Brighton Festival - Embroidered Tattoo Parlour at Beyond Retro

We popped along to the Embroidered Tattoo Parlour at Beyond Retro today.

The event was run by machine embroiderer Jenny King who creates beautiful pieces of embroidery on her selection of 1950's machines.

We bought a nautical headscarf for a couple of quid and flicked through the book of flash to choose our design.

We went for one of Chris's favourite pieces of Sailor Jerry flash and watched as the machinist transformed the scarf into this...

We're going to frame it and hang it on the wall.

Flashback Friday - Jacob and Ruby Learning to Sew

Whilst scrolling through iPhoto looking for some Flashback Friday inspiration I came across these pictures of Jacob and Ruby learning to sew.

Jacob must have been about four and a bit here when he sewed a M for Marmalade cover.

He spent ages working away on it. Check out his chubby hands and cheeks! they've gone now that he is seven.

Ruby was a lot younger when she started sewing, I am guessing that she is just under three in these photo's. Look at that hair and concentration on her face. So cute :)

I remember learning to sew on Binca at primary school. When did you learn to sew?

Golden Hands

About 18 months ago Chris spotted an advert for a set of 1970's Golden Hands Craft magazines on Freecycle but when he contacted the lady she said that someone else had beaten him to it. Luckily for me, she contacted us a few days later to say that the person didn't show to collect them and did we still want them. It turned out that she lives on the next road over from us. I very excitedly popped round the next day and picked them up. Carole, the lady, explained that she was having a big clear out of her Mum's sewing things that she could no longer use and would I be interesting in taking a look before she advertised future lots. Er, yes please! So over the last few months Carole has been phoning me whenever she has a bag of sewing swag for me. Each time it has been like Christmas and I have been very lucky to receive bags of binding, cottons, fabrics and squeaky toy things. I've so far made a dress using some of the fabric and the bindings have come in very handy making dresses for Ruby (more on those another day).

I often spend hours looking through these magazines and have found them really inspiring. I haven't done any needlework since I was little but armed with a bag of threads and wools from Carole I made a tall ship cushion for Chris (he is a bit obsessed with them) for Christmas. If I did it again there would be lots of bits I would do differently but I am very chuffed with my first attempt. 

Can you spot the bit I missed? I really must get round to finishing it off for him.