Happy New Year

What was your new year’s resolution- to make more time for sewing? Use up more fabric from your stash? start a new quilt? Well we hope we can help with two of those three during the coming months!

Inspiration

Today’s inspiration comes from Linda Seward who is a textile author and quilt artist;  we join her in her workspace which has been converted from her old kitchen so now she puts the crockery cupboards to good use storing fabric, and the walls are used to hang quilts and a design wall.

Helpful Equipment

Paula Doyle gives us some helpful tips and guidance on how to use the Shape Cut rulers to great effect; these are cleverly designed rulers that guide your rotary cutter in pre-cut grooves and seem to be particularly helpful if you need to cut sitting down.

Getting Organised for 2015

Did you get a new diary for Christmas? Well if not the Quilters Diary is on special offer this month as our book of the month – not only free p&p for the month in the UK but also reduced in price; this is a week-at-a-view diary and each week has a great project as inspiration for you.

 

 

Quilting Retreats/Classes

In the Classified section there are a number of great quilting weekends as well as classes;  there are a whole range offered by Anglia Leisure Learning in Birmingham, Essex and Suffolk;

The Royal Hotel in Bridlington also offers a great range (both Valerie and Jennie will be teaching there in 2015 as well as Jacqueline de Jonge from Holland)

PLUS Justhands-on.tv offer two getaways for you this year:

Dunford House, West Sussex from 12-14 June 2015 with Jennie Rayment, Valerie Nesbitt and Sarah Soward

Sewing Weekend near Guildford Surrey on 3 & 4 October 2015 with Valerie

Blog – The Best of 2015

With over 400 films loaded up on 2015 there may be some that you missed;  the blog includes not only the top 15 but also some suggestions from Valerie that you might have missed.

Gift Packs

There are still a few packs left.  You’ll find them in the Membership section of the Shop. They’re great value and are available even if you are a monthly subscriber as the Membership Fairy will work her magic and adjust your membership accordingly.

 

 

Happy Sewing

Valerie & Jennie

https://www.justhands-on.tv/

New this month Tips and techniques Easy Fabric Sudoku tip from Jennie Rayment Great little tip from Jennie and you don’t even have to work out the puzzle!

Out and about A visit to the Welsh Quilt shop of Jen Jones in Ceredigion where she keeps her wonderful collection of over 1000 old welsh quilts and blankets.

Tips and techniques Helpful tips when using template plastic from Jennie Rayment Templates are very useful when creating patchwork by hand and Jennie helps you avoid some of the pitfalls.

Tips and techniques Make bias seams really easily with no gadgets a great idea from Jennie which could also be used for your celtic designs.

Workshops Really Fast and simple bag with Jennie A very fast and simple Hand Bag with Jennie with a flat bottom – great for kids too.

Workshops Star block with Jennie Rayment This 8 pointed star block has been extracted from Rosebud Fayre block of the month series

Workshops Simple two tone unit with Valerie Nesbitt How many variations do you think there are/ can you make?

Workshops Paper Bird with Angela Daymond Once you have watched this your old magazines will never look the same again!

Out and about London Quilter’s Exhibition ‘Coming Home’ – Opening Ceremony This exhibititon was officially opened by invited guest Tracy Chevalier (author and now quilter!).

Out and about Interview with Tracy Chevalier Tracy talks about her first quilt which is on show at the London Quilters Exhibition ‘Coming Home’