Running With Scissors

(Late) New Years Resolutions

2012-01-28T20:04:00.003Z

Here are my new years resolutions:
1. Update this blog more often
2. Not to buy any new clothes* (for as long as possible)

*exceptions to the rule: underwear (obviously) and probably long sleeve T-shirts as I wear them all year round and the current stock are probably going to need refreshing some time soon.

Note also the word NEW, this lets me get away with buying 2nd hand and vintage clothes and obviously making my own. Last night I finished my little blue skirt, but I have lots of other clothes projects (and non-clothes projects) on the list. Next up will be a bias cut dress which I am making as an example of the dress you can make at our 'Make a dress in a day' workshop (date probably in May). I have bought some rather funky fabric which is petrol blue / black / white tartan (looks better than it sounds, I promise).

Here's the skirt photo (not a fab photo but at least you get the idea!)

Free Workshop Winner

2011-12-16T16:57:00.002Z

Everyone who signed up for our e-newsletter at the last 4 events Running With Scissors have been entered into a draw to win a free half day workshop. We have had 69 people sign up and the random number generator spat out number 64 as the winner (its a lot easier than pulling names out of a hat!)

The winning person has been notified and will hopefully book onto a workshop soon once they have got over the shock!

Autumn Adventures & Spring Plans

2011-10-27T20:30:00.006+01:00

Well sorry for not posting for a while, but its been very busy here at Running With Scissors Towers! Last Saturday we had a stall at the Crucible Craft Fair and met some lovely people, I love chatting to others about all things crafty. Thanks to everyone who came along to say hello. I've also been out and about all over Sheffield doing some private sewing lessons over the last few weeks. It's great to work with people and start them off on their sewing adventures. Lots of work has been going on with our website too and we now take online booking and payment, so you don't have to hunt for your cheque book anymore (unless you rather send us a cheque that is!) We are also offering gift vouchers for Christmas (buy them online!) and are working on a new website page were we can upload your comments and any pictures you want to send us of your projects. We have also been busy behind the scenes planning our Spring workshops, more details coming soon... needless to say due to popular demand, we are re-running some of your favourites, and have added some new exciting workshops too. Also I'm very excited about a new gift workshop we are planning in December, perfect for you and your mates! - we are just finalising the details and then we'll let everyone know!

The Irish knitting bus!

2011-09-30T15:35:00.003+01:00

This week I read in an Irish magazine about a knitting bus - how fab is that? The bus is chock full of knitting stuff and will be going around primary schools to teach little ones how to knit. The best thing is that there are 1,000 older volunteers across the country (connected to the University of the Third Age) who will join the bus in various locations and teach the children how to knit. 150 schools have already signed up for the bus to go to their school. I love the idea of older people sharing their skills with the younger generation, (to risk a pun..) it could knit a community together.

New fabric shop in Sheffield

2011-09-26T18:50:00.004+01:00

At the weekend I found out that there was a new fabric shop opening in Sheffield... so I tracked it down today (and spent some money on lovely fabrics). It turns out that it's Fabric Warehouse, which used to be on Shalesmoor (which closed some time ago) and now its at the bottom of London Road, in what used to be the bed shop. They have quite a good selection of fabric at reasonable prices. I bought some printed cotton (for bunting making) and some printed baby cord fabric. The latter is for a new skirt, inspired by the successful 'A-Line skirt in a day' workshop which we did on Saturday... photos to follow soon! They also had some felt, fleece fabric, calico, printed dress fabric, Jersey fabric, patchwork type fabric and lots of upholstery fabric so it's well worth a visit. There's some parking behind the shop, or you can easily walk over from the bottom of The Moor. Time to get out your spending money....

Knit One, Purl One

2011-09-06T20:36:00.007+01:00

In knitting jargon this is my current knitting project OTN or WIP ('On the needles' or 'work in progress') at the moment. It's a pattern I've had for years which I've knitted for myself and lent to other people and now I'm knitting it for my friend's birthday (after much admiration of my own version!) Some of you may have seen me knitting behind my stall at the Crucible craft fair last weekend.

What I love about the pattern is that you knit it on super chunky needles (12mm) with super chunky wool so it doesn't take that long to do. You start at the bottom of the back and knit up and over the shoulders and down each front. Then you finish off with the ribbed cuffs and border so there's not even much sewing up to do (I hate sewing up knitted things - I just want it to be instantly finished!).

I tend not to do much knitting in the summer, it's more of an autumn / winter thing to do in the long winter evenings. You also get to wear it immediately and it keeps your knees warm while you're knitting it!

I was one of the generation where we were taught to knit at school (briefly) at about aged 8 but I got in a terrible tangle - fortunately my Gran was a great knitter and she used to knit loads of stuff for me and my brother and really I learnt from her. There have been times in my life when I have found knitting very therapeutic, times when it has been a disaster and times when me and my friends have all knitted the same jumper at the same time.

I always seem to have some knitting project on the go and vast numbers of patterns which I want to knit. You can also buy some fabulous wool now. I love the fair trade Mirasol wool made from lama's wool, (or are they alpacas?) I also have a fab book of proper vintage knitting patterns which have been reprinted, but it also shows the original published version from women's weekly magazines from the 1920's onwards. I'll bring along some of my patterns / books and finished items to the workshop on Saturday too. People always seem to be really amazed when I tell them that 'knitting' is really only made up of just 2 stitches (a knit stitch or a purl stitch) - all the fancy patterns you see are just about how you combine these 2 types of stitches.

Happy knitting, stitching or sewing whatever you are up to this week.

No Ordinary Tote Bag

2011-08-29T20:59:00.018+01:00

Well, this Saturday was our zip and buttons Tote bag workshop run by our tutor Sharon. We had a very busy day and Sharon kindly asked if I wanted to make a tote bag too (who can decline that offer?). I soon found out that this is no ordinary Tote Bag, this is an amazing tote bag! There was a choice of 2 patterns (the one we didn't do we could take home too) and then we got straight into picking fabric, interfacing (aka 'bump'), doing darts, inserting pockets and zips, (eating lunch), making made-to-measure bag straps and sewing it all together in the most ingenious way. I didn't finish mine at the workshop as I was busy helping out people and making sure everyone was full of tea and cakes, but managed to finish it over the weekend.

I decided to go with a strap attached to front and back of the bag rather than on the side seams, I also added some top stitching in a darker teal thread (one of my favourite colours). Not only do I have a fab new bag but I've learnt how to insert a zip pocket and use the scary looking machine foot to put in buttonholes. I have to say I'm rather pleased with the results....it's fast becoming my favourite bag!

I love Dresses!

2011-08-06T13:59:00.013+01:00

Well I've got to admit I love dresses ....and hats. I love the way that women used to wear dresses every day (think of Mad Men 1950's dresses), women just looked so glamorous back then. I was wondering whether to start a campaign to encourage women to wear more dresses and more hats! (I've also enrolled on a millinery course at Sheffield College - but more of that another day). Being slightly stick shaped I find finding a dress that fits well is a bit of a rarity. So, when I decided to re-vamp an item to promote the Trashion workshop I was definitely going to do a dress. After I found a dress with a print and colour I would wear that was a couple of sizes too big I got all excited about the possibilities of adapting it and altering it to fit properly. I decided (fairly quickly) that I was going to do a halter neck, as I've always liked them but can never get them to fit very well (big issue for those of us with small boobs). It was a bit daunting at first but I found that a couple of glasses of wine helped with the courage, and then I just started chopping into the fabric just doing things by eye, not even measuring. Fortunately I'd chosen a dress in a t-shirt type fabric so I didn't need to hem everything to stop fraying. I have to admit I'm fairly pleased with the results. The dress (and my lovely new mannequin) will be coming along to the 3 craft fairs I'm doing at the Crucible theatre to promote the Running Wtih Scissors workshops - hopefully it'll cause a stir!

Felt Fanatics

2011-07-29T14:14:00.008+01:00

Felt..felt...felt it's just so tactile I can't resist it. I have lots of felt items and I love crafting with it because it doesn't fray - just cut and use - it's my type of fabric. Making your own felt is also great fun people often get a bit confused but basically there are 3 ways to make felt:

1) get a wool jumper and wash it in the washing machine on a setting that's too hot (we've all shrunk a jumper this way in the past)

2) Needle Felting - this is dry felting using a specialist (very sharp) needle

3) Wet Felting (see more info below)

The wet felting technique is the technique our tutor Fran will be using for the felt bowl and coaster workshop on 13th August. You start with pieces of pure sheep wool. This is built up in layers and then essentially 'mashed' together to form a piece of felt. A combination of heat, friction and soap makes the tiny hooks in the wool fibres lock together with adjacent hooks so the wool becomes firmer and shrinks a bit. It's great fun (and a bit messy) to do and the end product is so unpredictable and beautiful. I've also recently come across a guy called Thomas Horst who makes exquisite designer felt dresses, in the article I read it said that he uses a Black and Decker sander, soap and garden hose! - how cool is that!

Sewing Patterns for beginners

2011-07-11T19:43:00.000+01:00

Today I've been buying sewing patterns. This is the pattern I've bought to try out for the 'How to read a pattern' workshop for beginners .... so I need to find a teeny bit of time to give it a go. I picked it out beacuse it looks like its quite versitile you could make it in a longer length or with shorter sleves and it's for sizes 8-20 too. It ties at the back so you can wear it loose or tight and you can decide to trim it, or not. I thought it would be good with leggings, jeans or some nice wide linen trousers (....maybe another workshop!). If it works out and I think the pattern is suitable then each person would get a copy of the pattern included in the workshop and we could do some minor alterations as well so it can be amended to fit you properly. Any thoughts on the pattern? .... leave me a comment here or comment on the Running With Scissors facebook page as I've up-loaded it there too. I'm quite pleased with the choice of pattern - lets see what it's like when it's made up...

Vote for you favourite workshops

2011-06-29T22:26:00.002+01:00

You can vote for your favourite workshops for the autumn and winter programme on the Running with Scissors facebook page. I still need to sort linking up the blog with the facebook page so apologies for that! I believe you can only vote for one option so if you have more than one preference just post a comment too. I do try hard with facebook but I'm always getting frustrated with it.

I'm hoping to meet up with some potential tutors on Friday for possible upholstery workshop and bath / beauty products so I''ll see how it goes and let you know!

Lino Print Workshop Deadline

2011-06-17T16:33:00.004+01:00

Lino Print Workshop on 2nd July

Deadline for booking is now Midnight on Monday

Reserve your place by downloading a booking form at http://www.rwssheffield.co.uk/

Lino - not just for floors!

2011-06-10T15:55:00.004+01:00

('Meersbrook View' Lino Print by James Green)

...well what a busy week... workshops are filling up quickly so get your skates on if your interested in booking a workshop! Our Lino Printing workshop is coming up soon with James Green on 2nd July. Lino Printing is a really hands-on way of transferring an image onto paper to form a print. Yes you use lino but it's slightly different from the stuff on your bathroom floor. It's very therapeutic carving into lino block with sharp looking tools and you get an amazing very detailed image. The best thing is that once you have your block carved you can make lots of prints in different colours, so you can make your own cards etc.

Some of James's works can be found on http://www.jamesgreenprintworks.blogspot.com/

There are also lots of clips and information about Lino Printing at http://www.craftzine.com/

Street Art in Brazil's slum districts

2011-05-29T10:21:00.004+01:00

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13389594

Here's a link to a street art project in Rio's poorest areas. Its based around a project to create murals on some of the buildings and encourage tourism into the area. A fantastic idea, it just goes to show that art can really have a significant impact on people's lives.

This is a small report from 'the strand' an arts programme on the BBC world service. I have to admit I've not heard of this before, despite listening to some BBC world service programmes - I must check it out!

Funky Felting

2011-05-27T15:09:00.002+01:00

I'm excited to be working with Fran, who produces some lovely felt items. If you've never had a go at felting - it's great fun. It gets really messy and you really can't do it wrong. Fran came up with the genius idea of a bowl and coaster which has no seams, it's all one piece! and of course you can embellish the bowl or coaster as you wish...

Back Again....

2011-05-20T17:17:00.005+01:00

I can't believe its been over a month since my last blog entry (I must try harder). Things have been so busy here at Running With Scissors central. I have meet with lots of lovely new tutors, spent hours enthusing about craft and had lots of coffee and cake. As a result we now have lots of new workshops ready for booking. Lino Printing with James is in early July and you can get to have a go at this lovely, very simple, but very effective technique. I especially like James 'Meersbrook View' lino print and was very tempted to purchase a print of this image at James's recent 'open day' (as part of the open up event for Sheffield artists).

Our sewing workshops are going well and 'Sewing Machines for beginners' is still the most popular workshop. We have now followed this up with a zip and button tote bag with our new dressmaking tutor, Sharon. This workshop lets you have a go at inserting a zip and producing professional looking buttonholes and 'button sewing-on' using a machine, as well as the much requested A-Line skirt in a day (I can, and will, be composing a whole blog post on this!) Also we have Fran's lovely feltmaking workshop. I absolutely love the way she combines the colours in her work and I always say ..you can never have too many useful bowls.

Embroidered book for baby Elinor

2011-04-12T19:34:00.002+01:00

Heres a photo of me from last year - I'm holding up my page of an embroidered book that me and a few friends put together for baby Elinor, the daughter of a friend who emigrated to New Zealand. We all chose 2 British (native) Mammals to embroider and I went for a red squirrel and a mountain hare. Our friend is a big fan of native british mammals, sadly lacking in NZ, and was keen to educate her little girl asap! You can't see the embroidery very well but the squirrel's tail is in all in long stitch which took ages! I'm sure Baby Elinor appreciated it!

Back Up and Running (with scissors)

2011-03-23T20:59:00.007Z

Well Running With Scissors is finally back up and running after taking a few months off to have a baby. I've had a busy time with the new arrival and all is now going well. At Running With Scissors H.Q. we have some exciting plans for 2011 and the first few workshops are now up and ready for booking via the website. More workshops are in the pipeline with some external tutors and I'm very excited about using our new venue - the new church opposite Heeley retail park. If only there was a couple more hours in the day.....

In the meantime here's a nice picture of an origami fabric flower which you can make in one of our new workshops

Patchwork and Quilting Workshop with Janet Bottomley

2010-02-24T11:48:00.010Z

This post is all about Janet Bottomley who is running the Patchwork and Quilting workshop on 10th April. I first met Janet a few months ago and we immediately clicked through our love of crafting and VW camper vans. Janet even brought along some VW campervan fabric for me but I can’t decide what to use it for yet as I want to make the most of it!

Janet is clearly a patchwork and quilting junkie, have a look at one of her blogs at http://www.aquiltersjournal.blogspot.com/ if you need the proof! This is a picture of one of one of Janet’s mini-quilts which won an award at the Harrogate Quilt Show. (We'll be making a mini-quilt at the workshop on 10th April)

As well as having a husband, 2 sons, 5 cats and 3 rescued ex-battery chickens Janet also finds time to travel from Barnsley to Skipton, North Yorkshire, every month to continue her love of quilting by undertaking a city and guilds certificate in ‘Patchwork and Quilting – Creative Techniques’ (Janet already has a Certificate in Patchwork and Quilting!). You can follow Janet’s work on her blog

http://www.cityandguildspatchworkandquilting.blogspot.com/

I am very jealous, as they seem to do some fantastic assignments where you can let your creativity run riot. Here are a couple of my favourite pieces from Janet’s course

Janet also likes to incorporate used fabrics into her projects, here’s one with the odds and ends of shirts which weren’t used in other projects. I really like this one!

As if that’s not enough Janet is also involved in producing memory quilts and charity quilts, runs workshops and arranges talks from national quilting specialists!

Here’s a couple of images of Janet’s quilts which I’m sure you will agree are absolutely fantastic.

At the Running With Scissors workshop on 10th April we will be learning the techniques of piecing, appliqué and quilting, using all the necessary equipment and materials. If you’ve always wanted to have a go, this is an ideal starter session to learn the basics, take home your very own mini-quilt and have the initial skills to be able to create your own quilt later at home.

Hope to see you there!

Pins and Needles

2010-02-24T11:07:00.008Z

I have been meaning to compose a post all about pins and needles for some time, sounds a little strange, I know. It all started when and friend and I went to York for the day where we visited the sashiko exhibition at York City Gallery. Sashiko is a type of traditional sewing technique in parts of Japan. It is created by lines of tiny running stitches through a number of layers of fabric, some of the stitch lines sometimes converge into ornate patterns. The sashiko technique was mainly used to create working clothes for working class people, such as loggers, builders, fishermen etc. The layers of fabric made the garments warm and practical and many examples in the exhibition had been patched several times. The art of sashiko is now dying out in this modern age, so many of the pieces were from early last century, but also there were other examples of modern day sashiko garments created by the designer Tokunaga Miyoko which were absolutely stunning. Heres a picture of a sashiko garment, as they are quite hard to describe with text.

Also in the exhibition was an information panel on the Hari Kuyo Festival. This is a thanksgiving and memorial service for worn sewing needles and pins. It's held in Buddhist temples on 8th Feb every year and holds the belief that both living and inanimate objects have a spirit and soul. As needles are laid to rest in trays of tofu the giver also takes that moment to console themselves by burying secrets too personal to reveal. Even today cloth makers, fashion students and other people regularly using needles and pins take the day off to go to the temple.

....and on that note here's a picture of some new pin cushions I made for the first Running With Scissors workshop. They worked out quite well and what's more they didn't cost a penny being made from recycled tins and scraps of fabric and paper.

Wolf spotted in Sheffield!

2010-02-22T11:04:00.003Z

A rare snow wolf (Mitchus Snowus) has been spotted in Sheffield. Believed to be friendly but should be approached with caution. Experts say he may be around for the remaider of the week.

Project Runway Update

2010-02-14T17:21:00.003Z

I thought it was time to have a bit of an update on Project Runway (for those of you new to the blog its kind of like The Apprentice for fashion designers in the States). The last two challenges have been to design an outfit for the US Olympic team to wear at the opening ceremony and to design an outfit for Brooke Shields character in a drama called 'lipstick jungle' (the garment was also judged by Brooke Shields). The competition is hotting up - I think that Daniel and Blayne are hanging on by a thread and I'm surprised that Stella has managed to hold on as she only makes garments out of leather. On the strong side I think both the black women are good designers with a keen eye, and Keith (who won last week) I think creates some really nice pieces and the guy with the goatee (can't remember his name) seems to be doing OK. This weeks challenge should be great - it's to design an outfit for a drag queen which should be really entertaining - lots of sequins and feathers! - it will be right up Blayne's street if he doesn't try too hard, but I think some of the others will really struggle with the challenge..

Tune in for the next exciting episode

Sky 3 (freeview 11 or 12) Sunday evening 7pm (rounds off the weekend nicely)

Running with Scissors sewing machines

2010-02-14T17:10:00.003Z

I have been meaning to share of photo of the Running With Scissors sewing machines with you all for some time. Finally here is a image of the lovely machines - Janome 525S (recent winner of 'Which' sewing machine Test)

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-14T17:05:00.002Z

Valentine's Day buns (with quality icing) for the love of my life x

Back in the Frame

2010-02-11T15:39:00.006Z

Well - I'm back. I can't believe that I've not posted at all this month. This is all because I have been quite ill and am now recuperating and taking lots of rest as instructed by my G.P. It's been quite a difficult and emotional time but I should be getting back on an even keel now. Apologies if Running With Scissors has not been running as smoothly as normal.

I've been doing little bits of crafting here and there - mainly knitting as I've been stuck on the sofa for a number of days. I've been working on my knitted blanket squares which is an on and off project for the last five years. I'll share some photos with you later. In the meantime here are a few shots of general things now that our broadband has been connected (fingers crossed!)

These are from when we first moved in. As everyone knows after you have moved house the one thing you have lots of is cardboard so I made the noticeboard from some of the boxes and covered it in an old tablecloth which doesn't fit our table, however the colours went perfectly with the room. I also trimmed the lampshade (the trim cost more than the shade - I'm just that kinda gal!). The last picture (or maybe the first picture depending on how the images load up) is the view from the craft room in the snow.

Fortunately I have managed to watch both the Project Runway episodes on the telly since my last post and will have lots to say on a up and coming post.

Heres to a healthy and happy February for all.

Skirts and Chilli Peppers

2010-01-31T18:20:00.000Z

Today has been a perfect day - sun streaming into the craft room, working away on the A-Line skirt whilst singing aloud to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and jigging away on the chair, whilst sewing! Its a good job the house isn't overlooked, and the neighbours may not be partial to some of the song lyrics (but I make them up mostly..)

Once the basic skirt is made I have decided to make it into my Mae West skirt. Is made from cream fine wool fabric (inspired by recent snow) and I'm going to embroider onto it the this quote from Mae West:

"I used to be Snow White, but I drifted."(it works on so many different levels!)

and spiral the text around the skirt with maybe an applique snowflake - what do you think?

Many thanks to all of you wanting to join the mailing list and to all of you booking on the workshops. Its going to be a crafty Sring!

Nearly time for Project Runway (hurrahh). This weeks challenge is .....

One of those satisfying days...

2010-01-29T20:13:00.006Z

Well what a lovely day, it was such a beautiful morning that I took our dog out for a run in the park. It was so fresh and breezy - the kind of weather that brings apples to your cheeks!

I've had a productive morning replying to e-mails and coordinating bookings for the workshops, some of you are quick off the mark - it's great to know that Running With Scissors is putting on the kind of workshops people are interested in doing. I then spent some of the afternoon on the sample skirt for the A-Line skirt workshop which is coming along nicely. And the dog spent some time laying in the sun in the kitchen!

We've just then topped off the evening with a stroll around the block with the dog and to catch sight of the huge moon hanging in the cloudless sky. It looks like a full moon but it might be a new moon too - I'm not sure of the difference.

Maybe a glass of wine to complete the evening....

Looking forward to the Spring

2010-01-26T20:12:00.002Z

Today we have uploaded some of the new workshops ready for booking (but there is more to come). I'll be sending out a newsletter to the mailing list very soon so get your skates on if you interested in any particular session.

Well theres not too much to say about this weeks Project Runway. The dress designs this week were based on photos the designers took of New York at night. I was a bit distracted at the end and I think the painted fabric / puff ball dress design won. Yes it was very 1980's. I'm old enough to remember them the first time around and I'm not intending to recreate any sort of puff ball creation any time soon (a la Pepsi and Shirley - anyone remember them?). The rejected designer's dress wasn't that bad - it was based on a long exposure photo of car tail lights, but I think I would have opted to create the pattern with coloured ribbons rather than ruffles. I did feel a bit sorry for Keith as he put so much effort in and was in the bottom three.

Good news on the broadband issue - we have a date of next Tuesday for activation hurrahhh.... it would be so nice to get some photos on the blog - I need to have lots of pictures!!

The Fashion Essay

2010-01-19T11:31:00.005Z

Hello everyone,

Well the Spring and summer workshop programme is nearly ready I'm hoping to upload all the information this weekend! There will also be a couple of guest tutors giving you the opportunity to try soemthing new and exciting (more information coming soon.....)

I have been avidly watching Project Runway again this weekend (freeview channel 11 or 12, can't quite remember, Sunday evening). The budding designers names make me laugh - Suede, Blayne etc! Anyway I think Suede deserved to win this week with his bias strip dress whcih looked fantastic. I did feel sorry for the girl who did the gold dress with the extra loops on it, I don't think it was that bad really and it was well made, but the judges really slated it!

Some of you may be under the misaprehension that I am a complete fashion victim, which those of you who know me will know is far from the truth. I would hate to be involved in the 'fashion industry' - far too much back stabbing and paper thin shallowness, however you have got to admire the designers who turn out stunning creations every season. We all know that they don't actually make them and other designers then have to take the creations and turn them into something wearable, but watered down for for the high street. I'm more of a fan of uniqueness I think that people should dress the way they wish by making, customising, buying / acquiring vintage, altering, accessorising, wearing old with new or upcycling - generally mixing it up to get a look that you're happy with. Although I slob around in jeans just like everyone else I do feel that its a shame that people don't make more of an effort in general. It seems that having 'style' has becoem a rare comodity these days which is a shame, but don't get the wrong idea - I don't pop out to get a pint of milk in full make up and heels (although I'd like to think I could!)

snowed in

2010-01-11T19:41:00.001Z

Well there is still snow everywhere and I've cocooned myself in our new warm house and keeping busy making stuff. As well as planning the spring / summer programme I have also made a few things including a noticeboard for the craft room, a lampshade (well I put some trimmings on it, if that counts)- and I went a bit mad and bought a load of pieces of antique lace to make a curtain - its currently pinned together and I'm not sure exactly when its going to get sewn up. The craft room is full of projects in progress and I've been in contact with some lovely tutors to run some of the sessions for the new programme ... all will be revealed soon!

I would love to share some photos with you but we are still waiting for the BT man again on Wednesday and then it takes 3 weeks for the broadband to get connected ...arrgghhh

On the plus side after a stressful day yesterday I fell upon Project Runway on one of the TV channels (I'm not a big TV watcher unless it's an Agatha Christie drama but that's a different story)- of course I've heard to Project Runway (kind of The Appentice for American fashion designers) but didn't realise that I could get it on one of the myriad of channels we have (via a just plugged in recycled Freeview box). So I actually got to watch an episode and whats more it was a new series so now I have to work out when the next programme is on. Probably more blogs to come on the subject as I totally missed out on blogging on the Saatchi programme!

Onwards and upwards!

Happy New 2010

2010-01-04T19:42:00.003Z

Hi everyone I'm back - after a busy break and being frustratingly ill, culminating in bringing in the new year with a hot mug of Lemsip. Over the next couple of weeks I'll be organising and planning and you should start seeing the results on the website. We have finished painting the craft room although it needs a massive amount of tidying and I have lots of pictures and products to share with you all when we finally get a broadband connection which works properly (maybe I'll do a week of picture blogs to make up for having no nice images to look at!)

Happy new year to you all - lets hope its a crafty one!

Magic Dongles and Paint

2009-12-22T22:26:00.002Z

It seems so long since I last posted, however I'm still sat on a cardboard box with the keyboard on my lap! The move actually went very well and now we are tackling all the little things that need to be done once you move, as well as get ready for Christmas. Our main issue at the moment is that BT let us down and didn't arrive to connect our land-line despite me staying in all day, now they say they can't come until 5th Jan and then it takes another 3 weeks to get broadband connected - what a nightmare! So in the meantime we have bought a dongle which is a magic USB stick which plugs into the computer and allows you to access the Internet via the mobile phone network (although it is a bit slow and has limited capacity - so no pictures for the blog yet as it may explode). We have been busy decorating the back room which will be my craft room which was the only room in the house that we really couldn't live with (Lawrence Llewellyn - Bowen has a lot to answer for). I took some picture to share with you later and it's taken 3 coats of paint just to get rid of the initial colour, but I have bought some paint in my current favourite colour which is a kind of very light aqua / turquoise which will look fab!

So now the dongle is unencrypted and allows me to access my blog I'm hoping that it has enough power to upload this message!

Move Day

2009-12-10T07:51:00.003Z

Well move day is finally here - its really a sort of organised chaos but I'm sure we'll get through it! Posts will be a bit more erratic for a while as I'll need to go over to my brothers to get Internet access so please bear with us. I will be accessing my e-mails remotely and hopefully every day until we get re-connected but if you need to know any information about the workshops please give me a call.

Next post coming soon....

Busy day number 2

2009-12-05T20:33:00.002Z

Well Julefest went well and it was good to be together with other members of Craft Candy too. Running with Scissors got lots of interest in the workshops, especially the sewing ones, it's always great to get feedback from everyone out there. Santa also popped in and there was dancing around the Christmas Tree.

Back on the home front my craft stuff has rapidly been packed into boxes and I'm sat on a cardboard box writing this blog in a room with no curtains! I have a distinct feeling that tomorrow is going to be (another) busy day!

Busy Day and Good News

2009-12-04T21:17:00.002Z

Had a busy old day today preparing for the Julefest craft fair tomorrow. Running With Scissors has just roped in it's first volunteer (my mum) to help out. I've just spent the last hour cutting up 100 A4 sheets into flyers to promote the up and coming workshops. However the best news of the day is that my new sewing machines are due to arrive in on Monday - hurrah, which is spurring me on to organise the sewing workshops detailed on the website. Guest tutors are also being investigated with the first off the block being Janet Bottomley - a fab patchwork and quilting tutor (more details on Janet's workshop soon). We're also planning to move house (very) soon and my craft stuff (and there's lots of it) is starting to get packed which is a bit disconcerting as I like to have everything around me for maximum inspiration. Looking forward to tomorrow, hopefully I'll see some of you there.

Looking for a new venue.....

2009-12-02T22:03:00.000Z

Running With Scissors is looking for a new venue to either hire on a sessional basis or to rent. Lots of natural light is needed and plenty of plug sockets. Either parking or good bus routes are also important. We are open to suggestions so please drop us an e-mail at info@rwssheffield.co.uk if you know of anywhere which may be suitable - thanks

Julefest

2009-12-02T22:00:00.000Z

This Saturday Running with Scissors will be at Julefest, a Scandinavian themed contemporary craft event at Clifford School on Psalter Lane near Hunters Bar. I will be promoting the up and coming workshops and (if everthing goes to plan…) running a button making ‘Make and Take’ session.

Hope to see you all there.

New Look Blog

2009-12-01T21:03:00.000Z

Here's the new look blog with a sample picture to get started. This is Benny, one the Running with Scissors sock monsters, looking suitably startled at all the new fangled blog.