Star Pattern Table Runner video 4

Although I have had a heavy cold this week it hasn't stopped me finishing the final video in the Star Pattern Table runner series.

Here I explain how I quilt it and add the binding. 

I have really enjoyed putting this series together for you and have many more projects in mind. 

If you don't want to miss any of them please subscribe to my youtube channel.

Now to plan my next project for you

Bev

Parrots and a Surprise

You may remember this photo of a tapestry I saw in the Real Alcazar, Seville earlier this year. It was the inspiration for a stained glass window patchwork panel.

Yesterday I had a lovely day with six ladies at Tudor Rose Patchwork, and these are the results of a very productive day. 

 Cherry used some lovely batiks and great fussy cutting for her parrots

Margaret has used exciting patterned fabrics to great effect

Liz made a pair of bold parrots and started making her own bias binding for the 'leading'

Pat's fun pair of parrots are really taking shape. The colours work beautifully and the black outline highlights and makes them pop!

Anne's parrots are on a darker background which works very well. She has used the patterned fabric beautifully.

And Denise's parrots are a real fun pair which make me smile every time I look at them. The cloud patterned background is a good choice of fabric too.

Altogether they a wonderful fun flock of parrots and it was a pleasure teaching the class.

The surprise of the day was Pats crazy patchwork panel. She came to her first workshop with me last year and admitted that she hasn't stopped going to classes since.

This was a real treat for me to see. When you only get one day with students you are not sure if things will be finished. Pat has made a beautiful jewel of a embroidery and everytime you look at it you see something new.  I am sure you will agree that it is a wonderful piece.

Bev

Thursday catch up

 My mother has been visiting for a few days, and whilst I have been teaching she has been busy in the studio basting quilts and preparing her next project. This was the first time she had seen the new studio and was thrilled with the space which made layering the quilts up so much easier.

It was also her birthday and I gave her a crazy patchwork shopping bag. One side with lots of embellishment and the other in stained glass patchwork.

Cherry has sent me a photo of her finished mystery quilt,

And Marilyn has finished her quilt top with triple borders. 

Aren't they great.

Lynne showed me these fabulous fabrics yesterday which she has chosen for her mystery quilt. 

I can't wait to see the finished quilt.

My mother also brought with her her first quilt which she started in January 2014. She has only just taken up patchwork and her quilt is fantastic. I have persuaded her to enter it in the 'First Quilt' category as there will never be another 'First quilt'.

As she is entering The Festival of Quilts in August, I think I should too, so have just started my entry. I can't show you pictures yet as it is still at a very early stage in the design. I know I haven't given myself much time but I am hopeful to get it done. I will keep you posted.

Happy sewing

Bev

Packing and a Day Trip

Well it has been a busy time trying to pack my studio up into a container

As my husband said it is like the tardis but in reverse. But with a lot of careful stacking we have managed, and there is even room for the golf clubs ( one day we may start playing again )

During the "Big Clearout" we also had to clear the attic which gave me the chance to check my wedding dress. Wow that was a blast from the past and there is no way I'll get into it again. But it is in perfect condition so I will top up the mothballs and put back in storage.

I also managed a day catching up with my son in London. We went to see the Poppies in the Moat at the Tower of London

 Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red   

It is a fantastic public art installation with over 800,000 ceramic poppies. The poppies are available to buy ( see the link above ) and I'm looking forward to having one in my garden when the exhibition finishes.

From the Tower we wandered along the  north bank and ended up on the strand where I was taken for lunch 

And then onto Piccadilly to the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy for the Arts.

I have to say that this years was ( in my opinion ) the best I have seen. There was something for everyone - nearly - as textiles are still absent. With Grayson Perry's tapestry's being included last year I had hoped for more. Although I suppose with most of the paintings being done on canvas you could argue that textiles have always been represented. 

And finally back to textiles

I found these cushions during the packing. Rather than storing them away, they have found new home in my conservatory.

Bev

Etsy

It has been a good day. I am still in PDF mode and trying to get my patterns translated into a form suitable for my Etsy shop. I have been working on the pattern for the Blue John block which I shared with you last year. 

I have now uploaded it to Etsy 

It is exciting to be able to share my designs, and I have plans for lots more over the next few weeks.

Hope you enjoy seeing my progress

Bev

A mini Sewing Bee

Two of my friends, Sue D & Sue W, have made heart applique panels at a day school, and on Saturday they dropped in for a bit of help with them. 

With a little help in layering and quilting they were soon into machine quilting with a walking foot.

They have sent me photos of their lovely quilting so far.

Sue W has outlined the heart and will be free motion quilting the corners.

And with a little explaination about how a sprung darning foot works, Sue D had a go at free motion quilting too. I think it adds a wonderful texture to the panel.

I think they have done a wonderful job with their first patchwork & quilting project.

Bev.

A Crazy Patchwork Day

Things have been slightly busy both in the studio and infront of my computer. All very exciting though, and it is great to be able to offer more courses. 

The City & Guilds Patchwork & Quilting level 2 certificate course started at Bee Crafty this month, which was very exciting. 

Level 1 courses in Machine and Hand Embroidery will be starting in the new work room at Tudor Rose in July. The next level 1 course will be starting there in September and the level 2 Patchwork & Quilting in October. Along with and additional beginners Patchwork & Quilting class things are looking busy. I love teaching and starting my students off on their creative journey's. If you would like details about any of these courses please get in touch.

Also the Quilters Guild has a great page with listings for City & Guilds courses around the country. 

The Quilters Guild - City & Guilds

Yesterday I taught a Crazy patchwork with hand quilting class at Tudor Rose. It was a busy and productive day and these are some of the lovely blocks the students produced. 

Cathy started adding beads to her seam treatments, using wonderful fabric from Harewood House, to create a very fresh and spring-like block.

Judith created this striking block, and I love the use of closed blanket stitch, fly stitch and french knots to make a row of people. A really fun block.

Pat's addition of lace and lovely stitching has created a block with a unique antique feel. Purple and green are one of my favourite colour combinations.

Many thanks to them for allowing me to share their wonderful work with my blog readers.

Bev

Back in the Studio

It's been a busy couple of weeks or should I say month. 

The level 2 Patchwork & Quilting class started at Bee Crafty and it was wonderful to welcome my students back. I started them off straight away with lots of design work. I love seeing what different interpretations are brought to the same exercises and can't wait to see what they produce over the next year.  Exciting times ahead.

I finally got into the studio and gave myself some me time. This means finishing half started/finished projects of which I seem to have lots.

I have pieced a back for a Kalaidoscope Quilt which has been hanging around for ages. It was going to be my first quilt on my Grace Frame, but I can't see it being reassembled for a little while due to decorating, so have decided just to get it finished. 

I have also been working on a new block "The Derwent Block" and this will be available as a foundation pattern this summer

 And I also added reverse appliqué 'frames' to the crazy nine patch blocks.

A good days work but there is still a little time today to do some more, so back to the studio I go.

Bev

Crazy Nine Patch

 I must learn to blinker myself when walking to the workrooms for day schools. 

 But Moda's "Vin de Jour" layer cake caught my eye. In fact it jumped off the shelf and said buy me!!!
It is a lovely fabric range with mulberry, mustard yellow, muted rose and olive green. Really scrumptious.

I have cut it simply to make some mismatched nine patch blocks. I intend to inset these when I have a moment. It is an experimental work in progress, but my deadline is Christmas so I feel as if I have loads of time. When I get to November and realise that it is no further on I may have a panic. 

Mid Year resolution - Finish some projects

Bev

Crazy Patchwork Cushion

As I was making the panel I decided to turn a simple cushion cover into something unique with it.

I hope you like the finished effect.

I'm going to leave it there for a few days but I am already thinking that I may embroider down the sides of the panel.

What do you think?

Bev

Nearly There

 It's a miserable day out there so just right for putting the radio on and finishing the embroidered panel.

This is where I am at now and I'll see how far I get by the end of the day.

(I'm afraid the artificial lighting does nothing for the colours )

Let's see if I can finish it

Bev

A Good Start

A quick update as I am off to the Embroiderers Guild meeting soon.

I made a good start on the panel yesterday and wanted to share them with you.

I took the photos last night so the colours have been affected by the artificial light.

Hope you enjoy them

Bev

Crazy Patchwork and a Delivery

Yesterday I took apart an old sample book of wonderful silks and started to play with them for a crazy patchwork panel

Then came the fun of delving into all my trimings, beads and buttons

Today the panel is starting to take shape 

and then came a delivery from Art from the Heart which was beautifully wrapped with tissue string and this lovely little heart, which matches the scheme beautifully.

However after tacking all the pieces in place I am thinking that this panel will just be embellished with stitch and all the trimmings will have to wait for the next one. 

BUT that's the fun of crazy patchwork. Things develop and change as you go. So I will have to see how I feel after an afternoon stitching.

Bev