Chilford Quilt Show March 2012

On Friday the 9th of March, I took myself off

to Chilford Vine Yards Exhibition.

I love this exhibition for the variety of stalls and

Quilting Exhibits.

It is not too big either so you don't feel

over whelmed!

I wasn't feeling to good as I was at the end of a

chesty cold.

(I have still got the chesty cough that came with it

a month later!).

The Poppy Quilt was made by Dilys Franks.

The Bed Runner and Large Peacock Quilt was made

by Judith Wilson. The level of quilting was so high,

Inspirational!

Click on the written label below to see more of my visits to

Chilford Quilting Exhibition.

Enjoying Classes

Classes are always fun and and you can see they make

a lot too!

Lots of free motion quilting being tried this month

as confidence has increased with using their machines.

I love to see all the different fabrics and encourage

recycling. The Floral Bags at the top are

made with recycled fabrics and are beautiful.

See more by clicking the written labels below.

Knit Wits Evening March Class

It seems ages since I last blogged and so many lovely classes

and items have been made, its lovely to be able to

share and show you.

Evening class at Knit Wits in Dereham is the first

Wednesday of every month.

This months inspiration is Circles, Curves and Bags.

Lots have bags have been made but Tea Cosys seem

to be very popular too!

It was all about fabrics with these projects.

Mandy used a ready printed patchwork squares fabric

but by cutting it on the diagonal and then putting a vertical

strip of the fabric gave a added interest to the bag.

Which is in use and several people have asked her

where she brought it and are pleasantly surprised

when she says she made it herself.

See more by clicking on the written labels below.

Finished Black Lace Corset Bag

Sara has finished her Corset Bag, it is beautiful

and very Oo La La!

Sara has learnt so many techniques with the

layering and unusual nature of the fabrics.

The bag has been made similar to making a

corset to wear.

She is now making even more detailed bag patterns.

The Corset Bag has been to a Fashion Show already and

has been greatly admired.

Well done Sara!

See more by clicking on the labels below

or see other unusual corsets on my

tech site

www.art2inspiretech.blogspot.com

Memories Birthday Book

Last month Andrea was inspired by my fabric journal

and wanted to make a Birthday Book of memories

for her daughters birthday.

She collected together photos,clothes and items

from different ages and time.

The photos we transferred them onto fabric and

Andrea had fun stitching the photos and items on the

pages.

It was lovely to here the stories at 'Show and Tell'.

Now finished the pages have pockets with little

bags of first teeth, badges and keepsakes too!

A really special gift.

I can see Andrea making more fabric books.

See more by clicking the labels below.

Mini Dresden Plate

With me demonstrating Dresden Plate this month I

love to see the variations made by students.

I have shown how to make it the traditional way,

the quick way and by using the,

'Quick Dresden Rotary Ruler'.

The Dresden Plate above is made with the rotary ruler

and it measures 6" by 6" in total, using up tiny

scraps of fabric.

I especially like it because it uses fabric with

sunflowers on, my favourite flower.

See how to make a quick dresden by watching the video

on my tech blogsite

www.art2inspiretech.blogspot.com

Finished Feb Projects

Last months inspiration at classes I was inspiring

projects with lace and textiles which come with a memory.

Textile items that you want to use but don't know

how to use them within a new make or object.

Pat had wanted to make crazy patchwork and

put together a crazy work picture using many of

her treasures and learnt stitches.

Christine use up lace and materials that had memories

of female relatives and favourite lace curtains, also

a brooch and button.

See more by clicking the labels below.

Gallery Day 6th of March

This month along with dresden plate, circles, curves and puffs is

Bag making inspiration.

As you can see above students don't hang around

when it comes to making and I love to see

all the variations come from one pattern.

See more by clicking on the labels below.

Polymer Clay Workshop

On Saturday 3rd I went to a Polymer Clay Workshop

at Knit Wits in Dereham.

It's lovely being a student and being all

excited about what the day will bring and

not knowing what to expect.

Trish and Karen were fantastic teachers.

They demonstrated and shared so much we were

itching to get on making the buttons and beads.

They showed us how to use all the equipment and

were to hand to show the next techniques.

Everyone had a great time and made wow stuff.

I say wow stuff because every time you turned round

and looked at someone elses creation you went

"WOW".

I had to leave early so I could travel down to a family

surprise party, the class was hard for me to leave

so you can tell how good it was.

Thank you for all for making it such a fantastic day.

Visit Trish and Karen on their website

www.tuliptreebuttonsbeads.co.uk

Dresden Plate Workshop for U3A

On the 2nd of March I went to Crimplesham Village Hall

to teach 'Dresden Plate, Sampler Block' to ladies from

Downham market U3A.

U3A for those that don't know stands for,

The University For The Third Age.

A organisation set up for those over the age of 55 to

enjoy sharing knowledge, education, languages and arts.

It was a wonderful day and I taught the traditional

and quick ways of making a Dresden Plate for

The Sampler Quilt which the ladies are making.

Some made them by Machine and others by hand so

it was a very relaxing and productive day.

I loved show and tell with the wonderful

Applique' Quilt made by Pat.

See the amazing programmes and information the website

www.u3a.org.uk

March 1st 2012

This months inspiration at classes is all things to do

with circles, curves, plates and Suffolk Puffs.

I am demonstrating the traditional ways of doing them

and the modern way with rulers and rotary.

See a video on how to use the

'Easy Dresden Ruler' on my tech site

www.art2inspiretech.blogspot.com

Kings Lynn Embroidery Guild

On the 29th February was The Kings Lynn Embroidery Guild

meeting and Pauline Wrighton came along to,

'Share a Stitch', which meant her giving a short talk

on how she became a full time artist and then

putting her 11 years of sketchbooks and workbooks

on the tables so that we could look through and be inspired.

Pauline came round and chatted and gave us some great

tips.

The one for me was to buy similar ring bound sketchbooks

and cut between the rings so that the pages

can be taken out and moved around as necessary,

especially when comprising a themed book!

Thank you Pauline for an interesting evening.

See Paulines website

HERE

See the Kings Lynn Embroidery Guild site

HERE

Wednesday Course Prep

After card class I have been doing Course Prep so

that people who were unable to come along on the

Tuesdays and want to put portfolios together, sampling or

learn machine skills they can.

The sessions are from 11.30 until 2.45 and

are on until the City and Guilds Awards Level One and Two

start on Wednesday 28th March 2012.

The Awards are for 8 weeks and then they will

start again in September along with City and Guilds.

Please contact myself or The Gallery if you are

interested in these courses.

Last Card Making Session

Wednesday Card Making took place after a

slight hicup with arrangements and

we got going on making these,

'Oo La La Girls' as Kim calls them.

Very sassy and very sparkly.

Also, making and combining them with detailed backgrounds.

Glitter everywhere and I was really happy with my girls!

I made mine for Aunt Bets 70th and she has been known

to be Oh La La in her day!

But by the end of the day we found out that, that

Kim was unable to do any more sessions due to

work and conflicting times.

So sad, as we have all enjoyed Kim's wonderful

inspiration, sharing and encouragement.

Thank you Kim and I hope we will still be

inspired by you on your blog

www.kimcrop.blogspot.com

Circus

On the 28th the Tuesday evening Jenn and I

had Mum and Daughter time at The Circus.

It was lovely to be together watching a traditional

circus with all its fun, giggles and wow!

The top photo, is of the rings, which rotated round

and round and up and down with

two acrobats in them spinning like hamsters!

Jenn consoled herself with candy floss in the interval, after she was

told the camel rides were only for children.

Jenn does fire poi and has been up in the big top,

flying around ring.

I have just finished reading 'The Night Circus',

so it was very apt.

See a video of it on my tech site

www.art2inspiretech.blogspot.com

Water Soluble Embroidery

I have been showing lots of my background embroideries,

where I mix scrap backgrounds with water soluble embroidery sections

on the top.

There are so many different types of Water Soluble to use,

from plastics that look like cling film to fabric which

looks like the white one showing above and is as thick as vylene.

Angie has used an embroidery ring as her

area of embroidery and with the fabric type you can do a lot

more hand stitching on top as it doesn't tear!

It looks fantastic.

Click to enlarge images.

See a video on Solubles and Embellishing with 'Double Trouble',

Jean Little John and Jan Beaney

on my tech site

www.art2inspiretech.blogspot.com

Baby Quilt and Tea

Pat finished her Baby Quilt for her new Grand Son and popped in

on her way down to visit so we saw it finished.

As you can see in the background, it was break time

and everyone had come down to the Cafe' area to have

tea and cake!

We are sampling the different cakes and they have

been delicious. I personal recommend the lemon drizzle.

Visit The Gallery

www.thegallerydereham.com

Mixed Media Textile Book Pages

With Jeanette making a new picture for her friend using

the same technique she uses for her book pages,

there was the request she brought them in to show.

Here they are so far.

Aren't they amazing?

See more of Jeanette by clicking the written posts below.

Chickens

I demonstrated different ways of Applique last month

and Bondaweb was a hit with most students for

its instant effect and possibilities.

Here, Brenda is making a Chicken Mat for her kitchen.

It makes you smile!

Apple a Day

Lots of bags using my 'Blue Wave' pattern are

being made and they are all so different.

Here Andrea has used apple fabric to make a

real Spring bag. It looks so fresh and crisp.

She has added Suffolk Puff as decoration by

the handles.See my bag

HERE

See more bags by clicking on the labels below.