Stitching News

We had a fun day at Checkley Village Hall, Sunday Sewday. Numbers were down due to folk not taking good note of the date, it's usually the last Sunday of a month but the last one in October was already booked so we had to settle for the previous Sunday, but it meant that there were lots of extra tables for Sandwich making, and quite a few were made.

This sandwich is Pam's, it's a whopper at 1.50 metres by 1.70 metres. These Kids Quilt patterns always surprise folk with their finished sizes. If that's too big though, you can always take your applique part of the pattern to be printed a bit smaller, the backgrounds are easy to change the size of.

Gail has almost finished all of her blocks, this is also a Kids Quilts pattern. There are a few more French Knots to be done and a little bit of embroidered embellishment 

This is Gail's favourite bock,

A very smart young rabbit lady. You should just about be able to make out her French Knot freckles, on the left cheek.

Farmer Lynda is making up mug rugs ready for sewing prevention season gifting. The designs could be used as fabric postcards too, it's a great way to use up your tiny bits of fabric.

Actually I think this one was a postcard, I can't keep up with Lynda's projects, she's on a stitching roll!! Spring lamb maybe? Such a lovely, floral woolly jumper! Ha! see what I did there?

Sporty Sue has been sewing at home. 

How cute is this!!! 

Sometimes, gifting projects turn into keepers you know!

I won't tell Sue ;0)

Bev sent me this picture to prove she's been doing her hand stitching homework. Those Cathedral-ly window-y bits look great don't they!

Stitching News

 Do you remember those Autumnal fabric strip set packs I cut? 

There are three ladies working on their blocks in class at the moment. These are Bev's. She made all 12 10-Minute Blocks during the day so there's just the fold-y back bits to be stitched on the little Cathedral Window-y centre bits..

You can see them better here, obviously because Shirley already started to hand stitch her centres. Laying the blocks out and choosing where each block looked best was tricky, but fun, it's all part of the game. 

I have two strip set packs left, call me if you want more information.

Remember Judy's beautiful floral cushion project?

This is the blotchy Batik fabric she used to get all of those delicious colours for the flowers and bird.

I'm still trying to find time to finish off my commissioned cactus applique. I don't know about you, but with the so much shorter days we're having now and Darker night drawing in, they aren't helping!!

I'll have to retire soon otherwise I'll never finish my "want to make it"  list!

A Lovely Project

 Sometimes one book can have an amazing amount of  "Want to makes" This book  has loads of patterns for the most lovely of applique projects. From huge quilts to lovely pillows and cushions. I've actually sold a lot of them just from folk flicking through the pages. The book is for felt applique but the patterns lend themselves very well to sticky stuff applique with normal cotton fabrics, and the beautiful pleasures of batik.

This is Judy's cushion. Isn't it lovely.

All the flower pieces, red, pink, purple, golden yellows are cut from only one Fat Quarter of Beautiful, blotchy Batik. You know the ones, they look like someone threw paint at them!! They are so very practical when fussy cutting is required. My method of Bias Stems is very easy, no Bias Binding maker required, ask Judy!!

Checkley Sunday Sewday this weekend has had a few cancellations so I have plenty of space if you are teetering on the edge of deciding whether to come along. Just call me 07807530441

Catching Up With Stitching News

I'm back! Did you even notice I was missing? 

A much needed break had been planned for many months.

 What a beautiful weather week it was too. This is the view from my room up in the attic, EVERY morning! It was so beautiful watching the sun come up.

Out walking on the beach before dawns crack.

Almost tempted to have a paddle! By this point if I had dipped my toes in that there water I might have disgraced my very own self, ha ha ha. All the coffee consumed before the walks was not the best plan! 5 wonderful days of uninterrupted sewing with 15 other ladies. Fabulous food, and plenty of it, with lots of choice. Quilt Sandwich, thank you, we were very well looked after and I will be back!

During the retreat, for which I had planned and cut all my fabrics, I made up the Ocean Waves blocks, the Cactus blocks, Elizabeth Hartman pattern, and some appliqued cactus. I stitched plenty of leaves on another project. I stitched A LOT but it's all slow progress isn't it. It does make you appreciate exactly how long each project takes to make. I will continue working on it at home.

A few photos from before I disappeared...

Two ladies enjoyed another Bunting Cushion workshop. Lots of top tips were explained.

They will be finished at home as both ladies made their cushion backs with a zip concealed under a flap

Shirley has made a good start on her 10 minute blocks using the kit of fabrics I had made up. They are looking great and very Autumnal. I have a very good top tip on this one, top secret!!

Sister Susie wanted to make a cushion with diamond blocks. There's a little bit of accuracy needed to get all the points lined up, a bit of perfect pinning and a small amount of good luck!

Lot's of folk are working on Advent Panels, it is time though, if they are to be finished in time. This one belongs to Jan, she came up with an easier way to make the pleated pockets that might be classed as a top tip in the future!

Princess Jackie came to make a sandwich with her new sofa throw/Lap Quilt. She says it's for snuggling up under on the sofa when the heating is not on!! We will all need one!

Shirley finished her Festive Bauble wall hanging. 

We were all looking forward to seeing how it turned out with those very different coloured fabrics and what a stunning quilt it is. Toot toot toot Shirley, fabulous and finished and inspiring!

It's a Checkley Sunday Sewday this weekend. Have you booked your place for our One Whole Day Sewing Retreat??

Stitching News

 Well Hello there! Just a few great pictures to show you.

Janis came to make her spectacular Savannah quilt sandwich. It's quite large so we had to rearrange my tables, but you know that's no problem for my great customer service. We had a natter about possible quilting ideas too. I baffled Janis a bit so she went home to ponder about it, in a darkened room I think! ha ha ha

Christabelle has enough blocks sewn together for us to see, very clearly, how the secondary pattern will look. Big Batik circles and not one curve stitched. Quite stunning, don't you think?

Jackie is also making circles with straight lines. The Tri-Recs ruler is the key to all this circular fun. Such a clever ruler set. The top is complete and a backing is now being stitched with all the left over fabrics.

Jean Bean finished her advent wall hanging. 25 little pockets for little gifts. It's a Scandi Style project from a book, but I can't remember which book! Beano loves everything in the Scandi style.

Toot toot toot Beano, it's a fabulous finish.

Another beginner cushion. This is Jane's second one. She says it was harder to make than her first, I bet she was over thinking it all because it was a gifting project. Such a simple little project, I promise!

Toot toot toot Jane, fabulous and finished and ready for gifting.

Please remember that my shop will be closed for the whole of next week but you can make appointments to shop. Just call, email or WhatsApp to book a day and time. Angie - 07807530441