Making Money from Making: Pricing Down the rabbit hole with Alice Stitch of the month: Bullion stitch Stitching simple leaf forms March Almanac “Eat Me� Savoury Biscuits 1
A Bustle & Sew Publication Copyright Š Bustle & Sew Limited 2014 The right of Helen Dickson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Every effort has been made to ensure that all the information in this book is accurate. However, due to differing conditions, tools and individual skills, the publisher cannot be responsible for any injuries, losses and other damages that may result from the use of the information in this book.
First published 2014 by: Bustle & Sew Coombe Leigh Chillington Kingsbridge Devon TQ7 2LE UK www.bustleandsew.com
2
Hello, and welcome to the March issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine. This month it’s time to put the grey days of winter behind us and welcome the first sunshine of spring. After all, March is the official start of spring and here in Devon there are snowdrops, primroses, daffodils and even some early periwinkles blooming in the hedgerows, the days are growing longer and everything seems brighter and more cheerful. There are plenty of bright and cheerful projects in this month’s issue too … including the beautiful pinkness of Florence the Flamingo, Sweet Home Applique and Rosie Posie Stitchery as well as the second part of my series “Making Money from Making” full of hints and tips for those hoping to make a profit from their creations. Have a lovely March - and I hope there are plenty of signs of spring wherever you may be.
Helen xx Contents The Month of March
Page 4
Making Money from Making
Page 24
Florence Flamingo
Page 5
Sweet Home Picture
Page 29
The work of Anne Anderson
Page 8
Stitching Simple Leaf Forms
Page 33
Rosie Posie Stitchery
Page 11
Three Easy Eco-Totes
Page 37
Down the Rabbit Hole with Alice
Page 16
Stitch of the Month: Bullion Stitch
Page 42
“Eat Me” Savoury Biscuits
Page 20
English Roses Applique
Page 43
Humphrey & Henrietta
Page 21
Templates
Page 47
3
For many birds and animals March is the beginning of their breeding seasons, and the behaviour of one particular animal at this time gives us the saying “mad as a March hare.”
M
arch is often regarded as the first month of spring, but astromonically it bridges the seasons, the first twenty days belonging to winter. In many respects it is a month of preparation and anticipation. For farmers it is the sowing season and in the Christian church the month is dominated by the season of Lent and the approach of Easter. In March the countryside really begins to change colour from drab winter greys and browns to the freshest of greens, whilst the earliest spring flowers - primroses and crocuses, snowdrops and tiny purple violets appear in hedgerows and gardens.
The first of March is St David’s Day - the patron saint of Wales. Little is known about the saint’s life, though it is believed he was the son of a prince or chieftain of Cardigan (a region of Wales) and that he founded several Welsh monasteries in the 6th century AD. Customs associated with St David’s Day include wearing one of the national symbols of Wales - either a leek in the hatband, or a daffodil in the buttonhole.
A hundred years earlier, the possibly Welshborn patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick was captured by pirates and sold into slavery in Ireland. Six years later he escaped and made his way to France where he became March is the first month of Spring. He is Nature’s Old a monk, and later a bishop, before Forester, going through the woods and dotting the trees with returning to Ireland as a missionary green, to mark out the spots where the forest leaves are to be around 432 AD. There are many legends hung. The sun throws a golden glory over the eastern hills, as the village clock from the ivy-covered tower tolls six, gilding surroundng the saint - he is said to have the hands and the figures that were scarcely visible two hours used the three leaves of the Irish later a few weeks ago. The streams now hurry along with a Shamrock to illustrate the doctrine of the rapid motion as if they … were eager to rush along the green Trinity and he is also said to have meadowlands, to tell the flowers it is time to awaken. banished snakes from Ireland. Chambers Book of Days (1864).
4
St Patrick’s Day falls on March 17th and is marked worldwide by people of Irish descent, especially in the USA where parades with floats, marching bands and green(!) beer are an important part of the festivities.
Florence Flamingo Florence has flown in from a much warmer and more exotic place than chilly Devon in March! She’s settled in and is busy making friends with all the other Bustle & Sew softies! Some wiring means Florence is suitable for those with a little existing experience of softie-making.
5
6
M
so on. The illustrations are beautiful - I think they are some of her best with her art nouveau stylised figures and scenes. This was one of a series of books by Nelson that were illustrated by Anne Anderson and all have the same type of cover. The other titles Anne was born in Scotland in 1874, the eldest include The Rosie Posie Book, The Maisie Daisie daughter of Scottish Lowlanders, James and Grace Book, The Gillyflower Garden Book and The Little Anderson. Her father's work had already taken the Busy Bee Book. Andersons to South America before Anne's birth and soon after, the family returned to Argentina where Anne would live until her teenage years. She later married the illustrator Alan Wright, an Englishman, and made her home in Berkshire. They collaborated on many projects - he was best at drawing animals and in the end their work became virtually indistinguishable. y next pattern for you is my own interpretation of a lovely vintage illustration by Anne Anderson taken from “The Rosie Posie Book� originally published in 1917.
The Rosie Posie Book was both written and illustrated by Anne Anderson. It contains 12 full page colour plates together with a number of black and white illustrating the text on the other pages. There are eleven short poems, each with its own colour illustration, that follow the little girl of the book and her sister in the activities that they undertake throughout the day. So there is a verse and illustration for Morning, Dressing, Going to School, Lessons and 7
Rosie Posie Stitchery My own interpretation of a lovely vintage illustration by the early 20th century illustrator, Anne Anderson. Uses French knots, chain stitch, bullion stitch, satin stitch, back stitch and straight stitch. Shown mounted in 7� hoop.
8
Down the Rabbit Hole An extract from “Alice in Wonderland� by Lewis Carroll
A
herself before she found herself falling down a very deep well.
lice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, 'and what is the use of a book,' thought Alice 'without pictures or conversations?' So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.
Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen next. First, she tried to look down and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything; then she looked at the sides of the well, and noticed that they were filled with cupboards and bookshelves; here and there she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She took down a jar from one of the shelves as she passed; it was labelled 'ORANGE MARMALADE', but to her great disappointment it was empty: she did not like to drop the jar for fear of killing somebody, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as she fell past it.
There was nothing so VERY remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so VERY much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, 'Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually TOOK A WATCH OUT OF ITS WAISTCOAT-POCKET, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoatpocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.
'Well!' thought Alice to herself, 'after such a fall as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling down stairs! How brave they'll all think me at home! Why, I wouldn't say anything about it, even if I fell off the top of the house!' (Which was very likely true.) Down, down, down. Would the fall NEVER come to an end! 'I wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?' she said aloud. 'I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think-' (for, you see, Alice had learnt several things of this sort in her lessons in the schoolroom, and though this was not a VERY good opportunity for showing off her knowledge, as there was no one to listen to her, still it was good practice to say it over) '-yes,
In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again. The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping
9
Vintage illustrations by Margaret Tarrant 10
Humphrey & Henrietta Humphrey is a great easy make - perfect for craft sales or for beginners to practise their skills. And now … introducing his sister Henrietta - based on Humphrey’s template with quite a few tweaks! - and appliqued onto two 16” cushion covers.
11
Making Money from Making It’s wonderful when you discover that it’s actually possible to earn some money by doing something you love - like sewing! Over the next few issues I’m offering you some hints and tips on successfully selling the items you love to make …
A
set your prices too low and not make a profit, but at the same time you don't want to set your prices too high and effectively price yourself out of the market. Some crafters sell their products very cheaply this may be because they're simply making a little money from their hobby - or they don't have any idea how to go about pricing their work. Don't be tempted to reduce your prices to compete with these crafters, So, as the bazaar, fete and fair season remember that you want to pay yourself a approaches, and crafters begin to think fair wage for all your hard work. about product lines for the summer, if you're considering starting selling your Making for business purposes is very makes, or even if you already do so, I different to making as a hobby. Your thought you might enjoy my tips for a creations may well have been admired by creating or perhaps growing your own family and friends, and perhaps you've successful hobby-based enterprise. This made a few for sale - and been very month we’re looking at possibly the most pleasantly surprised by the feedback you've received. But if you're serious about difficult issue of all - costs and pricing. making money from making then it's Pricing your creations correctly is important that you begin to think like a absolutely vital. If you're making to sell as businessperson and work out three a business proposition you can't afford to s you probably know, I'm more than happy for you, as an individual stitcher and craftsperson, to use my patterns to make items for sale, as long as you credit Bustle & Sew with the design. After all, I don't make items for sale myself, and so it's lovely to think that others are using my patterns to bring pleasure to others.
12
Wonder if she’s making money from making?
13
Sweet Home Picture These two little bluebirds have found the perfect home to bring up their family this spring, a cute little birdhouse perched among the cherry blossoms. Would make a perfect gift if you know someone who’s just found their perfect nest - or make for your own home instead? Shown mounted on an A3 board. (approx 12” x 16”)
14
In March we begin to look for the earliest signs of trees coming into leaf - those tiny green buds that will soon swell and open into leaves of the brightest possible green. So I thought this month would be a nice time to enjoy a chapter from a vintage book “The Embroidery Book” by Winifred M Clarke. The words are hers …. It is a very good idea to devote a sampler entirely to leaf forms as it will then always be near at hand for reference; so do not look upon any sampler work as a waste of time. Take a simple leaf form first and see how many methods can be used to make the same shape interesting. In the example overleaf there are fourteen different methods of working the same leaf form and well-known, simple stitches are used for each one. Read the description carefully before beginning work on your sampler. The stitches used are as follows: 1. Stem stitch. 2. Stem stitch. 3. Chain Stitch. 4. Chain Stitch for outline and mid-vein. French knots added in a lighter shade of green.
15
5. Satin stitch, beginning at the lower right hand side of the leaf. Slant the stitches nicely so that the tip of the leaf is dainty and well formed. Continue down the left hand side of the leaf. The needle point must come up almost on the centre vein all through the working of the leaf. With another shade of green, work the leaf stalk and centre vein in stem stitch. Keep the stitches small, and see that the direction is pleasing. 6. Buttonhole stitch is used here, and again the direction of each stitch must be considered with care (This method would not be suitable for a large leaf, as it would not be practical unless the surface was divided up.) Add the leaf stalk and mid-vein in another shade of green, using back stitch. 7. Buttonhole stitch is used again here
16
Three Easy Eco-totes Doing your bit for the environment is fun with these three cute tote bags. Simple to make, but definitely not ordinary with the addition of your choice of three easy designs to applique to the front of your bag.
17
Freestyle Machine Applique Tutorial All the designs for these tote bags use the freestyle machine applique technique. If you’re at all unsure how to go about this or need to brush up your technique, then please do take a look at my free online tutorial: Download from the link below http://bustleandsew.com/freepatterns/CircusLionMachineAppliqueTutorial.pdf
18
English Roses Applique Who doesn’t love big blowsy English garden roses? I know I do and this applique will remind you of them all year round. Shown mounted on a 16” canvas block.
19
20
21