Photos from the Pop up shop

Hey guys,

The pop up shop for mother's day was so much fun! I hope you came along and visited!

Here's a few pics of my lovely aprons on maniquinns!

I'm well on the way with a new project using recycled fabric and coffee bean bags, pics to follow soon!

Enjoy the summer sunshine!!

Create Place Mother's day Pop Up shop

Hey there,

I've been so busy sewing and making I forgot to Blog. This week I've made around 20 aprons for both the mother's day pop up shop at the create place and for CHGN Aprons fundraiser.

The Mother's day pop up shop is in the heart of bethnal green featuring the very best in local design talent. Everything sold is handmade and some profits go to helping the create place provide services for local groups, children and adults alike.

Please visit here for more info and come along!!!

CHGN ( Community Health Global Network) is an organisation set up by 2 british doctors who have worked all over the world. They recognised the lack of collaboration and partnership in small charities working in some of the poorest countries in the world, and strive to network them together so they work more effectively. Aprons sold through CHGN will help vulnerable communities around the world.

Now, here's for the new designs....

Happy Sewing!!

xxxx

Ethical Craft and Fashion

Last Thursday's "Ethical Fashion in the time of Austerity" event was truely inspirational. It seems the recession has sparked a new generation of creative crafters who have been inspired by traditional skills such as sewing, quilting and dress making.
These creative kids make craft modern and trendy contributing to the massive resurgance of craft business and enterpreneurialship we see today. Homemade goods are now taking over the consumer arena in fashion, decorating, homewares and accessories.

The event last thursday saw this culture taking the lead for ethical goods within the homemade market, inspiring hundreds to use fabric that is ethically produced, to find uses for fabric scrapts and to give life to old clothing through simple sewing techniques. Truely inspirational.

This has got me thinking about Samira Jane Designs. At the moment, this venture is just a string of ideas to help test my new sewing skills. I've been making cushions, aprons, blinds curtains but have accumulated lots of small bits of fabric I would love to transform into a range of items. This could also be done with old clothes, packaging etc.

What this space to see how this idea evolves....

Ethical Fashion Event in Bethnal Green

Hey guys,

there's this great event happening this thursday evening at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green!

Its an event all about ethical fashion and craft with workshops, talks and green styling!

Here's the link to some web pages about it!

http://eastlondoncraftguerrilla.blogspot.com/2011/02/ethical-fashion.html

http://www.vam.ac.uk/moc/whats_on/events/first_thursdays/the_papered_parlour/ethical_fashion_in_the_age_of_austerity/index.html

Hope to see you there


xxx

other apron designs. . . .

Hey guys,

Here are some of the other aprons I've designed. I have a few of each in stock if anyone would like one, they're £15 each

Dotty aprons

Hey guys,

Here is one of my aprons which I've been making for friends as part of my business. The fabric is clarke and clarke.

Where to learn to Sew in London

Many of my friends are getting creative a learning to sew, knit and crochet just now. Here's a selection of tried and tested sewing classes in London to give you some ideas and help you choose!!

I learn to sew at Fashion Antidote based just of Brick Lane in East London. This great school does a fab range of classes particularly focusing on fashion sewing for garment making. They run one day intensive classes to get you started which are fab! As well as classes such as; How to make a Dress, How to make a pair of trousers! They're great on advice for how to start your own fashion business as well.

Also in East London we have the newly opened The Create Place which is a community run venture run by volunteers which teaches crochet, cup cake decorating, card making as well as sewing skills and other crafts. They had a great pop up shop for the last few weeks with a variety of the things they make. Its not for profit as well, so definitely worth a look.

I also have heard through the grape vine that Our Patterned Hand (possibly my favourite fabric shop in London) has started a range of classes.

For knitting, crochet and felt making try fabrications, the lady that usually works in here is so friendly! ( They sell really great wool as well).

Venturing out of East London there is the very fabulous Make Lounge in Islington which runs a full programme of craft activities and classes.Print making, cushions, aprons, knickers and candles ( cute ones in vintage cups). These guys are well established and very experienced. They are great for parties and also stock fabrics.

Then we and the wonderfully fabulous Liberty's, who run fab one off classes at their sewing school.

For the more serious sewers, there are great evening and weekend courses at London School of Fashion. Although more expensive, these courses are comprehensive and will really build your confidence and help you become a very competent sewer.

For sewing, pattern cutting and home furnishings, the Ideas Stores in East London run a huge range of very reasonably priced classes over a period of weeks and are suppose to be really good.


I'm sure their are many more great classes, and feel free to add your comments below, but these are the ones I've heard really great reports about and that I will be recommending to friends.

Happy Sewing!!

xxxx