Wednesday, 31 March 2010

Mimu's ATC

Look at what arrived in the post today from Mimu in America.
This is Mimu's first ever ATC, so I feel really priveledged,
Thank you Mimu!
It is called Pond and Garden, there is a Koi in the Pond.
It is really embellished and wonderfully textured.
I have sent Mimu a blue embellished ATC so hopes she likes it, along with one of my bluemoon postcards.
See more of the ATC's I have made and recieved on my website

Tuesday, 30 March 2010

Detail of Pat's Card

Thought you would like to see the detail of Pat's layering.
It is just wonderful!
Pat, is really enjoying using all the techniques and expressing them in her own artwork.
The results speak for themselves!
See more mixed media on this,Quilters Cottage blog and on my website
If you would like to book in on a Tuesday Art Session contact myself or The Gallery

Pat's Card

This one of Pat's mixed media cards which she has made for a friend's birthday.
Pat is really enjoying the freedom of layering so many medias and her work shows it.
This card also contains a piece of French Courture sequined fabric. Pat was kind enough to bring in the fabric so we could admire it, we oo'd an ah'd and then Pat cut Judy and me some, so I have a bit to stroke and think of what to do, embellished heaven!
Thank you Pat.

Pat's Practise Angel

Pat's Mixed Media Angel. A sample to see how the pieces go together and colours.

Pat Working Hard

Pat, working hard on her multi media background for her Angel.
Pat's husband made the comment to her as she was about to leave,
" Are you going to your sticking and glueing morning".
"No" said Pat," My Art Class!"
Pat came to The Gallery Sessions to build up her skills in art and I don't think Pat's husband has really quite got the hang of what Pat and the rest of us get up to. Pat makes and collects her papers,printing, painting,embossing,layering and all manner of skills just to form the base for her work before she has even started with the image she wants to work with.
We all had a giggle, we all know people who can't understand the pleasure of what we do and the sheer delight when we create things that didn't exist before.
See more mixed media throughout Quilters Cottage Blog and

Carol's Quillo

Look at how far Carol has come in one month!
This looks even better in real life.
The purple floral border is Japanese Anemones, beautiful!
Some of the fabrics especially the border fabric was brought from, Sew Simple, at Taverham, near Norwich in Norfolk. This is one of Carol's favourite places to shop and I don't blame her it is a Crafters Heaven!
By next week all the borders will be sewn on and all the three layers of quilt put together ready for Machine Quilting.
As you can see the art media within our sessions are pretty mixed due to my varied interest and input.
See more of my work at

Gallery Day 30th March 2010



As promised a picture of Carol piecing her final strips together for her Quillo.

This is Carol's first ever Quilt. She chose some Japanese Brocade Silks which really pushed the cutting and sewing machine skills to the maximum for a beginner but wow! look at what she has achieved.

Carol has come every Tuesday for the last month either in a morning or afternoon session and has worked hard at home cutting and piecing when she could.

Check out The Gallery for the other artists available,

http://www.thegallerydereham.co.uk/

Diana's ATC

Look what was in the post when I got home! a Cream on Cream ATC from Diana in New Zealand.
Vintage Japanese silk, cotton and paper. This is then stitched with Antique thread.
A real treasure!
Thank you Diana.

Craft Tidy's

Spent Monday morning making some more Craft Tidy's, so I can take them to the Gallery. In the end I hope each place will have there own. This will cut down the trips to the bin, hopefully and be really nifty!
In the afternoon Jo came over to see if we could work her laptop and my projector so that she could give a powerpoint presentation to Alveva Quilt Group next month. A little pushing of buttons and hey presto it worked. Looks like we are in for an interesting evening.
It was nice to catch up.

Saturday, 27 March 2010

The Scissor Cases



The pattern for the Scissor Case looks very Japanese, I just had to photograph them in a fan shape.

All they need now are their buttons to secure the tab and keep the scissors and Rotary Cutter in place. I love the triple pockets!

Thank you again Pat! and everyone who made our workshop day such a success.

My Sewing Tidy and Case

I am so pleased with my Tidy and Case it's already in use.
Thank you Pat for such a lovely day.

Finished Sewing Tidy's



These are our finished Sewing Tidy's and Scissor Cases.

It made us all feel very happy seeing all of them lined up. They are all so different!

Thank you Pat for being such a wonderful teacher.

Workshop Day with Pat

Today we had a wonderful Alveva workshop day with Pat and were joined by some of Rainbow Quilters too! We made a sewing tidy in the morning and in the afternoon we made a scissor case.
Sewing, chatting and lots of giggles especially from Beryl!

Wednesday, 24 March 2010

Through The Arches

This is looking through the archway, from what I call my 'Monks Secret Garden' to the top of the vegetable garden. Secret because it is enclosed and there is a seat in a rose arbour where I like to hide and read! Monks because it is full of herbs, a wooden lecturn and a pew seat. I based it on the herb and vegetable gardens on the terraces of St Mount Michelle in France.
In the vegetable garden beyond this gate there are onions,celery,peas,cabbages and early potatoes. As you are starting to see Quilters Cottage Garden is split up into smaller gardens. This encourages us to try different garden ideas and it's easier to garden!
I love the Spring as everything wakes up and we can get outside.
I have also managed an hour of freemotion quilting on the Red Quilt today and had a lovely lunch with the family.
Out tonight at The Embroidery Guild.

Out in the Garden

This is near the top of Quilters Cottage garden. The greenhouse, polytunnel and working area is beyond this. Today we weeded and prepared the soil for late potatoes and red onions. The long bed is asphagus and will be starting to come up soon. I just love asphagus! there is also a raspberry bed, trimmed and tied up in hopeful expectation!
The metal sculpture in the foreground is one of mine and based on Crewel Embroidery and Border patterns. The paths are all gravel now to stop weeds and to make the areas easier to look after.