Sunday Shopping #4

I had a fun week last week getting fabric for a quilt for a lovely friend who is 18 next year.

You may remember that I made a quilt last October for my friend Lily who was turning 18. Well, when I delivered the quilt Lily's twin sisters put in their orders. Luckily they aren't 18 until next year.

Becca loved Angela Walters first collection, but I missed out getting bundles. Plus I was put off by the panel.... I just didn't know what I would do with it. When I spotted Legacy by Angela this year I knew it was perfect. This week I found a wonderful bundle at a new-to-me shop, Stash Modern Fabric:

Legacy by Angela Walters

It is an absolutely beautiful bundle, plus they had a wonderful bundle of coordinating solids which will make designing a quilt so much more fun!

Pure Elements solids 

I can't wait until it arrives! Sometimes I wish I could teleport over the pond to be able to collect the fabric in person...

You can get Legacy at these wonderful stores:

Stash Modern Fabric
Fat Quarter Shop
Hawthorne Threads

I have a slight obsession with Tula Pink.... it is more like a massive obsession!

So her new and totally fabulous collection Acacia is on my MUST HAVE SOON list:

It is so fabulous:

My only issue is that I need to save up to buy the entire collection, I just can't choose a single colour way!

You can get them at these wonderful shops:

The Village Haberdashery
Fat Quarter Shop
Hawthorne Threads

Hope you like these 2 collections.

Happy Shopping!

Making Medallion Progress

Last night for the first time in 2 weeks I was able to sit down and do some sewing!

It is kinda strange not having the time to sew when I spend my days teaching others to sew...

Last night it was so nice to go to my studio and shut the world outside for a little bit..

I posted a couple of weeks ago about trying something new. Last night I got back to work on it.

So we started with this:

And last night is turned into this:

Don't look too closely though - the star points aren't perfect but the seams match up in the middle of the block.

I am using 2 fabrics from the bundles by Katy Jones and Rita Hodges, but also adding to it from my lovely stash!

Now onto the next border - 80 small triangles!

The cutting is my job for this evening, but right now I have to get on with my City and Guilds coursework.

Sunday Shopping #3

This week I have taught 5 classes, at 4 locations, in 3 days!

That is 45 people starting their sewing journey in of my classes!

All this activity has led to a HUGE hole in my fabric stock...I mean huge!

So this week I had to go fabric shopping, otherwise we will all be sewing thin air next week!

First I visited the lovely M is for Make - one of my favourite online shops for gorgeous collections and superb costumer service. There was a fabulous email in the week about the sale section so I headed straight there and filled my basket with these goodies:

Blossom Festival

Floral in blue

Running Stitch in Purple

I also got this in Pink! So lovely!

Stitch Square in Red

I also got some Comma just because I LOVE THIS!

I did buy more, but these are my favourite ones. They will be perfect for my classes.

Visiting M is for Make again today and discovered even more great fabrics in the sale section.... just working out if I can afford to stock up on more!

I also wandered over to The Village Haberdashery to check out their sale section:

Beechwood Park Picnic in Green

Beechwood Park Sunkissed in Aqua

In the Forest - Flowers

I also got some lovely Kona Glacier so I can start Noah's quilt for his Birthday in November using this lovely collection I bought a little while a go. Just thinking about the design of the quilt, Noah wants triangles of some sort.....

Gloucestershire Modern Quilt Guild - Update

I am so relieved it is Friday...

It has been my first week of a full teaching schedule.

5 classes in 4 locations over 3 days = lots of driving, unpacking, repacking and planning!

And NO sewing for me : (

But the week did start with a high - The very first meeting of the New Gloucestershire Modern Quilt Guild!

It was a small, modest affair with 3 of use discussing fabric shops, quilts and plans for the future.

I firmly believe the saying that from little acorns grow mighty oaks! Starting out small is perfect.

Sonia (Fabric and Flowers), Alison (Making Happiness) and I had a lovely evening chatting about all things fabric whilst munching some lovely biscuits!

We each had some quilting to show and tell. I love seeing other peoples work and gaining inspiration from the ideas. Sharing skills and creating new friendships is what it is all about!

Next month we will meet on Thursday 24th at Prema Arts in Uley. Come along at 7.45pm for some fabric gossip, stitching and new friendships!

Sunday Shopping #2

I am still window shopping - rugby club fees and rugby kit comes first at the moment!

But window shopping for fabric is so much fun...... honestly it is...

First this week is the wonderful new collection from Denyse Schmidt - Florence:

I love all of Denyse Schmidt's fabrics, but this collection is really making my heart skip a beat! It all looks so pretty and would be perfect in my secret stash basket to be used on something amazing!

You can get it from (just remember to send me some!):

The Village Haberdashery
The Fat Quarter Shop
Hawthorne Threads

Another design that has caught my eye is Mod Girls and Mod Guys by Michael Miller Designs:

They are both full of fabulous, quirky prints and my boys would love the Mod Boys range. Just check out the ties - so much fun!

You can get these from:

Hawthorne Threads - I really like the Urbanista palette here, yummy greys, blacks and whites.
Fat Quarter Shop

Last up today is Petite Street by Wendy Kendall:

This collection of loveliness is made by Dashwood Studios, a UK based fabric design company. It is always good to support local - especially when there is fabric this yummy being produced!

Lynne from Lily's Quilts made a gorgeous quilt a couple of weeks ago using this line so go check out how lovely the fabrics look in a quilt.

You can find Petite Street:

The Village Haberdashery
Eclectic Maker
Brighton Sewing Centre

A lovely group of new fabrics, don't you agree?

Trying something new...

I have a hundred quilt books, just like all quilters.... I love them... I love looking through them and seeing the fabric ideas... tell me I am not alone in this???

So I have had my copy of Liberty Love book for ages and have had 3 sewing projects from it that I want to make. It has just been a matter of timing...

This last week has been hard work - a lovely couple of new courses started, which were great fun. But I finished the week with an eye infection. Turns out I am allergic to the main ointment used to treat the infection so I am not in drops number 2 and feeling very sorry for myself!

So the obvious thing to do is to start making a new quilt! This is where the Marcelle Medallion comes in!

I have never made a medallion quilt before but I have been hoarding my bundles Katy (I'm a Ginger Monkey) and Rita (Red Pepper Quilts) that are from Fat Quarter Shop just for this project.

You can see from Katy's bundle that it is full of sweet prints and Rita's is no different:

I am very excited to start this quilt, but I suspect it will take me a while as I am desperate to get my Swoon quilt finished and on my bed before it gets too much colder!

Have you started this quilt? Would love to see!

Tetbury Sewing Classes

I am so pleased to have found a location in Tetbury to be able to run group classes!

This term there will be 2 workshops:

Beginners Sewing

19th October 10am - 4pm.

The perfect workshop for anyone who is new to sewing.

You will learn to:

• thread a machine, wind a bobbin and trouble shoot problems

• accurately cut fabric

• make a pin cushion and zippered pouch for you sewing equipment

Cost: £45.00 (including materials and tea and coffee)

Sewing machines will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own. You will need to bring your own lunch.

Christmas Fabric by Kate Spain at Eclectic Maker

Christmas Patchwork Table Runner

23rd November 10am - 4pm

This workshop will introduce you to wonderful hobby of patchwork!

You will learn how to:

• accurately cut fabric.

• piece patchwork easily.

• use wadding to make a quilt.

Cost: £45.00 (including wadding and tea and coffee)

You will need to bring 5 fat quarters (50cm by 50cm each) in Christmas Fabric 100% cotton, 1/2 m backing 100% cotton fabric and 1/2m cotton fabric for the binding.

Email me for more details and to book your place.

Sunday Shopping #1

At the moment fabric fabric shopping is a window shopping exercise - apart from the 4 FQ I bought from M is for Make last week.

But it doesn't stop me having a wish list that I really MUST have.....

Hand Drawn Garden available at Hawthorne Threads

This is Hand Drawn Garden by Anna Marie Horner, who is one of my favourite designs. The colours are so vibrant and lush! I am still hoarding Field Study for a new quilt design I have in mind. They are all so pretty!

You can get Hand Drawn Garden from

The Village Haberdashery
Hawthorne Threads
Westwood Acres
Pink Chalk fabrics

There is a really good article about the which solids co-ordinate with the patterned fabric over at Pink Chalk Fabrics.

Next up is the new Sweetwater fabric range, Road 15.

I am a slightly obsessed hoarder of Sweetwater fabrics, OK so I am a major hoarder! I have a basket just for Sweetwater fabrics!

They are just so amazing in detail and colours, and Road 15 is no different! It is on my list for buying very soon...

You can get them from:

Simply Solids - Justine has pre-cuts at the moment.
Eclectic Maker 
Fat Quarter Shop

Last is Lush Uptown by Erin Micheal:

This collection is amazing, the range of colours is perfect for the Autumn. A lovely combination of brown, greens, oranges and blues...

You can get them from:

Eclectic Maker
Fat Quarter Shop

I hope you enjoyed window shopping with me!

Taking Photos

I come from a family filled with photographers.

In fact I am the only one who doesn't know what she is doing when she wields a camera!

My dad has a blog all about our families history and association with a camera going back to 1908.

My sister is amazing with a camera - check out her site.

So when I saw the new link up on Plum and June I was really excited - maybe I could finally get some tips on using my camera.

So far it has inspired me to start adjusting the setting on my camera and I might even try and find the book that came with the camera!

I played around with the aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Not sure what they all do yet, but I have enjoyed seeing the changes in the photo outcomes!

None of these are processed, just straight from the camera.

I love the ability to influence the brightness of the photos using the changes in aperture and shutter speed. It was great fun to play around!

The fabrics are from the Koi collection by Rashida Coleman-Hale at M is for Make. They are really stunning!

Now I need to make a note of the settings I like and practice more!

I missed the link-up on Plum and June, hopefully I manage to get organised for next month.

Gloucestershire Modern Quilt Guild

I wrote a couple of weeks ago about starting a Modern Quilt Guild in Gloucestershire.

I had a fantastic response and our little group is starting on Monday 16th September at my house in Tetbury!

It was far more than I expected!

We are open to quilters of all experience or interest in starting to quilt.

In October we will start meeting at Prema Arts Centre in Uley on Thursday 24th October at 7.45pm.

If you are interested in joining us please email me on quiltingthegrain@btinternet.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Summers Gone!

We have reached September!

In England the trees are starting to change and the weather is getting cooler, school are back and mothers and father up and down the country are sighing with relief!

My 3 gorgeous boys all went off to school with wonderful smiles on their faces.

This is them all looking tidy and sensible! They have all grown so much this last year!

This is probably a more true to life photo...

The summer has been filled with loads of adventures from Westonbirt Arboretum to the beach in Dorset.

Climbing trees and mushrooms!

Hunting down Gromits in Bristol

 

The beautiful Lulworth Cove in Dorset

I haven't taught over the summer apart from a couple of evenings one-to-one lessons.

I started my City and Guilds, which has pushed my skills to the limit so far, but I am enjoying working my way through the exercises and seeing the portfolio grow! Tim has been very sort though I am looking forward to making more progress now term has started!

Drawing from secondary sources.

The Anything Goes Quilting Bee ended last month... which made me sad, but I loved every month getting a parcel of fabrics and returning a complete block. My bookcase quilt is starting to come together.... more on that soon!

It was a packed out 6/7 weeks and I loved having time with the boys, but I am itching to get back to work (small problem of no money too!).

It all kicks off next week with classes in Gloucester, and then 4 days teaching a week in October!

Hope you had a lovely summer!