Monday 5 August 2013

In Stitches Blickling Hall Exhibition









Stewart and I had a Saturday off and went off to 
The In Stitches Exhibition at Blickling Hall.
We love going there and enjoy the journey, the exhibition 
the gardens and the pub lunch!
An all round day.
We did the 5 mile walk this time.
The work was outstanding as usual, hundreds of pieces of work 
made by just seven Norwich Textile Artists.
Pat Burkes was as inviting as ever and I got them to have a photo.
See Julie Smith's website of
exquisite embroidery.
Visit Blickling Hall website

Dragons Eggs



I made these at the Toftwood Exhibition with a one felting needle tool.
We have affectionately called them 'Dragon Eggs' due to them being
unusual.
The Embellisher is great but is really for 2D work. 
Hand felting you can make unusual 3D items.
It takes a little practice and some delft hand movements.

Toftwood Art Exhibition




Pat asked at The Textile Tuesday Class if anyone would
like to demonstrate at the local Art Exhibition.
I said yes. Pat said she was going to take the 
Embelisher machine so I thought I would do the
hand felting method so we could show the difference.
People were fascinated we were felting and what we were creating.
It was lovely to share and chat to people at the show.
Sylvia came along in the afternoon and she demonstrated 
bobbin lace. Beautiful! This is one of those crafts I am 
not going to stray into because I know it will envelope time.
I will just watch and admire :)

Jenny's Manipulated Bed Hanging





Everyone on The City and Guilds have been working really
hard. We have seen Jenny's manipulated bed hanging come together
over the last few months.
It looks really Elizabethan.
The crystal bead tassel is just amazing and I know what
I will be making over the Christmas holiday.
Well done Jenny.

Colourful Textiles



I try and stretch textile students out of their comfort zone and this 
month part of the inspiration was making backgrounds out of
scraps and stitch. 
Helen started and yelled half way through. I don't like this.
I asked her to persevere and keep adding more strips and stitch.
Use textured threads and decorate more.
We all love this including Helen and it has inspired others
 to have a go from the scrap jar in the studio.

Kates Birthday





Coven Quilters met at Barbara's this month.
Cathy, Barbara's daughter had found a 1940's
ladies coat in a Vintage Shop in Holt.
We all tried it on, it suited al of us, just showing a 
good pattern makes all us women look good.
The linning looked liked the orange silk of parachutes.
More research by Kathy needed.
What a find!
Kate said in a quiet voice,
"Have I forgot someones birthday?"
She had spotted the bunting up on the fireplace.
We giggled, "yours silly" came the reply!
Barbara brought in the birthday cake, candles lit,
big blow and desiccated coconut which Barbara had sprinkled 
on the top to make it look pretty everywhere!:)))))
More laughter.
Cake and tea with lots of chat and friendship
and a lovely evening had by all.
See more of our evening and quilts by clicking on the 
written labels below.


Photo Shoot Day




Studios all dressed for the photo shoot for the new brochures,
leaflets and website Claire is having done for the Academy.
These photographs were taking taken at a few of the quiet times throughout the day.
When it was all going on we sat and watched filming.


Jacquie Harvey Talk










What can I say Jacquie Harvey came to Alveva's
and shared her work and quilting times with us,
it was amazing.
She has won so many awards for her hand quilting,
so lovely to see these quilts up close.
She has designed a Block of the Month for The Quilters Guild
which anyone can participate in.
I think we all wanted to go home and start again.
Truly inspirational. 
I could have put up twenty photographs, 
it was hard to choose my favourites.
Visit her website and watch her videos

Yvonne's Quilt Show and Tell


Yvonne is Chair at Alveva and a famous UK Quilt Artist.
She will be exhibiting at the NEC this month.
She showed us her quilt she had just finished using silk squares 
and cream print fabric she had been collecting for years.
It is a really modern quilt and was inspired by the talk by Lucy Summers 
earlier in the year.
Visit Yvonne's website

Linda Turner


We are so lucky at Alveva Quilters to have so many great quilters and 
those that share their work and teach.
Linda showed us the quilt she is teaching at the workshop.
A stack and whack string piecing!
It looked fantastic and she assured us it was doable!
See Linda's website and catch up with all her news.
See more by clicking the written labels below

Alveva Show and Tell




As usual there were many 'Show and Tells' at the meeting.
From the top, Ruby showed us her wish quilt,
all pictures of things she wants to do throughout her life time and
some she has done. Some made us laugh as they were near impossible!
Meg showed us another of her amazing colourful quilts and she had had it
quilted by Jennifer over at Watton
Jennifer is a wonderful long arm quilter and designs patterns
which merge with your quilt and show off the details.
Visit her website 
Joy had been on a workshop with Yvonne and brought her friends
from the Sew Much To Do quilting shop from Ely.
They are just so helpful and are putting on workshops in their store.
One of these were held by Yvonne, Medieval Magic.
Visit the shop

Norfolk Shawl



At Alveva Quilters 'Show and Tell', Liz
showed us her latest buy, an original Norwich Shawl.
I was unaware that they were so large as I have only seen one folded
up, so it came as quite a surprise.
Visit the Norwich Textile Museum to learn more about the
shawls
Visit the Textile Museum Association 

Hindolveston Textile Exhibition



Every two years the Textile Exhibition by The Hindolveston 
Textile Group at Brancaster Staithe
Village hall is spectacular with lots to inspire.
Kathy Bach was on hand to show me some of the work 
and we had a catch up too!
I was so busy taking it all in forgot to take photos!!!
So see previous exhibition

U3A Downham Market Workshop



About every four months I get to teach for the Downham Market U3A
(University of the Third Age).
We have such fun and this time, 
ooo look at the cakes:))))
They wanted to New York Beauty by precision piecing.
Quite a challenge as there are some beginners in the group.
But you can see by the photo at the end they were still
smiling and more!
See more by clicking the written labels below.

All Was Quiet Then A Quilt Got Put Together






The Textile Thursday started off with 'Show and Tell' and
creativity and then Janet said,
"I am ready to put my quilt together".
So all hands on deck to move the tables around and then
the very large quilt sandwich began.
Lots of pins and laughter later patchwork becomes a quilt
and is ready for the quilting together.
The back was turned over to check, no wrinkles and admire
the handy work.
It is a reversible quilt for Janet's Grand daughter and we are
so proud of Janet because it is her first.
It is amazing.