Craft Workshops in Singapore

Posted on December 29, 2015 by admin

Hope everyone had a blessed and joyful Christmas! It has been a crazy two months for me fulfilling Christmas orders, participating in craft markets, conducting craft workshops in Singapore and more! Not forgetting that it is also the December school holidays and I need to find activities to entertain the kids too! I’ve been wanting to update my blog with the craft workshops in Singapore that I’ve been conducting but it has been such a mad house I couldn’t find the time to do so. Since I’m taking my well-deserved break now, it’s time I update everyone on what I have been up to.

Becoming a sewing and craft instructor was not something in my agenda, but something that’s God sent! Over the past year, I’ve been getting queries on whether I am conducting sewing and craft workshops in Singapore. Gradually, it started to dawn on me that this could be my calling, apart from selling my handmade creations. In addition, I have always enjoyed teaching and sharing my knowledge with people around me. Starting sewing and craft workshops in Singapore thus looked like the next natural thing to do.

It all started in June this year when friends from a Facebook sewing group asked if I could conduct applique classes. I had wanted to start a class for four or five people but it ended up over-subscribed with more than 50 people on the waiting list! This really kick-started a whole string of craft workshops in Singapore, with my first class in July. Since then, there were requests for other sewing and craft classes such as plush toy making, patchwork, basic sewing, tote bag making and more, which kept me busy for the past few months!

So far, I’ve been conducting classes at home, students’ homes, Spotlight and other craft events. Both private and small group classes are available. I’ve been conducting craft workshops in Singapore for the past six months and I wanted to share that the journey has been wonderful and most enriching! It has made my crafting journey more meaningful and fulfilling, as it allowed me to be more engaged with like-minded people in the crafting community. In a nutshell, it has raised my self-esteem and confidence as a “professional” crafter whom students look up to. I enjoy every single moment in a class, whether it’s for one or ten students, and always look forward to the next one. I guess the most fulfilling part of being an instructor is seeing my students grow from strength to strength and knowing how my sharing has made them progress in their crafting journey.

Check out some photos of the craft workshops in Singapore I had conducted over the past few months:

Owl Applique Pillow Workshop
Owl applique pillow class in session

Hand applique of owl pillow

Even the gentlemen are having fun sewing!

We have kids joining us too

Completed applique pillow by student
Owl Plush Toy Workshop
Owl plush class in session

Hand applique of owl’s body

Stuffing the owl plush toy

Final stitching of owl plush toy

Completed owl plush toys by students
Tote Bag Workshop
Tote bag workshop in session

Completed Star Wars tote bag by student
Patchwork Pillow Workshop
Student at work on pillow top

Patchwork pillow class in session

Pressing of pillow top

Piecing of patchwork pillow top

Students busy at work on their patchwork pillows

Completed patchwork pillow by student
Christmas Ornaments Workshop
Putting Mr Snowman together

Christmas ornaments workshop in session

Sewing of snowman ornament

Completed Christmas ornaments
Christmas Tree Pillow Workshop
Applique is done and ready for final assembly

Assembly of Christmas applique pillow

Completed Christmas applique pillow by student

In 2016, I will be introducing a series of new craft workshops in Singapore such as basic quilting, drawstring bag, felt ornaments, mug rugs and more . These are what I will be teaching in January 2016:

1. Owl Plush Toy Workshop
Date: 3 & 17 January 2016 (Sunday)
Time: 10am to 1pm
Venue: Spotlight@Plaza Singapura
Fee: $70 (2 sessions)

2. Basic Sewing Workshop
Date: 5 January 2016 (Tuesday)
Time: 10am to 1pm
Venue: Spotlight@Plaza Singapura
Fee: $50

3. Owl Applique Pillow Workshop
Date: 12 January 2016 (Tuesday)
Time: 10am to 2pm
Venue: Spotlight@Plaza Singapura
Fee: $50

Date: 18 January 2016 (Monday)
Time: 10am to 2pm
Venue: Tanglin Halt (near Commonwealth MRT)
Fee: $50

4. Flowers Mug Rug Workshop
Date: 15 January 2016 (Friday)
Time: 2pm to 7pm
Venue: Spotlight@Plaza Singapura
Fee: $60

5. Felt Animal Keychains/Brooches Workshop
Date: 16 January 2016 (Saturday)
Time: 10am to 1pm
Venue: The Art Faculty@Enabling Village (near Redhill MRT)
Fee: $35

Date: 20 January 2016 (Wednesday)
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Venue: The Art Faculty@Enabling Village (near Redhill MRT)
Fee: $35

Date: 30 January 2016 (Saturday) – CNY-themed
Time: 10am to 1pm
Venue: The Art Faculty@Enabling Village (near Redhill MRT)
Fee: $35

6. CNY Pineapple Coaster Workshop
Date: 27 January 2016 (Wednesday)
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Venue: The Art Faculty@Enabling Village (near Redhill MRT)
Fee: $35

7. Owl Mug Rug Workshop
Date: 29 January 2016 (Friday)
Time: 2pm to 7pm
Venue: Spotlight@Plaza Singapura
Fee: $60

8. Patchwork Pillow Workshop
Date: 31 January 2016 (Sunday)
Time: 10am to 2pm
Venue: Spotlight@Plaza Singapura
Fee: $60

For more details, visit my Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/madewithcotton/ or https://lessonsgowhere.com.sg/lesson-providers/the-cotton-shoppe. Visit http://madewithcotton.com/sewing-classes-in-singapore/ for more information on my workshops. If you are interested to join my craft workshops in Singapore, email me at vivien@thecottonshoppe.com or SMS/Whatsapp 9337-7872. My workshops size is kept small for better interaction, and spots tend to be filled up rather quickly. Register early to avoid disappointment! Hope to see you in class in 2016!

Mug Rugs from Pam

Posted on May 25, 2014 by admin

I received the beautiful mug rugs from my swap partner Pam a few days ago, which made their way safely to Singapore from USA! It was so exciting to receive the mug rugs, and boy was I amazed when I opened the package to see loads of other goodies which Pam sent over! There were two packs of Hannah Montana fabric squares, one pack of charm squares from my favourite Figtree Quilts collection “Gypsy Rose” and a notepad with a pen. It was so sweet and thoughtful of her. God does wonderful things connecting two people from miles away. It’s just so amazing how Pam even knows I’m a fan of Figtree Quilts!

I love the colour combinations, so pastel and very suitable for spring. Pam’s workmanship and quilting skills are just excellent, from the way little details like the small butterfly and lines on the basket are sewn.

Mug rugs and goodies from Pam

Springtime mug rugs from Pam

Growing flowers mug rug

Flower basket mug rug

I love how she used embroidery to sew the quilt label, so professionally and uniquely done!

Quilt Labels

This is my best swap so far, as the previous two didn’t turn out very well. Very glad to know a new friend from this swap! I hope she receives my mug rugs soon, and will like what I’ve made for her.

Springtime Mug Rugs are Completed

Posted on May 24, 2014 by admin

After working on the mug rugs for a few weeks, they are finally completed! I hope I had more time to work on them though and improve on the colour combinations. It’s a pity I was really ill over the past few weeks and had to cope with the children’s exams at the same time, and could not dedicate more time and efforts into making better ones. In addition, I had to meet the deadline of shipping the mug rugs over by 13 May.

Check out the mug rugs which I sent to my swap partner Pam from USA early this week. I’ve just received the beautiful mug rugs she made for me with loads of goodies, which I’ll share in my next blog post. Hope she’ll receive my mug rugs soon.

The Springtime Mug Rugs are completed

Growing Flowers Mug Rug

Flower Basket Mug Rug

Quilt label for Growing Flowers Mug Rug

Quilt label for Flower Basket Mug Rug

I also spent some time to sew a cardholder for Pam. I hope she likes it!

A little goodie for Pam – namecard holder

Progress of Mug Rug Swap

Posted on May 13, 2014 by admin

My progress wasn’t as fast as expected for the two mug rugs as I’ve been ill since last week and was suffering from back pain, which doesn’t allow me to sew for long periods. Having to cope with tutoring the kids for their mid-year exams didn’t help too.

I’m however working on the hand appliques for the Flower Basket Mug Rug top now, as I’ve completed the Growing Flowers Mug Rug top last week. What’s left is actually to quilt and bind the mug rug.

I’ve unfortunately missed the deadline to mail the mug rugs which is today! I’ve just emailed my swap partner to explain the situation and hope she understands. Working on it really hard now, so I can mail it out by next week.

Here’s some snapshots on what I’ve completed so far:

Completed Growing Flowers Mug Rug Top

Flower Basket Mug Rug Appliqued Top

Springtime Flowers Mug Rug Swap

Posted on May 2, 2014 by admin

Michele from the Quilting Gallery has organised another exciting mug rug swap and I’m in! This time, the theme is “Springtime Flowers” and the designs are so pretty! My partner is Pam from USA and I’m happy to be sewing for her. Her favourite colour is purple and I’m trying my best to have different shades of purple on the mug rug. Thank god purple is also one of my favourite spring colours and I’ve lots of purple stash lying around.

I finally found time to start on the mug rugs this week and I’m halfway done with the first mug rug. The applique pieces have been ironed on and I hope to finish my hand applique for the top this weekend.

My Little Quilter

Posted on November 1, 2013 by admin

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been imparting my sewing and quilting skills to Edith, who has lots of time on her hands after the school exams. I thought a mug rug would be something interesting and easy to start with and she jumped at this idea. She chose the mistletoe mug rug design which I purchased from Etsy recently. There’s reasonable piecing involved and appliqued design didn’t seem too tedious for a beginner.

The sewing lessons were seamless and much easier than I imagined! She didn’t gawk or withdraw in fear at the machine, but picked things up pretty quickly!

This is what she had completed last Sunday afternoon.

Mug rug top

Mug rug with applique

She’s working on the mistletoe appliques right now, and very soon, we’ll be working on the quilting and binding, which I hope will not prove to be too challenging!

This is such a nice item to make for Christmas, don’t you agree?

Mug Rugs are Completed!

Posted on March 7, 2013 by admin

Yeah….after a few weeks of working on my mug rugs, they are finally completed and will be on their way to my swap partner tomorrow! My partner is a lady from Australia and I do hope she likes them. I’ve been too bogged down with work and kids lately, had it not been Gary lending his hands to do the finishing touches (ie binding), I may not be able to make it for the deadline! Thank you darling!

I should give myself a pat on the back, this being my first try in doing appliques, and I think they didn’t look too bad! I do hope to try out machine applique sometime soon….if I could find the time to practice.

Here’s my final “masterpieces”: