Very Berry Handmade

Very Berry Handmade is gradually winding down. Perhaps you noticed! You can still find me on Instagram at @msaliburdon if you'd like to stay in touch. I can't afford to maintain the blog in the way I'd like to, so it is currently unavailable. If you have a particular post you'd like to access (if you are halfway through a pattern or you have a favourite recipe or something) do feel free to email veryberryhandmade@gmail.com and I will send you the info, or send a message via this page. :-) :-) Thanks for all the good times!

My destash of quilting fabrics has started! Fabrics are moving fast so don't forget to pop along to Instagram to see if there's anything you fancy. If you are not an IG person you could always set up a private account for a short time.. https://www.instagram.com/veryberrydestas h/

Happy new year lovely Very Berry friends. I am going to be having an epic fabric destash throughout January - if you are interested in picking up some bargains, including Liberty lawn and wool tweed, do follow my Destash account on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/veryberrydestas h/

Are you a stationery obsessive like me? Hoping Santa will bring you a lovely new notebook and pens....? In which case you might like my uni-ball pen giveaway, now open on my blog. Just leave a comment on the blog post to be in with a chance of winning. And you can enter the uni-ball snow globe competition too.. https://wp.me/p11YdZ-5wZ

I completely forgot to tell you that last week I published a tutorial to make a Christmassy mug rug. Do you know about mug rugs? They're like oversized coasters with room for a little snack as well as your cuppa. And they're great fun to make. :-) https://veryberryhandmade.co.uk/…/tutor ial-applique-christ…/

A Sunday bake for you... :-) Ginger and white chocolate blondies. They are triple-delicious, as my husband would say, and a very useful bake for the festive season. https://veryberryhandmade.co.uk/…/recip e-ginger-white-choc…/

Love kawaii? Or know someone who does? I have this super-cute pencil case for sale at £11 (including UK postage) - it would make a fab Christmas gift. 🐼🐼🐰🐰

How do your store your scraps? I use 9 litre Really Useful Boxes and organise them by colour plus a bit of sub-organising by fabric type (i.e. I keep linen separately!). Sounds impressive doesn't it? I won't mention the big box labelled 'for sorting!'.

10% off everything in my Etsy store today, including my PDF patterns. :-) https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/veryberryhan dmade

To celebrate Small Business Saturday, I have 10% off everything in my Etsy shop today and tomorrow, including my downloadable sewing patterns. Thanks so much as ever for your support. :-)

I'm going to be making the Christmas pudding this weekend - I always use the recipe from Delia Smith's Christmas book. Do you eat Christmas pudding at your house? What's your favourite recipe?

Great sentiments... only don't ask me for a commission because I would cry.... ;-)

I've been experimenting with Rocky Road recipes - using gluten-free biscuits and adding a little bit of ginger too. I really hope you like the recipe! https://wp.me/p11YdZ-5w6

It's another 'Listen of the Week' - this week it is Brené Brown on YouTube. https://veryberryhandmade.co.uk/…/liste n-of-the-week-3-bre…/

It's Stoke Artists Census Day today, with hourly updates from artists working in Stoke. I'm just arriving at my studio, need to crack on with prep for our Makers Market on Sunday. #acavaspodestudios #stokeontrent #sotaaw #stokeartistatwork #creativeinstoke #sot2021

Just finished the 'Absolute Beginners' course and would thoroughly recommend it. Get to grips with your machine with help from a really supportive & friendly tutor; gain confidence in basic sewing skills and get a sense of achievement from completing the ring binder project during the workshop.

Thanks for a lovely morning.

I've done 4 workshops with Ali, simple cushion, tote bag, 9 square patchwork cushion and fabric basket. All very informative, relaxed and very enjoyable. I would highly recommended these workshops to people of all abilities.

I have been for an individual class with Ali and had an absolutely fantastic time - never used a sewing machine before and managed to make a lovely bag with plenty of assistance! Learned loads, Ali is very friendly and can't do enough to help and it was brilliant value for money can't recommend highly enough �

I attended a fabulous class with Ali recently to make a tote bag. This was held in the workroom at Hollies Haberdashery. Ali provided lovely clear instructions and demonstrated useful techniques for zip insertion and bag assembly. The class was relaxed and fun with plenty of tea, coffee and biscuits. The workroom is airy and bright and the shop is stocked with lovely things. Thanks to Ali and to Sarah who runs the shop. Hope to attend another class soon!