Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Sewing retreat

Hello everyone. I hope you've made the most of another Bank Holiday.
I've been very lucky and have been at a sewing retreat.  It's great fun - an opportunity to sew and socialise and learn new things. So here are some photos of what I got up to:

Still to be quilted but nice bright cushion covers
 A 'doodle cushion' which looks very complicated but as it was well thought out was actually as easy or as hard as you wanted to make it
 Disappearing nine patch with a lovely charm pack - Persimmon by Moda, plus a few of my own and the spotty fabric to pull it all together.
 Cut and come again - a workshop by Edwina Mackinnon which I keep on at. I really like the results.

And finally a bowl I am very very pleased with. The original fabric was truly horrendous and this is a massive improvement.
Now there was a catastrophic event on the retreat. My machine broke on Saturday morning - not even half way through. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Thank goodness for the amazing Sarah who saved me by letting me use her machine and for the fabulous Heather who let me finish the bowl on her machine.
I am very very very very happy to report the machine has been to see the fantastic Steve and the timing is now back in sync and I am a happy lady. DH is also happy as we had a number of talks about buying a new machine.
So thank you to all the lovely ladies at the retreat and for those who organised it.

Sunday, 10 May 2015

Workshop with Christine Plummer

Hello all.
So, yesterday I attended a workshop with the Leamington Embroiderers Guild with Christine Plummer. And, amazingly it's one of the first workshops where nearly all of us finished the item we were making - and those who hadn't finished were very near to.
Another added bonus was that if you wanted you could buy a kit! Happy days. So here is my offering:


Off to put all the stuff away ...

Monday, 4 May 2015

May Day Bank Holiday weekend and other stuff

Hello all.
In the UK Bank Holidays have a reputation for having rubbish weather, which suits the British as we love to moan about the weather.  This weekend has been a typical mixed bag. Friday was very nice and I managed to split a Japanese Anemone, and replant the parts. So I was pleased when it rained heavily yesterday as it saved me watering them in.
The weather also gave me the opportunity to spend the day tidying my sewing room. I have managed to tidy the cupboard. It's all labelled, and hopefully, it makes a bit more sense. I must say it was very satisfying. So no excuses now ....
I went to the British Quilt and Stitch Village at Uttoxeter Racecourse last weekend. It's a relatively low key event, well anything is compared to Festival of Quilts. There's a good mix of quilting, embroidery and traders. So, here are a few photos from the event:


 This is a beautiful example of embroidery. Beautiful muted fabrics and lots and lots of stitching.
 
I loved the Modern Quilts that were part of the competition. It was interesting to see how traditional techniques are being used in such a different way.


And this is a rather poor photo of a prize wining quilting by someone I know.
I also attended a design class with Jan Baker, who is a member of the Lutterworth Embroiderers Guild.
She was very patient with us all and I found it very useful to be reminded of the design process.  It's certainly something I'll look at again.  
Here are a few photos:
 So here is Jan, in full flow, providing direction and sharing her fabulous sketchbooks. 
Enjoy the rest of your Bank Holiday weekend.

New Project: plus an update Hello again! Yes it's only been just over a week and here's another blog post.  This might become...