Monday 28 November 2016

Stitching News

Josie decided to use her Serpentine stitch for the borders... She enjoyed doing it and decided to stitch three rounds... It's time to trim the crusts off and make binding in Josie's next class. This is a great Charm pack... it's Moda's French General collection.

Kate came to class a few weeks ago asking that question "What design could I make with this fabric?" It's a popular question in my very own shop and classroom. All we have to do it mathemise! We decided on this design... it's easy and looks great... It must have been fun to make as Kate started another quilt top using the very same design.

Thursday 24 November 2016

News From Quilty Quarters

I decided to tidy up... 
Quilty Quarters was in such a state of confusion.... real 'crushing the creative urge' mess.
There were piles of fabrics, other people's scraps, classroom and commission quilt leftovers and must haves so I'll take a bit home and It's the end of the bolt so I need it fabrics on every surface. There were unfinished workshop samples and 'How To's... I have many... "Oh that is clever... I will make a sample to see if it works' and so on... absolutely ridiculous. 
Piles of unread magazines, printed off internet patterns and general scribbled ideas on paper... just piles of it all... My fabric cupboard, when I last opened it, threatened to avalanche, so I had shut the door very quickly and jammed a box against it to stop the drift! How silly was that... It left me afraid to open the blooming doors!
So, I started with the basket cupboard... I've shown you that before... It's tidy now.
I tackled the surfaces, I sorted the avalanche cupboard. I made a huge pile of fabrics that I don't want to save any longer... they are going to be used up as soon as possible!! I made a huge pile of started projects and quilts to be quilted and then colour co-ordinated the scraps and bigger bits of 'other peoples fabric bits... and then... a few weeks later, because all this activity actually has taken about two months!! ha ha ha... not just the one day as it might be understood at this point...

On Sunday afternoon I quilted this cushion top...
Batik blocks made for the  Pineapple Blossom workshop

I quilted the two halves of this cushion back, made with the left over Bonus Half Square Triangles and 'cut too many strips' strips and put in the zip.
Is't it fabulous... you can toot if you want to! It is finished!

 This project made from workshop samples and how to's for Stargazy Daisiez.. I was hand quilting it with Big Stitch style, but I wanted it done so I free-motion finished it. Now I just need to make the back, with a zip  and that will be another cushion complete

I quilted this cushion front... Good old Railfence design...
I took a picture of the back so you would be able to see the cute quilting...

No accuracy here... every boat different
But It is DONE!!!
I know it's ugly but it will be inside the cushion.

I quilted this too... four pineapple blocks
Not very exciting but left overs used up and cushion front done.
I'm eating the Elephant, one bite at a time!!!
oh yes... I cancelled every single magazine subscription too!

Wednesday 23 November 2016

Stitching News

Technically, this is not a tooting quilt... it is though, fabulous and almost finished... Rose just needs to watch her TV... so that she can stitch the binding to the back... It looks like she's been very clever... making a blurred quilt takes great skill, ha ha ha Sorry about the picture folks!

OK... now, toot toot toot.... Just Edna's festive lap warmer is Fabulous and finished!!
Edna was going to hand stitch her binding at home. She wanted to make more twiddle mats really, but it's tricky finding somewhere that would love out twiddle mats now... there are so many rules and regulations preventing us from giving them to people, what a shame!... So, she stitched her binding in class instead... toot toot toot for Edna's quilt.

Don't tell Monday Sheila I told you this... it's a blunder secret! OK? just between you and I eh? Sheila's binding is a little wider than we normally use, can you see it? Silly girl was chatting away and didn't notice that she was stitching on a second round of the same border fabric... Sheila is not easily phased... she just made a different kind of binding... Oh yes... good old PMS (Pleasing My Self)

Just Edna made this wreath at home... she's done a lovely job... lots of fabrics stuffed into a polystyrene hoop, a sort of Polo. It feels so luxurious! and you know what... it is finished and fabulous! toot toot toot... this is a great idea for using up little scraps.

Monday Sheila got back to her Pineapple Blossom blocks, I am sure she had made three thousand or so of these blocks... I wonder what she's going to do with them all? I know some were made into cushions... I'll ask her next week and let you know.

Margaret forgot to bring her walking foot to class so decided not to start the Deer quilt quilting. Instead she opted for an quick little job... Makower  Festive Stocking panels are great for just that purpose... fast and easy! Especially just before embarking on the quilting on a much larger project.

Norma needs a toot toot toot fanfare... she finished her three little wall hanging quilts... Norma stitches in a Liberated style and loves every bit of it... from the designing and choosing of fabrics right through to the finish... PMS strikes again!!

Annbacan is making cushions with this, most delicious, Martha Negley fabric... Oh how I love Martha's fabrics... especially this one! But Ann and Monday Sheila purchased every last bit of it... How very mean... anyone would think that was allowed in my very own shop!!!

Monday 21 November 2016

Just To Remind You...

Happy Happy Monday.... 
There are only 2 weeks to enjoy before Sewing Prevention Season really starts to bite... 
In 10 days time, you'll need your Advent Calendar finished! There's really and truthfully, still time to make one, especially with a pre-printed pane? ... yes! I have some in stock...
Less than 4 weeks to finish those gifting projects... 
Just to remind you...
When you come to my shop today and if you empty a bolt of Christmas Themed fabric... I will take 10% off the piece price for you... Boom!!! 

Aren't I a bundle of joy!!! ha ha ha

Here are a few links you might enjoy...
http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/bags-pillows-gifts/gifts/wine-time

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/bags-pillows-gifts/pillows/round-holidays

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/bags-pillows-gifts/gifts/gifts-bookworm

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt-patterns/table-runners/toast-to-coasters



Sunday 20 November 2016

Stitching News

My Mum Gwynneth made this, most beautiful cushion.
This design could make a lovely wall hanging too.
Can you see the little colour detail in those border strips?
It's fabulous and finished, so you know what to do... toot toot toot!

All Day Di is having so much fun making her calendar blocks.
She says she could sit stitching applique all day, every day...
Yup... she's called All Day Di for many reasons! ha ha ha 

Sally Snow braved snowy weather to join us for Friday Quilt Club... she knew the snow would be gone by hometime and she really wanted to finish her quilt top... which is lovely. Sally purchased a kit to make it, quite a long time ago.

Margaret purchased these picture panels online somewhere, I think they were bedding as the fabric weave is very tight, tricky to pin too! One 'bang on trend', Deer sandwich made and ready for quilting, no salad though haha ha

I know... I was only just showing you that 1st prize winning quilter, Princess Jackie had started another lovely applique project and on Sandwich Saturday she came to make her sandwich... Burning Midnight oil??? she must be drinking it!!
So now...
I would like to say "THANK YOU very much". Thank you for coming to shop with me.
I have actually managed to find a space for all the new fabrics having had you visit and empty lots of Bitty Bolts... I've had to have a bit of a 'move round' though, so you probably won't be able to find anything next time you come... ha ha ha.
Christmas themed fabric is now right there... by the door... almost the first thing you might see... very very easy to find and that seems to be what folk are looking for at the moment... oh... hang on for just one minute... go on then... if you empty a bolt of Christmas Themed fabric... I will take 10% off the piece price for you... Boom!!!

It's not a SALE... it's an OPPORTUNITY!!!

Friday 18 November 2016

It's A Disaster!!

I have absolutely no choice... My hands are tied... There's just no way out... I have to ask for help...

That is... ask you to help me... 
I do hope you won't mind...
Will you buy a little piece of fabric?... 
Something lovely you had no idea that you needed???
Let me help you while you think about that...

If you empty a bolt of fabric today there's a 10% discount on offer... 
I hate to do it, you know that... but needs must!!
I have loads of bitty bolts... not much more than a metre on some of them. Each bolt emptied will give me approximately an inch of space on my shelf... making room for my new fabrics, which are sitting in trolleys waiting to be found a space... 
oh, I know it doesn't look good to have fabric stuffed trolleys lurking around... there's just too much choice in my shop... and I've heard you saying it!! ha ha ha Too much phooey!!!

So I will wait for you to come during the day...
I know, just to take a look... No pressure to purchase AT ALL...
BUT... You might find something wonderful... he he he

Stitching News

PM Pam arrived and immediately shopped for fabrics... she was on a mission to Quilt In A Day... I love a lady on a mission!! ha ha ha... and she did it. This quilt needs 5 x 20cm WOF (Width Of Fabric) strips plus borders wadding and backing....  It's a Licketty-Split project and will be finished in good time, Those babies keep on coming!

Gail spent her morning quilting the Jelly Roll Sampler, and chatting of course.
Later, she packed it away to make a start on her Crown of Thorns tester blocks... this is one of our ideas and we shall play more when there are more HST's (Half Square Triangles) which won't be long as Gail's making them with the 8 at a time method.

Princess Jackie has gone off on a tangent... there are lots of projects being worked on, we've seen them for our very own selves and now... she started  this new one... we can't keep up with Jackie... as we have come to expect of a first prize winning quilter... it's looking fabulous. 

And now... it is with a heavy heart that I feel must tell you all...
I have had an enormous amount of fabric filled boxes delivered this week!!!
If you come to my shop, please be very careful that you don't crash into the trolleys, boxes and general shop stuff... I might have to lock the door to stop those delivery men from getting in with more boxes... except there's one coming today... but that will be thread only. I lied about the heavy heart... My heart is jumping with much excitement really!!! ha ha ha but It must stop... all this fabric ordering I mean... I think I have a 'just one last more' problem... 

Monday 14 November 2016

Crown Of Thorns Block

You might well not believe me... but these two quilts are made with exactly the same pieced block... just the one... 'Crown Of Thorns' ... though these days it's probably got a few other names, that happens a lot... The quilt on the left was made with a Moda Layer Cake, shabby colours, and the blocks measure 20 inches finished. The quilt on the right is made with a Moda, Basic Grey Charm Pack... the blocks measure 7 inches... Same piecing method... Two completely different looking quilts.
You're going to be seeing a few more Crown Of Thorn block quilts... alternative colourways and different block sizes, it's just a little bit of math-emising... Ladies want to make them... all for their very own selves. How very exciting!
I really enjoyed making mine... even the quilting!
I love one block quilts that give a secondary pattern... don't you?

I had a visit from a charming, professional photographer...
What am I up to now? I told him...
 "Do not take people pictures!... My customers have my guarantee that I will never put photos of them on the internet, so you can't either..."
Then I got out my perfectly practical, pretty, purple camera and played Paparazzi!
I did ask his permission though.

Sunday 13 November 2016

Stitching News

Gail's gifting stocking will be finished in very good time for Sewing Prevention Season... which seems to have already started in my home!!! I am sure Barney will love his Christmas Stocking, even empty.

This is Gail's Super Sampler made with blocks in the Jelly Roll Sampler Book... but with yardage (meterage actually). Gail's quilting all of the sashing strips first... then she will decide how to quilt each block.

Time for tooting!!! Toot toot toot for Princess Jackie's fabulous and finished, colourful Cockerels quilt. Jackie is pondering whether or not this should be entered into the Uttoxeter Quilt Show 2017... What do you think?

Lena finished her brand new antique Christmas Panel. She can't remember how long she's owned this panel... Does anyone else know? It's not really important as for now, it qualifies as a Fabulous Finish... toot toot toot! 

I know we love sewing, whether by hand or by machine... it's a winner...
BUT I cannot recommend though... sewing your hand with your sewing machine... Farmer Lynda says It Hurts!!! ha ha ha

Lots of people are making these Quick Table Toppers. This one is being sandwiched and it belongs to Sister Susie... who found the fabrics in her secret stash! So she says.

All Day Di has decided to make a quilt-let for every month using the book Count On It by Nancy Halvorsen... aren't Di's quilts fabulous.... It's such a lovely book.

Sporty Sue was able to reorganise my tables to make a large quilt sandwich... if no-one else comes to Quilt Club you have to take advantage of the situation!! I really love this design and you won't believe how easy it is to make. 12-ish Fat Quarters plus the Black! I love it. 
You might be thinking...
Well, there's not much news on Angie's blog this week... are you?
That's the way it happens when there's a lot of secret sewing going on. I can't be showing you what some ladies and gents are making... even though I know you won't tell and the secret would be safe between just the two of us.... I promised you see.

Sunday 6 November 2016

Stitching News

Take one Moda Charm Pack... Stitch all the squares together and then add borders...
Does it get any easier to make a lap quilt? Morning Josie was amazed how lovely her quilt looked after adding both borders... she's ready to sandwich next time.

Brenda Duck wanted to make a Sewing Machine tidy mat... Choosing the fabric was easy this time as Brenda wanted the same fabric that we used in our shop sample. after cutting out her letters it really was.... "Time To Stitch"

Farmer Lynda used some of the blocks from a panel, Makower Crafty Cats range, to make this quite lovely, lap sized quilt top... by the end of class Lynda had made a sandwich so this project might be quilted as homework... if the cows allow it, ha ha ha

As it's only a few weeks until Sewing Prevention Season starts.... festive projects are being stitched. All Day Di is back from caravanning... lots of those caravanners are coming home for the winter now... you will notice that as they've booked up classes until March when they will tootle off again! ha ha ha... 

PM Pam made her giant quilt sandwich... so large we had to let it hang over the sides of the tables and they are 1.80m wide! Made entirely of beautiful Batik fabrics with a fantastic backing to complement the top... I 'll show you when it's tooting time.

New Art Gallery fabrics were delivered on Friday
Oh how I love them.
Carol used them to make her Beginner Cushion...
 I love them more now

Love them on the back of the cushion too
3 Fat Quarters, matching thread and a cushion zip...
You have a fabulous project with some bits left over to play with!

Bonnie chose her very own, favourite fabrics... Another fabulous cushion in progress... just the quilting to finish for a little homework and the zip is already installed in the back. Our Beginner Workshop... Such a lovely way to spend a day!

Thursday 3 November 2016

Stitching News

Queen Jacquie finished this lovely kiddie play mat style, quilt top...
It's lovely, don't you think... bright and fun and neither boyish nor girlish
Perfect for those 'Guess what colour' baby projects that we need sometimes

Jacquie's quilt top was based on this quilt that I have hanging on the classroom wall.. funny though... she has no idea how hers turned out to be half the size... ha ha ha, I bet it was something to do with that dratted seam allowance... it usually is eh.

Almost tootable... but not quite yet... this is Rose's baby play mat style quilt... it's just needing the binding hand stitching at the back and Rose likes to do that while watching evening TV... can you see that Rose used the super serpentine stitch to quilt with, always a winner. I'm pretty sure this is a little girl-y project... 

Fran Cupcake never wastes a scrap of fabric... with coasters made from the left over fabrics from her making table mats... which were made from left over fabrics from the table runner... a whole set of fabulous Autumnal usefulness... Frans favourite colours and now... Toot toot toot... they make a fabulous finish and need a fanfare!

Rose swiftly moved on to quilting this next kiddie project... I am hoping that you can see that Rose chose to quilt with many hearts... all different sizes and some intertwining with others... it looks lovely and is a great way to quilt when you just don't want to follow lines.

PM Pam wanted to make a Festive Tree Skirt but didn't have a pattern..
We pondered a bit and came up with this lovely idea... it's sort of based on a Moda Bakeshop table topper but with lots of difference... well actually... it's round-ish with the same angles... it looks nothing like the Moda one! Fabric not available in my shop... before you ask... Pam went awol to purchase it.
It is a meeting of the Staffordshire Patchworkers and Quilters tonight. I hope we will see you there... did you know that you don't need to be a patchworker nor a quilter to come to the meetings.. it's fun to listen to the speakers anyway... but I warn you... it's a mighty powerful virus if you happen to get bitten by the bug!! ha ha ha