Tuesday Catch up

Today I am feeling slightly sorry for myself as I have just had cataract surgery. Sitting here in an eye patch I am getting impatient for things to get back to normal ( or even better than normal with my new bright shiny eyes ) but it has only been a few hours since it was done. Colours will be clearer, I hadn't noticed how dull everything was getting. No rose tinted glasses needed as I had inbuilt sepia lenses.

Having a day at home I can take stock of the last week and post an update so it not all bad.

Fridays Focus On - Applique group was busy and several of the students brought in pieces they had started in my day schools earlier in the year.

Pearl took part in the Greta table runner day school and brough in her finished under to wow us all. 

Mo and Pam were in the folded patchwork day school. Mo has made these wonderful bright blocks which will be made into a cushion cover.

and Pam used these wonderfully rich fabrics she bought in Japan for her blocks.

I am also going to be running a last City & Guilds level 2 course in Patchwork & Quilting at Bee Crafty at Ellington

This is the last City & Guilds course I will offer as the 7716 craft qualifications are being withdrawn. If you would like details please email me at 

rmcreativestitches@hotmail.com

Places are limited to 10 students and early booking is essential to ensure a place on the course.

The photograph above is Jenny's wonderful wallhanging 

Previous students work can be seen on earlier blog posts

Jenny Jones

Jan Abbott

Sarah Payne

I am now off to rest my eye

Happy Quilting

Bev

Students Work

It is always lovely when students complete their projects and this week was one of those weeks. 

Robert completed his Bargello Quilt - The Aurora Borealis 

design from Twist and Turn Bargello Quilts by Eileen Wright. 

When he brought this book in to class we had a lovely time helping him choose which one he was going to make. It is full of lovely designs and it has been a pleasure helping Robert with this project.

We all love the colours he chose for the quilt and I especially love the zingy lime green. He has quilted it to emphasise the flow of the bargello pattern which has worked to great effect. 

I am sure you will agree that it is a fantastic quilt.

 

Fliss had nearly finished this wonderful childs quilt, and I couldn't resist taking a photo before the end of the class. The turned nine patch pattern is a great design and can be used for all sorts of projects and it looks great on this quilt. The curved line quilting going from point to point is so well done. 

Another wonderful project and I can't wait to see what she tackles next time.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of my students work. 

Happy Quilting

Bev

Focus on - Sarah Payne

The third focus on students to completing the level 2 City & Guilds Patchwork & Quilting course is the work of Sarah Payne.

Sarahs patchwork project is a wall hanging inspired by Peterborough Cathedral. The graceful curving lines of the architecture provided a good design source for this beautiful wall hanging. Using the same block pattern in different sizes and orientations has  makes it dynamic and free flowing. The echo quilting adds to the effect.

The fabric was hand dyed on the course.  

I can certainly feel the soaring arches of the ceiling when I look at it.

Sarah's love of peacocks was the inspiration for this unusual peacock cushion which shows her creative use of appliqué, 3D and raw edged.

The choice of colours add a wonderful vibrancy to this cushion.

Congratulations to Sarah on completing the level 2 course.

Bev

Focus on - Jan Abbott

The second focus on students who have just completed their Level 2 City & 

Guilds course in Patchwork & Quilting is Jan Abbott.

Her patchwork project was a very large 80" x 30" bed runner, in a colour scheme chosen from the room it is to be used in.  The block design was inspired by the wrought iron bed it is for. With in the ditch quilting again echoing the bars of the headboard and footplate.

Between the patchwork blocks are areas of sashiko type quilting in the shape of a hydrangea flower, bringing a personal touch to the runner, and adding a contrast to the straight lines of the blocks.

The design for her applique projest was based on a copse of Himalayan Birch trees at Anglesey Abbey. 

The background fabric is 100% Indian silk which was chosen for the texture as well as the colour. The trees are also silk adding a wonderful lustrous sheen to the tree silhouettes.

In both her projects Jan has broken the designs down to a simplicity which is very pleasing and effective. 

Congratulations to Jan for two very successful projects.

Bev

Folded patchwork Day School

I had a wonderful group of very enthusiastic students on the folded patchwork dayschool at Tudor Rose Patchwork.

At times the room was very quiet as they were all busy cutting folding placing, and sewing. 

Which resulted in a very exciting Round-Up at the end of the day.
These are some of the wonderful blocks produced and in progress.

 Joy and Shiela pooled their blocks to make this wonderful cushion. I have heard that they have made a second one so they now have one each.

Day schools for October include my table runner and cushion designs.
for more information on either of these contact Tudor Rose Patchwork 

Happy Quilting

Bev

Focus on - Jenny Jones

Several of my students have recently completed their City & Guilds courses and have kindly given me permission to share their work.

This first post is about the wonderful work of Jenny Jones.

Her patchwork wallhanging was inspired by a visit to 78 Derngate, Northampton. A beautiful house which was re-modelled by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1916.

Each of the blocks in the wall hanging were inspired by different rooms, the stained glass and the decor. 

She has really captured the spirit of the house and his work. 

Her applique bag shows her attention to detail with hand and machine appliqué and trapunto flowers. The two sides show different seasons which compiment each other perfectly.

It has been lovely to see such wonderful work develop over the last few months.

I hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I did and I would like to offer my congratulations to Jenny on her beautiful pieces.

Bev

A Last Lesson

It is always a shame when a course comes to an end and yesterday was no exception. I have had a lovely group of students on the Machine Embroidery course and each month I looked forward to seeing what they had done with the starting point ideas and techniques.

They surprised me with this lovely card at the end of the day which Mark had made and they had all signed. It is now in pride of place on my ideas board in my studio.

Although the Level 1 Machine Embroidery has finished for this year, the Patchwork & Quilting will be starting on 20th October. There are still a couple of places on the course, please email me at rmcreativestitches@hotmail.com if you would like details. 

Mark also entered his first quilt into The Festival of Quilts this year.

Called The Festival of the Dead it certainly lives upto its name. 

With lots of wonderful embellishments it reminds me of the Mexican Dia de Muertos  celebrations.  

A great first quilt - congratulations Mark

The quilt room is slowly taking shape.

I have put some quilt tops which are waiting to be finished on the wall behind the quilt table, and will start to fill the shelves with lots of quilting things.

I am eager to get started and hopefully it wont be too long now before everything is up and running.

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

3D Forms and Somerset Stars

Last month my level 2 students were given a challenge to produce a 3D form using paper or card. This design exercise always produces some surprising results and today they didn't let me down.

Today we were exploring some folded patchwork techniques including Somerset Stars

These are made from folded squares of fabric and are built up in layers to produce star patterns. Great fun and wonderfully tactile.

Bev

Half Square Triangles

Things are slowly getting back to normal. My mother is on the mend and hopefully soon be out of hospital. I have entered her quilt in the Festival of Quilts and although she won't be able to visit with me this year I am looking forward to seeing it and taking lots of pictures for her.

It will soon be time for my students to have their summer break and it is going to be strange not having lessons every week with them. New courses will be starting in September, please get in touch for details.

A bit of serendipity was brought in last week by one of my machine embroidery students. Cyn free motion stitched this sample 

And by a happy accident didn't get the tension quite right, which has produced some wonderful whipped stitches, fabulous textures and effects.

This morning I had time in the studio to explore half square triangles patterns.  Which is your favourite?

   

 

We will be mastering the half square triangle unit on 1st July please get in touch if you want to book a place on the day.

Happy stitching

Bev