A Day of Sewing with Imogen Allen and Jane Lightfoot

It all started back in December, when Imogen from Imogen Allen Designs messaged me to ask if I fancied joining her on 1 Day Course with Jane Lightfoot Designs.  Imogen and I became friends over a year ago on Facebook, chatting about our pages and work, so I jumped at the chance a) to finally meet her, and b) to meet Jane and learn a relatively new experience.

Jane, Imogen and Michelle

     So I set off on my journey at 7.30am and drove down the A1 to Janes lovely home, where I was warmly welcomed by Jane, introduced to Imogen, and a coffee and home made flapjack!

Jane promptly set to, into describing what we were going to be doing.  We had booked to make a Note Book Cover which was to be embellished by Free-Motion machine embroidery.

We began choosing a design and the fabrics we were to use, then prepared them ready for stitching

Jane encouraged us to practice the Free-motion Embroidery first, 

before attempting our books.  Once we felt confident and comfortable, we went for it, and our books began to take shape

We broke for lunch around 1pm, and what a Lunch Spread it was!  Jane had been busy baking prior to our visit and so we were greeted with the most delicious Quiche, accompanied with salad, ham and home made chutney, followed by carrot cake and scone (with clotted cream and - oh yes - home made jam!)

After lunch we went back to the sewing room, to continue on with our projects.  Jane was very encouraging throughout, and gave us both lots of new tips to help us achieve a good result.

Of course, not all of our time was spent sewing, as we had all just officially met for the first time, we did chat, quite a lot.  It was so lovely to spend a day, sewing with like minded ladies, exchanging ideas and tips.

Imogen and I admired Jane's work, which was beautifully distributed around her house and in her beautiful sewing room.  Her work is truly stunning.  The detail and quality is just amazing.

We took the odd Selfie!!

But mostly, we just enjoyed the full day of sewing

Imogens Finished Book

Imogen hadn't done Free-Motion Embroidery before, but is super talented in Hand Embroidery and Machine Applique.  She made a fantastic design and beautifully sewn book, you'd never know she had never used this technique before, it's just incredible!

My Finished Book

I had dabbled with Free-Motion Embroidery, so had the basics, but Jane encouraged me to be a little more free with it, and a little less critical of myself!  I am really quite pleased with my book

The night prior to the course, I handmade two Fabric Cupcakes.  I felt I didn't want to go empty handed, and so I began to sew one each for Jane and Imogen.  Funnily enough Imogen had thought the same too, and made Jane and I a Bunting shaped banner, complete with our initials - this one is mine - isn't it stunning?

And Jane gave Imogen and I a jar each of Home made Jam!

All in all, it was an amazing day.  It  was so wonderful to meet two fantastically talented ladies in one day, and to have have the opportunity to sew with them - words fail.

I went to bed a very happy cookie

Imogen Allen Designs has a wonderful page on Facebook, why not pop over and have a look at her work

Jane Lightfoot Designs also has a fantastic page on Facebook, and I highly recommend you take a look at her page too, and if you too fancy doing a sewing workshop, Jane is a fantastic teacher, I can't recommend her enough

Michelle Corbin Design and this is my Facebook page

Thank you for reading

Happy Stitching

Michelle xx