Friday 20th April saw us spend the day with Sylvia Critcher and wander round the Hope Quilters Exhibition in Otford Kent; what a wonderful variety of quilts on display – everything from complete beginners to those with more advanced skills but all very enjoyable and so full of colour. Some really great scrap ideas that Sylvia has taught and as you would expect, lots of wonderful hand quilting examples on display.
here is a bag that Lyn made with Mandy's Carpet Bag pattern using lots of bits and pieces:
Makers of King Tut thread (as well as other brands) Dr.Bob has the title of Chief Threadologist for the company and is a wealth of information. They have various short videos running on their site and well worth a visit and a listen with your cup of coffee: www.superiorthreads.com/videos You'll find lots under 'Education' and videos The one I just watched was about doing the 'snap test' on older threads which is useful to know.
Take a look at the variation of Petal Play that Jennie created with the new black and white range of fabrics from Makower: if you can't find these fabrics in your local store try www.creativequiting.co.uk
Valerie: I am in love with my new pins - how sad is that! They have made all the difference to my accurate piecing of the double irish chain quilt that I've been busy making so that it can be used on our filming day in May. I have previously always used the flower head pins, and they are still great because they lie flat and I can pick them up, but these new Clover Glass Head Fine Pins are even better; they are finer and so don't disturb the fabric hardly at all at the seam junctions: give them a try (not cheap but then how a great patchworker has great tools!).
A great day was had on Monday filming new content for the site; we were joined by Myfanwy Hart https://www.myfanwyhart.co.uk/, textile artist and fabric dyer, who worked with her embellishing machine and a wonderful new product to texture fabric; Val Toombes of Silk Sacks www.silksacks.co.uk/ showed us how to make silk paper and also a delightful brooch, and Lynette Harris (our very own Stitch Witch) www.stitch-witch.org.uk did several small pieces to camera from folding tree decorations to designing your very own celtic pattern.
Due to be held 24th April onwards at Clandon House, an 18th-century Palladian mansion ( West Clandon, Guildford, GU4 7RQ)
spent a really lovely few hours doing a recci on the place for Dave and Matt as we will be there on 24th filming the event. The house is spectacular as are the grounds – it is now part of the National Trust so if you are a member of that you will be able to get into the exhibition for free.
The many and varied blocks made for the 'Be a Star' competition are now merging into quilts; here are the first two (as work in progress) Thank you to all who took part. Momentum is a registered charity established in 2004 which aims to help children (up to the age of 17) and the families of children, undergoing treatment for cancer in Surrey and South West London.
Textiles Fair Teddington – more detail Diversity Textile Group This was such a fun few hours and I met some really interesting artisans; of course there was Lois Bellew and Julie Winter from Diversity (who we have met before) (www.diversity-textileart.com )who are mixed media textile artists; Made in the United Kingdom Golden Trees Bridget Skanski-Such who creates pictures of golden trees and magical landscapes – https://www.bridgetskanskisuchtextiles.com/
mine is in shades of burgundy but there were some in blues and turquoises; Vintage fabrics and Stitch for Home Decoration Zara Day who trades as Rosemary Rose (www.rosemary-rose.co.uk) who takes pieces of antique and vintage fabric and adds to them her own hand and free machine embroidery to create stunning pieces including upholstered chairs;and here's one that was made for me: Woven silk scarves and finally Nick Ozanne who creates wonderful woven silk scarves in his studio in Thrupp – (www.letoariadne.com) wonderful as a gift for the adult male in your life.
Worth checking out – and certainly a date for next year.
Myra and Valerie met at the Textiles in Focus exhibition at Cottenham Village College and here is a picture of the bag that she was using - great use of selvedges Myra.
Some simple but easy covered buttons that I've either been given, made myself or found - but I'm sure that with the knowledge from the book Fabric Flowers (you'll find it on the book page of the site https://www.justhands-on.tv/shopping/category/4/ you too could make these
Part two of our visit last September goes up onto the site today so if you missed it you can wander round with us. Here is what one viewer wrote about part 1 : Dear Valerie and Jennie
Thanks for getting the Hever show video sorted so quickly. I have just had a wonderful day at Region 2 and come home to watch it.
From Lyn - thank you - and so pleased that you enjoyed the idea shared with us by Paula Doyle.