Next up will be "Heathenry - you CAN take it with you!" (the stencil's still drying )

Did another test piece and standard PhotoEZ can hold a lot more detail than my first peice - this is the same face, higher detail, on navy tee  material

Well, my kit is here and I've got a couple of test pieces in porcess right now. I'm doing one basic shape - my heathen peddler - and one halftone face. Good fun just have to wait and see what happens now

*edit*
Well they washed out perfectly, the halftone could easily have been higher detail. Here's the pics...




Both of these are only an inch and a half test pieces btw...

Tried out my new tees got them from ebay, they are nice quality and dark blue in colour. Shame I could only get the medium, the guy bought a load in and I got the last lot.

Anyway, here they are!



And



What do you think?

And I've only just got my machine...

It's like this: I joined a discount scheme on a pagan forum, offering a discount to their members at my shop. I've been posting on there about my tshirts as well Tonight I got a phone call from my contact on the forum saying they had been contacted by a company who are making a program on pagans in the UK. It's to be a pilot hopefully with a series to follow.

And they wanted to know if the forum owners could find them someone to make robes and wands for the show, between 10 and 15 of each. My contact at the forum is determined to get the contract to go to a new trader rather than a big established firm. And rang me first

So now I have to cost up these robes, and decide on the design, fabric etc.

Well, they want something shiny so it reflects well on film and they want it in green or purple, preferably green.

So I've found a cheap supplier of fabric and decided on a design, a Dark Ages kyrtle. It's a simple design, easy to make (hopefully) and good on material usage. I've decided to make a trial run in child size for my daughter to give me an idea of how it'll go.



That's the design

So... question time!

The material is crepe-backed satin in green and a gold lining material. How exactly do you put the lining in? I presume you make it to the same pattern (it'll be fully lined) but is there a best way to attatch it?

The pattern I have has a keyhole neck (I think - it's a circle with a slit at the front) and has a contrast facing all the way round. How do you do this?

Bet you think I'm totally bonkers don't you But if I can get this and do a good job it'll be a huge boost to my fledgeling business so I really have to try. The good news is my sister, who has a lot more sewing experience than me, is going to be helping out

This is my first machine I've used my sisters old Singer previously but only a couple of times so this is all still really new. My partners mother gave me it, she bought a new one some years ago and this one's been sitting in the cupboard ever since.

It's got the hemming foot and zipper foot, neither of which I've used before so that'll be an experience!

There's another one I tried it on my old long-sleeved rollneck.

I was so inspired by the posts on the Tree of Life pendants I had seen on here made from the tut at http://www.beadstudio.com/info.php?a=613 that I bought some silver-plated copper wire from ebay to see if I could do them. Well, this is the first attempt! I tried an oval shape as opposed to the round - it's the shape of the handle on my 4lb club hammer - and twisted the wire to give me three roots, the number attributed to Yggdrasil, the Norse World-tree. I think I'll use more wires next time so I can have more branches but I'm really pleased with how this first one came out

The pic was done with my phone cam and is a little short on detail but it gives you the idea



*edit - that really isn't a very good pic is it? I'll try and get some better ones tomorrow *

This is my new toy err, sewing machine It's a Crown Point - that's about all I know about it though. My partners mum gave me it, she bought herself an all-singing/dancing new one a few years back and this one's been sat in a cupboard ever since. Unfortunately she'd lent it out to someone and they'd lost the manual but I think I've got it pretty much sussed as far as the basics go - I've managed to sew up a fleece hat with it that looks quite reasonable

Anyone heard of these machines? I've what appears to be a hemming foot which I don't have a clue how to use and something else that just looks like a c-shaped foot, no idea what that one is I'll get some pics of the feet tomorrow

All in all though I'm over the moon! My first sewing machine. Now how can I make money to buy meself a fabric stash?  

You'll have to imagine the darker one is a sparkly purple - I think the leather was old stock from the Doc Martens factory. It's pink suede inside, as seen on the reversed pic

It worked out a bit small for me but then, it ain't really my colour