Stitching News

Here we are again, the end of another busy month. Our wonderful retreat at Hillscourt, in the Lickey Hills Country Park, could be the reason it feels such a short month to me, a whole week off at the beginning of each month could become a thing, ha! We must pack in lots of fun stuff while we can. 

I'll just remind you that my shop will not be open on Saturday 2nd November. I'm going gallivanting again but on a workshop this time. Just for the one day. Because I have time for another crafting skill, don't I?

This isn't quite a tooting picture just yet. The binding is stitched in place for Rose to hand stitch at her leisure, providing it's less that a week as she's bringing it back, finished, next week for the grand reveal. Oh, I mean tomorrow, I cant keep up.

Princess Jackie has finished piecing her latest work of art. We played with fabrics trying to find perfect border ideas and we had success. The lovely pattern is called The Night Before Christmas by Bunny Hill designs. It's an older pattern that Jackie borrowed from a friend as she couldn't find it to purchase.

Gail has made about 6 of these stockings. She is going to have to hide her art from her family as they all want their own and the orders flow in. It's a good job she loves sewing. Toot toot toot Gail, another fabulous, personalized and finished festive stocking

Our Pam is also working on several commissioned projects at the moment. Two baby quilts and a doggy bag, along side the 5 or 6 quilts she is stitching, just because she wants to. And then there's her crochet, the knitting and she bakes too. She makes retirement sound scarily busy, It might be easier to keep working!

I think I'm caught up with the few pictures I have. There's a lot going on in the classes but I keep missing the photo opportunities. Maybe I need to stop nattering with other customers?

I have only one trolley of new fabrics bolts to find a home for now. I've managed to squeeze most of the new delivery onto my shelves, tightly packed isn't really practical but it looks fabulous!

Stitching News

First of all I'm going to remind you that we have a Checkley Funday Sewday coming up on Sunday, 27th of October. If you haven't booked already, the fee is £20.00 paid in advance and £25 if you opt to pay on the day.

Now to catch up on a few project pictures.

Farmer Lynda could not be any happier with her latest gifting quilt. It is very cute though isn't it. While she searched for 'just the right fabrics' I pointed her to my trolley of landscape and animal prints, Lynda didn't quite squeal with delight when she saw the giraffe print, but it was close! 

Josie held up this quilt top while confessing that she had finished it way back in 2016, or maybe the year before. When she realized how large it was she put it away, fearful of the actual quilting part. But now, she's booked to make a sandwich and to get on with it, she might have started to eat spinach from a can too?

I took my still unfinished Randolph and Rudy quilt in to show it off. My Thursday class ladies were impressed. Some have the pattern already. Lick-etty- Split, Jan got her very own self a copy and made a start on the cutting and labeling, there's a lot of that to be done.

Shirley took great care pinning her last cushion top. 

She likes precise precision, just like my very own self. 

Quilting cushion fronts is so satisfying in between larger projects.

Julie is making great progress with this, her second, Annie's Garden quilt top. Just one more strip to be made, lots of Pinwheels will be needed, the applique flowers are already sorted.

This is a fabulous and finished quilted cushion, made by Josie. She had purchased the pattern for the flower applique online, as a kit. Not knowing what to do with it once the applique was finished we all put in our two penn'orth ( I Googled the spelling, very interesting!) The beautiful Batik border sets off the floral display perfectly. toot toot toot Josie.

I do have a few more photos but I have to go to organize a rather large shipment of new fabrics that appeared earlier today. That old excuse!!!

Stitching News

 Half way through October already! Where is the time going? It's true, the older I get the faster the days pass by. I have spent quite a few luxurious minutes in Quilty Quarters since returning from our lovely retreat. I wanted to get my Randolph & Rudy quilt finished.

The pattern, by Elizabeth Hartman, called for 44.5" border strips, which meant joining fabric to extend 1 strip by 2". I realize I could have cut the whole length from my background fabric piece, but I was trying to follow the pattern. I didn't want to join a little piece so, not following the pattern, I spent extra time making little festive flying geese units, and I am happy with them.

My shop doesn't open on Mondays which proved very convenient for my very own self. I pieced a backing from my home stash and walked up to my shop to make a sandwich, at lunchtime, ha! I've started the quilting but I didn't get very far. Quilts don't half take a long time to make.

I had packed another project for the retreat, just in case I finished the other 3, ha ha ha! as if. This was my testing block, I'm keen to make more of these blocks so I'll make it my Checkley Sunday Sewday project for the October and November sessions.

Which reminds me, have you booked your place for October 27th?

Stitching News

I found some more photos...

This is Gail's Santa table runner. You might think she's been making it for a few years but no, this is her third fourth one. The problem is, when people see how wonderful and Christmassy it is, they all want one, so another has to be made. Toot toot toot Gail, and congratulations on completing your LAST one! Of course I have me fingers crossed for Gail, just in case!

This one belongs to Princess Jackie. She and Gail worked on them during their sewing retreat in August, it was a bit like a race to the finish line. 

Both are very cute and want-a-bbuble.

Toot toot toot Jackie, remember not to show it to anyone, ha ha!

FYI, The table runner pattern is 'Topsy Turvy Santa' by Happy Hollow Designs

Christabelle is making a table topper too. 

No Santas involved on this one though. 

Every shade of green will be used. 

The pattern is from a book, I think it's called Skinny Quilts.

Deb has finished all her puppies now. She was playing with the placement of them all, making sure to mix up all the fabrics. This is one very cute project. Just needs the sashing and it will be ready to sandwich and quilt.

Stitching News

I thought I would try to catch up with a few fabulous finishes. All photos were taken well before we went off gallivanting with our sewing paraphernalia but I neglected to share them with you, tut & tisk! I was preoccupied with my cutting and kitting preparations. Anyhow, here they are:-

Rose had a good selection of green and cream fabrics left over from making the huge Log Cabin quilt she finished recently. In fact enough to make this lovely lap size quilt.

With the strip added in the centre for the backing, it sees Rose well able to declare that 'not a scrap was wasted'. Excellent use of fabrics. Toot toot toot Rose, fabulous, finished with lovely, free wheeling quilting too.

I saw this while Shirley was packing up one day. A very smart sewing machine mat. Made with little Tilda fabric squares, a great table protector to bring a smile every time the sewing has to be packed away. It's been made for a while but I didn't spot it before, toot toot toot Shirley.

Jan was asked to make this table topper. We normally make this design with a Charm Pack, that's 5" squares, but the lady needed a smaller version so Jan cut three and a half inch squares. It's really cute, fabulous and finished, toot toot toot.

These panels were very popular and as they were printed 'the other way' from normal, it meant you could purchase a quilt top of any length, all ready for sandwiching, like cheating but excellent fun to quilt.

A fabulous pieced backing helps tie it all together. A toot toot toot fanfare is due to Deb for another gifting project finished lick-etty split, well, if you don't count moving house twice in between purchasing the fabrics and finishing the quilt, ha!

A cushion of scraps. Made by Judy. She didn't allow herself to choose the fabrics, she just stitched all sorts together. She doesn't like it, I mean not controlling the colours, but did enjoy the process. Cushion sized projects are just the ticket for practicing different styles of patchwork. Toot toot toot Judy, it's a fabulous, and quite unloved, finish

Judy is delighted with her new cushion. What a splendid and rather sophisticated hound. She made it to gift to a fundraising event. I hope people don't argue over it!! Toot toot toot Judy, a belated fanfare for your fabulous finish.

Deb finished another I Spy play mat. I have 6" squares cut ready as 6 Packs in my shop, very convenient for you. Each square has a different design making it very interesting for any kiddo to help with learning about colours, counting, animals, fish, fruits and everything in between. Deb chose to use corner stones of digger wheels fabric. Toot toot toot for a fabulous finish

That should see us all caught up for now.

I'll give my very own self a 'See Me' and note that I must try harder to keep up with pictures. It's very hard to remember to do your job properly when your job is so much fun!!

Back To Normal

My shop will be OPEN AS NORMAL from today. I could get quite used to one day working weeks!!

We had a lovely few days on our retreat. Excellent location, massive sewing room with a million tables. Great and plentiful food and lovely company, as most quilters are, to sew with. Even the weather was kind to us.
I took a few photos of the projects in progress, here they are

I finished my blocks when I got home as I had mis-cut a few bits, and there are a lot of bits in this pattern!

Ooooops!!!

Soon corrected!

We have other retreats booked. One in March 2025. One October 2025.
There are plans being made for June and August too.
All of these retreats will be at Hillscourt Hotel . It's a very handy location!

More information will be posted soon. Email me if you cant wait though. Angiequilts@gmail.com

Please take note

My shop is now closed for one week. Open again on Saturday 12th 9.30am to 4pm