1930's Quilts For The Studio

Textile Thursdays

Ele the Elephant came to class

Beautiful Bags

Creative Textiles is really getting know for inspiring

lots of different bags and several ladies are

getting a reputation for being'Bag Ladies',

in the nicest possible way. 

The top bags are made by friends Val and Jo.

They chose their fabrics together at the Duxford Show 

and then had a bag making day!

They are just a bit bigger than the ipad and have

some wonderful clasps and embellishments on them.

Beryl made the appliqued  hexagon decorated bag.

Love the shape!

The mini hand bags are ideal gifts and Carol has had 

some fun making them.

I inspire at least two bags each month aswell and 

'Show and Tell' just inspire everyone.

See more bags by clicking on the written labels below. 

Star Strip Piecing

Helen had found this pattern and had always  wanted to try it.

Its a technique where you join the strips of fabric together

 on the angle and and then cut them into the square size.

The squares are then arranged so you form a square in the

middle and if you do this throughout the quilt you will have stars

where the large squares join too!

A really effective pattern once you get round the 

angle thing!!

Table Runner

Helen has made this Autumnal Table Runner using

The Card Trick pattern in the squares. It is one of those

patterns that look so effective but you have to be

careful of points and how you put it together.

The table mats just add to the collection.

Well done Helen. 

Thinking of you :)

see more table runners by clicking the written label below.

Patchwork Chair Cover

Liz has been working on a cover for her chair at home

to make it more cosy and comfortable.

She loves colour and has enjoyed learning lots of

 Patchwork and Quilting techniques.

She demonstrated how it would work on one of the

chairs at Cancer Care.

We were all amazed when Liz did the reverse

show too!

She reckons it was the side when visitors are coming round

so the colours are not in their face!

Textile Sessions are every Thursday at Cancer Care Dereham.

10am-12.15 and 12.30-2.45.

Stained Glass Patchwork Fuchsias

Judith's Fuchsias are made using the stained glass patchwork technique.

It takes a bit of planning and drawing out but as you can

see the results are stunning.

Judith decided she wanted to use vibrant silks and this

technique is great for this as it covers the raw edges but also

gives the impression of a window shining. 

I drew a pattern out of the design first, 

sometimes students just want to start then and there,

so I have to be pretty inventive!

 Using this outline drawing Judith traced each

piece onto freezer paper and then each piece was numbered and labelled.

The drawing was labelled and numbered as well.

You then make a background fabric for all the pieces to go

onto. See Judith in this post HERE 

beginning the process.
It is a case of starting from one corner

and laying the pieces down making sure you overlap

where necessary and consider how you are going

to place the black bias binding so it neatens edges and 

covers edges.

This is Judith's first wallhanging like this and it

is beautiful. The striking pink edging has really put a wow

to the finish.

U3A Patchwork and Quilting Workshop

In March I taught the Down Market U3A Patchwork and Quilting Group

Twisted Squares and Folded Patchwork, shapes and strips.

(U3A, "university of the third age").

Every hour, there was a new technique and ways of continuing them

on, into patterns which could be parts of wallhangings, cushions or quilts.

Some, liked the Twisted Square,  a bit of magic. Others like the 

folded hexagons these can make your eyes and fingers go twitchey. 

The Cathedral Windows made as doubles and the Twisted Strips 

something different!

Origami in fabric is always a good exercise because you are taking a 

2D flat fabric surface and making it into a 3D with folds, tucks, pleats and

stitch. The manipulation of the fabric add another dimension 

you can't get any other way

Everyone enjoyed the day and you can see by the table of samples,

lots of good results. It also opened many boxes in the brain

 that hadn't been opened for a long time.

I like stretching the brain muscles with simple exercise

that turn out great results.

From this the group decided to make a block up from the squares

for the Sampler Quilt they are each making.

I was asked if I would teach the block

"New York Beauty"

 at the next workshop in June.

See more of the folded patchwork 

by clicking the written labels below.

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

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 

HERE

Also you thought pleats could be so much fun

watch this video HERE

More Quilts

These two quilts have been slowly coming together over
the last couple of weeks.
Eileen has chosen just vibrant colours to wrk with,
it's fantastic.
Janet is making the fan quilt for her Grand Daughter.
See more quilts and textiles by visiting my portfolio site
Art2Inspire
http://www.art2inspire.co.uk

Moda Sampler Quilt

Jenny has been making the Sampler blocks week by week.

The quilt is for her Grand Daughter. 

She chose a Moda Jelly Roll to make the blocks from

and chose a cream sashing to highlight each block.

I love using Jelly Rolls and Charm Packs as you have all the fabric you need

to make some spectacular quilts.

Sampler Quilts in the Making

Eileen and Janet are both using Sampler Quilt Patterns 

to make these two very different quilts.

The colours are just wonderful!

See more quilts by clicking the written labels below or visiting 'Quilt"

on my art portfolio site,

HERE

Textile Evening Class

The first Evening Class at The Art Room took place on Wednesday Night and it was very productive and everyone felt glad to be back after Christmas. Ann is finishing her Kitchen Runner, a lovely sunny piece, shown at the top. Heather Ann had finished two bags. I showed the last evening class how to make them and she went into production and they have proved very useful. I saw the video on Crafty Gemini and adapted the pattern slightly. As you can see by the photos there were quilts in production too! UFO's that had surfaced for re-looking at and continuing.
Textile Evening Classes at The Art Room are on the first Wednesday evening of most months of the year. Contact me for details.

Classes at The Art Room

New Year New Venue at The Art Room Dereham.

Here you can see the first 'Textile Tuesday' for 2013 at The Art Room.

It was electric there was so much 'Show and Tell', lovely Christmas presents

and photographs being shared. This is what it is all about.

Not a lot of making by some but lots of pattern making and working out

and how to finish or make new things.

The Art Room is at

1A Rash's Green

Toftwood 

Dereham

Norfolk

If you would like more information contact me for details.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year.
There are lots of changes of venues for classes this year so visit the workshop page for the news and dates.
Visit my Art2Inspire website for the new post of the year.
www.art2inspire.co.uk

Bag Making at Knitwits

We have been making bags at Knitwits since I started teaching there last year. I try and make and share a new style of bag each month, so there is a style of bag that will inspire someone to make it. These ones got finished this week by students and as you can see they are already being used.
See more of my bags and inspiration on my portfolio site www.art2inspire.co.uk
See more by clicking the written or photo tags below.

Sewing Tidies and Sewing Machine Mat

When new students come to class they often see lots of 'Show and Tell' and what they thought they wanted to make immediately often changes. Two such new students came along and this is what happened to them too and so they wanted to make the sewing tidies above and then go onto the sewing machine mat to. As you can see they are really useful and fun items to have as part of your sewing kit.
See more of what happens at classes by clicking the written labels below or to see the workshops and classes available click HERE

Princess Cushion

Thursday Patchwork and Quilting Class always has a lot of show and tell. The classes are very popular as students can make their own projects and as you can see Ann has made a start on a floor cushion for her granddaughter making her the feature! Beautiful! This is another successful item combining patchwork and photo transfer.
 The stripped patchwork and quilted runner was made by Ann's Mum, so you can see it is often a three generation class. The cushion has been finished and the Little Princess loves it.
See more of what goes on at Knitwits by clicking the written labels below.