Jo Avery – the Blog

Too Busy To Blog – part 1

My life is a bit of a whirlwind at the moment and I feel my poor old blog is being slightly neglected. So please forgive me, dear readers, and also all you lovely bloggers whose blogs I usually follow. I just have not had a spare minute over the last few weeks to properly visit and comment on all my favourite blogs, or have much time for posting or Flickr group activities.
I told you a few weeks ago about our new Craft Classes venture at our Edinburgh shop. Well I have been getting that up and running and we have our big launch day next Sunday. So for the last few weeks I have been very busy making all the projects that we will be holding classes in. They all need to be ready for the launch day so that prospective students can view them and, hopefully, book a class.
I thought I would share them with you now in a couple of brief, photo heavy posts.

This tote bag is for an applique class I will be teaching. We will provide the cotton tote bag and lots of design ideas and students will learn how to needle-turn applique with some embroidery to embellish.

These drawstring bags are for the ‘Basic Machine Sewing’ class.

These little birds are for the ‘Basic Hand Sewing’ class. They are from a pattern in Last Minute Patchwork and Quilting Gifts book.

This is the Hot Air Balloon Cushion Cover. It is a simplified version of a design I created for this cot quilt that I made a few years ago. This is all machine applique.

The little mouse is detachable. He is quite a basic little mouse but then this all has to be made in one full day workshop!

And here are some more pretty crochet flower corsages for a class I am taking in that.

Well that’s your lot for now, I am still busy, busy, busy, so expect another post later in the week with more new projects. And then I will make sure I get plenty of photos of our launch so that I can share it with you all.
And if any local readers would like to come along, I would be so happy to see you! There is 10% off all shop stock on the day plus a free crafty goody bag (with really cool stuff inside!) for anyone who books a class. It is 2-4.30pm, Sunday 31st July, more details on our website.

And one more thing dear readers, if any of your are feeling super kind and generous today and are also Facebook users, would you be total dolls and head over to our new Bearpaw Crafts Classes page and click on the ‘LIKE’ button please? I would be eternally grateful!! 😀

23 comments

  1. Your classes sound lovely! I'm busy too getting projects designed and made for my new term of classes in Sept. I hope you get lots of bookings. Jxo

  2. Fingers crossed for your launch Jo. I have my first workshop next Sunday too and have been toiling for hours over a hot laptop prepping handouts.

  3. Good luck with the classes! I reckon if you had a selection of figures for the balloon, a child could make a nice little story up, or mums could, to go with that cracking cushion!
    Like Goldilocks and the 3 seperate bears take turns at riding in it ? lol
    Or Pepper Pig and George even!

  4. Good luck with your launch :o) I'd love to pop over, but alas I have a bear fair I'm selling at in the Lake District, still, I'm sure you'll have loads of visitors and bookings

  5. This all sounds super exciting, good luck with it all and don't stress about your blog, life's like that sometimes! Done the "like" thing on Facebook – when do I get the cake?

  6. Lovely projects to get people started with sewing etc. I appliqued a similar blank calico bag with a shoe design for a friend's birthday recently. I used fusible though and haven't tried needle-turn yet. Good luck with the classes – I'm sure they'll be fun!
    Teresa x

  7. I liked your page on FB, but what I really "liked" was the hot air balloon pillow cover. Is there a pattern or tutorial to it? My daughter would love to make it with me. She is 5 1/2 and is learning to sew. Cute!!!

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