Girly Totes

Posted on 10th May 2013 by emilycarlill

I’ve recently been asked to make a few bags as girly gifts – you can never have too many bags right!

The briefs for the first two were pretty different, reflecting the girl’s styles and loves. One was to be a pretty typically girly type with flowers, frills, shopping and the key important feature…a little black doggie (I even got emailed a photo…always welcome a cute puppy pic!).

And the second bag…guess what the brief for this was? Yep you guessed it – the lady who was to receive it, Amanda, her pride and joy is her cream with a black soft top VW Beetle. Although I’m pretty sure it doesn’t have flower print tyres!

This was probably the most trickiest free-hand I’ve done to date..I had to make a paper template first and cut it all up into small sections. I think, on close inspection, the perspective is not quite perfect but I guess that’s what makes it unique right?

The final two were more similar…for a mum and mother-in-law. Both keen gardeners…

Hexies rule!

Posted on 3rd May 2013 by emilycarlill

I’m a BIG fan of patchwork and, when I make my little patchwork quilts, although they are probably not massively technically skilled in quilting terms, I always like to add something new or try a new pattern or style.
I wrote a post right back at the beginning of the year (seriously, how is it May already!) about how this was going to be the year of learning new skills…well, here is my go at another. I love hexies and have wanted to try them out for aaaages!

I knew that they were going to be time consuming, so I decided to start small; I trial ran the hexies by making a small needle case for my Auntie.

The great thing about this is that I got to use random gorgeous piece of fabric from my scraps box and pick out specific parts of the fabric print (like the little pin wheel and bear).

I know this is teeny tiny but it’s my first step to the next [bigger] hexie project…I’m scared!

From one DIY bride to another…

Posted on 4th April 2013 by emilycarlill

That was me, a DIY bride, almost two years ago now (woweee how time flies!) and that’s how all of this craftiness got started…

As a crafty bride I made lots (!!) of things to decorate our wedding day in all kinds of hand-made loveliness. Since then, I’ve gone on to make lots more wedding crafts for other people, and also lots of non-wedding related crafty items (as shown on this blog!).

I’ve also reduced my hours as my normal day job to pursue a craft-related business with my friend and business partner, Sam Lowe. Together we make up Love Me Sew, creating Craft Packs to sell as well as fabric and running craft workshops.

DIY Wedding Workshops!
With our workshop experience as Love Me Sew, and with my experience of making many a wedding crafts, it was only natural that we combine the two to bring you DIY wedding workshops! (Of course, so obvious, I don’t know why we didn’t do it sooner!)

Wedding Event with A Difference, 14th April
The first of these I’m pleased to tell you will be at the very lovely ‘Wedding Event with a Difference‘ hosted by Save the Date on Sunday 14th April; a wedding fair I actually exhibited at in 2011 (you can read my little write up here!). This time, however, Sam and I will be running craft workshops for other DIY brides! We will be showing them how to make lovely fabric flowers…which can be used for table decorations, bridal bouquets or button holes.
Even if you are not a crafty bride, I would still really recommend this fair – it’s so different from another other wedding fair that I remember going to as a bride-to-be and features a fashion show as well as some brilliant and unique exhibitors. You can find out more about the fair and buy tickets (including our craft workshop) at the Save the Date website.

The Flax and Twine, York, May and June.
Throughout May and June, Love Me Sew (aka Sam and Me!) are also running a series of three workshops in the luuuurrvly Flax and Twine in York. The dates and crafts are: ‘Mr and Mrs’ bunting on 18th May, ‘Wedding Decorations – Garlands and Pom Poms’ on 25th May, and , ‘Brides and Bridesmaid purses’ on 1st June.
To book onto these workshops, please visit The Flax and Twine’s website.

I’m sure these won’t be the last of the wedding workshops this summer so please keep your eyes peeled and check out our Love Me Sew website for a list of events, or follow us on Facebook and keep up to date with everything we are doing.

For me, I’m just happy to show others the little tricks of the crafting trade to make their very own DIY wedding, and love it as much as I loved mine!

Annabelle’s Quilt.

Posted on 12th February 2013 by emilycarlill

Remember my post in January about learning new skills? Well, here is the first skill (i.e. free hand machine embroidery) in action for real (as opposed to the cute, but quite simple, little cards!)

This is a quilt I made for my friend Jane who had her baby Annabelle in December.

I wanted to incorporate something that was personal to Jane and her husband Marcus which is where the birds come in. Jane and Marcus were married in September 2011 and they had a bird and heart theme to their wedding day (complete with heart and bird shaped cookies as favours that Jane – also a crafty one – made herself!). It’s the birds I am most pleased with on this quilt…

I think it’s pretty safe to say that there is not an ounce on masculinity in this quilt! Jane is a pretty girly person so I used subtle pastel pink and green floral and spotty fabrics for the colours, and edged the whole thing in super pretty lace binding (which is a very exciting new discovery for me!).

However, knowing he is an enthusiast, just for Marcus I added the little scooter (sorry it wasn’t bright red Marcus like your actual scooter, but that wouldn’t have matched my colour scheme!)

The layout of the patchwork is very similar to Ava’s quilt that I made around the same time as this, but with more subtle and fewer colours, and the centre panel is different, being personalised to the new mum and dad and their baby.

I also, as I mentioned, wanted to try out my skills in free hand machine embroidery! It was a bit risky and, at first, I thought it was looking a bit messy but now I’m so pleased I did, as I think (if I say so myself!) it looks fab! I’m sure I will be featuring free hand a lot more in my work (hopefully seeing some improvements)…it is, after all, the ‘crack cocaine of the sewing world‘ according to Kirstie Allsopp!

Nothing better than ‘making your own’…right?

Posted on 5th February 2013 by emilycarlill

You may or may not know that I run another crafty business which, instead of making things for people, I like to think I’m helping people to get into the fab world of sewing and making things for themselves!

Well, a pretty new and exciting part of my business, Love Me Sew, is the launch of ‘Make Your Own’ craft packs…lovely boxes which contain everything you need to make up a complete item; including fabric, thread and other relevant haberdashery items, and a template and instructions designed and written (as well as packaged up!) by yours truly (with the help of my glamorous assistant’s Mr C and Winnie dog).

The packs were officially launched in October 2012 with Love Me Sew being invited to pitch the packs to a panel of John Lewis buyers as part of a Start Up business scheme, where we were selected to be one of 11 finalists from over 400 applicants! (Woweee I did say!)

Currently, Love Me Sew ‘Make your own’ bunting and ‘Make your own’ phone case are stocked in six lovely retail outlets in Yorkshire and the North East, and are hoping to increase this number over the coming months.

I’ve just finished writing the patterns and instructions for another three packs – two general, one special edition – to be launched in time for Easter, which will also be available to buy from the Love Me Sew online shop (which currently sells lovely fabric if you fancy having a browse!). Here is a sneak preview (even the Love Me Sew blog and Facebook followers have not seen this!).

If you like sewing and crafts yourself, and fancy keeping up with everything Love Me Sew, please follow the blog (I often post tutorials on here too!) and Facebook as I’ll be posting updates on how the packs are doing, and maybe encourage you to try one too…
(P.S If you do, I’d love to hear some feedback to make sure I’m getting them right for fellow crafters, and suggestions on future packs is always welcome!)

Ava’s Quilt

Posted on 28th January 2013 by emilycarlill

I was very pleased to be asked to make a baby quilt as a gift for Dominique Bader, the lovely and talented lady who photographed my wedding.

Baby Ava was due in January and, with Samuel – Dominique’s husband – contacting me about the quilt in November, I knew I had enough time to plan and source some lovely fabrics, ready for Samuel to give to Dominique when the little lady arrived in hospital.

I got a bit of an idea about colours and a little list of the couple’s ‘likes’ from Samuel, but apart from that, the only request he made was to have Ava’s name, as well as Samuel and Dominique’s names included.

I’ve always wanted to buy some Heather Ross fabrics as I think they are so beautiful – the design and colours are very subtle and have a fairytale, whimsical feel: the range is appropriately named ‘Far Far Away’. So I used this quilt as a perfect excuse to treat and allow myself to buy some!

On holiday!

With the 1st December, came the arrival of the Christmas orders, craft workshops with my other business ‘Love Me Sew‘ as well as my long-awaited holiday to Berlin. So, with the quilt not needed until January, I decided to leave this on the ‘to do’ list until I came back from holiday…well, that is if you don’t count the sketches of how I wanted it to look, and workings-out of sizes, that I did on the plane home!

Unfortunately for me, babies don’t like to stick to scheduled times and Ava arrived two week’s earlier than expected! Fortunately for me, however, because Samuel is a very lovely customer (and I think was pretty much swept up with how gorgeous his new little baby girl was) didn’t mind that the quilt wasn’t ready in time.

But, a week later, after pretty much sticking to my sketches and the pictures in my head, the quilt was done and posted!

Two of Samuel and Dominique’s ‘likes’ included cycling and dogs (plus the camera for obvious reasons!)…

Samuel was happy, Dominique loved it and I think Ava found it pretty comfy too…

As for me, I think to date, this is one of my favourites and crafty items I am most proud of.

P.S. How gorgeous is Ava! The photo of Ava are taken by Dominique (obviously as they are way better than mine!)

New year, new skills.

Posted on 17th January 2013 by emilycarlill

Instead of getting bogged down with the ‘churning out’ way of working I seemed to have been doing the past year and half, in order to just cross things off the ‘to do’ list and make sure they are done in time, I have decided this year to take on board the wise words of Mr C who keeps telling me…’more haste, less speed‘.

This comment is usually in response to me having a mini melt-down over some finished personalised item that I was proud of until the heart dropping realisation I’ve spelled said person’s name incorrectly! (Seriously, you’d think I’d learn from just doing this the once…not me, think I’m on melt down number five or six at least!)

I’ve realised if I take more time to think about what I am making and to learn new techniques, my items may be more interesting to make as well as how they look, and could also save me time in the long run. Plus, I may finally try a few things I have wanted to try for ages!

Free Hand Machine Embroidery. The first of these new techniques is free hand embroidery. I love the way free hand embroidery looks. I’m always doodling and l love the rough look style of sketches so, combining this and a sewing machine…what could be better? Last year I took a workshop in free hand machine embroidery and found it was surprisingly easier than I thought it was going to be. However, I never actually got around to trying it on my own projects until a few weeks before Christmas. I entered a competition advertised on The Sewing Directory and won a Free Hand Machine Embroidery book, hoop and threads which kick started me on my way…

I’ve started small, making cards for friends… New Home, Anniversary, New baby and birthday…

I’m currently working on a baby patchwork quilt for a friend on which I’ve taken the risk and used free hand embroidery to personalise and decorate it…I like how it’s coming along but that’s for the next post!

I still have more things I want to have a go of so (depending on how they turn out!!) I’m sure to be featuring them in future posts.

Emily Carlill

Loves to make things.