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About Me




I'm Jan, from Southampton UK, and I'm delighted you've found me.
I really hope you find something you enjoy. You'll find this blog is centred around sewing; with a mix of humour, photography, craft, and life in general thrown in for a bit of variety. If you like what you see, why not follow my blog?   I update most days, and try to keep it as interesting as possible. As for comments.... I'd love to hear from you.

Sewing my way through life one stitch at a time

What can I tell you about myself?  I'm a caffeine fuelled fabric geek with typing tendancies, and a fetish for photography. I dream in fabric, creating my own unique designs and sometimes even get around to finishing them.   In recent years, I have been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis which has taken a long time to come to terms with and changed my life completely.   Until recently I was working full-time doing shift-work which left me with no energy outside of work to enjoy life.   I've reached 50 and taken the decision to give up work. Now my aim is to attack the WIP box (huge), start using up my fabric supplies (make room for more) and perhaps the house will love more tidy too (doubtful).    

I used to blog regularly under the name Cajame Creations.  As it's now a new start for me, I've been attempting to re-vamp the blog so now it's simply me.

With an abiltity to devour books, chocolate and cheese in immense quantities.... I'm something of an aging rock-chick and can often be found with red or cerise streaks in my hair. I'm no follower of fashion, preferring my own little mix of boho and vintage.   A self-crowned car-boot sale queen, and charity-shop diva - I'm always on the look out for vintage fabrics that I can re-purpose with a new lease of life.  My favourite fabrics are cotton, linen, felt and velvet, and I am never happier than when I've found a pretty piece of aged embroidery or crumpled lace.  

 I love a laugh and have a quirky sense of humour.  I've recently been attempting to learn to play the Ukulele - oh boy, I am so rubbish at it.

 Happily married to Si with 5 lovely grown up children between us now doing their own thing, we live with our pets, two dogs and two cats.  A big fan of cooking, baking and cuddling up on the sofa to watch a movie.

 Sewing is my passion, in all forms.   Be it appliqué, quilting, dress-making or embroidery, I love it all.  Aside from sewing, I do enjoy others crafts and will try my hand at any artistic pastime with varying success.  I'm very much a "jack of all trades, master of none".  I would love to be better at painting and jewellery making, though I'm fairly competent at crochet.

  • Black coffee is my life-source
  • Rather partial to a G&T
  • Strong cheddar cheese makes me very happy
  • Not a natural at housework
  • Book worm

Popular posts from this blog

Hexagon hand-towel

A super quick make this afternoon - a hand towel for the kitchen.  I had no idea I was going to do this until I was rummaging through my fabric stash and found this piece of heavy linen that has been forgotten for years.   It's the perfect weight for a hand towel and I've managed to use up a few more scraps to match the colours of my kitchen. The little piece of aqua fabric is one of my favourites.  Had it for years and my supply has been dwindling, finally down to the last little piece.   It was a quick pin-down and run along with the machine. As you can see, a close inspection of my hexagon shows rather uneven stitches.   I blame it on my eyesight (and sewing whilst watching the TV).  Pinned into place and then edged around carefully with the machine.   I've even managed to add a little loop which is the tiniest scrap of ribbon I spied in the corner of my sewing table just as I was stitching to the corner.... I'll have that...
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Hillarys Blinds - Country Crafts Competition

A vision in Teal - front view Towards the end of February I saw a competition advertised on Twitter by Hillarys Blinds .  I can't remember the exact wording, but it was along the lines of "would you like to receive some material and enter our competition?" Of course I would! After sending an e-mail, I was delighted to hear I'd been chosen to take part.  I was able to pick from 3 fabrics.  I opted for the peacock print as I adore teal.  About a week later I received a packet from Hillarys containing a metre of my chosen material.  I wish I could get the colours to come out properly.  I don't think any of the photos I've taken do the fabric justice.  The background is a light cream, with the branches and blossom in subtle shades of brown and pale yellows.  Sitting on the branches across the fabric are a selection of beautiful peacocks.  In shades of teal, they are quite wonderful. A Vision in Teal - back view My ...
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Once upon an Embroidery

This story takes place many years ago. Imagine we are at a time in the gentle years before the Great War. In a time where the motor car was a recent invention and a plaything for the very rich, seldom to be seen on a public road. This was an era when people worked hard and expected little. An era when life was lived at an altogether slower pace. Let me introduce you to Alice. Alice is a gentle soul. She has never strayed far from the village where she was born. She has spent her adult life living in the same little cottage she moved into with her husband as a newlywed when she was 19. At one time she was surrounded by family, but over the years they have all passed on or drifted away. Her husband died shortly after his retirement three years previously, and her only remaining sister lives half the country away. They correspond regularly by weekly letters, but haven't seen each other in years. It would be possible to travel by train, but it's altogether too expensiv...
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