My local sewing shop is The Sewing Shop in Canterbury. It's a lovely shop with gorgeous fabric, plenty of sewing tools and haby, pretty trimmings and it all looks really beautiful. The kind of shop crafty people love to visit and the shop I'd love to have if I could. It backs onto the Canterbury Cathedral so as you can imagine the building is quite an age. It stands three stories high and has wonky floors and crooked door frames, absolutely charming!
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| Some of these photos were taken by Rebecca Douglas Photography |
Charmaine, the owner, has wonderful business ethics, trying her best to give the customer what she wants or needs. If you are ever in Canterbury it is well worth a visit just for the ambience. The rooms upstairs are where workshops are held, and this month is Big bag Month so I am over there each weekend taking a workshop showing ladies how to make a bag. There are a couple of vacancies left, so if you are near Canterbury why not join us? You'll have a laugh, learn a skill and meet some other lovely crafty ladies.
Last saturday we made a basic basket bag. It was great fun and the ladies finished their bags so they were happy.
For me the test of a good fabric and sewing shop is whether there are things I have to stop myself buying. There are shops that look quite pretty but when I walk around I can't really see anything I want to get. All style but no substance. There are some shops that are more utilitarian in approach, no nonsense haby in the window and nothing of the stylish in the shop displays. These shops sap your spirit and I can't be bothered buying there. Sadly for me John Lewis is in danger of becoming like this. Once a place I would always flock to, these days has reduced their stock to such a level I don't always find what I want. They used to sell buttons and haby loose and they had staff who know what you were talking about, but sadly all their stock is pre-packaged now. The Sewing Shop has a downstairs crammed with the most delectable goodies you could wish for. Not just a wide range of scrumpious fabric, but knitting wool, books, gorgeous trimmings and the rest. They pass the test as I have had to make a list so I can buy things as the budget permits.
Now here's something you don't see every day! I've put a pretty bag on Etsy for sale and someone messaged me to ask if I could send a photo of it being worn as a shoulder bag. Trying to be helpful I said yes, but then I couldn't photograph it successfully on myself. Step forward Mr Sewchristine. What a trouper that man is! I gave him the bag to wear and took these shots. I hope the the person who made the request has a sense of humour. As they didn't then buy the bag perhaps they don't!
Do you go through periods of working in your sewing room or corner and just pushing things back where they'll fit? That's what I've been doing over the past few weeks and I've ended up in rather a mess. The push to tidy up usually comes either because I can't find something or I have guests coming. In this case the later, I have guests coming the weekend after next and now I'm having to do a big sort out. Every time this happens I ask myself why I let it happen. Why don't I put away properly as I go? It's not like this in other area's of the house. When I cook I wash up and put away as I go. I don't end up with a big pile of bowls and dishes pushed into a corner, so why do I when I sew? In my cupboard I have material piled up on top of the drawers it should go in, bag handles and hardware just dumped on surfaces instead of back in their right places. Some time go (my last big sort out) I folded my fabric stash and put it all neatly in clear plastic drawers so I could find it all. Now Jessie could be in one of the drawers and I couldn't tell. I've been bundling fabric back into the drawers any old how and I'll have to refold everything. Don't include me in conversation just now, I'm sorting out and I may be some time...
