Fabric Friday - Sewing With Children

A slightly different post for this weeks Fabric Friday as I've been busy sewing with my daughters the past few weeks.  We were very lucky to be sent a copy of 'Sewing For Children' by Emma Hardy to try out and review during the summer holidays.  My daughters love making and creating so were thrilled to  have the chance to make new things and spend some time with me sewing.  My daughters are 10, 8 and 4 and a half years old, so their sewing skills are very varied!  But this did not put us off and they had soon planned which things they wanted to make.

Sewing For Children is a fantastic book for any child wanting to start sewing.  Although the makes are aimed at girls there are some fantastic t-shirt creatures, sock monsters and finger puppets that boys would love to make.  The book is divided into five chapters, 'Animals and Other Creatures', 'Pretty Playthings', 'Fashion Fun', 'Bags, Bits and Bedroom Bits n Pieces' and 'Dressing Up Time'.  Each chapter has several projects that can easily be made following the clear instructions.  One thing we all loved about this book was that each project had plenty of photographs of the different steps so my older two daughters often used the images to work out what they needed to do next before reading the instructions to double check.  Towards the end of the book there are clear explanations of techniques and instructions for different stitches.  There are also all the patterns/templates you will need to create all the projects.

Lucy has been busy making felt flower hairbands and adapted the felt flowers on a bag to make hairclips.  She has also made a selection of felt fairy cakes for Kitty to play with in the playhouse and has plans to make drawstring bags for her bedroom.  Amber and Kitty were very excited to make the felt cat bag and Kitty wanted to try sewing it herself.  However I did sew the face for her but she then managed to sew the two main pieces together after I drew a line for her to follow.  They now have plans to make the ragdolls, complete with various sets of clothes.  All three want to make sock monsters too but Drew is concerned about socks disappearing from his sock drawer!

I will now share with you Lucy's review of the book.

I liked Sewing For Children because the instructions weren't too confusing and they didn't take too long.  The steps were easy to follow, you didn't have to read since there were pictures to follow!  There was lots of things I liked especially the bag decorations tha can make beautiful hairclips and hairbands.

Sewing For Children would make a fabulous gift for a child aswell as being a bookshelf essential for rainy chilly Sunday afternoons.  There is nothing better than spending winter afternoons cosied up sewing with my daughters.

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend,
Zoe
x


Sewing For Children by Emma Hardy
ISBN 978-1-907030-23-9

Riot Raffle

I thought it was about time I wrote a little post about Riot Raffle.  All the prizes are now listed on the website and I am trying to get them loaded on to the Riot Raffle FB page too so it's easier to just view images of the prizes.  I did think about doing a little mosaic of prizes here but didn't want to upset anybody by only choosing 8 or ten prizes.  I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who has donated a prize and there are some amazing things to be won. Sadly I'm not allowed to buy tickets due to rules and regulations as I am the organiser, which has also led to cross children as there are many prizes my daughters especially would love to win.  Instead I have told them to write them on their Christmas lists!

So instead of sharing a pretty picture board I thought I would share with you three prizes that you must leave a comment on if you want to win them.

Logo Design donated by Easton Place Designs
This is perfect for a small business looking for a rebrand or for a business start up. 

100 Cupcakes donated by Coco Meli Artisan Bakers
This is perfect if you are busy planning a wedding, christening or a big party this year or next year.  However you will have to live in the West Midlands.

£100 Photography Voucher donated by Tony Jones Photography
This prize is for 45 minute family/child photo shoot on location (within M25), and a complimentary CD of up to 10 images (Additional images/products would be charged for).  However you must live within the M25.

Our fab grab badge was designed by Tia at Who Ate My Crayons and please feel free to copy & paste either of the above badges and link to www.riotraffle.org. Thank you.


I hope you find a moment to sit and look at all the prizes, of course with cup of tea!  And if you haven't got your tickets yet please don't leave it too late.

Take care
Zoe
x

Women Doing Their Own Thing

A while ago I was a subscriber to Eve, a fantastic womens glossy published by the BBC.  Sadly three years after selling to Haymarket Publishing we saw the disappearance of my my much loved Eve.  Every month it arrived I would always turn to the 'Women Doing Their Own Thing' articles first as these were always inspiring.  These articles always offered a glimmer of hope in my days filled with nappies and toddlers that there were women starting their own businesses and more importantly being sucessful too.  I still love reading about small businesses and now get my monthly fix in Country Homes & Interiors with their monthly articles, 'Work to Live, Live to Work'.

image source - The Guardian

Yet I still miss the 'Women Doing Their Own Thing' articles and have several squirreled away in a folder.  I know I am not the only one who misses these articles from several chats on Twitter.  So I thought why not make Wednesdays 'Women Doing Their Own Thing' day here on my blog.  I have spent some time thinking about this and want to feature women in creative industries aswell as retail, tourism and probably many more besides.  I want women who run B&B's by the sea, cafes on the coast, galleries, restaurants, gift or interiors shops.  I want women who have their own boutique hotels, holiday companies, whether these are cottages, campsites, walking tours or craft breaks.  I want women who are designing and making and earning a living doing this, you could be sewing, baking, growing or painting.  The list is endless and I hope some of you will be willing to share your stories.  Even if you run the business with somebody else, male or female, I still want to hear from you.  Oh and this is not just for mumprenuers, it's for every woman, with or without children

I am busy putting together questions for this, using the old Eve articles as a guide and hope to start this new feature next week.  So if you would like to be involved in 'Women Doing Their Own Thing' please send me an email zoeanddrew {at} btinternet {dot} com (I know you all know to replace the words in brackets with the symbol!).

I look forward to hearing from you and reading about your business.

Take care

Zoe

New School Year & New Beginnings

Today is the last day of the school hols and I am feeling a little nervous and very excited.  I'm nervous as Kitty, my youngest child, will head to school tomorrow for her first day.  But I am also excited for her, she will start an amazing learning journey and is already trying to read, as a book worm myself I look forward to helping her learn this invaluable life skill. 

First day At School Card

I am also very excited at the prospect of finally having the time to try out new ideas.  Whilst I could mourn the time I will no longer have being a mummy to a preschooler I am looking forward to new adventures and new beginnings.  I plan to fill my Etsy shop with fabulous partyware and home accessories. I have fantastic ideas for this blog. I want to build a website using Create for Zoe & Drew and have big ideas for this too.  I've also brought the URL for another blog that has been at the back of my mind for a while, but will be staying there a while yet!  So I won't be bored and sat stuck watching daytime tv as so many people envisage the life of a work at home mum.  I'm making plans, big plans and reading The Flourish Studios blog, Full Bloom, I know that big plans don't need to be scary, they are important in my planning. 

Campervan Notebook

I will also have time, I hope to start running again.  My running ahs been a little ad hoc over the past thirteen years so I plan to get back to super fitness and enjoying that time to run and clear my head and focus.  I've also been thinking about little treats, perhaps popping to the cinema in the middle of the day, going out for lunch with friends or Drew and not having a little person pinching food off my plate!

Woodland Fairies

My First Post for Les Enfants

Also today I am thrilled to share another new beginning.  I am now the Blog Editor for Les Enfants.  I was thrilled when Katie approached me when she heard I was stopping Inspired Celebration and I think together we can create the best chidlrens party blog here in ol'blighty.  There is a huge gap in the UK for a good childrens party blog and with both our expertise in this field we are going to create something fantastic.  So please join me over at Les Enfants blog three time a week for inspiration in planning chidlrens parties, from decorations to recipes, games to party clothes and much, much more.

Whislt I am expecting tears in the morning, from Kitty and myself, I also know that this is just another step, a huge one, but it's going to be a good one.  I know lots of my Twitter and blogging friends have chidlren starting school for the first time this week and I hope they all have a wonderful time and am sending you all a big hug and a pack of tissues to see you through that first day.

Take care
Zoe
xx

Fabric Friday - Designers Guild A/W11

Lotus Flower Bedlinen

September has arrived with a chill in the air and my thoughts have turned to warmer colours for the house.  I don't mean redecorating, so no need to panic Drew, we have plenty of glossing left to do!  No what I am thinking about is changing cushion covers and curtains to warmer shades and more luxurious fabrics. Well if you can't have velvet in winter when can you?!

Cesano

With Autumn around the corner various fabric designers are busy launching new collections which can help us update our homes with the latest trends in interior design but also add that warmer tone that lends so well to the cooler time of year.

Amrapali

Today I thought we could take a look at the delights Designers Guild are launching as their A/W11 collections.  Obviously we should not expect muted tone and wishywashy prints as this is not Designers Guild at all.  With a richness of colour or texture in their fabrics these designers are not afraid to be bold.  I have to admit that 'Amrapali' in Peony is my favourite of the new designs for it's bold floral print in vibrant azure blues, bright pinks and hints of oranges and chartreuse.  Whilst this may not seem very autumnal I am sure 'Amrapali' would brighten the dullest of winter days. 

Kasida

For a more luxurious fabric to add warmth to the cooler nights 'Kasida' offers jaquard patterned silk in a jewel palette. Perhaps you prefer the feel of velvet then 'Cesano' would be perfect with it's geometrical pattern close cropped velvet.  For a stylish finale the new 'Chevenon' trimmings are simply gorgeous, offering a selection of trimmings and tie backs, including glass and embroidered beads and fabulous fringes.

Miss Muffett Bedlinen

Aswell as beautiful new fabrics for projects Designers Guild also offer an array of products in their fabulous designs.  So even if you are not nimble with a needle you can still indulge in their new designs.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend
Zoe
x

Bank Holidays and Birthdays

It's been a busy weekend here as Drew celebrated his birthday last Friday then our younger son, Jack, celebrated his 12th birthday on Saturday.  There has been lots of cake and good food. Oh and we did go swimming and played foorball and frisbee in the park to burn off all that cake! Family time is so important, especially when you're busy working and trying to just stay on top of everything. 

Cake made for Drew by Connor & Lucy

 I took some time out this weekend too after a busy couple of weeks and feel alot better for doing so.  Taking some time to stop helps me think of new ideas, although this can be dangerous, but I am learning to reign them in and only do about 10% of what I think of! I now have lots of ideas for designs and products but am pondering whether to try and streamline in to collections or product lines or to just try a few things out and see how it goes.  I guess the latter is the way to go as a new business but when you've been looking at how other businesses do things you realise how many have fixed collections or product ranges. So much to consider!

I hope you all managed to enjoy a rest and some time away from the office or studio this weekend.  Bank holidays are a strange concept for the self employed.

Have a fab week, last one of the school holidays.

Take care
Zoe
x

Fabric Friday - Autumn At Cath Kidston

I had planned a more in depth Fabric Friday but again time has disappeared.  Soon the school holidays will be over and I will have more time but I also wish I still had another four weeks left.  Anyway I noticed this week that Cath Kidston has been sending out little treats in the form of emails of new products for their Autumn collections.  So with thoughts of cooler days and nights I thought I'd share a few lovely things from the fabulous quinessentially English fabric lovers heaven. 

Field Flowers Blackberry Case

On my Christmas list!

British Birds Automatic Walking Umbrella

Perfect for when it rains on the school run.

Park Rose Handbag

I'm a big fan of big handbags. I guess that's what comes from having lots of children, too many things to carry!

Chelsea Rose Shawl

With cooler days on their way.

Night Owl Pyjamas Bottoms

And of course cooler nights too, so new jim jams are on the list!

Patch

Cosy evenings mean new projects so I will be wanting this new book from Cath Kidston

Spray Flowers Print Teaset for Four

You all know how much I love a cup of Earl Grey!

Chelsea Rose Kids School Satchel

Not forgetting my daughters, this satchel is gorgeous, I may have to borrow it!

Dinosaur Kids Mini Rucksack

Now I wish my sons were still little as they would have loved this!

So what is on your wishlist from the new Cath Kidston collections? I'd love to know.

Have a fab weekend everyone

Zoe

xx