Tuesday 21 June 2011


Hello People in the the Atelier world!

You may wonder what this is (above).......

well, it's how one of my students returned some pins to me, which had been in  a toile which she had taken home to work on.
I was taken aback and happily surprised to have this miniature pin sculpture.....taken aback, as people don't normally return pins, well, not this amount anyway, so I was impressed by the fact of them being returned at all, and happily surprised and in wonderment at the form in which they had been returned! A beautiful small sculpture of pins and fabric. 
Amazing how something as seemingly simple and functional as this, can be such a surprise, and inspiring. I guess because it's so unexpected - if you had some pins you wanted to return, how would you do it? Put them in a very small box? (Hard to find on demand). Stick them into a piece of fabric all at once in a bunch? (Nice and quick and easy). Or place each one exactly parallel to the other, very close together thus forming a lovely raised area that looks like piping, making the whole thing a rather beautiful object in itself?
If anyone reads this, and has any other interesting ideas for pin (or needle) sculptures or fabric manipulations, please email me or comment below. 
Well....I found it inspiring anyway!! Do I need to get out more?!

On another note - it's university/college show time now, Northampton's tomorrow, and I shall be there to see how it all looks on the catwalk. Presentation isn't everything but it sure makes the work more desirable and therefore sellable, if it has been carefully preened and primped to it's best possible state. If presentation is careless, it doesn't say much about the value of the work to a prospective customer.

For the Atelier classes, I am still offering the 6 lessons for the price of 5 deal to NEW students, so if you are within travelable distance of me (near Banbury in Oxfordshire, UK), you may like to take advantage of this: normal price of 6 x 2hr lessons would be £180, but the special offer reduces this to £150, so in effect, you get one 2hr lesson free of charge! Call 07941 619992

For people who live further afield, (or even if you don't!), I am also offering longer pattern cutting / garment making, one to one workshop days by arrangement, which means that you could come for a whole day, (which would run from 10am - 4pm), with lunch, and drinks included for £150.
The exact choice of subject is yours, but you could for example:
  • Learn the basics of pattern cutting, and how to make a block (template pattern) that fits your body shape, (beginners), 
  • Make a finished pattern from a chosen design, which you can then use to make a garment at home, (intermediates),
  • Learn practically any sewn technique - trapunto, quilting, applique´, reverse applique´, hand rolled hems, tucking, making flowers, bows, free machine embroidery, in fact most techniques you can think of,  and use this in the making of a small accessory - scarf/hat/bag/wrap.
  • Learn some Couture Techniques: You may have always wondered how to set in a sleeve perfectly, make things lie flat that are supposed to lie flat (!), stop darts having annoying points, make a perfect welt pocket, and most other sewing and pressing techniques that make your garments look really professional.   
As these workshops are one to one, the workshop day would be designed especially for you as regards content, and by arrangement as regards day and time.

If you've ever had a burning desire to learn something specific in the pattern cutting or garment making line, I can almost certainly help. This is a couture lesson service!

For information about me and my previous work and experience, please look at the home page of my Atelier website: www.bobbiesroom.co.uk, and either email me through the site, or phone: 07941 619992

I am in the heart of the beautiful countryside of Oxfordshire, as you can see! 
Bobbie 

View from the studio window

Monet-like fields across the river

View from the kitchen window


That's me!