Craft bloggers

My name’s Jenny Fox-Proverbs, and I’m a crafty fox 24/7, at work and at home.

By day I’m an Acquisitions Editor for David & Charles Publishers, based in lovely Devon (I’m originally from Greenock, a town a few miles NW of the amazing city of Glasgow). I find craft authors, follow craft trends, propose ideas and get out and about, all in the name of creating fab craft books that sell around the world.

By night, I love to sew – I’m a huge fabric lover, and have a fabric stash that grows faster than I can cut it up and stitch it back together.

When I’m not acquiring and sewing, I can be found hanging out with Mr Fox, spoiling my two 10 year-old moggies (Tab and ‘The Bear’ – I’ve had them since they were tiny kittens), attempting to practise yoga, reading (I love murder ‘n’ mayhem thrillers, much to Mr Fox’s consternation) and generally yakking/tweeting/blogging/facebooking with friends and family.

I’m interested in hearing from fellow crafters and anyone involved in the business on any level. It’s such an exciting place to be, but needs crafters to keep communicating with each other and the rest of the world. Hopefully the mass production of the past 50 years or so will be a tiny blip on a much bigger picture, and we’re getting back on track with handmade.

So that’s me – a Scots girl in Devon looking to share, exchange and explore ideas and thoughts about love, life, craft and the universe!

http://sewcraftyfox.wordpress.com/

My daughters bags for creche

Last week I has been quite busy making for my DDs bags to put their changing clothes at their creche. For this I used my a very sophisticated (at least for me) computerized machine the first time in its full potential.

I had the machine for nine months and I used most of the time for sewing and used emroidery attachment only to write someone's name. This time I used embroidery patterns and changed many threads. The result was wonderful and I was happy and girls were excited.

A little bear hanging from from washing rope is for the DD2.

Two hugging bears for DD1.

Now they are posing with their bags.

Photos and text Javhlan

Japanese Sashiko Stitching

Sashiko stitching has been for four centuries and it was used to reinforce kimono fabrics. Now it became so popular as decorative stitches for its relaxing therapy. For Thursday I prepared sakura - cherry flower pattern from Susan Briscoe's Japanese Quilt Blocks to Mix and Match book.

I think this is the best time to teach this pattern because now in Japan sakura is blossoming. Many Japanese would go to parks to sit under cherry trees and have their picnics or just enjoy life.

But before Cinzia showed us her new pillow case and notebook cover.


Ursula finished her a piece of art and gave us a little tip how to make this kind of quilt.

This is Ursula's sakura flower. She used her sewing machine.

This is Susan's hand stitched flower. She really pleased with the result but she kept saying that she has to work on corners.

We had a guest from Italy. She is Cinzia's mother visiting her family during Easter. Sorry, I have forgotten to ask her name.

Photos and text Javhlan

Birthday and birthday giveaway

My DD 1 had her birthday recently. She is now four. On her birthday I made a chocolate mousse cake. As you can see on the photo she is sitting in front of the cake wearing a crown. Teachers and children are singing Parabens!

After the birthday cake children received presents. I made for boys tiny Teds with boys initials with red and green scarfs and football buttons sewn on them.

Girls received little bags with their initials too.

This is my DD 1 bag with her initial letter. Letters I chosen from the word fonts and printed in desired size and stitched with zigzag stitch. This is a very efficient method if you do not have embroidery model in your sewing machine.


Photos and text by Javhlan

Buttons at Arco Iris Metro

If you remember from earlier post that Ann bought these gorgeous buttons in Australia. Now Arco Iris Metro is selling them. I think they were seven euros per box if I am not mistaken. Soon they will have full collection of buttons.

Patch Mania Sale!!!

Patch Mania fabric shop in Oeiras is having sale some of its fabrics. You can get for €7.50 per metre.

I was there on Saturday and enjoyed shopping and bought some yummy fabrics for my future projects. Grab the opportunity.

Galerias Alto da Barra, loja 119
Av. das Descobertas
2780-053 OEIRAS

Telephone: +351 210 967 359

Bad weather and good morning

This morning with the sun shining and after five minutes dark clouds came and rained and again the sun come out. The storm did not hinder our morning work. One of us just worried about laundry left outside for the morning sun.

Therese bought ready cut triangles from Ines's shop and wanted our suggestions how to put them together. Lovely colours and Therese kept sewing her triangles all morning and had some Bernina lessons from Ursula.

Ursula is keen to finish her UFO's. This is one of them and used many different methods. She took photos of Guincho beach and printed on the fabric, appliqued flowers and free motion quilting.

She put her name on the binding all by her sewing machine. It took her some time but it is a very interesting idea to label quilts.

Susan brought her arraiolos, a Portuguese carpet, to work on it. It is quite a big work, keep going Susan!



Photos and text by Javhlan