Hello Friday!

The Folly at Clyne Gardens

Hello everyone. The week has flown by. How was your Easter? I hope you had a chance to get outdoors and dodge the showers. I managed to get a few walks in and stay dry. Today Rhod & I went to Clyne Gardens in Blackpill, Swansea. They never disappoint whatever season we are in. The colours were lovely and vibrant making us smile. There was even some sunshine! Don’t forget we have got our first workshop on 11th April at The Whirlybird Cafe in Swansea Airport. Our next one is Friday 17th May which will be a crochet workshop. Posters to follow. After that, our workshops will be held on the 3rd Friday of every month. Claire has set up a dedicated workshop page on our website where you can find all the up to date information.

Learn to make a Granny Square at our May Workshop

I have been busy getting our April newsletter out. If you want to subscribe, it is easy, just click on our website link www.sistermakes.co.uk and go to the bottom of our front page and sign up. There is a great discount code which is only open to subscribers. Claire has been busy updating our website and has put links to all our stockists such as Adelante and Cortile Coffee. I have been working on some commissions. A lady liked our vintage floral print bags in Adelante and has asked if we can make her a waistcoat using her own vintage waistcoat to work from. I love working on something so personal that will be unique to her and also be sustainable as it will be using vintage fabric.

One of our new Japanese knot bags - make sure to have a look at our website as Claire has been busy - she has put together some beautiful prints

Have a great week x Suzanne

Hello Friday!

Happy Good Friday everyone. I hope you are all well and for those of you not working today you are enjoying the sunshine. Officially Spring has already started but Easter is early this year and it is still raining and cold so to me it feels like Spring is around the corner nearly with us. For me, spring time is all about renewal and embracing positive change. It’s such a hopeful time of year, a time of fresh beginnings and longer days to help us be inspired. When the sun is out my mood improves and I want to be outside amongst the blossom and blooming flowers.

Claire and I are so lucky where we live. We have lots of green spaces and beautiful parks. My favourite is Clyne Gardens. This time of year it is alive with cherry and apple blossom and lots of rhododendrons in so many different colours. Parks are so important for us physically and mentally whether you are 1 or 100. Hopefully the weather will let us get out and visit our local parks over Easter.

At Sister Makes we have been busy making bags and scarfs to take to Adelante in Mumbles. Her shop is a joy to the senses. Everytime I go in there is something new that grabs my eye. There is so much colour which is what Claire and I love as you know. We are also looking forward to our first workshop on April 11th. Come and join us for three hours of fun and you will go home with your own bespoke mini rag wreath. You can book by clicking on this link www.sistermakes.co.uk/workshops.

Have a lovely week x Suzanne

Happy Friday!

Claire & I in Malaga

Happy International Women’s Day!

Hello everyone. Happy International Women’s Day! To celebrate #InternationalWomen’sDay I want to not just put the spotlight on Sister Makes but on all you lovely women out there. You do amazing things every day. We come in all shapes and sizes and we all have an interesting story to tell. We need to be kind to each other and help empower each other in all that we do.

We have got our first market of 2024 tomorrow and Sunday. We are in The Waterfront Museum, Swansea Marina at The Vintage and Makers Market run by the fab Cow and Ghost team. We are very excited as we have got some new makes which we will be showcasing there and then we will be putting them on our website www.sistermakes.co.uk. I will put a sneaky photo on here for you. We have started to make kimono style jackets which look equally lovely paired with jeans or a little black dress. Pop in and say hello.

Our new kimono style jackets

They are unique and quirky but also so easy to wear. We hope you love them as much as we do.

Claire and I have just come back from Malaga where the weather was fab! There was sun, sun, sun and it was warm. I had forgotten what that feeling was like. Malaga is a great city with lots to see and do. It was a fab break and a chance to recharge our batteries. Spring is definitely on its way here in sunny Swansea. The daffodils are looking bright and sunny and the nights are getting lighter. Have a lovely week x Suzanne

Hello Friday!

Hello how has your week been? Happy St David’s Day. The daffodils are out and looking gorgeous. They make me think of Spring. The colour yellow always makes us feel warm and make us smile.

Our first Market is coming up soon. Come and join us if you can. We will be at The Vintage and Makers Market held in The Maritime Museum, Swansea Marina on Saturday 9th March and Sunday 10th March. There will be lots of fabulous stalls with great gift ideas for Mother’s Day and Easter. We will have some new items which we will be showcasing. I can’t wait to get some feedback. Have a look at our newsletter to see what they are.

Happy St David’s Day

Have a great week x Suzanne

Hello Friday!

A new fabric - certainly makes our Japanese Knot Bags pop

It’s a lovely gift for Mothers Day

Hello everyone how has your week been? At Sister Makes HQs we have been busy making and sewing. I have put a little taster of what we are up to on the front cover of our blog. All will be revealed in our March Newsletter! Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter. All our subscribers get a special discount each month. We have been dodging the showers. Yes it is still raining although there are signs of Spring all around us. The daffodils are looking lovely. They always make me feel happy. I think it is all the shades of yellow. It is so nice to see the seasons change and flowers starting to bloom. We enjoy Clyne Gardens when all the Magnolias and Camellias show their amazing colours. The Japanese love using flowers in their art including in their fabrics. We in turn love using these fabrics in our makes. Talking of fabric, we have some great new patterns which Claire has transformed into some Japanese Knot and Rice Bags.

Had a great day in Cowbridge today. We went to take some stock to Cortile Coffee but we always end up spending a few hours having lunch and looking around the independent stores. There is something for everyone. We always love an excuse for coffee and cake. Have a fantastic week x Suzanne

Some of our stock at Cortile Coffee

The colours really pop against the bare stone

Hello Friday!

Hello everyone. How has your week gone? Hope you have got lots of lovely things planned for the weekend. The weather is starting to feel a bit more spring like. I spotted some snowdrops when I was out for a walk. It is so lovely when you see the flowers starting to bloom.

Claire and I have been busy getting back into our sewing spaces. I am writing our newsletter. It will be going out on the first Friday of the month. I shall be sharing a peek of one of our new makes. We hope you like them as much as us. Part of what we will be making in 2024 will be tied to one of our passions which is quilting and we belong to Swansea Quilters. Claire and I are always inspired every time we go to meetings by the skills of the lovely ladies many of whom have been members for many years.

Red Heart Rag Wreath

A beautiful mixture of textures and colours make up this lovely heart shaped rag wreath.

Valentines Day is coming up on the 14th February. We still have some heart wreaths on our website. Check out our shop on www.sistermakes.co.uk/shop. There are also some lovely new Japanese knot bags which Claire has made. Leave our website open for your partners to see.

The Six Nations rugby tournament is due to start this weekend. Rugby is part of our Welsh DNA. We have some welsh themed knot bags which are great for being hands free when you are cheering your favourite team or celebrating with a drink or two!

Welsh Theme knot bag

Ideal for all you Welsh fans.

Have a lovely week. See you next Friday x Suzanne

Park Life…

We are very blessed in Swansea to have so many beautiful parks.

My favourite at this time of year is Clyne. I would love a bag in the colours of the blooms out at this time of year.