Weeting Quilt Group

Monday I went to Weeting Quilt Group.

As usual there was so much creativity going on.

Also preparation for the quilt show displaying all the

quilts made by quilters throughout Norfolk and

donated for the Chernobyl appeal.

The top picture shows the group with the,

'Bags of Fun', made by Ann and the donations

from these are going to the charity too!

The show is on Saturday 16th July 2011,

10.30 am until 4pm.

There are over 100 quilts to see, sale stands,

and refreshments.

See Weeting Quilt Groups new blog

www.weetingquilters.blogspot.com

Caterpillars on Parade Again

Its been such a busy week.

I am doing catch up blogging!

Over the weekend Stewart and I

went to Feltwell for it's annual Village Yard sale.

I really hadn't realised how big the village was.

There were 80 sales all round the village and they were

raising money for St Mary's.

On the way round we saw Yvonne Brown among other

friendly faces and she showed us round

her new Eco home her and her husband has just

designed and built. It is all finished and is beautiful.

With hemp walls!

Around the sales I picked up several clothes airers,

(to dry dyed fabrics on), several pieces of jewellery,

books and a warning triangle for the car!

A strange sort of mixture, but that's what

yard sales are!

When we got home after a lovely lunch

I started packing up the caterpillars and finished

glueing the images onto to card.

It's caterpillar season again, over 250 done so far!

Hungry Caterpillar Quilt

I told you I brought some fabrics from Knit Wits,

I brought the panels and some of the matching fabric.

Well, here is the results. A very colourful Caterpillar Quilt.

I used the bug fabric squares that are forming the border.

I had been saving for just

such a quilt!

I love it as it is a refreshing change.

It was a challenge and I think all panel quilts can be

to make an individual Quilt from them.

Visit Knit Wits at

www.knitwitsdereham.co.uk

Carding Fleece

Look what arrived this morning, the carders I sent for,

from Scotland. They have only taken two days to get here!

I am so pleased they work really well.

It felt really good making rough fleece into smooth

rollages ready for spinning or in my case felting.

I would recommend The Wool Bothy who sent them to me.

www.woolbothy.com

Edwardian Glove Inspired Card

Wednesday morning was card making with Kim

@The Gallery Dereham.

Kim gave me the challenge of making a card using

images from a vintage picture scraps book.

I used a picture of an Edwardian Lady, a brooch, glove box

and her gloves.

I added the trim from a lace tray cloth and old buttons.

I used a lace trim punch to cut the card base,

it takes some lining up, to cut it out and not

overlap the holes too much.

I enjoyed the mornings and their were new members

having a taster session.

The card just needs it's insert.

Thank you Kim for stretching me again!

See more of my card making by clicking

on the labels below.

Knit Wits Window Display

From September as some of you know, I will be teaching

Patchwork and Quilting Classes at

Knit Wits in Dereham on a Thursday.

(I will still be teaching Mixed Media Textiles,

on a Tuesday @The Gallery).

At the moment there are different quilts of mine going in the window

adding to the colour theme and items but to advertise

the new fabric department and

the classes for people to sign up to.

So for the next couple of weeks my stat quilt and

red bag will be in the window.

Of course, I had to go downstairs and sample some of

the fabrics and I am making items from

these choices to go in the window.

A great excuse to experiment and try new combinations!

Do I need an excuse these days!

Visit Knit Wits for more information or go to their

website

www.knitwitsdereham.co.uk

Strip Patchwork

Brenda, in between making crazy patchwork cushions for her family

decided to make a Knitting Needle Roll Case for her friends birthday.

My finished one is on the top of her strip patchwork.

This strip patchwork is the base for the roll case.

Students ask me for ideas and often I have an item in mind

and can show them for inspiration.

I think it is always good to see the actual item in front

of you so you can see and be shown how to make it.

See more ideas on my website

www.art2inspire.co.uk

Jeanette is building up her picture with the mixed media

textile leaves now.

You sometimes get to a stage where you can't see where

a piece is going or how to move it on.

When she un wrapped it there was a wow! from those

in the Gallery but Jeanette wasn't happy with how the piece

looked. We analysed it and it was too flat.

and needed a focus.

Yes, it looked like falling leaves but it needed a focal point

and lift. Jeanette and I spent a few hours

working out focal areas and making the piece 3D.

Jeanette makes fantastic 3D textile artworks.

her most recent, "Bolliwood", was entered into an art show

and was well received.

Keep persevering Jeanette it is working!

Click on the bolliwood label below or the others to see some

of Jeanette's work.

Patchwork Shopping Bag

Barbara also made this wonderful patchwork Shopping Bag.

It is made out of Upholstery fabric scraps from The Curtain Shop.

It looks really modern and the handles are bespoke because they

fit Barbara. When making bags always consider the length of your

handles, so they are comfortable.

We cut a card bottom liner to give it more stability to

stand up to put shopping in and it is't too big so not to

put pressure on the shoulder!

See more bags by clicking the link below

Scrap Quilt

Barbara made this quilt as a learning process.

How to use different fabrics, some from fabric stores and thrift shops.

Cutting out triangles using a rotary cutter.

Getting used to her new sewing machine, which I can tell you she loves!

Learning applique and piecing.

It has turned out wonderful and it is going in her

holiday caravan as a comfy.

Well done Barbara.

To see more Scrap Quilts visit my website at

www.art2inspire.co.uk

Octagon Quilt

Carol found this English Pieced Patchwork Quilt in a

Charity Shop and brought it.

It's edges are unfinished, which is normally the case with

hexagon or in this situation an octagon and square.

People either run out of steam to finish and it is an

on going project or they don't know how to finish it.

The fabrics in this quilt date from the 1940',50's,60's and 70's.

So it is quite a find.

Carol is going to back it with some 1970's fabric to keep the

continuity. It will be a 'bagging', process.

(Put right sides together, seam round and leave a gap,

then turn inside out and sew up gap).

This will then go on her Craft Stall to raise money for Charity.

See more quilts on my website

www.art2inspire.co.uk

Patchwork Folded Bag

Here is Sylvia's folded bag made from a bag of purple and pink scraps.

I love it when a bag of fabric bits makes something really beautiful.

Well done Sylvia!

See more folded bags by clicking the written label below.

Carol's Folded Bag

Carol has been enjoying making smaller projects over

the last few weeks. She is making these folded bags for a gift stall

she is presenting for the local Cancer Care Trust.

This one really looks like a cupcake!

Well done Carol for all your lovely work.

See more projects on my website

www.art2inspire.co.uk

Fleece Preparing

Over the weekend Stewart and I did the first washing of the fleece

from Little Abbey Farm.

These tubs contain one and a half fleece,

enough for me to process on the Monday.

After washing out the worst and leaving them to soak

over Sunday night, I rinsed

and re- washed the wool again.

This was then spread out on a large plastic sheet to dry.

It normally takes one to two days to dry naturally

depending on the weather and the density of the wool.

Our garden smelt a bit like a farmyard!

We emptied the cleaning water all on the

flower beds because it is like liquid manure!

We should have wonderful wool and plants shortly!

I am now waiting for some new carders that I have ordered as

my old ones looked positive toothless!

Card Making with Berries Inspiration

On Friday I went to Llana Wool Shop in Downham Market

and had a wonderful morning making a painted easel card

with a small group and Elaine teaching, (above).

She showed us how to paint leaves with a paint brush technique and

finger painting and pencil painting for the berries!

It was a hectic morning and everyone had a lovely time.

We then went downstairs and spent some money on

those extras we all really need!!!

Thank you Elaine and the ladies for a lovely morning.

See more of my cards on my blogsite

www.cards2inspire.blogspot.com