The Old School Club

A very proud teacher.

2012-02-08T22:45:00.001Z

A few days ago I received some photos of one of the Christmas projects made during a workshop. She first came to make recycled Christmas decorations. She had no sewing experience but at the end she managed to complete a wreath with recycled jumpers and (I hope!) she had a great time at the workshop. Then she came back two weeks later with 2 of her daughters for another Christmas session .. this time she wanted to do something a bit more challenging .. a table runner!!!

So we prepared a few designs, selected the fabrics and we started the project.

Patchwork - check
Wadding - check
Back fabric - check
Binding - check
Result - success!!!

She managed to finish a beautiful patchwork quilted table runner in 3 hours. With no previous sewing experience! And here the photos to prove it ... well done Deirdre.

The Curiosity Project - What a great surprise!

2012-01-16T23:14:00.002Z

At the end of last year I found a post talking about The Curiosity Project. I completely fell in love with the idea and I subscribed to it. You get assigned an anonymous friend (you also get a little hint of what he/she likes) and then you send a box with some "things". In return, you also receive a lovely box with lots of surprises in it!

You obviously have to trust that the person you get assigned to will send you something ... I received this gorgeous box and it really made my Christmas more exciting!
Unfortunately I was away for Christmas (ok and a few more days!) and I only returned on the 9th of Jan. I received the box as I was leaving the house so I had to wait almost 3 weeks to see the contents!! Although that added more excitement to the project, it also meant that I was very late to post the photos to their webiste (ah! you are meant to send the photos once you receive the box). It is now closed so I will not be able to get a post ..

TO MY ANONYMOUS SENDER - I AM REALLY SORRY FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO POST THE PHOTOS ON TIME. I really love every single item in it, so I will do my best to send some details and a link to this post (maybe a sneaky link in their Facebook!).

So here it is:

The box had been wrapped in red paper and it had a handwriten note. I had indicated that I liked sewing and handmade things, so she (I assumed it is a SHE!) has made an amazing job finding all these things!

The stuffed bird is made with a lovely blue patterned fabric. I think this is to be used as decoration, but it is so lovely that I need to find a use for it .. mmmm ..

There was a set of patchwork cotton fabrics! they are lovely colours, they look like 50 years old! They have flowers but they are not flowery pastely stuff. I love them.

The Sew Sweet sewing kit is gorgeous. It has lots of bits and bobs inside ..

And there is room to add more things !!

Love hearts .. yum yum yum ..

This little bottle contains a few ribbons, buttons, beads and fabrics .. lovely.

I have never done Origami before, so I really liked this little surprise!

And this is my beautiful notepad .. lots of lists to write down!!

I love it, every single thing. I will be joining the next project again as I think this is such a brilliant idea. I really enjoyed putting my box together for someone else and I enjoyed even more receiving this box from My curious Pal.

If you would like to join the next project, please check http://thecuriositybox.blogspot.com/

Thank you for my box!
xx
Your curious crafty friend.

Thank you!

2012-01-10T14:03:00.003Z

I wanted to thank everyone that came to the Christmas workshops in December, not only for supporting the Club but also for making such beautiful projects .. I am delighted that some of you even continued making more and more stuff at home!! Please send us some more pictures!

Advent Calendars

Stockings

Decorations

Wreaths

Christmas gifts

Upcycle series - Lampshade

2011-11-28T20:11:00.001Z

Hello, this is my first tutorial on my blog (woooo hoooo!!) so I hope you like it! This one is about how to upcycle a lampshade from a horrific yellowy plastic thing to a beautiful piece to be proud of!! I have this lampshade now next to one of my favourite paintings at home and it looks amazing. So here it is.

First of all you need an old lampshade (I suggest to use a round shape – coolie or oval, but not empire or bell – if you use a square one, you will need to match the sides of the lampshade with the width of the pieces), a bundle of beautiful fabrics (I have used the Silent Cinema collection by Jenean Morrison, which is absolutely gorgeous), your sewing machine, thread to match the fabrics, double sided glue tape and the usual kit you need for your sewing projects. I think this is an intermediate level project, so I have not gone into too much detail on the basics, if you need any help, please ask any questions!! We also have a course to learn how to make this lampshade, so you can come and join us!! (http://www.theoldschoolclub.co.uk/)

Start by measuring the circumference around the top and the bottom of the lampshade. Mine are 73 cm and 142 cm. I am going to use 10 pieces of fabric, so each piece should actually measure 7.2cm at the top and 14.2 cm at the bottom. I have also added 2cm seam allowance for each piece, so my pieces are around 16.2 cm wide. Now measure the height of the lampshade, mine is 28cm.

Mark the width of each piece at the top and the bottom with tailors chalk and cut straight pieces of fabric.

I decided to make each piece with two different fabrics (like a patchwork), but you can use just one fabric for each piece.

Use your height as the starting point for the cuts, mine was 28cm, so allowing 2cm for the hems, cut the strips in pieces of 10cm, 15cm and 20cm. You will be mixing these to make the longer pieces (15cm + 15cm, 10cm + 20cm). You don’t need a hem at the top or the bottom as you will be using a bias to cover the edges of the lampshade.

Once you have cut all the pieces, pin with the right sides together (I have selected the cuts randomly). Sew the cuts together (right with right).

Once you have all of them sewn, open the seams and press until completely flat. Mix them so there are not two of the same pattern next to each other.

Now we are going to put the pieces together. Put two pieces, right with right, and mark the top and the bottom with the measurements you obtained above. If your lampshade is oval, the measurements should be the same at the top and the bottom, so quite straight forward and you should only need to leave the 1cm seam allowance that you added on each piece. If your lampshade is coolie, you will need to make a narrower top, see the image below.Pin and sew both fabrics as shown (make sure you keep the seams of the patchwork cuts open):

7.2cm

Open both pieces and repeat the same process with another piece, right with right, mark the same measurements on the added piece. Pin and sew together, open and repeat. It should look like this:

Once you have all the pieces together, open all the seams flat and press. Make a quick test on your lampshade to make sure it fits! Measure the top and the bottom, pin together (or mark) both ends of the fabric so you can sew them together. You can do this by testing on the wrong side. Once you have both ends sewn together and you are absolutely sure that it fits properly, cut the remaining fabric of the seams so they are only 1cm wide.

Now we need to add the bias tape, one for the top and one for the bottom. You can use a readymade bias tape or you can make one yourself. I made one using one of the fabrics.

Cut several pieces of fabric following the bias of the fabric (4cm wide), and sew them together to make the bias tape (mine were 72cm and 142cm, plus seam allowances).

Pin the bias tape along the top and the bottom of the lampshade (right and right and then open flat). Make sure the seams on your pieces of fabric are left open! Sew the bias to the lampshade (top and bottom), open both fabrics and press.

To secure the top and the bottom to the lampshade I have used a double side glue tape, but you can use any other glue (Before applying the glue to your fabric, test it on a small piece of fabric. Be sure the glue does not soak through the fabric and discolor it or leave spots.) If you are using double side glue tape, attach the sticky bit first on the lampshade. Make sure the fabric is properly centred and pulled by using pegs – turn the fabric inside the lampshade edge and use some pegs to fix it. Once you are happy with it, start from the top, remove the protector of the double side glue tape and start gluing bit by bit. Put the pegs back for about 30 minutes so it fixes properly.Repeat the same process for the bottom of the lampshade. You have made a gorgeous fabric lampshade!!

All things handmade

2011-11-22T16:41:00.000Z

I love handmade details, crafts, my mum's linen & towels, sewing kits, ribbons, buttons, boxes within boxes, old and new fabrics and overall, I like making things. I remember my childhood helping my aunties to make embroidery for wedding dresses, the lace, the delicate beads .. I admire my mum, so talented! she can paint ceramics & fabrics, she always knows how to add something special, she can make anything. I had the privilege of growing up in a family that values and cares for all things handmade and now, after all these years, I would like to share and pass on some of these skills.

The beginning ..

2011-11-21T22:48:00.003Z

I have decided to start my blog about my love for crafts and therefore my new business, something I never thought I would do ... I worked in very demanding jobs in IT for a decade in a previous life but always loved doing arty and creative things. I grew up in an environment where things were handmade, personalised and finished with love. After having my son last year, I finally realised that although I was still very much career-focused, it was a different career I wanted to take. The idea for my own business came after I searched for art & crafts courses during my maternity leave but couldn’t find anything scheduled during the day or that allowed me to take my son with me. Maternity leave is a fantastic mother-baby time but between nappy changes and milk feeds there may be a bit of time to do things that you cannot do at home or if/when you come back to work. I decided then to start my business, using an office/studio for the classes and a large area for the crèche.

I set up the premises, bought the sewing machines and the school desks in two weeks, and I launched the business on the 1st of June, 2011. The first set of courses started that same week. My aim is to help people to learn new skills, to make beautiful but different things, to recycle and to upcycle and to be unique. If I cannot teach it myself I would find the right craft-lover to do it. The courses include quilting, sewing, crochet, knitting, upholstery and other craft workshops. The creche is available during all the courses and it is run by a qualified team. There is also a Studio, where you can bring your own projects to work on and use the creche.