A simple corsage for some summer style

Ok - I know that as soon as I mention the weather it will turn miserable and start raining, but I'm going to have to take the risk because - WOW - isn't the weather amazing?! This is an easy-to-make ribbon corsage that you should be able to knock up in 30 minutes or so. It will add a kick of delectable kookie style to your summer wardrobe. Think of it as the slice, to your vodka and ice. Take some beautiful short lengths of ribbon, sew them together then stitch an emblem or button to the middle. When you're done, stick on a brooch back and pin your corsage onto a jacket or T-shirt for an instant hit of colour. Have fun!

Paris trends

I've been reading about this fantastic new place in Paris called Sweat Shop which has just opened near the canal St Martin. It's based around the concept of a cyber cafe, essentially, you can rent out space by the hour at one of ten Singer sewing machines which are available for whatever creative project you're currently involved with. You can come and go as you please, but best of all there's a communal table where you can sit and enjoy tea and organic cake! It sounds like a great place for meeting other like-minded people, and there are all sort of workshops too so you can learn new stuff. I'm really looking forward to making a stop there next time I'm in Paris. As the owners say "Sweat Shop is the place where your dreams and projects come alive. And it's here for those wanting to learn, create, transform, practice or recycle in a stress free and well equipped environment."

Easter Collage at Charleston in Sussex

Looking for an Easter Day Activity?

Do come to Charleston near Sussex and take part in the Patch Walk Easter Trail on Easter Sunday. Make yourself a wonderful collage to celebrate the start of Spring. Hope to see you there! Click here for details

Patchwork

I went to see the V&A's British Quilts exhibition the other day...and all I can say is "GO AND SEE IT!" It's a real tribute to the women and men who so laboriously and lovingly patched together the fabric of their lives to create some seriously beautiful and intricate work. It's incredible to see what they managed to do, often with very little space, probably very little light, and sometimes in secret or on the high seas. I was amazed at their attention to detail and ingenuity when it came to finding things to make their patchworks. I love the fact that each fabric tells a story - many of them were of course cut up old clothes or household linens. There were girls in a Japanese prison camp who cut pieces from their dresses to make a quilt for their Guide leader, or the man who used army flannels to construct a quilt consisting of thousands of hexagons no bigger than a 1p coin. I had no idea either how women from the Welsh Valleys quilted in the 40's to supplement the incomes of their miner husbands, and how some of their work ended up in Claridges hotel. The modern work was interesting too, but for me it's the really ancient quilts that impress the most. Wonderful animals, people and scenes all sewn painstakingly onto their backgrounds. The only quilt I've ever made was something I rustled up over a couple of nights as a teenager. Using the sewing machine, I patched together loads of squares and joined them all together with strips of an old sheet. I then backed the whole lot with another sheet. I still have it now - and I love the fact that I can identify most of the fabrics as this or that dress, or those curtains. My rough and ready attempt is nothing compared to the beautiful hand work on the quilts in this exhibition. But seeing them makes me appreciate even more, the dedication needed to create a real heirloom.

Rag Rug Workshop

I've just had a great day making rag-rugs (see my attempt at a rag-rug bag above!) with Jenni Stuart-Anderson in Worcestershire. If you've never tried it before, I suggest you give it a go, as not only is it quite easy to get started, it's a fun and decorative way to use up old clothes, scraps of fabric and remnants that you've got no other use for. I went to Jenni's one-day course at The Hatch, which is run by Ben and Nada. They are the most lovely couple - so welcoming, with delicious veggie food on offer too. The Hatch is an incredible place. Set in idyllic countryside, it boasts a super-cool recording studio, as well as space for all sorts of different creative workshops. I went for the B+B option. You choose to stay in the house, an artisan-built log cabin, yurt or tent. There's a calm but energetic atmosphere, and little homely touches are everywhere. I was offered a glass of wine on my arrival and there was a pretty vase of Spring flowers in my room. We joined the family for supper - a delicious homerty pie followed by chocolate and pear brownies. Next day we tucked into a really tasty soup and salad lunch. We even had the most delicious damp lemon cake for tea to break our hard work rag-rug making! It wasn't JUST about the food of course, although it really was superb! I think they should do cookery courses next. Jenni was a great tutor, introducing us to her craft through simple techniques which don't take too long to master. It will be some while before I reach her level though. She's a real artist, and twenty years in the business makes her a very hard act to follow!

Spring flowers

I've seen flowers like this in the window of Anthropologie in London and New York - in fact I've featured the flowers elsewhere on my blog. They're made out of plastic drinks bottles, and are a great way of recycling them. Anyway, I thought I'd have a go at making the flowers myself. It's easy. To make a flower, use the drinking end of the bottle, and cut off the rest about half way down. Slice the bottle into strips, shape each strip to make petals, and then bend them outwards. Use spray paint (experiment with different types to see what works) to colour the flowers. I sprinkled glitter on the smaller one and it seemed to stick really well. Then cut a length of stiff wire (an old coat-hanger would work well) a few inches long, and wrap it around the drinking end. Use the length of wire to stick into the soil or a vase. I'm going to see how these fare outside after a few bouts of rain! I'll report back. They'd be a great way to decorate a garden or a window box.