Craftsy, an amazing online learning and pattern and supplies platform

What is Craftsy?
Craftsy is a worldwide craft community offering online classes. It also has a patterns marketplace where independent designers can sell their patterns; a supplies shop with great deals on yarn, fabric, and class kits; and a projects section where members share pictures of their latest craft successes.


Behind the Scenes: The Making of a Craftsy Class
Before filming even begins, hours and hours are spent determining what content will be covered in each class, and how to best teach specific techniques to the camera. Instructors work with an instructional designer to create an in-depth outline of each lesson, and decide how to best prepare props or “step-outs” that show what your project should like at different steps. Instead of a scripted class, instructors follow their outlines on camera to create an authentic and engaging teaching experience.




Most Craftsy classes are filmed in one of five Craftsy studios in Denver, CO, assuring that every part of the production process goes off without a hitch. They fly in instructors from all over the world to spend several days filming, then spend several weeks turning hours of footage into a two to three hour class experience that has been watched, rewatched, and reviewed by industry experts. The final result is an HD-quality video that takes you in-depth into specific topics in any given craft category- from cooking and fine art to sewing and knitting.

hat IS the Craftsy experience?
Craftsy classes are designed to have all the benefits of an in-person class, with none of the drawbacks. Available online and on-demand, you always have world-class instructors at the tip of your fingers. You can retake the class as many times as you want, and the 30-second repeat feature allows you to watch the same section over and over again until you get every technique just right.

Watching a Craftsy class is like having a first-row seat with some of the best instructors in the world. Even better, classes have a 100% money-back guarantee.

Try online learning today with a free mini-class from Craftsy! Choose from 23 Free Craftsy Classes ranging from drawing and painting to sewing and quilting, from knitting to cake decorating and more.




Visit Craftsy today!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Cork Street,London,United Kingdom

Mammoth quilts!

I have been working on a quilt commission for the last 6 weeks or so- not solidly, but interspersed with Open University reading, other sewing, teaching and of course, looking after my boys and myself!

Anyway I have finished it now and it is winding its way to Taunton as we speak to then be given to one very special lady for her birthday.

Here it is:













This quilt was ordered from my Etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/handmadebycheeky), with the main wish of the buyer that it should be colourful. I think I managed that don't you?

I have now started working on the indigo quilt again. It got sidelined as I got a bit disheartened about hand quilting it all. It was so gorgeous but so time consuming. I have now decided if I want to finish it this decade I have to compromise and machine quilt it. So I'm falling in love with this handsome quilt all over again!





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Thorpe Crescent,Walthamstow,United Kingdom

Book review:Scrap house quilt

I had been meaning to buy this book for ages, having somewhere seen a picture of the finished quilt. But I must say the formula put me off a bit. It is available either as a download or a CD rom. I like a paper book to be totally honest, if I am spending money. I have too many virtual books and I never look at them,  and a CD rom would only get lost in my huge pile of (real) craft books. So I never bought it. I did however try my hand at making a block for this quilt, which looked fab and it inspired me to try and have a go at making a whole quilt based around houses and trees. But frankly I never would have done as I have never made flying geese blocks or pinwheel blocks and to gather all the info from all my different books meant I would have had this on my to do lost until I retired. At least.

So when I was offered the chance to review one of Vivebooks I jumped at it. They have just released a gorgeous looking modern smocking book, in fact there are two, and I think they hoped I would review that but I was way too drawn to the Scrap house quilt book to not go for that.

It was a right faff (for me, being impatient as I am) to download this ebook. I didn't read the instructions, of course not, I just pressed the button and when it appeared not to do anything I pressed it again. And again until I had used up all my downloads. I emailed the editor who urged me to wait. The ebook has videos embedded in it and it is a big file. It just takes time. I grumbled and left the computer to it. I don't like waiting! Anyway eventually it did download, but then I found I could not watch the videos. I tried everything, downloaded Adobe reader again, restarted the computer, still nothing. Poor Vivienne from Vivebooks got another, well more than one, email from me. She was trying to have a holiday too, bad me. Eventually we figured my macbook was automatically opening it as a straight up PDF in its own reader, which wouldn't display the links. I have never before had to open anything in the actual reader application before, but once I did it worked fine. If I had read the download instructions I am sure it would have been easier although I doubt I would have worked out to open the actual app. Luckily Vivienne was very helpful. She explained that having videos embedded in the ebook is really pushing the boundaries and of course Apple are not great at co-operating with third party software hence my macbooks refusal to read the file properly.

Anyway. Long winded I know but I hope that means when you buy some books from their website (https://www.vivebooks.com/shop/scrap-house-quilt/) you will not have the same issues.

I am super glad I persevered though as the book is amazing and so much more than just any old quilting book. It teaches you lots of different techniques and having someone show you in a video how to make up a flying geese block is invaluable. A lot of people learn by being shown rather than reading it in words so this would really help all those people. Katharine, the writer/ teacher is amazing, I love the blocks and the freedom she gives you to just experiment and have a go, exactly the way I like teaching people. The only thing I did not like was the fabrics used but that is just me, and I am making mine in fun, bright, modern prints. I like that you don't set out with a plan, you just add blocks as you go, I love working like that.

All in all a giant thumbs up to this book, this format and this wonderful little publisher for bringing this innovative format to the world. Check em out, they don't just have books about sewing but all kinds of (mostly) crafty books.

https://www.vivebooks.com/shop/scrap-house-quilt/

Some pictures of what I have been up to this summer

The adorable Theo


Fab charity shop find...


Great photoshoot


Hanging out with Superman


Made a quilt from vintage sheets and a gorgeous embroidered table cloth.



Helped Max make stuff



Went to Minnie's pirate birthday party


What a scorchio day!


Minnie and Max. Made Minnie's dress with redound skill or shirring



Made with Moxie Prefontayne shorts.



Was given a beautiful Singer 201



Went to Womad



Hung out with Max



Watched the Gorillas rehearse



Ate cake with Francesca



Hung out with Batman



...and Louise and Vicky at the Soul Picnic



Finished my Sexy Librarian Blouse as per Craftsy class



Jasper remaining calm despite Theo chewing his ears off



Saw Jake and Dinos Chapman at the Tate. Fab subversive protest against McDonalds!



Went to Liberty's! And drooled






Made this quilt for Sarah






Made crazy silver coullotes for myself!



Went to the Pathology museum


Love St Paul's!!


Started my gypsy quilt finally



Ran a craft session at creative biscuit cafe






Camped with Leo and the kids



Bought some VERY exciting patterns




And welcomed my kids back

And still I had more things on my list!!



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Vogue 2902 dress

I spent some time this week making some clothes for me. Really enjoying myself! First I made this vintage inspired Vogue dress. I would not normally wear something this girlie and dressy but I have some weddings to go to soon... However I could not resist blinging it up with some neon ribbon and I think I am going to wear it with some low pink converse after spending hours and hours debating sandals and strappy shoes. I don't do heels or even "shoes" really. Did consider DMs too..!

Anyway sewing. This was SO easy to put together. I graded the pattern to slightly spread out in the waist (I don't have a natural waist LOL) and yet it still looks fitted. No other adjustments needed at all, no FBA, nothing. I ended stitching the band to the dress with fluro pink stitching after realising hand stitching it was gonna take forever. And it looks very cute like that. I made it out of some nasty material from the market (£1/ meter!!!) and it just works so well. Very pleased. Will make it again in some nice cotton, maybe my new bambi fabric from Dekker in Holland...

I also finished and wore my foxy Librarian Blouse from the great Craftsy class I did. I love it. I learned some great stuff in the class too, and the teacher is amazing. I left off the sleeves in the end as they made me look like a rugby player (too may pleats in the sleeve, not the fault of the pattern but the way I set it in and I couldn't be bothered to redo it. Lazy me. Sorry for the rubbish iPhone pics, this week I am not bothering to do anything properly apart from sew and sleep!

Only two days before the troops come home. I had grand plans of also sewing a coat and a pair of shorts. I did almost finish the fabbest pair of culottes, more when they are done. They are silver denim with pink and red accents. Yay. I found this great lady on Craftsy selling really cheap patterns in your own size. This was a kids pattern but it spoke to me and she happily sent me it in my own size. She has literally hundreds of patterns in her shop. The instructions you get with it are basic but I found with some experience I could follow them easily. She is at http://www.lekala.co and also sells on Craftsy.

Here is a pic of all the patterns I thought I might make this week. I also haven't yet painted my stairs, put my clean washing away, gone to the gym but I am off to the Tate shortly to see Caulfield and Hume whom I both adore and off to the pathology museum tomorrow so I am getting my culture in, and then drinkies Friday and dancing Saturday so I have had a full week of fun, sewing and being totally alone and selfish!

Oh and some cat pics too... he really helped (not) my sewing!