Coming Up

Our time at Aberglasney Gardens has come to end. We loved it and managed to get a piece of cake from the fab tearooms on the very last day!

Its time now for us to think about all the things coming up over the rest of the Summer months.

We have our 1st mini rag wreath workshop on the 9th August. Its sunflower themed and will be held at the lovely 1807 coffee shop in Mumbles. On the 20th September there will also be a cross stitch workshop using our cute Woof or Meow Heart coaster kits held at 1807.

We have 2 Gower Crafts & Artisans events in Port Eynon - 16th & 30th August. Then before we know it we will be back at the National Maritime Museum in Swansea Marina for the Waterfront Vintage and Makers Fair on the 12th & 13th September!

August does seem to be a bit more relaxed than July is proving to be - time to catch up on some sewing… maybe even start to think about Christmas!!!

Aberglasney Gardens - Part 2

Hello everyone. I hope you are enjoying all this amazing sunshine. It is so hot! On Thursday, it was the turn of Claire and I to look after the exhibition at Aberglasney Gardens. We had a fab time meeting lots of lovely new people. I always feel so proud of everything that we make and it never gets old when we sell something. We’ve added some more bags including our patchwork totes and mini crossbody bags. The weather was very hot and sunny but the old mansion house we were in was lovely and cool. We didn’t get chance to have our cream tea but we are back there Sunday so there is still hope.

Claire’s new range of cross stitch kits called ‘Flower Pops’ looked so colourful on our table and were well received. Aberglasney Gardens is well worth a visit and even better if you are there Sunday come in and say hello. The exhibition is on until 23rd July. I must confess it has been a bit too hot for me to do much sewing but rumour has it the temperature is dropping a little next week so I can get back in the groove. Have a great week x Suzanne & Claire

Aberglasney Gardens

We are very excited to be part of the Gower Craft & Artisans event in Aberglasney Gardens starting today until the 23rd July.

We will be showcasing our cross stitch coaster kits and will have a selection from our Welsh Blanket collection, Meow and Woof Hearts and we will be debuting our latest collection - Flower Pops! The Flower Pop range has been specially designed with Aberglasney in mind - the coasters feature a simple but striking flower pattern inspired by the beautiful gardens with a colour scheme inspired by pop art. These are not on our website yet but will be coming soon.

Why not plan a visit to see this great exhibition. There will be lots of beautiful unique pieces to admire and perhaps buy all by local Gower artists and makers and the gardens are simply stunning. There is also an excellent tearoom - think Suzanne and I may fit a cream tea in at some point!

Arts & Crafts in the Mansion: Gower Crafts & Artisans – Aberglasney Gardens

It’s the weekend!

Hello everyone. How has your week been? Our week has been all about the totes. Tote bags that is. Claire has been busy making her gorgeous patchwork quilted tote bags as our stocks are running very low. One of which was sold before it was even finished! Bear with us as we replenish our stocks.

I have been making some new tote bags which are not quilted and an ideal size for your laptop, magazine or shopping. I’ve put some photos above. I hope you like them. They are made using fun and quirky prints. They will be making their debut at The Swansea Alternative Market which is being held on Saturday 11th July in Swansea Leisure Centre. This is a new market for Swansea so if you are near, pop in for a chat and a look around. Entry is free which is even better.

We are off for the weekend as the heatwave is supposedly coming back so let’s hope we all get to enjoy the sunshine x Suzanne & Claire

It’s the Weekend!

Hello everyone. How has your week been? Claire and I are back from Paris. What a wonderful trip it was. We went to some amazing exhibitions in gorgeous settings. We did manage to buy some lovely fabric as well. Thankfully we had packed light on the way out. Coming home was a different matter! What to make with it all is the question.

Now it’s back to designing and creating. We had lots of inspiration whilst in Paris from the architecture and the people. We are busy making for the Gower Craft & Artisans shop and for our website. We also have some fairs coming up this summer. Have a look at the dates below. Apologies as the poster is not totally finished but I wanted to get the dates out there for you to see.

Trip to Paris

Rather than buy Christmas or birthday presents for each other, Sue and I save the money we would have spent and put it towards a trip away. This year we are off to Paris for a few days! We have been before and loved it. We plan to hit a few museums and of course the fabric district at Montmartre!

There will be lots of sight seeing, shopping, eating and drinking!

Just the two of us will be going so it gives our other halves some peace and quiet - no sewing machine noises, no muttering under breath when we measure or cut something wrong or, worse of all, pins on the floor.

It’s the weekend!

Hello everyone how has your week been. Claire & I went to an interesting event run by Creative Swansea. They are a hub that brings together artists, makers and small local businesses in one place. You can look for jobs, events and what is happening in Swansea. That includes us! Anyone can register and it’s free to join.

Don’t forget we have got our first workshop at the 1807 Cafe in Mumbles on 17th June. You can book on our website or via 1807. We are looking forward to sharing our love of cross stitch with you whether you are a beginner or someone looking for a fun project.

June is our birthday month. Claire was the fourth of June and mine is today. We are typical Geminis. We love learning and trying new things. This is the same for Sister Makes. We love to design quirky and colourful bags and jackets.

We went to the lovely Urban HQ in Swansea City Centre to listen to some live music. The weather may not have been on board but the venue and music were great and joyful. Definitely brought some sunshine into my day. Oil Sanchez was brill. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. See you next week x Suzanne & Claire

Cross Stitch Heaven

We have been very busy behind the scenes prepping for our 1st cross stitch workshop!

Due to be held at 1807 Coffee Shop, Mumbles, Swansea on the 17th June, this is our chance to teach everyone (well up to 24 people!) how to make one of our lovely cross stitch Welsh Blanket Coasters. We will provide the kit and help to make the coaster and 1807 will provide a drink and the chance to purchase some lovely foodie treats.

We are also working on a new coaster pattern - Flower Pops! So called as the coasters will be based on a flower in some bright pop art inspired colours. Watch this space, Facebook and Instagram for updates.

It’s the weekend!

Amazing colour at Clyne Gardens

Hello everyone. How has your week been? We’ve had highs and lows with the weather here in Swansea. The bank holiday was a mixed bag of sunshine and showers. Rod & I went to Clyne Gardens which is local to us. Mind you I was wearing my coat. It wasn’t very warm. It is the most beautiful park and has an amazing collection of azaleas, magnolias and rhododendrons. This time of year the colours are amazing. As you know there is nothing more than Claire and I love than colour. A lot of our Japanese fabrics have these gorgeous flowers on them. We also love traditional floral prints as well. I think all flowers just bring us joy! Have a look at our website shop for some floral inspiration.

We are at the Vintage and Makers Market tomorrow and Sunday at The Waterfront Museum, Swansea. It’s free to come in and there will be lots of amazing artisans and crafters. We will be in the Ocean Room so pop in and say hello. Our newsletter is also out this weekend. If you haven’t already subscribed you can do that here. It will be packed full of joy and sunshine. Have a lovely week x Suzanne & Claire

Reversible Childs dress in blue and pink floral design

Gower Crafts & Artisans

Hello All - writing this just after Sue and I have finished our 1st shift helping out at the Gower Crafts & Artisans shop in Mumbles. We had a lovely time, met some great people and sold some beautiful handmade items. All in all it was great fun and we are looking forward to doing it again! There may even have been a slice of cake bought and eaten from Theo’s Coffee Shop which is in the same building.

The next few days are going to be spent prepping for the upcoming Vintage & Makers Market in the National Maritime Museum in Swansea Marina. Another fun event that we are really looking forward to. I think May is going to be a super busy month for us!

It’s the weekend!

Hello everyone. Happy Sakura! Sakura means cherry blossom and holds huge cultural significance in Japan where Sakura is the national flower. In Japan they celebrate Sakura by holding Hanami parties. Hanami literally means ‘flower viewing’ but is used for cherry blossom viewing. I thought I would pop photos of my apple trees on as they are looking glorious. I love this time of year when all the blossom is in bloom. I love the soft pastel colours of pink and white. How has your week been? I got excited for a minute thinking Spring was warming up but the feeling didn't last long. We had a few days of lovely sunshine and even a bit of warmth. It felt so nice. I don’t know about you but I always feel like doing more when the sun is out! Before I could blink it was really cold again.

Claire and I are making some new bags ready for our next fair which is on Saturday 9th May and Sunday 10th May. We will be part of The Vintage and Makes Market which is held at The Waterfront Museum, Swansea. It is run by the lovely Kevin and John of Cow and Ghost Events. We always love their markets, catching up with traders and customers old and new. Pop it in your diary. It’s free to come in. There will be lots of stalls in the main reception area, corridor and where we are in the ocean room.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! If you are anything like Sue and myself there will definitely be some chocolate and a few hot cross buns involved!

Its been a busy few days and there a few plans in place for the Summer! Sue will be giving more details and some teasers in her monthly newsletter due out soon. Sign up now to stay ahead of our news! You can find the sign up form at the bottom of our home page.

Our first bit of news is that we are delighted to have been accepted as part of Gower Crafts & Artisans. This lovely group of artists and makers have a shop in the Methodist Church in Mumbles. Why not pop in and treat yourself or someone you love to a beautiful gift from there. There is a coffee shop in the church too making it a great pitstop after a walk along the sea front.

It’s the weekend!

Our new 100% silk kimono style jacket

I love the marble effect of this silk fabric. We’ve also got one in a beautiful floral pattern. Which would you choose?

Hello everyone. How has your week been? Well Spring was in the air for a fleeting moment but now as I am writing this the weather is back to Winter. I am freezing! I am excited to say that Claire and I are going to be part of a new market in Upper Killay, Swansea. It is on Saturday 23rd May from 11-4 at Upper Killay Community Centre. Keep an eye on our social media posts for more information.

One of our mini crossbody bags in denim and Japanese patchwork fabric. Love the colours.

Lots to do this week. I am making some lovely mini crossbody bags which are great if you don’t want to take out a big bag. I will pop some photos of the new bags on our newsletter which is due at the beginning of April. If you would like to subscribe jump on our website and click on the subscription button. It’s free to join. Have a great week x Suzanne & Claire

Not Goodbye but Au Revoir…

We are very sad to say that the lovely Mumbles shop, Adelante, is closing. Naomi who has run the shop for the last few years is going back to her 1st love which is beauty and has opened a salon in Sketty, Swansea called Elements. This weekend is the final one for Adelante and we want to wish Naomi all the the best for the future. She has been a fantastic supporter of Sister Makes and we have loved the opportunity to sell via her shop.

We are saying Au Revoir and not Goodbye as not only will Naomi be running her beauty salon but has plans for pop up shops, craft & vintage fairs and craft workshops in the future. Watch this space - we will keep you updated!

Elements has a small stock of our makes so do pop in and have a look - you may want to book yourself a wonderful beauty treatment whilst you are there!

It’s the weekend!

Hello everyone, I hope you have had a fab week. We had a great time trading at The Vintage & Makers Market held at The Waterfront Museum, Swansea. It was lovely to catch up with old and new customers and traders. We had a lovely response to our new bamboo silk Japanese Kimono Style Jackets. You will be able to find them on our website from the 21st March. The weather has been awful which means poor light so I haven’t been able to take any good photos. Fingers crossed!

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. This is a day when we can pause and celebrate the amazing women (mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers, mother figures and mentors) whose love has shaped our lives in all sorts of ways. We have some lovely Mother’s Day gifts on our website. Claire has made some gorgeous new Japanese knot bags which are fully reversible so you get two bags for the price of one….perfect. Above are two beautiful examples. Claire has also made some fab totes and zippered pouches. Have a look below. If you are a newsletter subscriber, you can use your exclusive 10% discount to get an extra treat for you.

Have a great week x Suzanne & Claire

It’s the Weekend!

Hello everyone. I hope you have all had a lovely week. We had a lovely time at The Welsh Quilt and Sewing Show last weekend. I have cut out two kimonos in beautiful bamboo silk we bought there. The fabric is gloriously bright and so unique. We couldn’t resist so ended up buying both patterns. Which is your favourite? Claire loves the marble effect silk but I love the floral pattern but I wouldn’t say no to either. I will be sewing them up over the weekend ready for our first fair of the year. Next Saturday and Sunday we will be part of The Vintage and Makers Market at The Swansea Waterfront Museum.

Next Thursday 5th March (I can’t believe we will be in March next week!) is International World Book Day. Both Claire and I are very passionate about reading. I love this charity and what they do to promote a love of books and reading. Do you or your children dress up for the day? What are your favourite characters? Our totes make fabulous book or magazine bags. We have a lovely selection of designs on our website.

Have a great week and Happy St Davids Day to all our lovely Welsh customers. Lots of love Suzanne & Claire x

Welsh Quilt Show

This blog is a little late due to Sue and myself visiting the new Welsh Quilting & Sewing Show that took place in Builth Wells this Friday and Saturday!

We had a lovely time looking at all the lovely fabrics, haberdashery as well as the show quilts on display. We admit there was some fabric purchased - some for us personally and some for Sister Makes ! There will definitely be some new knot bags at our next fair in March with some of the lovely new fabrics purchased.

The photo above shows Sue next to one of the lovely show quilts by Sue Jennings. Her quilts were fantastic and very beautiful. Our Sue got lots of comments about her beautiful coat too!

It’s the Weekend!

Hello everyone. Happy Valentine’s Day. I hope you have been spoilt by the love of your life. How has your week been? Shrove Tuesday also known as Pancake Day is next week….17th February. Are you team sweet or team savoury. I love traditional flavours like lemon juice and sugar. I love pancakes but I’m not very good at making them or flipping them! We have lovely homeware at Sister Makes that would make your pancakes sing. There are some lovely unique table runners and placemats. Have a look on our website for lots of inspiration.

We’ve got our first market….7th & 8th March at the Swansea Waterfront Museum. It is the Vintage and Makers Market run by the lovely Kevin & John at Cow and Ghost Vintage. We will be there Saturday and Sunday so come and say hello if you are popping in for a nose. It’s free to entry and there will be lots of fabulous stalls full of goodies to tempt you.

Have a fab weekend and I will see you next week x Sue

February is Here!

Well where did January go? February is already here!

Hubby is happy - February means lots of sport! Not just the football but the Winter Olympics and his absolute fav The Six Nations Rugby!

I meanwhile, have still been working on my scrap ‘management’… I would say I am probably only about 1 tenth of the way through… Its amazing what you can make from scraps though - anything from lovely patchwork totes and zipper pouches to clothes. The waistcoat pictured was made from tiny scraps, some as small as a thumbnail, sewn on to a fabric back. This was my part in the making and then Sue made this ‘new’ fabric into the actual waistcoat! A true Sister Makes!

It’s The Weekend!

Hi can you believe it’s 1st February tomorrow! Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. We have some lovely gifts for your loved ones…..from heart rag wreaths to gorgeous Japanese knot bags. There is something for everyone. How will you celebrate the 14th February?