Learn to sew at China Blue

Happy New Year! New sewing classes at China Blue Dressmaking Classes - No experience necessary Learn the basics of dressmaking as well as getting to know your sewing machine. When: Every Tuesday evening 7pm - 9pm. Cost: £20 per week, or book 6 lessons and qualify for a 10% discount. Call or email for further details. Booking essential. Make an 'A' Line skirt This workshop will teach you how to use a commercial dressmakers pattern, fabric placement and cutting out, basic sewing techniques including zip insertion and give you confidence in using a sewing machine. When: Tuesday 8th February 9.30am - 4pm OR Tuesday March 22nd AND 29th 9.30am - 1pm. Cost: £50 including teaching, use of sewing machine and refreshments (Excluding lunch). Please call or email for details of what you will need to bring with you. Make a Tote Bag Bring your own materials or choose from our wide selection to make yourself a hip new Tote Bag. When: Tuesday 1st February AND Tuesday 15th March 9.30 am - 1 pm. Cost: £40. This includes ALL materials, use of sewing machine and refreshments. Cushion making workshop Learn to design and make your own cushions to liven up your living room or brighten your bedroom. When: Tuesday 25th January AND Tuesday 8th March 9.30 am - 1 pm. Cost: £40. This includes ALL materials, use of sewing machine and refreshments. Journal Covers Journal or book covers make great gifts and can turn something ordinary into something very special. When: Tuesday 15th February 10 am - 1 pm. Cost: £35. This includes ALL materials, use of sewing machine and refreshments. Small zipped bags Learn how to make a small lined bag for use as a pencil case, cosmetics bag or purse, and how to insert a zip. When: Tuesday 1st March 10am - 1pm. Cost: £40. This includes ALL materials, use of sewing machine and refreshments. Sewing Cafe Come and use the sewing machines to start/ finish your projects. When: Anytime between 10am and 4pm. Cost: £10 per hour. Includes refreshments and as much help as you need. NEW for the Spring term The Craft Cafe Whether your interests are sewing, crochet, card-making, cross-stitch, beading, photography, jewellery making, painting or anything art and crafty, bring your crafty bits and pieces to the Craft Cafe! Meet like minded creative people, chat, swap ideas, share skills and spend time being creative working on your latest project. When: Every Wednesday morning at China Blue in Totnes from 10am until 12pm. Cost: It's FREE!!! Coffee and delicious cake available to purchase from the coffee shop. I look forward to seeing you at a workshop very soon. Yvonne xx Places are limited so book today to ensure your place. Call Yvonne on 07815 811005 or email to yvonne.r.temple@gmail.com. A deposit of £10 is required at the time of booking.

Workshops

Just popping by with a little reminder of some workshops that I am running this week... I would love to see you if you are free, and I promise that you will have a fab time and will take home some lovely handmade products with you.

Wednesday 9th June

10 am till 1 pm

Button jewellery workshop

We will be making, necklaces with buttons, beads, crochet and woven beads, button bracelets, rings, key rings and brooches

Thursday 10th June

7 pm till 9 ish .. depending on how much fun we're having!!!

Learn how to sew using a sewing machine workshop

We will be learning right from the beginning all about sewing machines and how to use them with confidence. Throughout this 4 week course the emphasis will always be on practical application wherever possible, so we will be making bags.....

... and cushions like these. All materials are provided... just bring yourself!

Saturday 12th June

10 am - 4 pm

Jewellery making workshop

Treat yourself... come and indulge in a whole day of jewellery making. You will learn basic wiring and stringing techniques to enable you to create at least one necklace, bracelet and pair of earrings. This is a fantastic opportunity to make some beautiful jewellery in a relaxed and creative atmosphere.

All of these workshops are held at China Blue in Totnes, Devon.

It would be fantastic to have you along.

Email me for further details

Hope you can come... we'll have lots of fun!

Love Yvonne xx

A First....

Great news.. oooo, sorry I forgot myself in my excitement... how are you? Have you been having a lovely week?

My week has been busy but also very exciting. There is a momentous event happening in this household over the weekend and so most of my attention for the week has been taken up with that....I will tell you more when it's all over... just incase a certain someone takes a peek before the BIG day!

The other really, really exciting news is that I had my FIRST sale in my Etsy shop this week... I was beginning to lose hope and give up with ever selling anything on line... I was so excited, I had to wrap and label the parcel immediately and then couldn't sit still for ages... too much excitement running through me... someone actually thought my products were good enough to buy! Yay, yippee... *hoppity skip* !!!!

Would you like to see what I sold?...... am I allowed to blow my own trumpet???... Just for one quick moment??? Please?? Ok, here goes.....

... a gorgeous bag made with some recycled, dyed blanket and this fantastic chicken print.. I love it!

Well it seems that I'm not the only one who loves it because the customer has been in touch today and ordered ANOTHER one for her friend who has also fallen in love with it... *hoppity, hoppity, hoppity skip*!!!!!

So, if you're thinking that you might like to snap up one of these too, here is a peek at the other items that I have listed this week .....

I'm calling this one 'Pink lollipop bag'

I really love the squirly applique design and am thinking that I might look into having some Moo cards printed with this design on... what do you think? Have you ever had any of these cards?

Spotty heart bag.....

Pink heart bag...

Pink sunflower cushion....

Ribbon flower detail

Spring flower cushion....

Applique flower detail

More cushion loveliness..... the beach hut cushion has also been sold this week and will be winging it's way to America soon.

Find out more about these products here

By the way, did you notice a certain someone trying to get into the pictures on this post... have a close look and I will show you more next time....

TTFN xx

Open Day

Coffee and cake and plenty of chat all added to a lovely day last Friday. As you can imagine, the week prior to the event was extremely manic, not just with preparations for the open day, but also because I was teaching at The Flavel in Dartmouth on the Wednesday evening and again at The Bead Lagoon in Sidmouth on Thursday, and Saturday! I am relived that it is now half term, and apart from meeting a friend to finalise plans for the wedding dress that I shall be making for her, I can spend some time with the girls without feeling guilty or worrying that I really should be working... sewing, baking, making jewellery, making business cards and signs etc....

For those of you who couldn't come on Friday I thought I would show you a little of what you missed.....

...... piles of scrumptious cushions and plumpy hearts...

...... yummy colours....

... covered journals and bags...

..oooooodles of jewellery.... Guess what was the most popular????

... delicate little button hearts....

... and bunches of button flowers...

I really enjoyed catching up with friends old and new over the course of the day, however, I have been feeling very low and emotional since the event. I know that part of that is because I am just very tired, partly because I was disappointed with the turn out, despite sending out at least 70 personal invites and many other texts, emails and advertisements, and also because it is a very vulnerable thing to do... to show off your handmade work... hoping that others will like it and appreciate it.. and buy it. I'm sure that once I have had some time to sit back and assess it all I won't feel so bad and I will pick myself up, yet again, and carry on... or look for a 'proper' job!

Sorry about the moan... sometimes it's hard working on your own.. you are a harsh critic and always think you can do better! Don't worry, I will be fine and firing on all cylinders again before you know it!

I think a walk by the sea is in order... it always feeds my soul and brings restoration.. so 'Ta ta' for now. I hope you have had a lovely weekend and that for those of you who are finding it tough at the moment, that you too can go to that place where your soul is restored and take some time out for you today.

xxx