I have a Toyota 2260 sewing machine and the tension has gone on it. Try as I might, I cannot get it to sew at the right tension (its too tight, I think, can see the bottom thread on the top). Is this fixable? Is it worth taking to a repairman to get fixed or should I just spend the [repair] money on a new machine?

I have pulled it apart and cleaned it out completely but still no correct tension. It does sew (although on thin fabric it also snaps the top thread) but I need it to sew properly.

Any advice please!

Over the past two Sundays, I did the Intro to Metal Clay workshop at CityLit. Its a lot of fun. I can't quite say this is my first attempt at metal clay, that was two years ago when I made my only (pearl) pendant, but this is the first time since. Sorry about the rubbish pics, being fine (999) silver, and somewhat burnished, it does not want to photograph well (with or without flash). So I give you two days worth of messing about with metal clay:


This shows the silver colour as best as possible. The two completed projects.


I made this brooch first, it too nearly a day and a half. I made a crow template based on an old drawing, textured the clay and then cut out. Not that you can tell, but the birds I left with a "satin" finished and the bar is burnished to a high shine. Its going to be a Christmas pressie for my aunt (yes, I am thinking about that already).


This pendant took half a day, the bird (wren style) and bale are textured and left satin finish. The trapezoid is burnished. As you can see from the close ups, my camera did not want to play ball with the colours...I tried to get rid of the yellow as much as possible but to no avail.

I can't possibly describe how much fun I had at the workshop. I thoroughly recommend metal clay for anyone who is interesting in making unique jewellery. As always, comments and feedback most appreciated.

Happy viewing and happy crafting!

Hello all, me again. This week's sewing project was to recover some cushions for folding chairs I bought last weekend.

I should explain, my brother is getting married in June in England and as such my house will be invaded by my Australian family for the weeks surrounding the Big Day. Unfortunately, being England, I can only afford a miniscule two-up two-down, which is just about big enough for me, my books, my art supplies and all my sewing equipment. I do have two (double) sofa beds but not nearly enough chairs for 5 adults to sit on (while I'm happy to sit on the floor, I can't expect my dad or aunts/uncles to).

So in desperation, and due to a severe lack of space, I purchased two folding chairs for the sojourn[www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/64833108], which of course needed some cushions to cover them. Unfortunately the ones from Ikea are somewhat....insipid [www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90069698]... comfy, but insipid. Luckily the fabric from Ikea is not and this is what I came up with:


The fabric is Saralisa. The pattern is my own. Basically, I just measured the cushion, drew a rectangle to size, cut out the corners and added some tabs and snaps. Voila!


What I didn't do, whilst cutting away in my own little dream world, was to think the pattern needs to be horizontal when finished! Oh well, the cushions are for me and if I don't care....


This is the offending bit I didn't think about. I wanted to use the fold to have a seamless front, I should have ironed the fabric cut-to-cut edge rather than selvedge-to-selvedge. Let this be a lesson to you all...remember the pattern when cutting!


The cushions came with velcro ties, but I didn't like them, so I made my own and just attach the free end with a black 20mm snap. Although the back has an "envelope" opening, I also added three 13mm black snaps to make sure it stayed closed.


So here they are all folded away and ready to hang on the wall (space saving) until they are needed.

Hope you like them as much as I. Comments/feedback always appreciated!
Happy crafting
 

Hi all you lovely craftsters. Its been a while since I have posted anything I made so here are a couple of bags I have made this year (only two...slack, I know).

The first I call my "Tote of Appreciation". Its for my friend who is always there when I need her and I wanted to surprise her with a token of how much her friendship means to me. Without further ado, I give you....


Its Vogue Accessories 8506, pattern B. The outside fabric is by Sykel Enterprises. I bought it in a store in the fabric street in Philadelpia. Some people come back from travelling with mugs. I come back with fabric.


Detail of button (non-functional), purchased in Spotlight in Melbourne.


Detail of the outside pocket. The lining fabric is Makower #759 that I bought in London (truly an international bag).


Detail of inside with pocket and magnetic fasteners. I think the pattern got the fasteners wrong when they said to sew the tabs magnetic side to the fabric as you have to flip both over when fastening (so they look like an M when joined). But they are Vogue and should know what they are doing.


Size guide. That is an A4 plastic pocket book so you can see its quite a roomy tote. I hope my friend likes it. She loves purple but I hope the flower pattern is not too chintzy for her. If not, I'll have it. I have enough of the purple fabric to make myself a purse or large wallet.

This is the other bag I made much earlier this year. It was for the Big Bang Theory Swap and is what I like to call the Doppler Zebra bag of fun.


Its New Look 6574 pattern B. The outside fabric is Michael Miller Clown Stripe in Black (pattern CX-3584) and the inside (which are not so obvious) is Michael Miller Mod Geo in Palm Beach Green (pattern CX-3933). The handles loop over each other to close. Its a cute little bag, I might make one for myself as well.

I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I did making them
Happy Crafting

I have been having lots of fun with my Langton 300gsm postcard pad and would like to share with you a selection of my artistic endeavours.

These are all watercolour (or at least my attempt with watercolours) studies using my sketchbook as reference.
The first is a view of the St Ives harbour:


A view of the Thames Barrier from the DLR:


A view of the bend in the Thames from Greenwich Pier:


These ones are mixed media - a combination of ink, oil pastels, spray paint and puffy paint.
This is based on a photograph of a valley:


This is based on a photo of Port Arlington:


This one is based on a photo of cliffs in Cornwall:


They have all been sent into the wide world...I like to test the various postal services ability to keep art cards in tact! Though I can never quite remember who has which one....

I hope you all enjoy viewing them as much as I did making them.
Happy Crafting
 

Its been a while since I have properly posted, but I have been quietly making things. A couple of which were these totes. The pattern is New Look #6574, and the fabrics are Alexander Henry (on the outside).

This one I made for an angel package (long received so I am safe to post now). It makes me laugh


and detail of fabric:


This one was a friend's birthday pressie. I love the retro feel to the pattern



The totes were so easy to make, and surprisingly roomy as they were the smaller size. I hope you craftsters like looking at them as much as I liked making them. All comments and feedback most welcome
.
Happy viewing and happy crafting
 

We have senders! Show your goodies when you receive them!

Link to original thread: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=291130.0

[Details of swap:]

Link to Gallery: http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=292062.0

Swap name: Postcard Swap Round 7
Craftster member who is organizing this swap: PlumCrafty
Sign-up date range: February 7 - February 21, 2009
Date to send item by: March 7, 2009
Limited to a certain number of people? (optional): 24

Restricted to people who all live in the same country? NO
If so, which country?

Swap Organizer herself meets these conditions:
- Has fully read the Swap Info Guide: YES
- Has successfully completed two swaps as a participant: YES
- Is not organizing more than three swaps right now: YES
- Will recruit a co-organizer or give all details to a Swap Moderator if this swap has more than 25 participants: YES

Swap Organizer will check each participant to make sure they meet these conditions:
- Has been a member for at least one month: YES
- Has posted at least 15 times: YES
- Has completed one swap successfully before signing up for multiple swaps at a time: YES
- Is not currently signed up for more than five swaps: YES
- Does not have any negative feedback: YES


Details of swap:
This is a quick and simple swap to enjoy. You be placed into groups of four participants and will be sending one postcards to each of the members of your group, and in turn, recieve one postcard from each member of your group. Postcards may be store bought or homemade. If you have a postcard collection, or would like a simple but fun swap to sign up for, then this is the swap for you.

I will try to match people with their preferences as best as I can.



If you want to participate, information to send to organizer
QUESTIONNAIRE TO ANSWER:
Name of swap:
Craftster username:
Email address:
Your real name:
Mailing address including the country:
Would you be willing to ship to an address outside your own country?:
Confirm that are at least 13 years old (yes/no):

What kind of cards do you collect (if any)?
Is there anything you really like (e.g. landscapes, people, vintage etc. ) that you would like to receive?
What are your dislikes for postcards?
What are your favorite colors?
Would you like to receive a homemade or a store bought postcard?
Would you like to send a homemade or a store bought postcard?
Any other info your partner may like to know?

IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE, REMEMBER TO SEND YOUR INFO TO ORGANIZER VIA PRIVATE MESSAGE AND NOT TO REPLY WITH IT HERE.

Also remember to read the Swap Info Guide to find out how to ship your item and other details about participating in a swap. NOTE: DCs are not required for this swap, however any postcards declared missing will be required to be resent.

Does anyone else out there think its time for another postcard swap?

It would be like the last one where we would be organised into groups of 4-6 (depending on participants) and sending each group member a card?

I was thinking of signups in the next week or two. How about it? Anyone hankering after some mail-joy like me?

I love stencilling, and I don't know why I don't do it more often. When Christmas came around, it was a great opportunity to dust off the freezer paper and get out the dyes for some fun and inexpensive pressies. This is what I came up with...

For my young female cousin (the stencil was based on a stock library image)...


For my young male cousin (I had to combine 3 separate DVD covers to make this stencil)...


These stencils I made adult size (for male cousins) and also onesie size. The tape was a free to use one from the internet, the darlek was a photo manipulated in illustrator...




I am so sad that Woolies has gone into receivership, they were great for picking up cheap onesies to destroy....


What do you all think? Any comments/feedback is most appreciated.

Happy viewing, happy crafting and happy new year!