isn't it so good to know..

....that good customer service is alive and well! This week I got lots of goodies in the post - jewellery from NZ (thank you Gill!) , my rotary cutter from the US which I bought through ebay only last week, and a beautifully wrapped parcel from Saints & Pinners, complete with a nice handwritten note from Fran telling me to enjoy making my pattern and let her know if I needed any help! Now really, you just don't get that sort of service any more - well not from the shops around here! And when I did shoot her a quick mail to query something, she was straight back too ! Not only that, but she also made up the bag in the same fabric (an Amy Butler one) that I chose and it looked so good on the website that I had to make mine up immediately! I originally bought the fabric with something else in mind but went for the bag in the end. I had planned to use another Amy Butler one as the reversible lining but then when I was cutting it out, my sister popped over and once she heard the bag was for her she picked a totally different one which I would never have paired with the first one. But the customer is always right so I went ahead and I really like the finished article because the fabrics are so different - I think it just works, it's really bright and fun. The straps are supposed to be pleated and show the opposite fabric by the way :) It was really easy to make although I did have a tension issue with my lining fabric which is very fine so I had to re-do the lining, however I read somewhere that the secret of sewing is to befriend your seam-ripper, so with gritted teeth I did just that ... ripped it apart and started again. Second time was a breeze with the correct tension! I also discovered a nice technique for a practically invisible hand-stitch which I used for the opening and to reinforce the corners a bit - and that was really helpful. Apparently it's used for embroidery and is called a ladder stitch - never heard of it, I now call it the 'castle wall' stitch after a good analogy that was used by the person who wrote the tutorial on it! I took some pics of my newly made bag, including my ladder stitched bit, but the light is not great - not having any luck with my photos this week, they have all come out very average - might need to get my camera manual out.


I also had my sewing class assessment this week and did really well, we didn't get a percentage grade but we got a breakdown of how we did in all parts of the assessment from knowing all the equipment to our actual basic skills which we had to demo through making the famous cushion cover, which in the end was a breeze for me so I think I'm getting the hang of it all ok. Next week we are moving on to more advanced things now that the basic course is over - like tucks and pleats - oooh - the excitement :)

Just looking out into the back garden and the sun is blazing and it looks fab - little would anyone think that 15 mins ago there was a thunder shower complete with torrential hail that was so scary I turned off the computer in case the lightening caused a power cut - although I don't think that happens any more - when I was young I always recall the power going when there was lightening!
Anyway, I digress, I am off to pack for my weekend now...pray that the white linen trousers will still close.....