Buttons, buttons, buttons!

Spent a happy half hour the other day dyeing some buttons using disperse dyes. Super speedy results and lovely deep colours. It's hard to believe they all started out white or cream!

So this inspired me to sort through my Big Tin of Buttons. They came from various places, including my mum's and my aunt's collections, so I sorted through them, ditched the rubbish, and put them in jars, in different colour groups. Then I covered the jar lids in fabric and lace trim. They now look great on my windowsill and I'll be more inclined to use them!

Lots of Comfy Cushions

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Feeling good because I made an orphan piece of patchwork into a cushion a few weeks ago. It was a foundation pieced experiment that languished in a bag for years. I love the way the black fabric sets off the bright colours.

 

Here's another one, made with fabulous fabric from The Dyebag (www.thedyebag.co.uk). It was designed for a day workshop on designing with leaves. All the students got on well and most made 2 cushion tops - a positive and a negative from their own original design. A few examples......

 

It's Official!

There we are - it's official! I was presented with my certificate at the weekend. Now I'm a proper accredited Quilt Judge!

Sampler Quilt course

I have just started running a Sampler Quilt course. This is the quilt, and so far, 6 enthusiastic people have begun. Exciting!

Lots of quilts!

There have now been 2 groups of students working on the Beginner's quilt. Every one looks very different. Some are closer to being finished than others, but hey - it's not a race! Here are some pictures....

I love the way people have made the design their own - changing the applique stars for hearts, leaves or squares - thank you everybody!

New venture!

I have started to run a beginner's course locally, and this is the project. 10 ladies are learning the basics of patchwork and quilting by making their own versions of this little quilt. It's surprising how people's fabric choices make the quilts look so different!

Time to say 'Aaaah'!!

These are 2 views of a baby quilt I just finished. The nursery theme is 'jungle' so these fabrics spoke to me! The new owner is just 4 weeks old!

I do like to make a pieced quilt back sometimes!

Applique block done

Just completed my block for the group's raffle quilt, which will be ready before Christmas, hopefully. The block is one by Robert Callaham -"Hamstel Road Memories" - and I've done this a few times before, but always for someone else's quilt. One day, I've promised myself I'll do one for me! I'm really getting into hand applique at the moment. Since I went to a couple of talks, one by Shirley Bloomfield, and the other by Clare Kingslake, I've learned a couple of things that have improved my work, like using silk thread for the stitching, because it's pretty much invisible!

Hello again!

Well whatever happened to May, June and July???? May was taken up by our am-dram society's production of 'Calendar Girls' - very good, lots of fun, can't believe it's been over 2 months ago now!!.June and July disappeared, and here we are in August. I have been sewing, but not completing much. However, here are a couple of the samples I have made for the Quilt Judging Course.

They are both about A4 size - the top  one has a monoprinted background, with a black swan and tree applique, the other is dyed and printed velvet, heavily quilted, so it's really tactile.

 

I have also made some cushions for the living room, and a new apron for me, as the old one was so skanky.

 

Also, the pattern for the Mystery Medallion Quilt has been uploaded to the new improved Quilters Guild website! (Exciting!) www.quiltersguild.org.uk

Round Robin project - 12 blocks received

Last week, our group held the Reveal of the latest joint project - a Round Robin of blocks. And the picture above shows the 12 blocks I received when my bag was opened. Absolutely thrilled, but I'm not sure yet whether I will add more blocks, or a border, or simply join them, quilt them, and bind the quilt. I'll let you know when it's done.