How it all began...

Hello! I'm Elaine, I  thought I'd give a little history of my sewing life...I feel I have a lot to thank my mum for, as she was the one who sparked the creativity when we were young. There was always something  to make in the summer holidays: shell mosaics,  paper mache, drawing, painting, etc... and she was always sewing clothes for herself and us. I think my earliest  memory of homemade clothes were red anoraks for my sister & I which were finished the night before we went on holiday! Certainly sewing with a restricted time frame seems to have been passed on... Mum also started a soft toy home business, which we all helped with, turning through and stuffing teddies, rabbits and bean bag mice. We had the old Singer hand machine, which used to belong to my Nana.

I love the engraving and paintwork

Mum and Dad have recently moved house, and I chose to adopt the old machine, purely for nostalgia, but, wow! It's so heavy! I made loads of clothes in my mid-teens, and briefly considered a career in art and design, instead, settling for travel. I got my first machine when I was around 17, a Brother, which was pure inspiration to have a go at anything. When I married (yes, I made the dress!) & got our first house I started making curtains and blinds. So, that was 30+ years ago! I have to say there has been lulls in the sewing love... time, space and kids meant that it just wasn't possible...but not just that. .. there was a real nosedive in fabric shops, and affordability. The Internet has vastly changed that. My sister and I discovered Tilly & the Buttons blog and that restarted the drive to get making again, buzzing round London seeking out new shops. I got a new Janome machine just before Sewing Bee aired, and for once felt I was ahead of the game! So here we are, and I have realised that fabrics and sewing are a real addiction for me... things don't always work out, but that's also part of the charm. I've also realised I've become a bit of a fabric tourist when we go away as well! So, join in the journey with me on the highs and lows of making & creating!