Well I Know What I'll Be Watching On The Telly From April!!!

Book to accompany the BBC 2 TV Show

Well my Easter time will be filled with more treats than mere chocolate this year... yes indeedy there's telly-visual sewing treats to be had my stitching chums :)!!

Read all about it here: The Great British Sew Off - is sewing the new baking? and here: After Bake Off's success, The Great British Sewing Bee will revive the fortunes of another traditional craft, predict the show's judges

Filmed last October, the show will be on air for 4 weeks, and features eight sewers. The challenges should be interesting if it follows in the footsteps of The Great British Bake Off (made by the same production company).

P.S. See if you can spot anyone you know below ;) ?

Image: LOVE PRODUCTIONS

Great British Sewing Bee starts on Tuesday 2nd April, at 8pm on BBC2. The accompanying book by Tessa Evelegh is out too.

So, How Will I Read My Favourite Blogs Now?...

Image Source: https://play.google.com

Google Reader is being retired folks! From 1st July 2013 it will be no more (report in the Guardian here).

Read more about it here: Powering Down Google Reader  and here for How can I download my Reader data? 


Quote from Google's own official blog:

"We have just announced on the Official Google Blog that we will soon retire Google Reader (the actual date is July 1, 2013). We know Reader has a devoted following who will be very sad to see it go. We’re sad too.

There are two simple reasons for this: usage of Google Reader has declined, and as a company we’re pouring all of our energy into fewer products. We think that kind of focus will make for a better user experience.

To ensure a smooth transition, we’re providing a three-month sunset period so you have sufficient time to find an alternative feed-reading solution. If you want to retain your Reader data, including subscriptions, you can do so through Google Takeout."

So... it looks like I'll be moving the feeds for following everyone else's lovely blogs across to Bloglovin instead :)

(Although I will really, really miss all the stuff I tagged by topics and folders in Google Reader - so I made need to research other alternative to Bloglovin *sigh*.) Anyone have some good suggestions for other blog-readers? (It must be able to use on PC + Kindle Fire HD + Android SmartPhone... so I can sync my reader across all formats :) !)

Apparently CNet has posted up five alternative products, but we can’t see anything that’s going to be as useful as Reader.

For what it’s worth, this petition has been set up: Google: Do not remove Google Reader on July 1, 2013. 

P.S. You can Follow my blog with Bloglovin

    EDIT!!!:

   Thanks to Cidell's excellent suggestion I checked out the Feedly website - and check out
   this link Transitioning from Google Reader to feedly. Quote: "When Google Reader shuts
    down, feedly will seamlessly transition to the Normandy back end. So if you are a Google
   Reader user and using feedly, you are covered: the transition will be seamless." Unquote

I think my back-up plan will be to export to a couple of new reader-formats and see which ones I like the best :)!

The Spring Knitting & Stitching Show 2013: 14th - 17th March

My lovely Hubby just emailed me this link to a discounted price offer to tickets at the The Spring Knitting and Stitching Show 2013 for just £7 (yay - I do love my Hubby :)!).

The TimeOut offer must be purchased before midnight on Monday 11th March 2013.

Time Out says...

Those in need of inspiration (or raw materials) for a new craft project should head down to this large-scale knitting and stitching fair. Around 150 exhibitors will be selling specialist craft supplies, patterns and books, as well as ready-made crafts for impatient makers. The show also includes a gallery of patchwork quilts, signing sessions with craft book authors, workshops in knitting and crochet and a dressmaking demonstration area.

Usually pre-booked tickets cost £12.50 (bought direct), so this offer works out as a 44% saving... which is even better value when you know that on the door tickets will cost you £15 (that makes this offer a 53% against tickets bought on the door).

The show runs Thursday 14th - Sunday 17th March 2013
 Olympia Two and Olympia West Hall, London
 Open 10.00am to 5.30pm daily, closes 5pm Sunday.

The main entrance is on Hammersmith Road, London W14 8UX, the show will also be using the entrance on Blythe Road.

I'm going to be there on Sunday 17th (I'm lucky - it's only an hour on the tube from where I live)... and I've already booked myself a place onto 2 of the Dressmaking Factory mini workshops... Zips, and Welt and Bound Button Hole.

Read more about the The Spring Knitting and Stitching Show here.

Magnetically Drawn In...

...gravity defying, for only £1 at Tesco's ;)...

Pretty strong magnet huh :) ?

But, what good is it in my sewing room huh?

Well if you drop a pin; let's say whilst you're sat at the sewing machine, and it rolls under the table out of reach you can do this!

 
No needles in this haystack

It saves me from doing what I hate - having to get up out of the seat, away from the machine and crawl around on my hands and knees to search out the errant pin LOL! 

 

Strangely - even though it's sold and labelled on the front of the packet as a magnetic product, the manufacturers see fit to warn you of the magnetic properties on the back, what's that all about huh? (It's kind of like warning people that a packet of nuts "May contain nuts".)

 

So, I bought 2... one for my cutting table and another to keep in a pen-pot next to my sewing machine and overlocker :)