All in all a thumbs-up Freemotion Embroidery class.

Hello hello, I've been at it again - meeting some lovely ladies whilst teaching them the ways of freemotion embroidery at Millie Moon. For a little while now I've taken a break (only a very little one - a smudge of a break) from creating with freemotion embroidery, so it was a lovely change to my day to be passing on the skill to keen sew-ers along with showing off my lovely collection of Anchor Embroidery threads, taking my stork scissors out of hiding and demonstrating the ingenuity of the magic marker pen which I can almost guarantee an'ooh' and an 'aaah'. (All tools that can be found in your Millie Moon Shop.)

In the class I introduce you to the tools you will need, show you how to set up your machine and demonstrate a few different exercises to build your confidence and knowledge of freemotion embroidery. You will also aim to finish a picture in the class which you take away with you.

What is freemotion Embroidery?? - I hear you cry. Well in essence (also known as freehand machine embroidery) is a technique on your sewing machine that uses your creativity ability to embellish and decorate by drawing. This is not to say you have to be great at drawing to get the best out of the technique - if you like shape and colour or just sewing you should give it a try.
So anyone can have a try?
If you can already sew and are quite happy and confident with a sewing machine then you can try freemotion embroidery, but I wouldn't say this technique is for everyone. Its a technique I have learnt over the years that firstly you have to have patience (and lots of it at times) and also to keep experimenting and playing at - the more mistakes you make the more you learn and the more rewarding it becomes. A lot of my mistakes involving freemotion embroidery turn into happy mistakes. 
Do I need a special machine?
No, not at all. A household domestic sewing machine would work fine just check that the dog feeds (the zig zag teeth underneath your needle) can be lowered or you have a metal/plastic plate to go over them: to disengage them.

When teaching a class in freemotion embroidery - I do love it when a. the students really enjoy themselves and get excited about the technique and the time just flies away with you and b. you see a definite style appear within the way the student creates and manipulates the technique. Its very rewarding and all in all the class becomes a thumbs-up class. Have a look what some of you creative types have made in pass classes (sorry if your picture is not on here- I'm a bit rubbish at recording things) - 

If you fancy a taster at freemotion embroidery my next class is in the Millie Moon Wells shop on Sunday 25th August.......ooops that ones booked up now. Let's try again the next one is............10th November in Frome 

Also keep a look out for Freemotion Embroidery Christmas baubles 17th November in Wells and Freemotion Embroidery birds which will be making an appearance in the next batch of workshop.

Hopefully see you soon (perhaps on a freemotion embroidery class),
Angela

New Shop opening

We are very excited to be able to tell you all that, we have just picked up the keys for our 3rd Millie Moon shop.

The new shop will be in Keynsham, on the outskirts of Bristol. 

Its a lovely high street, bustling with busy shops and lots of independant traders. Can't wait to start filling it with lovely things. 

Pictures coming soon...

Sewing Sisters

Eliza M Ruby Dress Pattern 

Well we finally had 5 minutes to do a bit of sewing. We both decided to make a dress for our 5th birthday, so we went for the Eliza M Vintage sewing patterns.  Becki chose the Daisy dress and I chose the Ruby dress. 

Eliza M Daisy Dress Pattern

That was the easy part as we have both chosen patterns that flatter our shapes, the hard part was choosing the fabric. 


Becki settled on a Moda print  'Beacon Cove'  with Lobsters. Bright and summery and perfect for this weather we are having at the moment. Using approx 3metres of fabric for the full skirt the dress cost £44.50 (plus pattern) Not bad for a summer frock.

Becki in the lobster Daisy dress 

I decided to go for a simple denim which will be a great staple in the wardrobe all year, but also an inexpensive way to test the pattern out. But, now I've made it successfully, which fabric next?? I added a red polka dot bias to trim the armholes and the neck. In total my dress cost me £12.30! (plus pattern) what a bargain. 

Rachel in the Denim Ruby dress

The patterns were easy to follow and simple to put together. We worked on the separately, and everything was going well until we got to the fitting. Then the text messages started to flow and a conversation on how to alter the shoulders began. It turns out that we both have strange shoulders and short bodies (blame the parents!) so we had to make similar alterations to the patterns. This was nice and simple and the dresses were finished in a day! 

We are both really pleased with them and had so many comments about them that we thought you might like to take a look. Its so nice to be able to say "I made that!" 

love
Rachel x

The Eliza M vintage sewing patterns are available to buy on our website www.milliemoonshop.co.uk £14 each and free postage. 

Celebrating our 5th Birthday

Its been 5 years since we opened the door of the shop, in Catherine Hill, Frome, Somerset. Its been such a fab 5 years, we have seen so many fabrics come and go through the doors, and made some great friends along the way.  

We decided that as it was our birthday the Frome shop needed a good spring clean and we got a bit carried away and gave it a whole new look.

The Fabric Room

The black shelves and Chandeliers give the fabric room a boudoir feel, the tea chests are perfect for holding the many different interfacings and vilenes and the tin bath is great for storing the bulky poly waddings and cotton battings.

The Pre-cuts

We have managed to find a perfect little home for all the lovely Moda pre-cuts. Layer cakes, Jelly rolls and charm packs. Which do you prefer? 

The Button Tower

This is our beautiful button tower. Just like a tiered wedding cake and So many new buttons!

These beautiful dresses have been made from Millie Moon fabrics by the fabulous 'Make me a dress' by Alexandra King and Anna Vickery  http://www.makemeadress.blogspot.co.uk 

Habby Wall

                                                                

Even the habby has a new home, 

everything you need for all those sewing projects                      

Geekly chic 

looks great sitting on the enormous wooden cotton 

reel in the window.

  

A big thank you to all our creative customers, our very talented tutors and our amazing team for supporting us over the last 5 years. We hope you like the new look, pop in and say HI soon. 

BIG love 

Rachel and Becki x

PS watch this space...exciting news coming soon!

Mollie Makes and Millie Moon

We have teamed up with the very creative Mollie Makes magazine to offer this months subscription gift. Details below. 

Subscribe today and receive a pretty gift of fabric, buttons and ribbons from Millie Moon

 

Subscribe Benefits:

In addition to the FREE gift from Millie Moon, subscribers also save 32%* on the shop price, get the magazine delivered direct to their door at no extra cost and they still continue to receive the fantastic FREE gifts on every issue!

Subscribe Today:

www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/MMS31T

Hurry! Offer ends 31^st July.

Please send us pictures of what you make with your gift. We would love to see them!

Terms and conditions:

*Savings compared to buying 13 full priced issues a year from the UK newsstand. This offer is for new UK print subscribers only. You will receive 13 issues in a year. Gift is available to new UK print subs paying by 6 monthly Direct Debit and one and two year debit/credit card payments. Please allow up to 60 days for delivery of your gift. Gift is subject to availability. In the event of stocks becoming exhausted, we reserve the right to replace with items of a similar value. Full details of the Direct Debit guarantee are available upon request. If you are dissatisfied in any way you can write to us or call us to cancel your subscription at any time and we will refund you for all unmailed issues. Prices correct at point of print and subject to change. For full terms and conditions please visit: myfavm.ag/magterms. Offer ends: 31^st July 2013

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Mollie Makes subscription packs - your makes so far!

We were very excited to be asked by Mollie Makes magazine to supply this months subscription pack. We put together a gorgeous little fabric bundle with buttons and ribbons. 

We have been asking for your pictures of what you have made with the packs and we have received some fantastic pictures. So we thought we would share some of them with you. 

Firstly, These cute baby booties made by Anna.

A great little handmade gift as it used up some scraps and will be totally unique.

Then, cushions! we had two different designs sent in. The first lovely cushions were made using the fat 8ths (which were the perfect size to make an envelope cushion back who 
knew!) Anna has even made little ties to hold them closed like on the Sewing Bee! 

The 2nd cushion has been turned into a patchwork seat pad. Vickie has cut 5"squares and sewed them together to cover a foam pad to go on the hard chairs. Perfect for her mum's new chairs.

Becki has created note book covers. There was enough fabric in the pack to cover 3 notebooks, with additional decorations using the ribbon and buttons. 

Making a frame purse, worked really well in the baby blue polka dot. It was a sew on frame so no glue needed! Decorated with a bow and button naturally.

The last project is still work in progress. This hexagon quilt is being made up of 2 1/2" hexagons cut from the fabric in the bundle. The hexagons have been hand stitched into flowers and then placed on 10" squares of plain ivory cotton. There will 21 squares altogether and a boarder to create a quilt approx 1m x 2m . All the fabric has been prepared, now its just the hand sewing of the hexagons to finish. 

We would love to see more of your projects. Please send us in any pictures you have of your makes using your fabric bundle or any of the Millie Moon fabrics. We love seeing what you are making. 

And if you haven't picked up a copy of Mollie Makes yet, then its well worth a read, with loads of ideas to inspire you. 

English Paper Piecing with the Frome WI

This month we were very excited to be asked back by the Frome WI to join them for their 1st Birthday. 

We were with them at the very first meeting when we made Jubilee corsages with the group. We also popped back to see them in November to do a christmas make with them, little felt gingerbread men. 

This time, we decided to teach the group a skill and show them the traditional patchwork method of 
"English Paper Piecing"

We used pre-cut 2.5" paper hexagons and 3" pre-cut fabric squares to create flowers. Each hexagon is sewn by hand, once 7 hexagons have been made, then the group began sewing the hexagons together to create the flowers. 

Hand sewing is very satisfying and english paper piecing is very addictive. Its that little project that you can carry around and do anywhere, in the cafe, on the train, in front the tele. Just pop it into a bag. 

This process can be developed into an appliqué design on a larger project, turned into placemats, baby balls or sewing the flowers together will make a very detailed and special handmade quilt. Its great for using scraps as its only small pieces that you are using. Perfect for a memory quilt or using vintage fabrics.




About the WI
Over the last year the group have held a wide variety of meetings attracting about 50 ladies, covering Astronomy, clay modelling, wreath making, midwifery, wine, cheese, self defence and craft, but they have also been involved in fundraising and working to support local causes and businesses. 

  

If you fancy going along to the WI:

They meet on the third Thursday of every month in the United Reformed Church Hall on Whittox Lane in Frome from 7.30 - 9.30. The best place to park is in the Westway carpark (behind Argos in the centre of town) and then walk up the lane by the bike shop. This will bring you out on Whittox Lane. 

Contact info for the Frome WI: 

WI.frome@gmail.com. 
http://fromewi.blogspot.co.uk
also on Twitter and Facebook


Pictures supplied by Frome WI