Welcome to Sara's Texture Crafts

I had a few days at home firstly, which was actually really useful... I managed only an hour each day on-line (I know, I know... I did say I wouldn't log in!) and caught up on things around the house... the dreaded things you wish you could put off forever!! Then Darrin flew me away to Gran Canaria for a week... 'Thank you honey!'

I've not been good at flying for a long time... the result of sitting next to a work colleague who was petrified of flying... for some reason the hysteria really rubbed off on me and since Granddad passed away I've been very conscious of mortality... not just mine, everyone I come into contact with, even strangers on the street I see smoking! So as you can imagine the panic did build up!! Fortunately though I had a friend who could help... I almost forgot all about her, but then by chance we exchanged emails and I thought, 'she is just the person to ask... go on, may be she can help?' And she could!

Carolina of http://en.dawanda.com/shop/magickshop, has over 18 years of experience with natural remedies and modern witch craft, which you can tap into on her blog at http://magickshop.wordpress.com/. So I felt more than confident in her prescription.

Now while I don't see myself as a practising witch or anything, I do believe in natural approaches to medicine, healing and empowerment... so Carolina is someone I feel a connection to and am very inspired by. Firstly, she talked me through which amulets to wear, or hold to feel comfort... then recommended a tea recipe. I scouted my tumble stone collection out and found any matching stones and went shopping for the tea... can you believe it I couldn't find half of the ingredients (and there wasn't that many!) Fortunately I have noticed that Carolina now has a range of teas in her shop... no more searching for me!

Secondly, I really love aromatheraphy so I asked Carolina if she had a perfume from her shop's collection that could help to keep me calm... she recommended 'Elizabeth', filled with a fresh soothing bloom fragrance. I couldn't help myself it sounded just the thing...

My little parcel arrived about a week before the flight... here it is... all wonderfully packed.

And with a few small gifts too... a handmade notepad (which is now in my purse) and a sample of incense (which I'm going to try out over the next few weeks).

The perfume smells divine, by the way...

On my few days off before the flight I spent a little time calming my nerves, which had hit a peak one evening following a nightmare and I have to say I felt much better, more in control... oh, I'm so silly! And on the day of the flight I felt only a few nerves, which Darrin was there to iron out for me.

Here's the beach... now you won't see sky like that in the UK right now!!

Here's just how packed the beach was last year, compared to the practically empty feel of this year... all the cafe owners were complaining... 'where's the English, where's the English?', they say. It seems that things are tough in the holiday industry.

I refuse point blank to show you pictures of me in my swimwear, I don't want to put people off of their food, so instead here's a picture of me from last year looking rather red and tired out from all that relaxing!

We both dutifully waved to Carolina every morning and raised a glass in the evening... Tenerife where she lives is the island in the photo below. We did talk about meeting up... I could have got an island-hop flight, but we just didn't have the money this year. So we settled for waving instead...

What did we get up to apart from the beach... well very little really... we read 3-4 books each, went to a barbecue, jumped in the pool like kids half our age and ate too much ice cream. Just as a holiday should be!

It was a great holiday, so thank you Darrin. Sxxxx

This is a fantastic item for anyone who wants to create their own unique fabric prints and is great for all craft disciplines. Simply load the iron-on Cotton fabric sheet into your inkjet printer and away you go!

Here's where to buy yours... Computer Printable Fabric

Instructions for use:

• Load the iron-on Cotton sheets into the printer and make sure that they are sitting straight in the feeder tray. If the fabric sheets are not straight this may lead to ink blotches at the sides of the sheet.
• You can use the usual settings on your printer, as there are no special set-up requirements.
• Once printed leave the fabric sheet for one hour to dry flat. The fabric should now be colour fixed.
• Peel off the backing.
• Place the adhesive side onto the desired garment, or fabric base and iron until the printed, iron-on cotton sheet is fully fixed in place.

Washing Instructions:
The manufacturer suggests washing up to 40 degrees only.
Wash dark colours separately.
Cool iron on Reverse.
Please note that colours may fade, gradually.
Please note that over time the backing adhesive may dissolve, so where possible always hand, or machine stitch for extra security.

Here are some of project ideas to get started with - Why not print a photo and apply it to a T-shirt? How about applying your own design to the front of a bag? Or, maybe you could create your own Cushion covers?

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I have often been asked what equipment I would recommend to a needlework beginner, so I decided to publish a list.

• Scissors – Get yourself a sharp pair of small embroidery scissors, these are useful for snipping thread ends without damaging your work.
• Embroidery hoop – These come in different sizes and are a must when working on your project, as they hold the fabric tight whilst you stitch. This means no pulls, or snags! Remember to get the right size for your work, or a size that can show enough detail of the finished design whilst you are working.
• Pins – Pins are sometimes helpful to hold fabrics in place if you wish to appliqué, etc.
• Measuring tape – This maybe helpful depending on what branch of needlework you are doing, for example fabrics and designs might be measured if you choose to do something freehand. They are also useful for when you mount your work, so that you get an idea of what size frame you will need.
• Stitch unpicker/ripper – This is a tool I always have in my box. I mostly use it for sewing, but do occasionally use it for freehand embroidery.
• Thread Organiser Box or Cards – You will always have left over threads from completed kits. This is because kit manufacturers, always allow for a percentage of threads to be thrown away as a mistake. In this case every fellow needleworker I have ever met keeps those threads for other projects and you know what those threads are often quite useful!
• Needle Keep – This just needs to be a scrap of fabric, where you can keep all of your spare needles in one place. There are also plenty you could buy, or your could even make your own.
• Note pad & pen – I always keep a notepad and pen with my work, just in case I am running low on something I can write the correct codes for colour threads, etc.

I carry equipment and beginner packs in stock, so do drop in… Sara's Texture Crafts.

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If you find this guide useful please vote for it at Sara's eBay Reviews