Cutwork Poppy Workshop
Well I think I have found a new addiction thanks to Kathleen Laurel-Sage! Look what I made with her on Saturday - it was so much fun and so easy: I have always loved cutwork but add this to my love of the sewing machine - well say no more....Have my very own soldering iron on it's way and more kits to make!
Crazy quilt at Lady Sew & Sew
I was thrilled to see that my quilt is on display at Lady Sew & Sew as part of their Henley Arts Trail participation - obviously fabrics used are from their shelves! We were there over the weekend and also got to see quilts by Linda Seward and to meet Nel Watmore, who had a special exhibition on too.
Sewing Retreat at Denham Bucks
A weekend away sewing with like minded people and no responsibilities - what a great idea that is! Pictures by Matt Bigwood 15 ladies joined Valerie and Maggie at the Denham De Vere Hotel and you can see they were hard at work. They all worked on their own projects but there was inspiration in the form of quilts on the wall and a small shop of goodies provided by Creative Quilting.
Fine Cell Work exhibition
We spent a whole day filming this small but great exhibition that is being hosted by Lady Sew & Sew at Henley on Thames. Founded by Lady Anne Tree in 1997, Fine Cell Work trains men and women in prison to do high-quality, paid needlework in the long hours spent in their cells. Last night we were fortunate enough to meet up with and interview Tracy Chevalier who is a leading author and patron of Fine Cell work - indeed she commissioned a quilt entitled the Sleep Quilt which was made by 60 men and women from 9 different prisons - and this is on display in the exhibition.
A note from Juliet about Apple iPads and phones
Do you use an iPad or iPhone? Have you installed the latest update in the last few weeks of March? Well iOS 9.3.has a bug in it which has affected not only our website, but many other video websites too. When you try and watch a video, it may tell you that your privacy settings are stopping you from viewing the video.
Simply E-Z wth Jennie Rayment
Spent the day working with Jennie - I was the quilt slave! - and she the presenter working on a series of 'how to use' videos for the E-Z company/Simplicity. Had a very full and productive day and if you want to learn more about why we are looking through the cut-out heart - you'll need to keep watching!
Terial Magic Spray
So what's all the magic about? This product has been flying off our shelves so I decided to have a look and see why. Terial Magic is a spray on fabric stabilizer that washes out of your garment, quilt or art after it's finished; - it stablizes the fabric so that you can use it a little bit like paper - so cutting out shapes such as feathers or petals to create designs with your fabric scraps becomes very easy - how about giving this idea a try (pic taken from issue 41 of Homemaker); Terial Magic Spray: - has been created to prevent the fabric from fraying for 3D textile art - Stabilizes fabric ready for embroidery - even stretchy fabrics and then just washes out.
Stripey with Jennie Rayment
Another fantastic filming day with Jennie; Here is the delightful quilt that she is going to share with us and which will be run as a series - probably two rows a month (still to work out the details!) . The quilt is made from a selection of 36 x Fat 1/4m's which we will be able to offer you AND there is enough fabric left over to create the backing and do the binding - so excellent value; PLUS we will be offering you the opportunity of trying a new 80/20 wadding (well new to us and we love it!) We hope to have the Promo film up soon so keep watching!!
Disappearing Double 9 Patch
With yet more rugby on over the weekend (and more rain!) I thought it would be fun to try my own version of Jennie's Disappearing Double 9 Patch - well here it is; Very enjoyable and with the finished blocks being approx 20" square, you can make a quilt in no time flat! Might give it another go with different fabrics - need to rummage in the cupboard!
Valerie’s Crazy addiction
I just don't seem to be able to help myself - the bundles of fabric just keep talking to me and the quilt is so quick!! So here is another made with the new delivery of Michael Miller Fabrics 'Into the Deep' This quilt used 6 x Fat 1/'4s plus 1/2m for the border and can be found at Creative Quilting.
New Year – New Ideas
Spent a great day yesterday down in Emsworth with Jennie Rayment catching up on what she's been up to (busy lady!) and planning some great projects for 2016 -including one that we will be rolling out over a series a weeks to keep you interested - so keep watching. Here are a few of the projects that I managed to finish over the holidays and which will be winging their way to Momentum - the charity that supports children with life limiting illnesses, and their families, and is based in Kingston-upon-Thames.
Christmas Wreath idea from Paula Doyle
Don't you just love it when a simple idea works - this wreath is so simple and easy, and anyone can do it - so get the whole family involved! It's a no-sew project which uses up lots of plain fabric, plus a pinking blade for the rotary cutter and some tacky glue. click here for the pdf instructions: Thank you so much Paula for sharing Happy Christmas
Busy filming week
Well we were out and about this week to get some great stuff for you to view early in the 2016! We started off at Henley on Thames filming the textile exhibition Structures which Kate Findlay organised, and which was sponsored by Lady Sew & Sew (who are also based in Henley). Kate was our hostess for the day so we got some great insight into the pieces that were on display. AND we got to see her Hadron Collider Quilts again - so that was a lovely bonus.
Same pattern different quilts.
One of the enduring joys of patchwork I think is that the same pattern, using different fabrics ends up creating such a different quilt and I wanted to share with you my latest favourite scrap quilt. Here it is made up three times and just how different can they be! Their destination is the charity Momentum (based in Kingston upon Thames) who look after and suppport children with life limiting illnesses and their families, and also to St.George's children's ward (where one my students is the nurse in charge!) My thanks to Lynne Goldsworthy for the original pattern which is featured in the Sept/Oct 2015 issue of Quilting for You entitled Sherwood Forest - I did make one quilt using her instructions and then rescaled for the three above down to a 6" block.
How NOT to make half-square triangle units.
As someone who thinks the rotary cutter is the best bit of kit ever invented for patchworkers, I am open to any idea that is quick and easy. BUT that doesn't mean throwing caution to the wind and the current trend flooding the internet to completely ignore the grain of the fabric when making quilts, fills me with horror (and I know lots of quilts that will be horrific too!) The current issue of Love Patchwork & Quilting shows a stunning quilt on the cover designed by Amanda Castor, but when looking at the making instructions all the half-square triangle are off-grain, and then the blocks are set on point, and then the edges are cut - for a beginner this is a nightmare scenario and if you haven't someone to ask, you will wonder why everything goes wobbly when you try to quilt it - and applying spray starch is not the answer.
Quilt by Karen Nicol in the Habby Dept of Liberty’s London
Karen Nicol (one of our contributors) has a quilt now hanging up in Liberty's which you can all go and see; it's in the haberdashery dept. Here are some pics and more info: To celebrate their 140th anniversary, Liberty's chose Karen ,Lou Gardiner, Amanda Fatherazi, the Shoreditch Sisters and the Darlings to each produce a quilt. The shop was built from the wood of two ships so the theme for the quilts had to be sailors tattoos...brilliant!