Sylvia's Quilt

This is Sylvia, one of the regular Textile Tuesday Ladies. 

She loves coming along to the sessions and is such an inspirational lady!

This is the quilt she has made for her Grand Daughter. 

The purple just sets off all of the strips of fabrics used.

Sylvia's Grand Daughter chose the design and it is one of those that is going to be timeless.

She has made it reversible too and the strips go through into the pieced binding.

It is going to make a wonderful gift that any of us would love to receive.

Well done Sylvia!

 She is now starting another quilt for her son,

 so I will keep you posted.

See more of Sylvia's work by clicking on the written labels below. 

The Art Room Dereham

Textile Tuesday and Thursdays are going well at 'The Art Room',  Dereham. 

The Tuesday sessions are 10am until 12.15 and 12.30 until 2.45pm.

You need to book so contact  me on 01760 337181 if you want to book or

find out information.

There is lots of inspiration and lots of sharing and laughter. 

The bottom photograph shows Jo demonstrating how to machine a buttonhole.

It's always typical though the machine decides to play up as you want to share!

After re threading and positioning it worked and perfect button holes. 

Lots of buttons are being used at the moment as you can see with future posts.

A time to sort out and play in the Button Box!

See more of my work on my portfolio site

www.art2inspire.co.uk 

Coven Quilters

Monday evening after teaching C&G I went to Coven Quilters. Kate showed us the two quilts she had made for her Grandsons and the backs were as good as the fronts! We always admire the depth of hand work and design Kate puts into her quilts. Joan has finished lots of UFO's and the third photo from the top shows her finished Sampler which we think she started about six years ago! Greta to see it finished and it looked great. Even though The Sampler quilt is a staple in the Quilting world everyone of them are different!
Jane showed her collection of baby quilts she had made and it was her birthday so of course we had birthday cake!
We always have such a wonderful evening and laugh and share throughout the evening. Best wishes for Barbara and Mike. 

Sparkly Red Finger Nails

Last week I needed a boost with all the snow, so I decided to have my nails done. I had been given a gif tcard of having them done at a new salon that has opened locally. It was to have them Shellaced. A hard wearing and immediately dry polish. I don't get round to painting my nails due to my hands being in paint, dye and modelling materials. This was an opportunity to go for it. Kim at Innovations Swaffham was lovely and as I browsed through the amazing nail colours I kept being drawn to the red sparkly and as it was the 25th I decided I would continue with the Christmas sparkle. I know it's a month later but we are supposed to remember it all year through. A lovely half an hour later and WOW! My nails have never looked so good. Thank you so much Irene for the gift and Thank you Kim for making them look so good. It's been a week and my nails are looking just as good and I will definitely have them done again.

Suffolk Puff Cushion

Here, is the completed Suffolk Puff Cushion. Lots of embroidery, beading and sparkles. 

Its in the blues and greens I just love.

The back is quilted with random curves.

I think I will make several little cushions to explore techniques.

See how to make The Suffolk Puff and an article I have written 

about them on a previous post. 

Remember to visit my tech site for videos HERE

and my art portfolio site for inspiration HERE

Suffolk Puffs or Yo Yo's?

I am teaching several different classes and at Creative Textiles we are making Circles and Curves over the next couple of weeks, in traditional and contemporary ways. Here, in a traditional patchwork form   is a sample of Suffolk Puffs.  It is the start of a small decorative cushion. I used a Clover Suffolk Maker which made the making of the Yo Yo's really fun and I have written another article for 'So Crafty' Magazine about making Suffolk Puffs and Yo Yo's.
See the article HERE
or click on the contents below,

1. Clover Yo-Yo Maker
2. Yo Yo Makers Demo - You Tube click to see video
3. Clover Round Large Yo-Yo Maker
4. Handmade Suffolk Puffs or Yo Yo's
5. Suffolk Puffs or Yo Yo the Traditional Way click to see video

It would be great if you could have a look at the article and make a comment.

Wall Bag

I have been finishing off a bag that was made from a kit by 'Batik n Beads'. It hangs on the wall and is very ethnic in inspiration. The bag is a slashed fabric technique, Mock Chenille as we call it. Several layers of fabric are put together and stitched a quarter of an inch apart and then this is cut in between the stitch lines so that the base layer is revealed. You have to be very careful not to cut through to the base layer.
I used an Olfa Chenille Cutter and wrote a review article for a So Crafty magazine. Read the article and buy your own cutter HERE.

1. Instructions for Making Chenille Fabric
2. My Recommendation To Buy On Amazon
3. Olfa Chenille Cutter click to see video
4. Chenille Wall Bag using Olfa Chenille Cu...
5. Additional Reading
6. Chenille Book To Buy

The square is then hemmed with bias binding and folded together to form a bag. Beads and embellishments are then stitched to the bottom corners and a loop hanging for the top.
Visit Batik n Beads HERE

Textile Thursday

The first Textile Thursday for the year took place at The Art Room and there were a lot of 'Show and Tell'. The Christmas Runners and place mats were beautiful. A skull and cross bone quilt is on its way to be piecing.  I  have a new PA for Thursdays, Caroline, helping with bookings and organising which is really fantastic and she gets me sorted out even more!
Textile Thursday is at 1A Rash's Green, Toftwood. Dereham.

Brenda's Photo Quilt

I promised Brenda I would put her wonderful Photo Quilt that she made for her Grand Daughter on my blog so she could share it with friends. She made a Sampler Block Quilt and in between she put a photograph of her Grand Daughter in all different stages of her life. It is truly beautiful and also contains laughter, fun and secrets! She gave it at Christmas and her Grand Daughter is over joyed it stayed downstairs so everyone who visited could see and share. Wonderful!

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.

City and Guilds Textiles Continues

City and Guilds Creative Textiles started again for the new year and

everyone was ready to start creating their own projects.

I have been teaching at least 3 techniques each session and everyone

has done some sampling in class to see which techniques
 they really like. 

A lot of the techniques we do some have never tried or they have always wondered how it is done so City and Guilds are the ideal way of experiencing this.

There are lots of changes within the City and Guilds set up at the moment and as a Tutor

I see them as very positive, bringing education right up to date and in the work place or real world as I call it. There are also students who just want to learn the techniques for themselves.

I will be continuing Levels One Two and Three in Creative Textiles, Machine Embroidery and Patchwork and Quilting in September 2013. If you are interested in City and Guilds visit their website or contact myself for more information. 

See an article of previous students by clicking on my portfolio website Art 2 Inspire

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

Patchwork and Quilting Class

Thursday at Knitwits is Patchwork and Quilting Day. There are two sessions and there is different inspiration each month and session. Ann finished her amazing red strip block wall hanging. There is a lot of stitch and embellishing on it. A real work of art. This week I also demonstrate how to make yo yo flowers. Classes start again in September. Seethe session list  HERE 

Gallery Day

After open studios I taught the Mixed Media Tuesday. Being back at the gallery seemed strange after being in my studio for two weeks. Lots were being created as you can see by some of the projects above.
See more by clicking on the written labels below.