18 April, 2013Reading: my second most favourite pastime

Sewing is my first most favourite pastime of course! However, I love to read and I love keeping the books I've read as a little reminder/trophy of the time spent in a comfy chair. I start off sitting 'properly' and then as I turn the pages so I turn my body; until invariably I end up sitting sideways with my legs over the arm of the chair (must be doing terrible stress to my spine - I do so hope no physios or chiros are reading!)  

This leads me to confess to my third favourite pastime: bargain hunting at op/charity shops. I recently found an Ikea sofa and two armchairs going for a song (not that it would have been expensive when new - I love the egalitarian approach to design of those canny Swedes). I convinced my husband that they were just what we were looking for to fill our already over-furnished home! He was eventually 'convinced' and duly went off to pick them up. If I could have squeeeeeeezed them into my own little car I would have, thereby saving myself some considerable convincing time! As it turns out, they were just what we needed: the sofa and one armchair create an informal loafing about corner in the girls' playroom while the remaining armchair has nooked up our newly bookshelfed kitchen corner (yes, nooked and bookshelfed are words, I promise!).

And here's where all three of my favourite pastimes coalesce: the bargain chair with its bare wooden arms was not so comfy for reading while side-sitting, but with the addition of a couple of squiggy and body-mouldable feather cushions covered in gorgeous graphic prints - thanks Anna Maria Horner and Tula Pink for being so talented - it becomes a comfy nook in which to momentarily escape to another world. Joy!

12 March, 2013You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

Yes, it has taken some time to get here, much longer than anticipated, but that’s ok, we’re here now. fingertip fabrics is up-and-running. My sincerest thanks go to Dan Wilson and Angus Wurth and the website bods at Bonsai Media for creating such a functional and beautiful site. I fully expect them to go forth into the world and be able to confidently explain what a fat quarter is! I want to publicly thank them for their patience and resilience when dealing with my emails and phone calls. As far as I am concerned, they have done a fantastic job and I couldn’t be happier with the end result.

Without wishing to sound like I’m giving my Oscar acceptance speech, I would also like to thank my family and friends for their unfailing support and encouragement. I really appreciate it.

(Especially you Rachael – thank you for being so enthusiastic and for patiently listening when at times I must have been droning on and on!)

Now, to the business of blogging … as a former magazine writer and editor, I hope the act of writing regularly won’t prove too difficult. (Famous last words?) I also hope this blog will be informative, creatively enlightening and possibly even amusing at times. While I will definitely write about the fabrics that are available on the site, I don’t intend for this blog to be just an advertorial for fingertip fabrics.

I am a sewist: I sew stuff. I sew things for my family, my home, to sell and occasionally for myself. My aim is that this blog will be a place to read about things you’d like to make for yourself, for your home or for your family and friends. If you’re anything like me, you’ll lust after the fabric they’re made of and add them to your ‘Must Make’ list!

My blogging plan is to sometimes just ‘show-and-crow’ about my creative adventures and other times to ‘show-and-tell’, so you too can (hopefully) replicate my sewing triumphs!

Check back regularly so you can keep up-to-date with the sewings-on!

Helen