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I’m At My Happiest When I’m Creative!

We’ve had a weekend away in Weymouth to recharge our batteries, good weather and family time,………..What more could you ask for.

Now its back to work and what I love doing………..being creative.

Slowly the Children’s Sewing Classes have restarted and now I’m hoping to sit down with my diary and arrange for the Adults workshops to restart.

If you interested in joining me please head over to the website and send me a message http://www.simplyneedlecraft.com

I will still be filming for my Youtube Channel too, weekly tutorials for sewing and quilting.

If you’ve not visited the channel hop over to https://www.youtube.com/c/AmiSimplyNeedlecraft

Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on the new tutorials being added.

Sewing and Quilting is my passion, I couldn’t imagine not having a project on the go (or ten).

So the creativity carries on at home but this time I’ve decided a big project ……….. refurb and a complete overhaul to make a craft/inspiration room.

So this is how it looks at the minute…… Stage one…

 

wish me luck, I’ve got lots of fabric, craft projects, quilts and so much to find storage for in a tiny room on a budget.

I hope your all safe and keeping well.

Ami
xxx

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Oh Wow it’s been a while …….

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I can’t believe it’s been over two years since the last time I posted on this blog.

Life’s been a bit of a roller coaster to say the least, the good news is though it’s getting back on track so it’s the right time to get back to blogging.

So this is going to be a quick post.

The haberdashery reopened its doors in January 2020 after an 18 month break. Ten weeks later the world ground to a halt which pushed the shop online. A new website was set up http://www.simplyneedlecraft.com

April was the beginning of The Fabric Community.

Back in 2019 I had an idea to set up a group that would receive a box of fabrics, threads, accessories and a new pattern/tutorial ever month.

In April I decided to put my idea into action and Simply Sewing Boxes was formed.

Its going really well, everyone’s enjoying it and getting very creative. All members get invited to a private Facebook group to share tips, inspiration and idea’s. Have a look and join us if your interested.

http://www.simplysewingboxes.com

So I’ve kick started this blog back up to show you behind the scenes, what I’m up to, what my next step is, everything haberdashery related, my new ideas, experiments AND my attempt to create a sewing room at home on a budget.

I’m away this weekend so the blog will start back properly next week.

But for now……… head over to the website where there’s a giveaway going on.

http://www.simplyneedlecraft.com/giveaways

See you next week

xxx

Ami

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New Adult Quilting Group, New Sewing Bee Class and Young Quilters Event.

Hi everyone,

I’m back from my Holidays and raring to go……

I’m currently as we speak getting ready for the Melbourne Festival which starts on Saturday. I’m really excited to be part of this amazing event. I’ll be exhibiting at 52 Blanche Croft…….

I’ve  got new groups and classes starting.

The first is a quilting group which is affiliated with the Quilters Guild. This is a great new group which is set up for everyone interested in patchwork and quilting. To bring along their projects, share ideas and advice and plan any future projects. This group is be held on the 1st Monday of every month here in the Sewing Studio.

I also have a new Sewing Bee starting on Thursday 28th September. The group is aimed at children aged between 8-12 years. The sessions will run every Thursday 4-5pm and the cost £7.50 per week.

I only work with a small number of children and the classes are ongoing, so if you want your child to have a place please let me know asap to reserve a place…..

We also have an event set up with the Young Quilters Guild. This event is taking place here at the Sewing Studio on Thursday 26th October 10am – 1pm.

This event is for children aged between 6-18yrs.

Projects include Halloween themed decorations and treat bags. Hand and machine sewing will be learnt.

Non members -£7

Members – £5

All children if not ready a member will get a years free membership to the Guild after visiting us.

Last night was this months Craft and Chat evening. This is a great evening for us crafters to get together with our projects. There’s lots of different types of crafts every month and the atmosphere is fantastic……if you would like to join us pop along on the first Thursday of the month….

My workshop dates have increased this quarter of the year. I’m really pleased how quickly they are booking up. If you’ve not had a look at the dates then please visit http://www.simplyneedlecraft.com/workshopsclasses.html

workshops include hand embroidery, quilting, mother and daughter sewing class, beginners sewing, fabric journals, art quilting and fabric collage and vintage workshops.

 

 

Thats it for this week, have a great weekend and I’ll see you next week.

 

Ami

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A Mixture Of Everything! Warning Lots Of Pictures

Hi everyone,

This blog post is a mixture of new stock, events and the Sewing Bee, so let’s get started.

Ok so you may remember we were at Sainsbury’s recently as a part of their Street Store event.

Braced with needles, threads and plenty of Suffolk puffs me and my loyal team headed to Sainsbury’s to get young people into sewing and embellishing  clothes.

We had a wonderful time and even recruited a new young man into our Sewing Bee…..

Running on the same weekend it was Derbyshire Open Arts where the shop was turned into a gallery ….

Our monthly Craft & Chat Night took place last week and again filled with a lovely bunch of crafters. They run on the first Thursday of every month 6.00-8.30pm and costs £5 which includes cakes, tea and coffee. If you would like to join us just pop along.

On Monday this week our Sewing Bee group finished their cushions and our newest member joined us…….

The Tuesday group our getting to grips with patchwork which is great for practicing sewing straight lines……

Now time for new stock and I have to confess we have started to have our Christmas fabrics in, plus new patterns and trimmings…..

Don’t forget I also run workshops in various different techniques and you can find them all on the website. Please note there is only one more beginners quilting pencilled in at the moment until Autumn as I’m snowed under with other commitments….

Please see my workshops here

You can also see what I’m up to regards my other commitments by visiting my site http://www.amijamestextileart.com

where you can view my blog, exhibitions and work.

 

Thank you reading and keeping up to date with all of our news.

Ami

xxx

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It’s All About Events

Hi everyone,

Wow what weather …….. Perfect weather for events this weekend.

You can catch us at Sainsbury’s this Saturday morning working with Hubbub to get little stitchers sewing and adding embellishments to clothes…..find details here

It’s also Derbyshire Open Arts this weekend. This year is my first year of taking part of this festival which covers Derbyshire. The festival starts on Saturday and runs until the 4th June.

I will be here on Sunday and Monday to talk to visitors. I’ll be showing you my inspiration, techniques and methods.

We are also open as usual on Saturday where you can view my work.

Hours are….

Saturday – 9-4pm

Sunday – 10-3pm

Monday – 10 – 3pm

There is also a craft market running on the Saturday hosted by Curly Magpie & Friends.

Ok so events that have already taken place over the last week or so……

we had the lovely Maria Dent, Felt Artist with us to run a full day workshop in Landscape Felting.

We had an amazing turn out with lots of beautiful results. We will be talking to Maria very soon to arrange more dates…..

On Saturday we had our long waited Young Quilters Event.

We invited children between 6-18yrs to join us in the Sewing Studio to take part in this great event which allowed them to get free membership to the Quilters Guild. Again we had an amazing turnout. We shall be adding more dates to the Guilds list very soon….

As you can see we’ve been so busy and I apologise for the lack of blog entries.

Thank you for your support. I couldn’t have be able to do this without you.

Hope to see you over the weekend.

Ami

xxx

 

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A Quick Catch Up ……..

Hi everyone,

Welcome to this weeks blog post from a windy Derbyshire.

It’s been a lovely week here planning, organising and workshops.

we start this week with the crochet workshop with our Sue. At the moment it’s all about the socks and virus shawls….

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This week in the Sewing Bee…… finished selfies, zips and an important job of designing the quilts for the quilting festival in August. 

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We had fun on Monday evening….. the free motion for beginners workshop.

We started off with wobbly lines and pointy curves but by the end of a fab evening …….look what happened :) 

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I’ve  been putting my machine to good use this week. Textile collage art that are getting ready for exhibitions…..

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All the new dates for April and May workshops are now online along with a new gallery and exhibitions…

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That’s it another week, another blog post.

thank you again for your support, it’s proving to be quite a year for us…..stay tuned.

Ami

xxx

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Back in the Swing of Things

Hi everyone,

Happy January!

It might be cold and snowing but we’ve had loads going on here to keep us busy.

So the new shop opened on the 3rd. We had an extremely busy day and lots of customers and little stitchers popping in to say hello. Thank you for the overwhelming response.

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With the shop and Sewing Studio up and running,the workshop dates have been released and classes are booking up quickly Click here for up to date classes

That also means the return of our Craft and Chat night. This year we have moved the day so it’s now the first Thursday of every month.

We have a great first night in the new home. There was lots of creativity including knitting, crochet, cross stitch,lace making, sewing and appliqué….along with tea and cakes.

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The Crochet workshop also started back and got cracking on learning new patterns and techniques. This class is good for beginners and more advanced.

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My first group of little ones started back on Wednesday. The new studio got the thumbs up and we started work and our next project…..not completed yet but here’s the progress

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In between all the excitement I started on working on a new technique myself. A textile art collage and quilted over net… not sure if I like it or not at the moment….

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All in all a busy start to the year and looks like 2017 is going to be the year of new crafts, hobbies and challenges.

Happy new year to you all.

Keep warm and stay safe.

Ami

XXX

 

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We’ve Done It …..We’re Finally In :) (lots of pics)

Hi Everyone,

I hope you’ve had a fantastic Christmas.

We’ve been so so busy over the last few days….packing, moving and unpacking. But it wouldn’t have been possible without the help of my hubby, family, friends, loyal customers and little stitchers. It’s been overwhelming to see how many people have given up their time over Christmas.

I’m pleased to say I am now unpacked and settling in. The shops ready for opening day on the 3rd January and my Sewing Studio is all set up, Singers all unpacked and ready for some more creativity….( I can’t wait to get my little switchers back in action).

Ok here comes the pics ….

 

The Cavalry……

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The End Result…..I’m so happy

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And The Sewing Studio

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There’s also a great selection of Timeless Treasure Cotton fabrics also joined us in time  for opening. These are 100% cottons which are beautiful quality and the designs are stunning.  Available in fat quarters, half and full metres. …. take a look.

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It’s been a fantastic year here. I never imagined that 2016 would be so successful and creative. I would like to thank everyone that has been part of it. I’ve met so many wonderful people, the most amazing talented youngsters. 

2017 is set to be even bigger with the shop move, guest tutors, more workshops, Sewing Bee increasing, festival of quilts, Open Arts Derbyshire and even more coursework for me. 

I really can’t  thank everyone enough. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR X 

See you next year 

Ami 

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Merry Christmas Everyone x

Hi everyone,

Its been insanely busy here and next year looks like a huge year…

Lets fill you in with what’s happening.

We had our monthly Craft and Chat evening but with a twist… it was our Christmas party night. A fab evening and a big thank you who has become part of our group….

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Our craft night start again in 2017….. come and join us. X

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It was also the last of our children’s sewing bee of 2016. All the little stitchers have had an amazing year, I really can’t wait to have to back in our new Sewing Studio in January.

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I still have two spaces open to join me in January on a Tuesday ….

Please look at a website for details Children’s Sewing Bee

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Our new adult classes for 2017 are now available on the website. We are being guest tutors too. The amazingly talented Emily Notman (mixed media) and Maria Dent from Creative Bumblebee (felting and embroidery.

Workshop Dates

http://www.emilynotman.co.uk/

http://www.creativebumblebee.co.uk/

A quick shop update…

We having started to pack away the Sewing Studio…

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Mum, Dad and hubby have been a big help…

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And the new sign is now up….

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We have a massive Christmas fabric sale on now….

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And lastly I have been working hard on a coursework project, making a new quilt and a little bit of hand stitchery….

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I hope you all have a fantastic Christmas, thank you for following us it really does mean the world to me.

I’ll blog again between Christmas and New Year to update you all on the shop move.

Merry Christmas

 

Ami

 

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We’re On Count Down !

bright clash cotton fabric

Hi everyone,

We’re getting ready and really excited for the Yarn Bombing display to start now.

In June this year we asked for your help to decorate the town this Christmas…. task was to knit or crochet 10.5 inch squares.  At first we panicked thinking we had probably asked for too much (we needed hundreds of squares)…….however you have proved us wrong. We have reached our target and more.

As we speak we are joining them together to make tree blankets.

These will go on display every day until December 20th, so please pop down and have a look.

A huge thank you to everyone that has donated their time and skills.

The kids have been busy too this week. Christmas gnomes are in the process of being made, Christmas stockings being cut, gifts are being planned and more bunting was finished …… all in all a very successful and enjoyable week.

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We have also opened up the diary for the birthday parties for next year. So if your child would like a creative party please take a look at the website for more details.

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On Wednesday evening we had a full class for our Free Motion Workshop. This workshop is designed for beginners and is a great chance  to join others and have fun…

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And that spurred me on to get creating……pencil to stitch.

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That’s it for this week…….I’ll catch up with you next week.

Thanks for reading and following.

Have a fab weekend

Ami xxx

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Call: 07734 847225
Email: hello@simplyneedlecraft.com
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