Sunday 24 March 2013

Scrumbled Surfaces




We have been making lots of different surfaces and textures with textiles.
Using man made fabrics such as nylons and polyester lining fabric,
make great surfaces. You can colour the surface by transfer printing
with paper bags, transfer paints of crayons.
Then take a large piece of man made fabric and form a grid with
zig zag stitch at least an inch apart. 
then pull up those threads and then you can iron it,
between two sheets of parchment paper.
It will form bubble like formations.
Enjoy having a go.

C&G Creative Textiles




Monday and Wednesday C&G creative Textiles are going
well. We have had several assessments and all are doing well.
There will be new courses starting shortly for
Level One, a taster course.
 Level Two and Level Three a years creative course.
At least three techniques each week and lots of creating.
See results on my portfolio site

Shellac Nails Mermaid Shimmer



Every two weeks Kim at 'Inovations' in Swaffham has been 
looking after my hands and painting my nails 
with shellac nail polish.
I love mixing and making new colours.
We called this one 'Mermaids Shimmer',
It's a burgundy base layer with Coral Shimmer o the top.
Love it! 
See my other colours by clicking the written labels below.


16 Square Bag


Nikki has been making bags from her Alpaca Tweed fabric.
She and her family have an Alpaca Farm just outside Dereham.
See her website HERE
It is wonderful to think that Nikki looks after the Alpacas and 
then sheers them and then the hair is made into fabric which is then
made into luxury fashion and goods.

Cafetiere Cover



Hilary learnt how to do the Twisted Square and Cathedral Window
combined at class and then made this great Cafetiere.
It looks really stylish and very Japanese inspired.
See more folded fabrics by clicking the written labels below.

Cathedral Windows In The Pink


With lots of folding and manipulating of fabric going on in classes
I love to see traditional fabric come alive with techniques.
Adding the buttons to this Sandra has given it another dimension.
These are Cathedral window made with two squares of fabric sewn right
sides together, leave a gap and then turn right side out.
Sew up the gap and then fold into the middle. 
You can then curve back and stitch revealing the underneath lining fabric. 
See a video on my tech site for making 
Cathedral Windows by machine.


Memory Quilt



I often get asked to make items from clothing as Memory Keepsakes.
This cot quilt and bear are Memory keepsakes but  are little different.
The grandma of the new baby girl who has just arrived, 
asked if I could make a Cot Quilt and Bear from her son's
favourite shirts.
Sadly, he died last year from a brain tumour.
He knew he was going to be a Dad so it made it a very
special commission for me. 
It was also difficult emotional cutting the shirts up but
once they started forming into a cot quilt and bear they 
made me smile. I am sure the new little girl is going to love them.
I also made a small hand bear that can be sucked, chewed and washed.
Best wishes to all.
See my patchwork bear made from crazy patchwork and stitch

Linda Turner at Duxford




Joan and I enjoyed going around the Duxford Quilt Show at
I was looking forward to seeing Linda Turner's work.
A friend and fellow quilter.
It was great to see the show organisers had hung her double sided quilt
properly, so you could admire her reversible work.
Joan really examined the details.
Lots of my students admired her photo to stitch and
fracturing techniques Linda is now famous for.
See Linda's website 
See more of Linda and her work by clicking the written labels below.


Duxford Quilt Show



I always visited Chilford Quilt Fair at this time of year and 
with the sad fire there. The Show has moved it's venue to
Last years reports were mixed and my memories of 
Duxford were when I was in The RAF, so
I was unsure how a quilt show would feel in a hanger,
with aeroplanes!
We arrived from Norfolk on one of Carters coaches,
the trip organised by
Adrienne one of my C&G students.
Thank you Adrienne, it is really appreciated.
I was pleasantly surprised by the show.
The show was well set out and the quilt show had a good variety.
I only had a small shopping list but I know some had a long list:)
I went round the show with my friend Joan, an avid quilter 
and grandma on a quilt mission!
We had lunch and cups of tea under the nose of a Typhoon.
That was the only problem, not enough seats!
Looking forward to the November show. 


Classes at Cancer Care Dereham


I have been teaching Textile Thursday
 at The Cancer Care Moving on Project,
since 7th March 2013.
Two sessions on the Thursday. 
10am until 12.15 and then 12.30 until 2.45.
See HERE for more information
The atmosphere is lovely and everyone is so friendly.
We do lots of Textile projects and it for beginners to experienced alike.
There is inspiration each week and help with your own projects.
It is £8.50 per session and half goes towards the centre as a donation.
It is a great way of showing our support.
I feel so lucky to be able to support charities while I work and share.
There are different things going on each day at the centre.
The volunteers are all trained and 
are there to help anyone touched by cancer.
Pop in and see what the centre is doing 
and if you can help support events.
See their website
HERE

Basket Textile Tidy




Helen brought in this wonderful Basket with all her
notions that you need for sewing in it.
Her lastest projects are inside for instant access.
Each pocket holds each appropriate item and is to hand.
With the drop down handles it sits so well on a table.
Helen made a paper pattern for the inside of the basket 
and then measured up each pocket for the spaces round the basket edge.
We loved the notion printed patches on the pockets.
We are al on the hunt for a suitable basket!
Great Helen, thanks for sharing.

Swimming Bag



Heatheranne needed a Swimming Bag, so made
one using a Jelly Roll Pattern as the middle square
for the front to try out the pattern before she
makes it into a quilt. The back is striped and has a pocket.
There is also a pocket inside.
Greta bag to take Swimming!
If you want to waterproof bags, I put
them in the washing machine with a waterproofing product.
It is a waterproofer that you would normally 
waterproof coats or clothing with. 
It gives a good surface to the fabric to repel dirt.
I recommend these below

16 Squares Make a Bag



Brenda has made this bag for her friend for the Summer.
Its beautiful!
Its made out of 16, 5.5" squares and laid out similar to the 
table runners I teach.
There has been a steep learning curve on how to put the
squares and lining together and turn it inside out so that
it looks professional. 
A great gift.
Well done Brenda!
See one of my favourite square bags with a purse
See more bags by clicking the written labels below. 

Folded Strips


Every week at classes I teach different techniques to 
encourage participants to look at different ways
of creating textiles.
Here are a selection of the folded and twisted Strips.
They start off with a 3.5" wide strip as long as
you can handle and then box pleats.
These can be use for add 3D interest on textiles
and make great handles for handbags.
Often it is making the new or having a go at
techniques that inspires other projects that you want 
to do but not had the courage to try.
I am also into keeping brains healthy and
origami is a healthy brain and body activity.
Jennie Rayment is a real inspiration,
I have to translate the techniques so I can do them :)
Visit her site HERE
See this video of her having some fun 
Also you thought pleats could be so much fun
watch this video HERE

Christmas Every Month


Some of us are making gifts for Christmas throughout the year
so we can take are time and make what we would really
want to give. 
Sylvia was asked by a friend if she would make her a
Striped Christmas Runner with all the ribbons she had been saving
 from gifts and chocolates. 
Sylvia has made many of these now.
I teach Christmas Runners from the start of September,
so they can be made in time for Christmas. 
I add and demonstrate a new pattern each year at classes.
I already have an idea for this years!!!
Click on the written label below
to see a collection of table runners.

Pat's Covered Notebook



With the scraps left over from making the folded bag.
Pat made some patchwork and has covered a notebook.
Pat went to a Quilters Guild meeting where they asked
if people could cover books or wrap books for 
The Guild raffle in August,
at The Festival of Quilts, NEC Birmingham.
See a video on how to cover a book on my Tech site
Also click on the written labels below which will show you
a selection of book covers and embellished sketchbooks books
I have also got my sketchbooks on my portfolio site
To visit The Quilters Guild and see more about the book wraps
and what the Guild is all about
click HERE

Pats Folded Bag


Pat made this folded bag out of some amazing patterned material.
It gives great definition to the folds.
See one of my purple folded bags 
and Sylvia's one
or click on the written label below, folded bag and it will
show you a collection and give you an idea of how you 
fold the 16" quilted square.