Pink Stripped and Stitched Background Fabric

As you may know I like to encourage recycling and trying new techniques.

Sue wanted to try one of the stripped pieced background techniques.

She had brought some of her own scraps and then

 delved into the big scrap jar I have in the studio.

Sue also wanted to try one of the studio 607 Janome sewing machines

to see whether she would like to buy one.

She was going to put it through its paces by trying as many of

the embroidery stitches as she could.

As you can see above it looks fantastic and it is

going to be made into a book cover.

Well done Sue.

I think I see a new machine on the horizon!

See more backgrounds by clicking the written labels below.

Bags and an Owl

Bags are always popular and so are Owls at the moment.

This Owl was made by Sylvia 

and came as a kit on the front of a Magazine.

See more bags and Owls by clicking the written labels below.

Little Plum Purse

Each week at Textile Classes I show an inspirational project 

so that there is always something to make and techniques

to try.

This is a small purse, based on a Pride and Prejudice Bag, I saw

in a printed fashion plate illustration.

I break the design down into simple patterns and instructions.

Everyone was excited and there were lots of purses made

 in various materials.

I will show you the results shortly.

Hexagon Pincushion

Eileen made the purple hexagon pincushion and

brought it to class. It was plain with no embroidery on it.

She asked our opinion and we all agreed it need some stitch detail.

It became a real discussion point what embellishment to put on it.

It was decided it needed embroidery and so above you can see the results.

It looked great and won 1st Prize in a local show in the pincushion section.

Well done Eileen.

In Stitches Blickling Hall Exhibition

Stewart and I had a Saturday off and went off to 

The In Stitches Exhibition at Blickling Hall.

We love going there and enjoy the journey, the exhibition 

the gardens and the pub lunch!

An all round day.

We did the 5 mile walk this time.

The work was outstanding as usual, hundreds of pieces of work 

made by just seven Norwich Textile Artists.

Pat Burkes was as inviting as ever and I got them to have a photo.

See Julie Smith's website of

exquisite embroidery.

HERE

Visit Blickling Hall website

HERE

Dragons Eggs

I made these at the Toftwood Exhibition with a one felting needle tool.

We have affectionately called them 'Dragon Eggs' due to them being

unusual.

The Embellisher is great but is really for 2D work. 

Hand felting you can make unusual 3D items.

It takes a little practice and some delft hand movements.

Toftwood Art Exhibition

Pat asked at The Textile Tuesday Class if anyone would

like to demonstrate at the local Art Exhibition.

I said yes. Pat said she was going to take the 

Embelisher machine so I thought I would do the

hand felting method so we could show the difference.

People were fascinated we were felting and what we were creating.

It was lovely to share and chat to people at the show.

Sylvia came along in the afternoon and she demonstrated 

bobbin lace. Beautiful! This is one of those crafts I am 

not going to stray into because I know it will envelope time.

I will just watch and admire :)

Jenny's Manipulated Bed Hanging

Everyone on The City and Guilds have been working really

hard. We have seen Jenny's manipulated bed hanging come together

over the last few months.

It looks really Elizabethan.

The crystal bead tassel is just amazing and I know what

I will be making over the Christmas holiday.

Well done Jenny.

Colourful Textiles

I try and stretch textile students out of their comfort zone and this 

month part of the inspiration was making backgrounds out of

scraps and stitch. 

Helen started and yelled half way through. I don't like this.

I asked her to persevere and keep adding more strips and stitch.

Use textured threads and decorate more.

We all love this including Helen and it has inspired others

 to have a go from the scrap jar in the studio.

Kates Birthday

Coven Quilters met at Barbara's this month.

Cathy, Barbara's daughter had found a 1940's

ladies coat in a Vintage Shop in Holt.

We all tried it on, it suited al of us, just showing a 

good pattern makes all us women look good.

The linning looked liked the orange silk of parachutes.

More research by Kathy needed.

What a find!

Kate said in a quiet voice,

"Have I forgot someones birthday?"

She had spotted the bunting up on the fireplace.

We giggled, "yours silly" came the reply!

Barbara brought in the birthday cake, candles lit,

big blow and desiccated coconut which Barbara had sprinkled 

on the top to make it look pretty everywhere!:)))))

More laughter.

Cake and tea with lots of chat and friendship

and a lovely evening had by all.

See more of our evening and quilts by clicking on the 

written labels below.

Photo Shoot Day

Studios all dressed for the photo shoot for the new brochures,

leaflets and website Claire is having done for the Academy.

These photographs were taking taken at a few of the quiet times throughout the day.

When it was all going on we sat and watched filming.

Jacquie Harvey Talk

What can I say Jacquie Harvey came to Alveva's

and shared her work and quilting times with us,

it was amazing.

She has won so many awards for her hand quilting,

so lovely to see these quilts up close.
She has designed a Block of the Month for The Quilters Guild
which anyone can participate in.

I think we all wanted to go home and start again.

Truly inspirational. 

I could have put up twenty photographs, 

it was hard to choose my favourites.

Visit her website and watch her videos

HERE

Yvonne's Quilt Show and Tell

Yvonne is Chair at Alveva and a famous UK Quilt Artist.

She will be exhibiting at the NEC this month.

She showed us her quilt she had just finished using silk squares 

and cream print fabric she had been collecting for years.

It is a really modern quilt and was inspired by the talk by Lucy Summers 

earlier in the year.

Visit Yvonne's website

HERE

Linda Turner

We are so lucky at Alveva Quilters to have so many great quilters and 

those that share their work and teach.

Linda showed us the quilt she is teaching at the workshop.

A stack and whack string piecing!

It looked fantastic and she assured us it was doable!

See Linda's website and catch up with all her news.

HERE

See more by clicking the written labels below

Alveva Show and Tell

As usual there were many 'Show and Tells' at the meeting.

From the top, Ruby showed us her wish quilt,

all pictures of things she wants to do throughout her life time and

some she has done. Some made us laugh as they were near impossible!

Meg showed us another of her amazing colourful quilts and she had had it

quilted by Jennifer over at Watton

Jennifer is a wonderful long arm quilter and designs patterns

which merge with your quilt and show off the details.

Visit her website 

HERE

Joy had been on a workshop with Yvonne and brought her friends

from the Sew Much To Do quilting shop from Ely.

They are just so helpful and are putting on workshops in their store.

One of these were held by Yvonne, Medieval Magic.

Visit the shop

HERE