A Sketchbook Day

 Yesterday we had great fun in the studio. Two of my level 2 students, Julie and Tracey are finishing their Patchwork and Quilting course. We decided that it would be fun to start a new sketchbook so that they have a starting point for their own work.

You may have seen this photo from my Seville post a few weeks ago, Taken in the Real Alcazar palace. I love the textures and pattern in this tile and it was the focus for a sketchbook day.

We started by preparing pages by painting, adding scrunched tissue paper, salt and cling film to give different textures. This is a page which has tissue paper a paint wash and then highlighted with wax crayon.

When the pages were dry we made printing blocks using polystyrene pizza bases ( nothing gets thrown away in my house ) These are a great way of making a quick printing block. Using a sharp pencil you can carve lines and marks very easily. Don't forget to add a masking tape handle on the back. I have printed twice on this page which I think gives a depth to the print.

 The print had such a depth after printing that when I rubbed over the reverse side with wax crayons I got this lovely textured page.

This page was very uninspiring when it started. I had excess paint on a roller so I just painted a page with it. Over printing though has made it into a more interesting page. I really like the faded edges. Don't you love serendipity.

I have made this page the front cover of my sketchbook.. It has a line of tissue paper painted with a blue ink wash. The rest or the page was painted with an acrylic paint wash, printed and then wax crayon added

 

Here is a selection of my pages

And some of Julie's pages

And some of Tracey's pages

 We now have an exciting start to some new sketchbooks.

Bev 

A Parrot Post

Thanks for dropping by. Post will be a little sporadic at the moment as my mother was taken into hospital last week.

I did manage to get a sample for a new workshop started this week though.

It is based on a picture I took at the Real Alcazar in Seville just before Easter. One of my students came for a catch up day in my studio and it gave me the impetus to get started, thank you Mark.

This faded tapestry with colourful parrots and cockatoo's is the inspiration for a parrot panel. I have to also thank my husband for the wonderful camera he gave me for Christmas. The trip to Seville will be inspiration for many projects over the coming months.

A playful pair of parrots are for a workshop on Monday 28th September at Tudor Rose Patchwork. As you can see it is a work in progress at the moment.

Work that has been put on hold is my quilt for the Festival of Quilts this year. It will just have to be for 2016. It will be called Bluebells and blossom and is inspired by the walks into and around Ferry Meadows in Peterborough. And this year the cherry blossom and bluebells are putting on a wonderful show.

I have done a full working drawing and have started piecing the fabric but I know that I will not manage now to get it completed in time for this years deadline.

I also want to share with you this lovely book given to us for our Wedding Anniversary. Sue has spent many hours folding the pages of a book into a heart and I now want to give it a go. There are just not enough hours in the day for everything I want to do. Do you have the same problem?

See you soon

Bev

A Snapshot of Seville

Hello and thanks for dropping by. For my regular readers I apologise for the lack of blogging over the last couple of weeks. I have to say I did have an excuse. It was my 30th Wedding Anniversary and the week before Easter my wonderful husband whisked me off to Seville.

It was wonderful. The smell of orange blossom was everywhere. The weather was great (40 degrees). and Seville was in party mood.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy week and it is taken very seriously. Thousands of people came to see the processions. Huge floats are carried by teams through the streets preceeded and followed by hundreds of penitents and bands. Some of the processions leave their Churches at 11am and don't get back to them until 3am the following day. 

We also saw some flamenco dancing 

And spent a wonderful morning in the Real Alcazar. Looking through over 900 photos though, I find that as usual I have focused in on the patterns and textures

If I was a fortune teller I would say that I can see a new sketchbook in my future.

And even when we popped into a small back street bar for refreshment we couldn't get away from sewing machines. 

Hope you have enjoyed my little snapshot of Seville

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

Mystery Quilt - And finally

The mystery quilt blocks are quite a large size (18.5") which is perfect for cushion covers.

As promised here is the simple cushion cover construction I mentioned last week

The patchwork block has been quilted and squared. Also I have sewn the layers together so that it is easier to finish.

For the back of the cushion I cut two pieces of fabric 18.5" by 12.5"

On both pieces of fabric -  neaten one edge, by folding the fabric half and inch over to the wrong side on one of the 18.5" sides, and fold over again. Press and stitch this edge.

Place one of the backing fabric pieces right side together on one side of the quilted block.

Overlap the second piece of fabric to make a simple opening on the back.

Stitch all round the edge of the cushion cover.

Turn the rightside out and add a cushion pad

Place in your favourite spot and enjoy.

Here are some more photos of mystery quilts in progress. 

Cherry has made hers larger and added the borders. She has also told me that she is now quilting it. It is looking fabulous

Marilyn has created these stunning blocks and has nearly finished piecing the quilt. 

I love seeing your work. If you would like to share your quilt on the blog you can message your photos via my Facebook page. ( link below)

RoeMayo Creative Stitches

Anne from Tudor Rose brought in the chicken she made ( from some very sketchy instructions I gave her ) Despite my poor effort with the instructions she has made this wonderful Easter Chicken all ready to be filled with Easter Eggs.

Isn't he great.

Bev