:: Pleasing new skirt - Clothkits review

Posted by Joelle on April 1, 2008 | Permalink

I’ve had chance to wear my newly sewn skirt a few times recently, it’s the ‘I want one too’ birdie skirt pattern/kit, £35 from Clothkits (whose launch I covered a few weeks ago).

I was so excited to get the kit - just look at that gorgeous strawberry print Liberty lining fabric! And I am happy to report that the process of making up the skirt, and the finished item are lovely too. Read more…

Categories: craft, shopping, style
Tags: birds, clothkits, liberty print, review, screenprinting, sewing, skirt

4 comments

:: oliver + s

Posted by Joelle on March 26, 2008 | Permalink

Sorry I have been a bit quiet on here recently. Blame an exciting new job I started a couple of weeks ago. And blame the weather, which is so drab and uninspiring. Last year I had an Easter tea party, sat out in the garden drinking Pimms with my friends, in our short shorts and summer dresses. This Easter we spent peering out of the window at snow falling wetly down. Hurry up spring!

Anyhow, isn’t this cute? It’s the artwork on one of the children’s clothing patterns just launched by Oliver + S. The clothing patterns themselves are lovely, and I love love love the paper dolls they have on the packets.
::via Angry Chicken.

Categories: craft
Tags: children, illustration, paper dolls, patterns, sewing

2 comments

:: Possibilities

Posted by Joelle on March 10, 2008 | Permalink

This is a rather gratuitous post just to celebrate my excitement at today’s visit to my favourite local fabric shop. I spent ages looking through all the shirt fabrics with a few projects in mind, and left inspired with even more and with a big pile of lovely crisp cottons.

It is raining so miserably today. I am stuck inside with my fabrics, dreaming of the warm weather to come, still seemingly so far off. I am thinking about these cottons and the clothes they will become, and the days I will spend in them sitting and living outdoors.

Can anyone recommend a really good simple summer dress pattern for that white and red striped linen at the bottom?

Categories: craft
Tags: cotton, daydreaming, fabric, sewing, summer dresses

5 comments

:: Make time - meet Clothkits

Posted by Joelle on February 24, 2008 | Permalink

I’m filled with a mixture of relief and excitement tonight, after visiting the Clothkits launch at the Kids.Modern show today. Turns out I was actually kind of nervous about it. I’ve got such warm nostalgia for the old 70s brand, and had long harboured ideas about trying to relaunch a similar thing, so I was worried that the new owner, Kay Mawer, and the new designs would not live up to my high hopes.
Read more…

Categories: craft, shopping
Tags: annabel waterman, birds, clothkits, colour, flowers, jane foster, kids.modern, kits, rob ryan, scandinavian design, sewing

9 comments

:: Kent Rogowski’s bears

Posted by Joelle on January 24, 2008 | Permalink

I can’t decide if I want to run away from these or give them a hug. Through the rather straightforward method of turning stuffed toys inside out, restuffing and sewing them up, artist Kent Rogowski has created something very arresting. They are pathetic, adorable, monstrous looking things, don’t you think?

See the rest of the project on Kent’s site. A book is availble here, I believe prints can be sourced through the Foley Gallery in NYC, or how about creating some of your own?

Categories: about us
Tags: art, craft, sewing, toys

8 comments

:: Useful tips for sewing newbies

Posted by Kerry on January 7, 2008 | Permalink

Poor old Vanessa was having a bit of trouble setting up her new sewing machine this weekend, resulting in a lengthy transatlantic phone call about bobbins. We sorted the issue out in the end, but I was reminded of a number of sites that I found very useful when I was just starting out. I’m sure Vanessa will be fine from now on, but for anyone else who got a sewing machine for Christmas and is just about ready to tear out their hair, here are a few helpful pointers…

Read more…

Categories: craft
Tags: craft, craftster, help, sewing, sewing machines, tips

6 comments

:: Some things I’d like to make in 2008

Posted by Joelle on January 2, 2008 | Permalink

Welcome back to Four Good Corners, where we are now back posting again after our Christmas break. May I wish all our readers a very happy, crafty new year. We’re full of ideas for this blog in 2008. I hope you’ll join us.

At the start of 2007 I couldn’t sew, and I couldn’t screenprint. Now I can do both of these things and I want to do lots more. I have so many planned craft projects for 2008 I don’t know where to start.

Project ideas list:
- I love Hillary Lang’s coin quilt and fancy having a go at making a lap quilt version. It looks simple enough for a first try doesn’t it?
- Sew my own clothes for the first time, starting with a pattern from Sew U.
- Make a shirt with big buttons
- Freezer paper stencil everything in sight
- Sew a nappy bag and changing mat for baby Francesca, and another for my friend Kelli who is expecting a baby in 2008.
- Bibs for baby Francesca (she is certainly encouraging me!)
- Make some cloud shaped cushions from charity shop jumpers a la Donna Wilson
- Make some nice pyjamas. This was on my list but I got some great PJs for Christmas from my husband so no need now.
- Improve my skill at adding zips
- Embroider some Sublime Stitching designs, maybe their dachshunds or vegetables templates.
- Learn the art of paper cutting
- Make lots of tote bags for people
- Paint the bedroom
- Plait fabric scraps into a mat
- Make more pies and quiches
- Plan an awesome holiday, and go on more day trips and UK weekends away
- Maybe get a gocco machine and print some cards
- Make more shaped cushions from screenprinted pictures
- Have a go at the felted wool slippers in the current Craft magazine, if I can muster enough knitting patience
- Learn more about html so I can help Kerry with the admin of this blog

I haven’t made any new year’s resolutions this year. I think this will be more than enough to keep me busy!

What project ideas do you have?

Categories: adventure, craft
Tags: craft, ideas, projects, screenprinting, sewing

8 comments

:: Welcome baby Francesca!

Posted by Joelle on December 20, 2007 | Permalink

Oh gosh I am so excited and happy because my friends have just had a beautiful baby girl!

This red corduroy blanket (the scalloped baby blanket from Amy Karol’s brilliant Bend-the-Rules Sewing) has been waiting a while for her arrival, to find out what letter I should appliqué onto it. And now it’s ready, with a letter ‘F’ for Francesca. I can’t wait to go visit her and congratulate her happy parents!

Categories: craft
Tags: babies, blanket, sewing

6 comments

:: Stacking fabric Christmas trees by Sarah Neuberger

Posted by Joelle on December 5, 2007 | Permalink

One of my favourite craftspeople, Sarah Neuberger of The Small Object, has just posted a template and tutorial for the most wonderful little Christmas trees. They look fairly simple to make but oh so adorable in the pretty fabrics she has chosen. This is just one of lots of inspired ideas for handmade gitfts and decorations on her blog, and whilst you are visiting you should really check out all the lovely things in her shop.

With all the amazing Christmas craft projects popping up on so many of the blogs I read, I guess the pressure is on for me to share some of what I have been doing. I promise to do so soon!

Categories: christmas, craft, tutorial
Tags: christmas trees, craft, decorations, sewing, the small object, vintage fabrics

2 comments

:: Sweet handmade accessories by Liana Kabel

Posted by Kerry on December 3, 2007 | Permalink

I love these fantastic accessories by Liana Kabel. She recycles sewing and knitting paraphernalia into the sweetest brooches and bracelets - perfect stocking fillers for the crafty gal in your life!

Liana Kabel’s Etsy store

Categories: christmas, shopping, style
Tags: etsy, gifts, knitting, liana kabel, sewing

4 comments