Val: Dave, Matt and I had a wonderful day on last Sunday (14th) filming at the Festival and here are just some of the items we got on film: The Lace Collection from the Prague Patchwork Meeting who represent the most prestigious platform for quilters from all over the Czech Republic. This was the first time that the complete collection had been on show outside the Czech Republic.
Val: Foldy Rolly Patchwork Pzzazz - as always a good read; twelve great projects and easy-to-follow pics at each stage with lots of colour (both in the projects and in the book!) and you can take advantage of a special introductory price together with free p&p within the UK as we have featured it as this month’s Book of the Month https://www.justhands-on.tv/shopping/category/12/
Val: Christina Henri who runs this programme won't be at Festival of Quilts this year but there will be a collection box for her bonnets near the Registration Point so you can drop them off there. If you don't know what I'm talking about you can watch the video of last year's Festival and meet Christina and learn more about her memorial to the lost women who were transported to Tasmania and Australia.
Val: Just a reminder that the final part of this sampler block was uploaded at the beginning of July; if you are taking part you do need to download any remaining instructions this weekend as the BOM tab will be removed during our facelift. This is no longer available as a part-work but the pattern can be purchased in the shopping pages.
Val: Jennie and I are busy working on a new medallion style block of the month with georgeous fabrics selected from the Rosebud Fayre designed by Andover Fabrics and distributed in the UK by Makower (the Henley Studio) and kindly donated by them.
We will be filming the various stages at the end of August so that you will be able to see step-by-step how the quilt is made.
Val: My friend Valerie and I decided that we neededa day out and what better excuse that to visit a quilt shop. Pauline and Sarah (Pauline's Patchwork) moved from Brewers Quay in Weymouth into their new shop in Poundbury back in January. I managed to find directions from GOoglemaps but interestingly enough Poundbury is not marked on the recent traditional maps - it can be found on the western edge of Dorchester (Dorset) and is actually more of a development (and work in progress judging by all the diggers still there) than a village. A number of small artisan shops surround Pauline's and there are several really lovely places to eat.
A team of 4, headed up by husband Stuart, joined in the fundraising golf day at Richmond Golf course to raise money for Momentum. Here is a pic of the four (the front view isn’t pretty!) the day was a huge success and raised more than £5,000 for the charity. For more information you can go to their site www.moment-um.org
Our weekend get together at Dunford House in Midhurst was, if I say it myself, a great success. There was a great deal of laughter and not only during the quiz and Jennie's talk which included various layers of clothing being taken off (!)but there was also a lot of quilting and patchwork done; Jennie's class got to grips with the 3D effect and inset Y seam and Sarah's class beavoured away making jelly roll quilts like they were going out of fashion - and several were layered quilted and bound!!! and my group got to grips with UFO's.
Dear Valerie and Jennie I thought you might like to see the quilt I made for my Niece’s wedding present, it is curved pieced rather than appliqued and based on a quilt I saw in a book by Judy B Dales. Kind regards Marie
I do so love it when the younger generation get involved and their contributions and of such a high standard too. Quilt for Mrs Brodie: Children at Kingswood Primary School in Gloucestershire won the Village Fabrics Award for Under-16 Group Entry at the Quilts UK show in Malvern during May with a quilt made for their former headteacher. Mrs Carol Brodie retired from her role as headteacher in December after 26 years at the school, but the gift of the quilt made by the children came as a complete surprise to her.
Lots of our contributors were found this weekend at the National Patchwork Championships at the Sandown Racecourse, Esher Surrey – Mandy Shaw (whose pinkeeper workshop went up this month) , Sue from Daisy Chain, Claire from Hannah’s Room, The Stitch Witch (Lynette Harris who has given us a great tip about using the twin needle when stitching bias stained glass patchwork),Pauline’s Patchwork, Hilary of The Silk Route (contribution coming soon), Maggie Davies, Sylvia Critcher, Helen Deighan, with her multicoloured outfit: Dawn Cameron-Dick (who has done the brilliant lecture on threads and needles for us as well as the Invisible Machine Applique technique; her new Pocket Tutor book is now available) , Colouricious – the list goes on!
Val: Popped along to see the graduate showcase and it was really amazing; what a great reflection of the quality of work that can be achieved under excellent tutillage and in the Foundation Degree course the results are so very diverse without any compromise on quality. For more details of all courses visit www.royal-needlework.org.uk /learn www.royal-needlework.org.uk /learn