A Week of Small Sewing and Super Service!

It's been another week of mainly small projects: sewing on DD1's collectors badge to her Brownie sash, taking up four pairs of school trousers.....but also enjoying making these items!

This first card was made for Avril as part of the BQL postcard swap.  She'd asked for beach / people / boats.  I failed on the boats, but was happy with this - a water colour picture put through a colour filter, printed onto a non-woven fabric, then stitched with outlines and fillers enough to enhance the scene.  I'd thought that I'd be using my (current favourite) perle threads, but they would have been too heavy, so I used ordinary weight sewing threads instead - there are six different threads used that all have colour variation along them.

This second card is another BQL PC swap card - this time with a flower theme.  I used paper that already included flower petals and stitched around them.  I think that if my brain had been sufficiently engaged I would have chosen a looser zig-zag edging than usual, as I'm a bit worried that so many holes perforating the edge might cause the paper to lift away whilst in transit.  I added two sides of machine pattern (where I just about had room) to try and prevent postal damage, but another time I might remember to put a layer of something sheer over the whole thing, or iron the paper onto lightweight interfacing.

My other little sewing was this little message bot.  Jodie Carleton (RicRac) put a tutorial and pattern up for free on her blog.  Isn't it great? 

Yes, I do realise that my message bot is currently missing a message, but I only made this last night, and getting down my message tags would cause clattering and probably wake up at least one of my DD's, so my best chance of finishing this blog post is to just keep quiet until I want them to wake up in about twenty minutes!

That concludes the small sewing, so what's the super service that I've had this week?

First of all the lovely Keira from Kikis Craft Corner emailed me to point out a slight error in the thread order that she'd sent out to me.  I hadn't noticed it (ahem, is that the sign of someone who was ordering more threads than she could use at the moment?  possibly!) - but as well as putting the order right, she sent me a lovely packet of Clover embroidery needles!  Thank you Keira!  I can also tell you that the threads  - hand dyed in South Africa - are absolutely lovely, and Keira's online service very fast.  I know that I'll be shopping with her again.

The second super service was again someone who processes orders quickly and well - and this time sorted out an error of mine.  I send my blunt (used) rotary cutter blades to Lawrence of Sheba Blades (and Rio Designs).  His prices for sharpening are very reasonable and, again, I always get very quick service.  This time, though, I sent the blades and the money but.......actually I'd sent three blades, and only the money for two.  The charming Lawrence sent me all three blades back, with a note waiving the payment for the third.  What a gent!  I shall, of course, be making good my error, but I'm really pleased to have the blades back so quickly still rather than a protracted exchange!  Thank you Lawrence!
Just a month to Christmas Eve - I hope that you are managing some pre-Christmas crafting  - and also enjoying good service from your craft providers too!