National Flag mania
Flag mania seems to have hit the Home Dec market but you don't have to be traditional : here are some examples of other colourways:
Finding Ruby – the author of antique patchwork squares
By Jonathan Brown – Yorkshire Evening Post
Published on Wednesday 2 May 2012 06:30 A patchwork of people is piecing together craft mementos from a bygone era. Around 15 craft-loving volunteers have tasked themselves with stitching together 30 quilt squares, made in the 1930s, and finding out more about the women who signed them. The group came together after designer Jules Caton, from Ilkley, stumbled across the squares in a second hand shop in the Texan frontier town of Smithville last November.
Filming with Mary Gamester
We had a lovely day in the studio filming and meeting with Mary Gamester.
Mary is well known for her work with transfer paints and she was kind enough to do a short workshop for us using a snowflake template. We also took the opportunity to see lots more of Mary’s work, which she teaches not only at her own studio
https://www.the-gamesters.co.uk/MaryG/index.htm
but also around the country and she is part of the Missenden Abbey Summer School programme – so you can join her there.
Something for the Olympics
Something for the Olympics from the Pluto class at St.John Evangelist School, Islington; this was made by the students but under the watchful eye of Vicky Munday:
Filming quilt shows for you
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.
Recyled inspiration
here is a bag that Lyn made with Mandy's Carpet Bag pattern using lots of bits and pieces:
Superior Threads
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.
Petals with Jennie Rayment
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
I LOVE my new pins!
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!).
More films for Justhands-on.tv
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.
Guildford Quilters Exhibition – Clandon House
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.
Quilts for Momentum – Kingston upon Thames
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.