Stitching News

A Yappy Advent Calendar! I have Cat Advent panels too.
And... there's still just enough time to make one for your very own cat or dog, or human!

I've been stitching up my first ever pre-printed, Advent Panel. I have quite a few made up in my very own shop, but my Mum's done all the sewing for those. I thought it was about time I made one. 

 I didn't quite follow the instructions, I pleased my very own self on that score. After attaching all the little pockets, I sandwiched my top with a utility fabric, so I could free motion quilt around all the details in that lovely festive scene without tying all the ends off! How very cheating is that? I just pressed my Juki cutting button and left all the threads on the back!

I then added a lovely red and rather festive fabric for the back. I 'Bagged'!! Sooooo, no binding was needed. I just did a couple of rows of quilting around the edge after turning it through and sealing the hole by hand stitching, are you following me? It looks a bit wobbly on the edges in the picture but it wasn't too bad, it's the way I have it on the design wall.

My Yappy Advent Calendar was gifted to Frank. He was so chuffed with it, can you tell? ha ha ha. Clever little chap even sent me this picture with a thank you note, declaring that he loved it!

Upcoming Retreats For 2025

You can't have too many fabric bowls!!

I have several quilting retreats booked for 2025 that I'd like to tell you about.

Monday 3rd March - Thursday 6th @ Hillscourt, Lickey Hills

Thursday 21st August - Sunday 24th @ Hillscourt, Lickey Hills

Monday 6th October - Thursday 9th @ Hawkstone Park, Shrewsbury

I loved making this quilt using lots of left over festive fabrics and orphan blocks.

I've also organised a Quilt Retreat in Shrewsbury, for the middle of Sewing Prevention Season, (Christmas!)

The retreat is booked for Wednesday 24th - Saturday 27th December, possible until 28th.

All meals and refreshments are included for all retreats, except bar bills of course.

You will have your own room, unless you really prefer to share, and all rooms are en-suite.

These retreats are yours to enjoy and you'll need to bring your own project(s) to work on.

Of course, as is usual, numbers are limited , we need plenty of space, sardines can't sew properly can they!

My email address is angiequilts@gmail.com or feel free to pop into my shop, should you like more information.

 

Stitching News

Christmas Corner has been very popular in my little shop this week. Advent Calendars are being stitched, Festive Buntings strung, little bags and table toppers made for gifting, it's been a very Christmassy themed week. I'm not a massive fan of Christmas, except for the holiday it gives! but I do like all the festive stuff we make. 

In my classroom though, lots of inspiring sewing has happened...

Christabelle finished her Quilted Table Topper. It's a pattern in a book called Skinny Quilts, which are perfect for bed runners, door or wall display quilts and table toppers. Chris has enjoyed making this smaller than usual quilt, so a fanfare is due, toot toot toot, it's long and fabulous finish

This also belongs to Christabelle. A spectacular Stack-n-Whack Kaleidoscope quilt top. There were many options for the borders so a little bit of thinking happened. The decision was made eventually and Chris has booked in to make her sandwich next Friday.

Pam's baby quilt commission is coming along very nicely. All the letters are the right way up now, don't tell her I mentioned that! Borders will be added next week.

Gail is cracking on with her new baby project. 

Delightful Teddy blocks are keeping her busy stitching. 

Changing thread colours for every fabric.

Gail's gathered a great selection of thread colours.

Farmer Lynda has quilted her Giraffe by following the applique design on the front. Of course it will show up on the backing fabric. and Look how fabulous it is!!

Lynda is chuffed to bits with it. Double sided Gifting.

Jackie finished her very long, Quick Table Topper. The pattern used to be a free PDF, lots and very lots of these have been made in my classroom using the PDF, but it seems to have disappeared from T'Internet now, at least, I can't find it. Jackie's made to measure, Fabulous and Finished quilt toot toot toot. 

Jan spied a couple of vacant tables so was able to make her festive sandwich. She's enjoyed making all the star blocks, precisely and very pointy. The quilting was started in class too. 

Julie has her Pineapple blocks all finished, 24 I think, so she's able to stitch them together with sashing strips and corner stones. The coloured fabrics are from a Tilda collection. I think it's one Jelly Roll and one Layer Cake.

I've been stitching up my first ever pre-printed, Advent Panel. I have quite a few made up in my very own shop, but my Mum's done all the sewing for those. I thought it was about time I made one. They are very easy really. A lot of pressing is involved. I didn't quite follow the instructions, I pleased my very own self on that score, I bet you're not surprised to hear that little nugget!

A Sunday Funday (always a fun day) Sewday is coming up, November 24th 9.30am - 3-30pm, which is next weekend. It's time to pay for your place, if you have't already.

Our March 2025 sewing Retreat at Hillscourt in the Lickey Hills is filling up nicely. 

That's Monday 3rd March - Thursday 6th. We have now started collecting deposits.

Please feel free to mail me angiequilts@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Stitching News

Friday this week, was a sandwich making day again. All part of the excellent customer service I like to offer, saving your back and your knees from el mucho pain-o. In between sandwich making and shop customers I was able to do a lot of  I was sorting out in my Christmas Corner. It's a very popular corner this week and the Fat Quarters all needed topping up, I still haven't finished cutting the Fat Quarters but I did find a couple of bolts of fabric that I had hidden behind the shelves. In particular, Advent Panels. I have way too many for a little Christmas Corner. More on that later, and it might be interesting.

We have a new victim, Jackie. She's been well and truly infected by the Quilting Bug. After only one day learning the basics of patchwork and quilting, she's hooked. This happened easily while making this lovely cushion. Toot toot toot Jackie, fabulous and finished projects receive a trumpet fanfare.

The same thing happened with Sue. After making her first beginner cushion, she went on to make one for everyone she knows. For a few weeks now though, Sue has been beavering away making Log Cabin blocks. This week the blocks were all joined together and a new quilt top was almost done. We will add the borders next week.

Our Judy does lots of sewing for charitable causes. Next week, in this little market town of Cheadle, it's the big Light switch on event. Lots of charities use the day to raise funds, it's a lovey event. Judy has been making festive coasters to donate to Home Link's fundraising. Don't they look great presented this way. Perfect little gifts made from Judy's left over festive fabrics.

Shirley had made this lovely quilt top a while ago and had put it to one side. It can be a bit daunting to have too many sandwiches waiting to be quilted, there's less pressure caused by a folded up top! Anyway, now it's time to quilt this one so the deed has been done.

Deb says her puppy quilt inspired by Prue Leith. Obviously she means their spectacles. How cool are those frames! One quilt top completed and ready to be sandwiched. But for now Deb is working on her Snowman Collector blocks. I'll get pictures of those next time.

And Taaaa Daaah

Finished, but no label yet.

My very own quilt is toot toot toot ready.

Hanging on the classroom wall to inspire you!

Another little reminder about Checkley Sunday Sewday on 24th November. I have quite a few names on my list with payment pending. It's just £20.00 for the day, when you pay in advance (this includes refreshments and your lunch) but it's £25.00 to pay on the day.

I'm very sorry that payment is not refundable for any cancellations made once all the catering supplies have been purchased, which is usually on the Wednesday before a sewday.

Happy stitching xx

Stitching News

November! and the glorious colours that come with it. It's almost unbelieve-a-bubble that Sewing prevention season in looming, really, only a few weeks to go! Aren't I the joyful one! If you plan on making an Advent Calendar it's time to get your very own self sewing, I have lots of panels availa-bubble for you to choose from in my very own shop. I have wadding cut to size too.

Rose finished hand sewing the binding, as predicted. She is very happy with the quilt, and no wonder. The design is by Elizabeth Hartman from the book Modern Patchwork, a lovely book. We need to polish our trumpets and hold them high for a tooting fanfare

This is the back, it's a perfect match! The book has patterns for all quilt tops with a co-ordinated backing. You get to make two quilt tops and only quilt once! blooming marvelous idea. Toot toot toot Rose, fabulous and finished and ready for gifting.

Louise Merlot is a new Granny! A new grand baby needs new quilts. Well, she doesn't probably need any more but it's how we quilters gush love and cuddles!! Merlot is making an Eye Spy Play Mat with snowballs and corner stones (quilty speak). It's a free pattern on Makower UK website

Josie came to make her sandwich. At this point she's wondering how she will manage the quilting, with it being so large. We discussed a few possibilities and we'll have to wait to see how Josie gets on, but she went home determined, that's a good sign.

Princess Jackie came to make two sandwiches. First up, The Night Before Christmas, very apt as we get closer to that sewing prevention season! There's a lot of little detail to be quilted around, which never phases Jackie, not even all those ends to tie off!

Jackie's second sandwich, an explosion of colour!

The Gypsy's Wife quilt pattern, now called the Wanderers Wife, I think. Wow is it fabulous and bright. Lot's of quilting styles will be perfect. 

My shop was closed on Saturday because I attended a weaving workshop at Masson Mills in Cromford. I made this sample. 

I enjoyed learning something different.

when I retire, I just might take up a little weaving.

There's a Sunday Funday Sewday on November 24th. It will be the last one of 2024.

All the dates for 2025 are available on the little Fun Stuff tab at the top of this blog.