Wendy's Sewing Rooms

What was I doing with myself over the weekend?  Well, I was finishing off this little house (like the one I did 1st October last and taught - see 4th and 5th October a few days later at Vicky Stampers) for Wendy from the sewing machine shop who has been so kind and given of her time so generously to help me out with my sewing machine.  It's with her now so I can blog about it.

If anyone in the vicinity needs a new sewing machine I recommend that they go along and see her at Hobkirks in Bury - you won't be disappointed with the friendly and helpful service you get from Wendy.  She is so willing to share her expertise in sewing with customers, she is a credit to the company, and the shop is handy for visitors to Bury (go on a Wednesday when it is market day - it's quite a famous market you know - and try the wonderful Bury Black Puddings) as it is at the very top of Bolton Street just a stride from the busy town centre.

Advertising done - well, credit where credit is due, so now on to the little Sewing House I made for her

I began by painting the wooden substrate in white acrylic paint and then dry-brushed it with a blue one.  I wanted a shabby chic look to it, not that I think I have achieved it now that it is filled with all this memorabilia.

Starting at the top of the house

we have a torn bit of a Newey's press stud card, some press studs (Tim Holtz ones - I love the colours), a bobbin with some thread on, a tape measure (trimmed down to make it smaller - it was a freebie from C&A - now how long have I had that?), a sewing machine and a little name plate which I fastened on with the brads rather than relying on glue.

Working down - some bottles of sequins, a pile of fabric, a pair of scissors and the number "6" (the age of her son)

Next I made a little chest from cardstock, filled it with bits of lace, put a fastener on and sat it with two giant press studs that I had from way back when Paddy had her shop.

On now to the big room at the side and here we have a mirror (a piece of mirri card, embossed and cut with a Spellbinders die to a nice oval with a mirror tile stuck on).  Next to it is a coat hanger (Tim Holtz stuff again) with a tiny blouse hanging from it - had to make two of these as the first was so tiny I could not get the hanger inside it.  Then there is the dressmakers dummy, a Newey's hook and eye packet, a hook and an eye, a thimble and a carelessly thrown hanger. Well, it has to look a bit authentic!

On now to the bottom three.

Two tiny cotton reels with some thread wrapped around them, three tiny buttons and a "W" for Wendy fixed to the wall behind with a brad.

This pincushion took me ages to begin, I don't like making them and am sure there is an easier and quicker way than how I do them.  I love doing the metal embossing but that is about all.  First of all I put some cotton wool balls on a square of fabric then squish them about until I get a roundish shape.  Then I tie off with some cotton and chop off the surplus fabric from the base.  This is then stuck into a bottle cap with glue.  When set I wrap a piece of metal that I have embossed as a tape measure around the base.  (Anyone know how I should really do them?)  Behind the pin cushion is a card with some thread on it and there is a clock charm on the wall, again fixed with brads.

The last one has a tiny packet of Bondaweb propped across the corner, two empty cotton reels (darkened a little with touches of Distress Inks) and a number "15" plaque on the wall (again Tim Holtz) once more fixed with brads.

The final thing I did was stick some cotton lace on the horizontal edges.

I do hope you enjoyed looking at this little house and if any of you have one of these wooden houses I hope this spurs you on to get it started.  Remember to check back in my blog to the 4th and 5th October last to see what the peeps at the class got up to - not all sewing themes so may give you some ideas.

ps Wendy was not in when I delivered it to the shop so I don't know her reaction yet as I have not been back to Bury yet.