Wednesday 29 June 2011


WOYWW WEDNESDAY - 108

Those of a nervous disposition may want to look away now. WARNING: Julia is basking under a foreign sun and has asked me, her partner-in-crime, Lunch Lady Jan, to be guest blogger!! At this point, I'll completely understand if you shriek in horror; after all, you've logged on, expecting to read the genius that is Julia Dunnit, only to be presented with an interloper. Let me tell you, that's NOTHING to how scared I'm feeling. So, with fingers trembling and knees knocking, here are the ramblings of a Virgin Blogger.........

Until a year ago, I thought I couldn't sew. Bad experiences in homecraft in school included taking a year to make an A line skirt, taking the zip out 8 times...... But, I've always loved, loved, loved fabric. John Lewis' Haberdashery dept, mmmmmmmm. So, I saw a cheap sewing machine online, bought some DIY sewing books and plunged in. I've learned A LOT since then, and while I would never aspire to the heights of Wipso and Twiglet, have produced some ok items that have actually sold for some wonga. No-one was more amazed at this than yours truly. So here, for the first time, is my WOYWW.

This is all stuff I am making for some craft fairs that are coming up soon. I like Cath Kidston fabrics, but not the price, so I look out for lookalike prints. My favourite shop is Fabricland, a chain of stores in the South. I have to limit myself in there, cos there is some LUSH stuff :P
I try to match co-ordinating materials for the apron strings/pockets.


These are my doorstops - I made the pattern/measurements. They're also quite useful as stress relievers :)

This is my workdesk in our spare bedroom. It's great because I can leave everything out and shut the door on the mess! The blue drawers at the back are supposed to be Man Drawers for screws etc, but mine is filled with bobbins, thread, buttons, ribbon and the like. The thing that looks like a skew-whiff ruler is an item made for me by Mr Dunnit that enables me to make my own bias binding - oo, get her, missus! There's a tissue box cover in progress.

This here is Harvey the Rabbit, won in a raffle by my 15 year old son, who won't let me get rid of it!

And finally, this is part of my stash laid out on the bed. Now, I know this looks a bit OCD, but I find that it's the perfect set up for immediately seeing if a contrast colour is right or not. I'm the sort of person who lined up her pencil crayons by colour in the box....ok, that does sound sad....!! So you can see that I have a fetish for colour and can completely understand how you cardmakers, scrapbookers et al get attached to your stash. I made bunting out of that line of spotty materials on the right, which now festoons herself's hallway.

I hope that you've enjoyed this quick tour round my workdesk - Julia sure is a hard act to follow! We have been friends for nearly three years now, ever since Miss Dunnit and my son, the Big O, were mates at secondary school. She is a truly wonderful person, funny, warm and supportive; she can make me laugh until there is snot (see crochet 'elephant'). We snigger a lot - usually at the daftest of things. Our husbands are very patient.......

Thank you, Julia, for being a bonza mate xxxx

89 comments:

voodoo vixen said...

Way to go!! You did a sterling job as stand in blogger - must have nerves of steel! Love the rows of material... I have material squares envy!!

Helen said...

Welcome, Lunch Lady Jan! Your sewing room looks very impressive and makes a fine stand in desk this week! I can't sew for toffee - but love your fabric layout!

Ohhh Snap said...

You've done a fabulous job standing in :D. Your sewing is beautiful, but honestly I'm so glad I wasn't drinking anything when I read about the snot see crochet elephant lol. Thanks for standing in!

peggy aplSEEDS said...

so pleased to meet you! good job with your blog post! the fabrics you've chosen for your projects are wonderful! i love the colors!

A Hovel to Home said...

Actually the sight of a tidy desk is very scary when I'm used to seeing Julia's!!

Welcome, your sewing room looks fab and the makes are very yummy.

Hugs
Kay

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Well lunch lady Jan, good on you for taking up the challenge presented by our noble Julia has been very interesting little perusal of your domain! thanks so much for sharing and a very happy WOYWW to you - you know now you will have to start you own blog so you can join our weekly craziness, thanks heaps,
Shaz in oz.x

Dragon said...

I reckon the Dunnit woman gave you lessons!!! Thanks ofor standing in
Frankie
xx

RosA said...

Hello, Lunch Lady Jan. You've done a sterling job, filling in for Mrs D. You're not alone when it comes to lining up the colours either! Love your door stopper cum stress reliever. I too love, love, love colour, whether it is paper, pencils or fabric!

HeARTworks said...

Hi Jan, how wonderful to meet a friend of Julia's! Your projects are great and the fabrics you chose are just my type!

shazsilverwolf said...

Early ( for me ) bird again this week, back later to visit. Hello & welcome, Lunch Lady Jan.

Morti said...

Yay - we get to me LLJan properly! For a virgin blogger you've done really well and methinks this is the first step into a wider world. Heheheheh. Love the door stop stress relievers - the mind boggles...

Sue from Oregon said...

Welcome Lunch Lady Jan! Fabric addiction can be as serious and expensive as papercraft addiction. Good thing you are two peas in a pod! Wonderful workstation!

Sue said...

Hi Jan
lovely to meet you, i hope you will be joining us every week now???
I can't use a sewing machine they hate me, even my little craft one! lol, gorgeous makes you have there, luv all the material, can understand that addiction, happy WOYWW, sue,x

Kath Stewart said...

lovely to meet you jan...you are doing a grand job as guest blogger and loving all your fabric makes...hugs kath xxx

Bubbles said...

Hi Jan!!!
Beautiful workspace - the fabrics are just so scrumptious... hooray for fabricland (Southern gal here too *lol*).
I started making a skirt in school... took me two years and it ended up as a very small pinny because I just couldn't do it ....Years later, and Fabric Land had me as a regular customer when I had my own home and managed to make all the curtains, cushions, and bits and bobs. Don't think I'll ever be up to your standard (stress relievers... ROFL!) but I can make do :)

Franka Benjaminsen said...

Well done, Jan. And I really like to see some fabric in WOYWW. I'm sewing for a year now and find out that a lot of practice is the only way to learn it. Love your doorstoppers most.
xFranka

Electra said...

I'm emjoying seeing your space, Jan! Thanks for stepping in to help!

JoZart Designs said...

Now you've started you'll have to carry on! Great stuff, lovely fabrics and i'm intrigued to find out how you use the doorstops as stress busters. Throw them at whoever is stressing you, maybe? OUCH!
Welcome to WOYWW Jan and hope to see you again,
JoZarty x

Spyder said...

hey wow! and first well done you Jan!! And then, you must have had the same sewing teacher as me!! nearly TWO years to NOT finish an A line skirt!!EVERY tacking stitch had to be ruler straight, and when I finally got to a machine, well....I lost count of how many times I had to unpick it. (I always wanted to use my left hand...)Your work space is lovely. I love the little piles of patchwork and of course the bunny!. So, there's hope for me yet! Get an Electric sewing machine and well....who knows!! Thank you for the snoop!
((Lyn))

Anonymous said...

Hi Lunch Lady Jan - what a great work space you have - I too think I can't sew I have a machine and not used it this is a great timely reminder that I should get it out and make something - thank you for the inspiration

Bea

Twiglet said...

Great post Jan and thanks for that glowing mention - you are too kind. Now girl, keep blogging and keep sewing (well, with that fab stash of fabric you have just got to go on haven't you!)Happy Weds x Jo

Annie said...

Hehehe I see big sister has beat me to it today. Welcome Jan. You've done a fab job of blogging. Love your fabrics [and the way you lay them out] and love what you've made with them. Thanks for the mention.
Hugs,
A x

Deanne said...

they all look fab julia, i wish i could get to that level of sewing i can just about switch the darn thing on lol x

okienurse said...

I think you did very well for a stand in blogger! I don't think Julia could have done better truth be told and your desk is definitely a lot less....well a lot less and more organized. Julias desk is always in a state of constant creativity each week. Thanks for standing in! Vickie aka Okienurse

BrossArtAddiction said...

Great to meet you Lunch Lady Jan and you did a wonderful job! At first when I stopped in I thought I had the wrong blog cause I hadn't had the chance to participate in WOYWW in the last 4 weeks...lol. Love your desk and your fabrics too! Beautiful projects you have going there! :D

Hugz,
xx Tracey xx

akilli melek said...

welcome Jan! WOYWW is contagious so beware!
Love your projects, and love your fabric organisation. You should see my closet - nothing like my craft desk.....more like your pretty rows of colour coordinated fabric!
caroline #42

jodpea said...

If your sewing is anything like ur cooking, it must be amazing! I lived with a girl in uni who put her washing on the clothes horse in colour order - I think that makes u look positively normal!

Lulabelle said...

Welcome lunch lady!
Love your sewing, some fab material there!
I wish I was just a little bit more orderly but never have been so there is no hope for me now!

Alicia.R. said...

Hi Jan
Love your sewing and your story.
Thanks for sharing and helping Julia out this week.
Happy Creating
Alicia.R. (#48)

donnalouiserodgers said...

ah LLJ, snared in the trap of desk hopping, you do realise once you have done a few desks it is no longer possible to do a wednesday without a look into the world of WOYWW? next you will have a blog and be a dedicated contributer, after all, your debut is a fine example of blogmanship and deskery,

dx

alexa said...

Lovely to meet you! Your aprons and door-stops are lovely - do you kick them for stress relief or throw them? :) I love all the fabric on the bed, so neatly laid out... And you are very generous to house the rabbit!

cardsandacuppa said...

Welcome and well done, a great guest blog post! I just love all your fabric, stop tempting me!! ha! Great aprons and I love how you have the swatches all laid out.. so yummy ;-)
Hugs xx

nerllybird said...

Hello, Lunch Lady Jan. Your sewn stuff is awesome, I particularly like the doorstop/stress reliever. You've stepped into the breech most effectively, although I would like to make a couple of points: 1. could you not have used this opportunity to pass on some juicy gossip about Mrs Dunnit? and 2) why is Mr Dunnit making you skew-whiff rulers? I think we should be told, hur hur! ;)

Unknown said...

Gorgeous fabrics. I love those door stops too. Well done on taking the reins for the week Jan. xx

Angie said...

What a great post ....well done you...you had nothing to worry about. I love all your bits ...I actually recieved one of your early bags from JD a year ago and its brilliant ...still as good as new.Thanks for the tour around your place.

Sue Althouse said...

Very nice! I almost failed sewing in school and still have not conquered the sewing machine. Thanks for holding down the fort while Julia is away!

April said...

Thanks for your post to stand in for Julia, it's lovely to see your crafty zones :o) I absolutely Love Love LOVE that dog print material!!! the aprons and door stops look great! Cute bunny too :o) Thanks for sharing. x

Sandie said...

Hello Jan... what a lovely post and you have done Julia proud! I am itching to get my sewing machine out soon. I am waiting eagerly for some new workspace and then I can play, play, play!! Love your style and good luck with the craft fairs.

Unknown said...

Great space you have and I love the things you made for the fair. Have a great day. Poor old Julia stuck out there in the sun - not.

Carol

Simple homemade living said...

Hi Lunch Lady Jan. what an honour to guest post!!! You so need your own blog now so we can come and see every week!

Thank you so much for my bunting it's gorgeous.

Laura x

Lisa-Jane said...

Those makes are gorgeous! What lovely fabric. I've not ventured into Fabricland for a while, you mustn't tempt me back! Happy WOYWW everyone and well done on a great job Jan xx

Neet said...

Great post - you did a sterling job. Love the look into your sewing (which amazes me as I am deffo a non-sewer)

Sarah said...

Thanks for stepping into Julia's shoes Jan it's much appreciated

Susanne said...

Congrats on your guest post - very nicely done. I love those aprons and the doorstops are cute as well. It's been nice visiting with you.

CLaire said...

Brilliant post..and brilliant sewing.... julia will be proud of you...
Your desk is so much tidier...lol
Claire x

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

What a fun post. Welcome Virgin Blogger!! or LL Jan it's all so fun. Love your fabric creations and beautiful assortments. Have fun with the Craft Fairs. Love the door stop idea.
I was first a fabric addict and now I've added the paper..so I guess it is a pattern and color addicition Thanks for filling in see you next week?

Scrapcollectr said...

A fine job of posting! Love the tour around your work area and the play-by-play was perfect... You could keep showing us updates, you know....
*smile*

Kathleen said...

Hi Jan great post, thank you for showing your fabby fabrics and makes.
Kathleen x

Nancy Wethington said...

You did a fab job! Love those aprons.

KanataNewf said...

You are doing a great job as a stand-in! I am envying you your stash of fabric (as I quilt in addition to making cards). And those projects! Love the aprons and the little doorstops are just precious!

Happy WOYWW!

Sheena B

Sandra said...

Although I'm not joining in this week, I did want to say, that I really enjoyed your blog post and goodness aren't you talented :)

Allycat x said...

Hi there Lunch Lady Jan - welcome to blogland - love your fabric creations & the fabrics are lush!
Thanks for sharing with us :)
Ally

Diane said...

Beautiful sewing projects...been working on a few myself!!! This is my first time to join in...so fun to everyone's "clean" work areas!!

Angela Toucan said...

Happy Holidays Julia

And Jan - wellcome to WOYWW, I hope you get a blog soon so you can join in regularly. Your projects look fab, and i love your light workspace and that rabbit! Great yummy fabrics there, want to see what you make with those....

scrapwordsmom said...

Hi, Jan! I LOVE all the colors you are using for your fabric projects. Those aprons are amazing and how fun you are doing a craft fair!! Best of luck.

I smiled because I have a photo of my bed as part of my desk today!!! And the rabbit is perfect:)

Kendra-Sue and Jamie said...

I think you did a wonderful job and I love the doorstops. They are adorable. Thank you for letting us have a peek in your space.

J.A. Martin said...

Great job Jan! Although I miss Julia, it was a pleasure to see your space and your work! Thanks!:-)

MaggieC (Silvercrafter) said...

Welcome to you, Lunch Lady Jan. You are doing a cracking job filling in for Julia. Hope you are going to carry on contributing with your own blog in the future. You made me think that I really must get my elderly Singer machine out again and see what I can do with that.

fairyrocks said...

Jan so lovely of you to do a guest post!!
I too love fabric, you would have such a great time shopping my stash LOL
Keep smiling and creating and thanks for hooking us up.

Elizabeth said...

Hello Jan, great job! Her ladyship has nothing to worry about and can go on sunning herself save in the knowledge that you are filling in nicely. Your workdesk makes a really welcome addition to WOYWW so I hope this won't be the last we see of you now that you've put your toe in the water. Elizabeth x #83

Artyjen said...

Hi Jan! Great stand in work. Love the sewing WOYWW. :)
xoxo Sioux

Di said...

Hi Jan - lucky you and Julia to be mates, and what a great job you've done in her absence. Am seriously thinking about digging my sewing machine out after seeing this lovely lot! Di xxx

jude said...

Hiya lunch Lady Jan.Well youve done a fab job of bloggin and oh love your aprons the materails are so lush!
Hugs
Judex 88

Vicky said...

Hi Jan
Thanks for sharing all your fabulous sewing projects with us! :)x

voodoo vixen said...

I'm back... you know the thing you are hanging your gorgeous aprons on? Is it for hanging your ironing as you do it? If so, where did you get it? I saw a really expensive version online and wanted it but can't find it again now... duh!! ;) I haven't seen them in the UK so thought I might pick one up whilst I am here in Canada and take it home with me when I go back...

Unknown said...

Hi Jan
Great blog entry and wonderful fabrics 'n goodies to look at!

Å olanje na domu-Waldorf said...

Love these! Doorstops are my favorite. :)

Kate said...

Hi Lunch Lady Jan, I think we have met in the Post Office. Lovely sewing, I'd quite like a doggy print doorstop!

** Kate **

Deb said...

Lucky Julia, hope she is having a fab time! love your aprons Jan!
Happy crafting, Debxx

Serendipity Stamping said...

Jan I think you have done yourself proud as a stand-in for Julia!I love your little doorstops!

Kirsty.A said...

Nice to meet you Lunch Lady Jan. Those doorstops are fab.

Hettie said...

Well done on doing a good job of keeping Julia's hot seat hot!! Love some of those fabrics you have used - especially the Radley lookalike! Well done! Are you joining us all on a regular basis Lunch Lady Jan?!!

Unknown said...

You go girl - very brave of you to stand in - looks fab

kitten

Darcy Marshall said...

hello lunch lady Jan, what a fabulous post...why,why don't you have your own blog???

misteejay said...

Well done - you're doing a grand job.

That fabric stash is super.

Toni xx

Sally said...

Way to go girl!!! Fab tour and gorgeous creations, thank you so much for standing in...sooooo, when are you getting your own blog then?
*hugs* sal x
ps crochet elephant, the snot is indeed understood! lol ;D

DW Peot said...

Great door stoppers! I think if I had some of them, they wouldn't be used for very long as door stoppers, More like cannon balls being thrown at each other all over the house hitting lamps, pictures, china, knick-knacks! LMAO
Wonderful idea! Maybe...... ummmm maybe I won't make them! LOL I can also see the dogs grabbing them and being tossed in the pool or buried in the back yard, or hidden in their batcave!
Hugs!
Deb

Cardarian said...

You have done a good job and welcome to WOYWW! We loved the snoop around all your lovely sewing! Thank you for sharing and thank you for being our host for today!
Lots of hugs,
Cardarian
P.S: I hope Julia is enjoying herself very much!

fairy thoughts said...

love your post, you really are a friend of julia's lol. you have certainly learned a lot since school.

Crafty Kaz said...

Hi,
Loving all your work, your door stoppers are great.

leslie (crookedstamper) said...

I knew it! There is no mess there (from a stamper's perspective) so this HAD to be a guest post! Welcome! :)

Anonymous said...

Great woyww

Kim said...

Whew..made it!! Too funny about your start with sewing...I too was traumatized in home ecc classes (and having a Mother who could whip out lined curtains, a wool suit and a prom gown all in a weekend!) Good for you for beating it! I still start sweating when I see a sewing maching! And have only used an iron, under duress, when using a resist technique for stamping! LOL! I am intrigued by your door stoppers though...

sandy huntress said...

Oooooo, your stash looks so yummy all laid out that way!

JoZart Designs said...

Hi Jan, well done to you for getting round and commenting on our desks too!
If you want info on how to make my HangAbouts I posted pics and some instructions on 28th Dec last! You can see them properly there all finished.
Love Jo x

Kezzy said...

Hi Jan, you have done a fantastic job, hope to see your blog soon!!!! Loving your sewing and those fabrics are gorgeous. Kezzy x

Unknown said...

I followed a link here from peggy aplSEEDS, and I wanted to say this is SUCH a fun idea for a link party! I loved seeing what so many of you are working on! I'm going to follow you, Julia, and maybe one of these days I'll join in. In the meantime, thanks for the fun!

dianneo said...

Happy to be joining you for the very first time this week!

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