Val: Tumbling blocks are a traditional favourite and often done over papers; it is based on the light/medium/dark theme to give dimension. In this short video our Jennie shows you how to make this pattern without papers and shows you the technique for insetting the seam, which works for both machine and handwork. One of the quilts on display at the current V&A Exhibition shows a scrap version of this - so now you can make your own!
Val: Well what a GREAT day we all had yesterday at this exhibition and I'm rushing to share it with you just in case you can fit in a visit - it ends tomorrow Sat 5th June at 7pm. The Mall galleries are just by Admiralty Arch in central london; the content of the show is breathtaking and very varied. If you can't get there, don't despair as you will be able to see much of it with us and it will be showing in August; so whether you get there or view it with us you are in for a treat; these girls push the textile envelope to new boundaries.
Val: Interesting who you can meet in a garage forecourt. I was on my way yesterday morning to a sewing day with friends at a location in Wimbledon, SW London and on the way stopped at the garage for an early cappucino. My dark blue Volvo now has the www.Justhands-on.tv written across it and because of this I was approached!!!
Jennie: Well ... our Valerie has eventually got to France - short vacation there - she was off to Lanzerroti (spelling!!) but planes not flying so had to cancel - this is second time this trip has been cancelled - last was due to snow! Anyway with luck she is languishing in France enjoying the lovely weather- I have been left in charge!
Running a little late this month and I'm going to [...]
Val; Jennie and I spent a really LOVELY day at this delightful quilt shop in N.Somerset; De and Chris made us all, and that includes the boys from Bizview.tv, most welcome and we had a really FULL day filming lots of stuff to share with you later - including a workshop with Judi Mendlessohn - and an interesting insight into how to layer-up a fullsize quilt and film about their Gammill Long Arm Quilting machine with the Intelliquilter.
Val: As well as viewing the amazing quilts on display, we stopped by and spoke to the girls at Step by Step Patchwork, famour for their superb range or Japanese fabrics; Strawberry Fayre were there with Jennie's Beach Hut jelly roll quilt and their amazing range of plain fabrics; and we said hello to Jo from Villavincrafts who not only runs a shop but also has some holiday cottages - so a great place to go for a retreat maybe (midnight shopping maybe!!) - all coming soon.
Val: what a great weekend; went down to the quilt show in Exeter run by Grosvenor Shows and got some great films of quilts, traders and the young Joshua Patton (aged 6) who entered his small quilt into the SouthWest Quilters challenge. We stayed in a great B&B at Payhembury - Yellington Farm (www.yellinghamfarm.co.uk) - which is part of the Devon Farms programme; under 30 mins from the show and the breakfast was to die for (the boys from Bizview tv work better on full tummies I've found!).
Val: Mandy Shaw shows us how to create festive bunting for your home (or garden or any reason at all) and Jennie Rayment gives us tips on how to make 3D patchwork flying geese units; these only have ONE seam and NO triangles - how great is that.
Add a little pzzazz to your otherwise ordinary t-shirt.
We have a really exciting and packed 4 weeks of [...]
Val: more weekend patchwork fun with Helen Deighan and her braiding discs - they do look like fun and also Mini Mosaics with Paula Doyle - what a great idea; you will definitely want to go and try this patchwork idea out as soon as possible.