Jane Makower - Wildlife fabric collection

We have recently started stocking Jane Makower Fabrics and we just had to get this fabulous Wildlife collection in!

The Rabbits and Hares print has a bit of "Watership Down" about it - a childhood favourite of mine and I think this would be lovely used in a project for any age group.

We have this print in a brighter green colourway too:

You could pick out the red flowers using a mini print in the same colour

As well as the striking "wildflowers" design

We have several filler fabrics to go with this collection and some of the other Jane Makower collections that we have on the way!

View our range of the Wildlife collection here.

Jennie Maizels Sketchbook Club training day

On thursday I spent a truly amazing day at Jennie Maizels' studio near Winchester!

Jennie was hosting a franchise training day for new tutors to run her amazing sketchbook club.

Firstly it was an honour to be in the presence of such an incredible lady after following her on social media for so long, check out Jennie's inspirational Instagram feed here. I have always admired Jennie's work and after being tempted to join her online sketchbook club I was thrilled when the opportunity came up to actually go to her studio for a day to get tuition from her directly.

I love the idea of being able to draw and paint but haven't ever had the confidence or knowledge on where to start!

Jennie takes all the fear away firstly talking us through all the materials we might use on our sketchbooks, from paints and pencils to newspaper and old maps. We are surrounded by materials all the time and really anything goes.

The whole studio is so inspirational too with sketchbooks, drawings, books and clothes plasters decorating every available wall and surface. We barely stopped for lunch as we were so keen to try out all the different modules for the first term starting in January (although we much appreciated the freshly made salmon sandwiches and other delicious offerings!).

So now we are all prepared to host one of the first of Jennie's franchised "Sketchbook Clubs" here in Sherborne, Dorset.

As you know we will be in new premises from January and the beautiful new surroundings will be the perfect place for launching Sketchbook Club in 2016

Why not book your place now!

If you would like to watch a video about Jennie's sketchbook club please do visit her website, the video describes the online version of the sketchbook club but we of course will be hosting the club and providing all of the materials that you need including a sketchbook, pens, paints and pencils and of course the printed materials for each week's module. Working with a group often provides the encouragement and support that a lot of people desire when it comes to having the confidence to try something new!

The course will be 10 weeks long, with a two hour session each week during the term, with a break for school half term. Modules are all different to the online course so even if you have done the online version this course will be different.

I am going to start by offering a day time course but if you would be interested in an evening course please do email me at handmade@butterflybright.com

You know what to ask Santa for now!

Book your place here: January 2016 Sketchbook club

I fell in love with this year's "Winter Wonderland" Christmas fabric from Dashwood Studio as soon as I saw it and ordered it over a year ago!

The reds and greens seem perfect to me for a Christmas project and the detail in each design has interest and festive appeal for both children and adults alike.

We usually run a Christmas Table Runner workshop and this year is no different, I knew I had to make one using this collection and here it is. I spent ages trawling through ideas on my Christmas Pinterest board and saved quite a few pins along the way but eventually I settled on a classic Patchwork Star design.

The stars are all made with half square triangles - an easy technique if you know how!

If you fancy making up one of these for your festive table or perhaps as a gift for a friend - you can buy the fabric here in our webshop or perhaps if you would like a bit more guidance you could come and make one in a workshop on either Wednesday 9th December or Tuesday 15th December

We will cover how to cut and sew Half Square Triangles, adding sashing and a border, layering, quilting and binding. That sounds like a lot but don't worry, mince pies will be provided!

I am looking forward to taking this one home although I think with my spillage prone little ones this will be removed from display for actual meal times...

Merry Christmas Making everybody!

Ali

x

Time for new beginnings

When I started Butterfly Bright life was less complicated, with a small premises in Swan Yard and a baby on the way. Since then the shop and workshops have expanded and I have three children under 7yrs, along with a very busy husband!

With my lease coming to an end at Digby Road I have decided to make plans for the future to accommodate all my babies (business, children AND husband) and I'd love to share my good news with you.

It has become clear that holding workshops and teaching new skills to enthusiastic makers is the area of my business I would really like to grow (and what it seems I'm good at) and so this is the part of Butterfly Bright I am going to concentrate on next year.

To achieve this, I am moving to lovely new premises right in the centre of Sherborne, upstairs above Abbey Brides in Cheap Street. It is a great space to work in, an historic building with high ceilings, (a spectacular chandelier!) and good light, and you will see a new and varied range of workshops being launched in 2016.

I will still be stocking the quality designer fabrics and yarns you need for all your making projects but will no longer offer every single haberdashery line.  Although there is still a call for knicker elastic in Sherborne, I've found it's not the kind of retail that empires are built on! A benefit of moving to the new premises (and lowering my overheads) is that I will be able to reduce my fabric prices and become more competitive online - this is an area I would like to expand on while my my children are young.

So I will bid a sad goodbye to 4 Tilton Court on Christmas Eve but look forward to new beginnings at 81 Cheap Street in the New Year.

In order to squeeze into our new home and make way for exciting new products, we will be having some amazing discounts on existing fabrics, yarns and other stock, all in time for your all important Christmas shopping - stay tuned for more details!

If you have any questions please do drop us an email at handmade@butterflybright.com or call us on 01935 817303.

We look forward to a Butterfly Bright future and for you joining us on the next part of our journey!

Floss and Mischief - new cross stitch kits in store!

We have been on the look out for a modern bright and fun range of cross stitch kits and when we spotted Floss & Mischief on Instagram we knew they were perfect for Butterfly Bright!

Their easy to make kits come in a wonderful range of beetles, bugs and butterflies,the hardest thing will be choosing which design to go for!

Each kits contains the aida, a pattern, a "how to" guide, a needle and all of the relevant embroidery threads - you just need to buy a hoop to help you make it.

If you haven't started Christmas shopping yet make this your first purchase!

Enjoy!

Ali x

Merchant and Mills

We search high and low for the latest and most beautiful haberdashery and when we saw Merchant and Mills we just had to get some in for you!

Their "workbook" contains 6 dressmaking patterns for some of Merchant and Mills' most classic garments that help you to make a multi layered wardrobe from scratch.

We have also selected some of their key haberdashery lines including pins, needles, needle threaders and bees wax blocks.

I think the first thing I am going to attempt is this beautiful looking shirt dress!

The Merchant and Mills Rapid Repair Kit has to be one of the most beautiful emergency sewing kits I have ever seen, with black and white thread, needles in a glass tube, safety pins, shirt buttons, tape measure and the cutest monogrammed  scissors this is the perfect addition to your holiday holdall and would also make a fabulous gift for any sewing enthusiast.

We love the uber cool vintage style branding and for us there is no question that Merchant and Mills is the bees knees in haberdashery!

Do pop in soon to see for yourself!

Workshops with Lazy Daisy Jones

We have been very lucky recently to have Ashley, aka "Lazy Daisy Jones" back at the workshop teaching various dressmaking classes.

we started with our favourite class - knicker making - where the ladies took their time choosing which of our many beautiful fabrics would be perfect for a pair of frillies!

I settled on butterflies of course with a matching yellow gingham elasticated trim.

Ashley is a very patient teacher and we were all listening intently to her every instruction...

We had some interesting looks from passers by when they realised what we were constructing but the finishes results were so pleasing we didn't care!

Then last week Ashley taught two keen novices to make their very own A-line skirt complete with darts and a zip. They both got a lot out of the day and Ashley has written a very touching post on her Lazy Daisy Jones blog about the experience!

Next we look forward to the pyjama bottoms workshop this coming thursday - we have a morning or an afternoon session available and this class would suit a dressmaking beginner who can use a sewing machine and promises to be another fun day in the workshop...

We hope to see you soon for one of our wonderful workshops!

Ali

x