Stitching News

Christabelle started this project a while ago...
It comes out from time to time to have a few more stitch details added.
When you're working on large quilts and projects needing to be done in a hurry... which is what Chris has been up to... it feels good to have an 'on-going and familiar' little something to work on

Now that PM Pam decided to 'get on and finish' her 'Lazy Daizy' quilt she's wondering why she had set it on one side all those months ago...
She's enjoying herself and... I think you can see...
she's doing a few things not in the original pattern, how arty-farty are you Pam!

Gail finished her baby play mat/quilt top... Lovely Ladybirds in a rainbow of colours. This quilt might have to wait to be made into a sandwich and finished though... Gail sandwiched three large beauties recently... and they have to be quilted!

Giggly Gillian already made a quilt like this one... it's finished and it's hanging up looking fabulous... the trouble with displaying our works of art though, is that other people want them too and so the commissions just roll in, ha! Gillian's making this leafy lovely for a family member... she doesn't really take orders willy-nilly...

Aha.... or does she? I'm sure Giggly Gillian is making this kiddy quilt to be gifted?
Those corner stones look great don't they? Who would ever have known that there wasn't quite enough fabric on the length to go straight across those borders??
Gotta love quilt Fudge eh

My Mum Gwynneth wanted to make a quick project before going off on her Jolly Holidays... this table runner, made with one Charm Pack, or 42 x 5" squares of your very own choice could be one of the quickest yet! No binding and easy quilting!

And now I give to my very own self, a Toot toot toot fanfare for my fabulous and finished Hexagon quilt. Made with one Moda Jelly Roll plus the black fabric, and backing of course... This was hand quilted with my very own, super duper, all working fabulously... New hands!!! It's hanging on my very own classroom wall and it's ever so easy to make, I promise!

Stackable Stash Bags Workshop

Sandwiches Galore

Sandwich Saturdays were a great idea of mine... 

even if I do say so for my very own self!

Take a look at the ones we made last week....

A Layer Cake pattern

Gail's own design

Bento Box

Bargello

Stitching News

Krafty Karen made her sandwich and spent quality time quilting.
The're always laughing over on the window table...
what a great way to spend a day!

Farmer Lynda made a sandwich...Picnic anyone?
This fun pattern is in a magazine, sorry I don't remember which one, and the quilt will be gifted to a very lucky fellow.

Paula purchased this panel so all that was needed was to add the two border strips... so she also made a sandwich! Good progress was made on the quilting too.

Di Butterfly brought in a piece of fabric to ask for ideas of how to use it.
There's lots of this kind of picture fabric available.
She chose to make personalised bunting for Oscar.

Sister Sue was very happy to have added the final border on her Railfence design, Table Runner. Next time she comes there will be a need for sandwich making... all great and necessary skills!

Fiona, Sister Sue's sister, also finished her Railfence design Table Runner.
Sometimes folk know exactly where they will use their beginner project so the choice of fabrics needs to co-ordinate... Beautiful blues.

Peggy decided to do her quilting lines diagonally. She draws them with an air erasable pen first, to have a line to follow... If you have ever used the Sewline Air Erasable pen you'll know it disappears quickly so it has to be done one line at a time

Morning Josie added two zips to her cushion backs and finished the lovely cushions ready for gifting. She's going to dabble with applique next...
Toot toot toot Josie... fabulous and finished cushions!

Joan The Shop is working on a  commissioned project.
5 Kaleidoscope block cushions...
some are sandwiched already and the quilting has begun.

Barbie's Kaleidoscope blocks are now a quilt sandwich... Can you tell that Barbie is a big fan of green? ha ha She was making this quilt all for her very own self but, as usual she's decided to give it to a friend, but there are hours of quilting to be done yet.

Toot toot toot... A fanfare for a fabulous and finished quilt.
Congratulations on finishing this quilt, Auntie June!
It's been a long and windy road but well worth sticking to it... Perfectly Purple!

Here's the back of Auntie June's quilt...
you can see just how much quilting has been done better from the back and I wanted you to see that.... it's Perfectly Purple too!

Temptation? Maybe...

My very own Patchwork And Quilting Shop has been open for a little over 3 years now. As I mentioned in a previous post, I pre-opened the doors for business on Saturday, February 17th 2012.
 The 'Official' anniversary will be on March 10th. I'm quite rubbish at finding time to organise special events... and they don't half come round quickly. After much thought and many a conversation with customers and friends last year, we decided to have a celebration in style if/when we get to 5 years of being open... 2017!
I couldn't do nothing this year though, could I...

 I filled up my temptation trolleys with lovely fabrics... 

there's all sorts, simple spots, juvenile prints, girly lovelies and florals... 

even Christmas fabrics...

and then I discounted them with a thick red pen!

The classroom has a few spare tables tomorrow, we have a few ladies off on their Jolly Holidays, so I was able to use the space for displaying some of the fabric bolts, making it much easier for my lovely customers to see.
This is such a great opportunity to help me free up a little space on my wonderful, and extremely tightly packed, shelves full of beauty!!
Generous?... Oh yes... ha ha ha.
The fabrics will be back in the Temptation Trolleys after Monday, Tuesday class is fully booked... you can still see them clearly though... until the end of Saturday 14th, that's if there are any left of course... that thick red pen was quite naughty!!

Eye Candy...

On my classroom wall!

Workshops...

I've been planning, plotting and juggling the diary to bring some great workshops. There's an Easter break, a couple of Bank Holiday weekends and a Quilting Retreat to fit in but we're almost sorted... here's a few pictures of what's coming up... The Workshops 2015 list... tab at the top of this blog.. will be all up to date by Monday.

Sue's Sewing Bee, one of three workshops

Sue's Sewing Bee, one of three workshops

Posh organisation for your notions!

Foldy Fun 3D cushions

Foldy Fun 3D cushions

Stackable Stash Cubes, What will you keep in yours?

Crumbs And Mile-A-Minute

Coiled Fabric Pots

As is normal for my very own classroom...

Bookings require a none refundable deposit to secure a place. 

For Those Who Fuse

Have you tried the new Lite Steam A Seam 2 yet?

What a fantastic invention!

Some of my customers were asking me why their needles get all 'gunked up' when they try to stitch around their stuck down, applique shapes. I wasn't sure of the answer so I wrote to the lady who knows all about it... here's the reply and it all makes very much sense... give it a go won't you...

Hi Angie – Regarding the Lite Steam-A-Seam 2, the ladies are not fusing long enough.  We are using a much stronger pressure sensitive adhesive to keep the paper lining attached to the web until it is time to remove it.  The new adhesive also allows for a better temporary hold to the fabric.  It is thicker and requires 20+ seconds when working with cotton on cotton and using steam.  If you are using a dry iron or have turned your iron down from the cotton setting, you would then need to increase the fusing time.  They shouldn’t be afraid of really giving it the heat, overlapping all areas.  This turns the Steam-A-Seam 2 viscous allowing it to flow into both fabrics.  If anyone experiences gumming or needle resistance, the Steam-A-Seam has not been fused long enough.  This is truly the best product we have ever made. 

Warm regards,

Dawn Pereira

VP, Sales & Marketing