I reckon I should get my wish list to the North Pole a bit quick!!!

......dear Santa
I've been a good girl. Can you send robbie savage to my girllllllllllllfriend Debs........,.

Xxxcccc