Being a thrifty girl...doing up an old tool tray.

My lovely friend Sharon gave me a fabulous old tool tray minus the rusty nails and a lifetimes worth of dust. And with the suggestion that it would make a great sewing box for all the usually bits and pieces needed in workshops, I could have waited and texcited about my gift, I got started straight away. Washing, sanding and then spray painting before I remembered to take a picture. 

Now completed and renovated, it looks fantastic.

I can't wait for tomorrow to take it to the Bobbin Shed and tomorrows Traditional Patchwork workshop and adding all the equipment needed. 

Time away....but it's all been work, work, work!

It's been far too long since I last blogged...it's been an incredibly busy term with workshops, events and starting new work that it was one thing I didn't get round to doing.

I have a new web site (I still have www.DrawnThreads.co.uk). 

The new web site features more of my work but also has a shop and updates on some of the events I'll be attending and people I'll be working with.

http://sarahoatley.simpl.com

The exhibition went stupendously well and now I'm beginning to work on a new set of landscapes...Based on the Yorkshire Dales, County Durham and the North east coast. 

Each piece will have a very 'Patchworked' feel with layering of fabric to add texture and depth and much more sketchy feel to the stitching and detail.

'Two Yorkshire Barns'

Bobbin Shed 21, our 'house' and Thrift.

We had a very special event on Saturday the 12th April. 

Our Open day and Exhibition-it took weeks of organization and planning. 

One thing we wanted to achieve was a 'set' of a house in miniature-Some where we could displey our own items made, that were perfect in anyones own home.

We decided to go with a 1950's theme and set about gathering items. 

I began by surching for furniture, wanting to be as thrifty as possible. I looked on many an auction site-eventually winning most items of furniture for just 99p and I didn't spend any more than £10.00.

Some of the items came from farm buildings that looked quite sad indeed, and now look brand new and extremely happy in their new home.

I was biding my time for a carpet to come up on Freecycle and when it did, it was brand new one! It fitted perfect in to the space and really set the scene.

We were keen to have all aspects of a house, so we made the bed from old palets and rugs that were made by Becky Sunter. 

Vintage China and glassed was sourced from charity shops and the only thing left to do was put it all together.

I can honestly say the entire set was beyond thrifty, not only very satisfying to create but, if I do say so my self, extremely stylish! 

Bobbin Shed 21 on Lingfield Point now has a wonderful show space, brought back to it's 1950's glory with a little of no money, but masses of passion! 

Patchwork and quilting workshops are go guns!

This weeks patchwork and quilting course and sewing workshops have given me emence pride. 

Claire had never made a thing be and within two sessions, she had made her self a pin cushion, the start of a sewing kit maybe to begin a new hobby, to last a life time.

Katherine hadn't sewn for many year and started the course a week after everyone else, so felt a little behind but soon caught up making a her English pieces square. 

I know next weeks workshop and courses will fill me with the same pride and we're all looking foreword to a special guest. 

2014, A year of upwards & onwards for Drawn Threads

2014, A year of upwards & onwards for Drawn Threads and a very exciting one too. 

The open arts outreach funded workshops have now begin and are all booked out. 

The wonderful ladies at the sewing Circle bring joy with their enthusiasm and passion for their own individual sewing project, weather it be patchwork, cross stitch or dress making. 

The equally awesome students at the weekly Wednesday Patchwork & Quilting course come with an abundance of enthusiasm to learn a new skill or brush up on something they have forgotten. 

 

We are continuing to do the Saturday seeing workshops at a cost of £40.00 for four week, and I just love teaching different sewing skills and techniques. 

We are looking forward to the Festival of Thrift in September, especially as my family are now in to our #YearOfThrift and will enhance our experiment further. 

Last years Festival was an eye opener for all who not only attended as a visitor but for the stall holders and organizers alike-we have been so blessed to have such a vibrant festival on our Door step and I can't wait to get into the thick of things again this year. 

Our 'Year of Thrift'

Drawn Threads is my business but as a family we decided have a ‘Thrifty Christmas’ really thinking about everything we bought, from presents to food and most importantly, were it came from. We decided to continue in to 2014 with guidelines set down for our ‘Year of Thrift 2014’.

 

For us the Year of thrift began with where we bought our groceries and the importance of shopping local.

As a trader on the Darlington Sunday Peoples Market each month with my creative business Drawn Threads, I support shopping and selling locally. Supporting the local indoor and outdoor market was never far from my mind and the ‘use it or loose it’ principle very firmly rooted.

 

On Saturday we went to the Darlington Indoor market to do a twice weekly shop for food, eggs, cheese and meat etc.

Each week we will try to compile how much we have saved by shopping on the local market compared to buying such items at supermarkets. This week we have spent about £29, but if the same was bought in a supermarket we would have spent nearly £43.00.

 

The money saving is only the first part, the actual shopping experience is very different and more pleasurable. The service we received was excellent with one incident making me feel incredible important as a customer. We bought some cheese for the price of £3.12 but the stall holder only charged me £3.00, as that was the amount of cheese I asked for. It established that the sellers business was customer orientated over the Kerrching of the till ringing.

 

To ensure the future of our markets and local small business, we really do need to use them or loose them. 

I appreciate every customer I have through my business, understanding the vitally important part they have to play in the success of Local Markets and their future.

Sewing classes at my new workshop

I'm so excited-I've got a new workshop. It's at the vibrant and extremely creative Lingfield point, Darlington. 

I feel I have to keep pinching myself at being so lucky and enjoying my job-my business. 

And as such my creativity has gone through the roof! 

I have moved In to the same building as Tabby Textiles, owned by Becky Sunter and I simple cant can't to bounce creative ideas off her.

Lingfield has a long history with the sewing trade as Patton Baldwins and Coats were based there in yester-year.

And with the new studio will come the  workshops to teach sewing skills from beginner level to advanced sewers.

The first of many workshops is 

Patchwork & Quilting-held at Unit 21f, Lingfield point, Darlington. 

Beginning on Wednesday 11th sept 10.00-12.00 for 5 weeks. 

The course will be £65, with all equipment provided and all you will need to bring is a few fat quarters, yourself and a sewing machine if you have one. 

And of course the all important tea and bikkies will be provided through out. 

Places going fast so book your place early to avoid disappointment. 

To book you can contact me on the DrawnThreads FaceBook page or my email address-DrawnThreads.uk@gmail.com

   

Hope to see you there, Sarah.

https://m.facebook.com/Drawnthreadsdesign?__user=645206636

More items going into shops in the North East.

I'm off to Stockton tomorrow to deliver stock to an established north east business that is flinging open their doors to the public on Saturday. This will be their second shop that Make Scents have and the gossip about the wonderful bath products they sell, is gathering speed.

I have a number of items to be placed on their shelves-The ever popular Mice Kits, Corsage Flower Kits and the Rainy Day kits. 

As always you can purchase Drawn Threads items on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/DrawnThreads

 

You can follow Make Scents on facebook https://m.facebook.com/#!/events/281597811986811?__user=645206636

a whirlwind of a year

 

On one the last days of the year, I decided to look through how far I have come in relauncing myself full time back into the creative craft world and in such a short space of time.


Over 18 years ago I was selling items that were handmade through markets and fayres and for a long time it was put on a back burner, done on a much smaller scale...But in May, after feeling quite lost and unsure of the next direction- thought long and hard about what I was good at and what I loved.

High up on that list was design-and considering that was what I trained in, it was a perfect place to start. Very quickly I also became aware that the need for workshops delivering skills such as sewing and crafts.



It was thanks to Cafe Create and Joanne Land that these begun in September and the new workshops planned for the upcoming spring are so exciting. The felt making workshop was popular and such fun, and will be delivered again in the new year.

Attending the Darlington Sunday Peoples Market was another high moment, going back to a platform that I love-There is nothing finer than talking to the public about what I am passionate about-introducing lost skills such as sewing to adults who have never tried but always wanted too is such a wonderful feeling!

 

 

Over the last five months the products sold have evolved and I'm so much happier with the quality and content-I have such pride in every item created, knowing it will bring joy to the person who will own it.

 And I'm astounded as to how well my internet sales have been-through Etsy and receiving emails via the internet, so much so that in the new year there will be E-Commerce added for ease of both selling and for they buyer.









In October I could have burst with Joy at being included in the magazine Craftseller in their 'Ask The Expert' section on the Q&A Page.
I'm very much looking forward to more features in the up coming months as well as having features in two other magazines this spring.













So to sum up-this year begun feeling a little lost and in need of emotional, professionals happiness. I returned full time to a creative platform and so much thanks goes to my family. They have been, as they always are amazing!, Simple amazing!

And not forgetting my very close friends who never once doubted for a second

that I could do what I set out to. It might now seem like much,

but for someone take the time to say "well done" is heart warming.

Next year is going to be so exciting-I cant wait for it to begin!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DrawnThreads

Drawnthreads.uk@gmail.com

www.Drawnthreads.co.uk

Workshops in Darlington by Drawn Threads

The dates for the workshops have been finalised, session ideas are in the bag and now I'm looking forward to starting them.
They will be every Friday but dedicated workshops will be the first Friday of every month, offering a wide variety of crafts to learn and new skills to develop.
Cafe Create (opposite the theatre) have been wonderful, and it is such a lovely venue to deliver craft workshops. The ambiance they provide is welcoming and I look forward to developing and delivering exciting projects there.

All the workshop kits are finished-over 100 of them. I am confident that with the hours I have put in during recent weeks, dedicating lots of time to all the nitty gritty touches that are important to me, that these kits will allow you to make something different and special.
The kits are also available to purchase without attending the workshops, if you wish.
I'm happy for anyone to contact me about either purchasing the kits or booking for the workshops and feel my future is really moving in the right direction-a direction that I am passionate about.