Book Review: 500 Quilt Blocks

Yesterday I taught a beginners patchwork workshop at the New Brewery Arts Centre in Cirencester.

I love teaching at the New Brewery Arts Centre, it is such an inspiring place with lots of lovely artist all in one place!

As always I was planning my session and knew I needed a demonstration piece to show the learners - nothing worse than not knowing where you are going on your learning journey! A sample of where everyone should be aiming is a great teaching tool and provide inspiration.

So sat in my studio watching the rain fall I was trying to think which block would suit beginners, include some cutting but not too much and be manageable in 6 hours...

This is where the wonderful book 500 Quilt Blocks by Lynne Goldsworthy and Kerry Green comes in.

Image Courtesy of Lynne Goldsworthy

This fabulous book contains a huge amount of patchwork knowledge - don't be fooled by it's small size, it is jam packed with great blocks!

I love skimming the book and finding blocks that I would like to make, but as a teacher it takes a lot of the stress out of workshop planning because the measurements are all written clearly. It means I don't have to work all the maths out as well everything else a lesson plan needs. 

Image Courtesy of Lynne Goldsworthy

The book even has a few variations for each block - differentiation for my learners readily available!

Image Courtesy of Lynne Goldsworthy

The book also has some items to make with the blocks they have made.

Image Courtesy of Lynne Goldsworthy

This book is a fabulous addiction to any quilters bookshelf, but it is particularly useful for beginners starting on their patchwork wanting to explore different blocks.

You can of course get your copy from a certain International book selling website, but do considering visiting your fabulous Indie Bookshop to get your copy- you get a smile when you shop with them! I spend so much in my local shop, the Yellow Lighted Bookshop, I occasionally get a bacon bap and a mug of tea whilst browsing books!

The week that was....

I have really neglected my blog over the last 7 days... It has been a long 7 days!

It started with a still poorly 10 year old who did play rugby but then came home from daddies for cuddles - sometimes they just need their mummy right?

My stress levels from an rash caused by ? kept my blood pressure sky high! So I charged head long into a 4 day week of teaching literally all over the county!

Monday was a drive to Cheltenham with my lovely bunch of young mums. There are eight of them working at their own pace through making cushions out of clothing that means a lot to them. They are motivated, but need lots of breaks and gossipping!

Usually I am pretty chilled with them, but anxiety about Maxi meant my mind was at school with him. All of year 6 had gone on an adventure week in Wales, but he couldn't go due to the sleepy nature of the tablets he was taking... so one devastated 10 yo dropped at the school gates tends to make you feel crap!

Tuesday was Cheltenham assisting in a class of silk painting and it was fascinating - never painted silk before. It was with my usual Tuesday ladies who are lovely, but I wasn't the lead teacher. So less pressure! Tuesday night was Cubs complete with technical faults and fun!

Wednesday was the longest drive to Tewkesbury to teach a brand new group of lovely ladies! All funny and interested in sewing. I have to say I spent the whole 3 hours laughing, drinking cups of tea and watching with pride as they played with the sewing machines and made a pin cushion.

I can tell you the drive home was tiring... I was on the edge by Wednesday afternoon!

Thursday I went back to Gloucester to help the learners cuts out their patterns from the silk. They are making outfits for a housing association open evening. They will be walking down the catwalk showing the rest of their community what they have done during sewing classes. Great fun, but it took the last of my energy reserves - I was very grumpy during cake making at mini Scouts that evening!

Friday was a private lesson in my studio which was pressure free, but I did spend an hour tidying and sorting through the studio because it was such a tip! My last class of the day was cancelled due to my gorgeous 10 yo coming home in floods of tears - all of his friends had come back full of excitement about their trip... it was just too much for him. Cuddles and movies were order of the day!

I think I covered over 200 miles last week... and I am set to repeat the week again... but my stress levels are slightly lower as maxi is just fine and I have 3 hours off this morning!

Making a leap...



Image from LuciusArt on Etsy

At the start of June, I made a decision to jump... jump off the track I was following with my business and catch another train instead. It was a hard decision and one that I had crept up on me. The kinda of decision that your brain has been telling you to take, but you decide to ignore for as long a possible..

So I made that leap and it felt good for the first few hours... I posted a blog over at funky diva designs and the response was amazing. The support and love from friends blew me away!

That was Monday... by Tuesday I was having a full blown panic about my decision! Honestly I paced my house and studio panicking about everything I was seemlyingly throwing away!

I decided to do something postive, so I emailed 2 local arts centres with a view to teaching adults and children there - after all teaching is the reason I changed track.... I then went back to panicking!

By Wednesday evening I had finished an artist in school session at St Mary's School, as well as my art school club there and was getting ready for college, when I had an email requesting I attend and interview at one of the arts centres on August - Result! Then as I was unpacking the car I had a phone call from the other one asking me for an interview the following Wednesday!

I must have looked a sight grinning from ear to ear and jumping around my drive like a mad lunatic!

These are small steps to the life and career I want, but they are positive steps!

The interview went well I have 2 courses booked in, including a Wednesday evening quilting course!

Since I made my decision, friends have been double checking me... have a done the right thing, they ask.... My answer is 100% yes!

My teaching workload is slowly growing and I have picked up a couple of sewing commissions for pieces of textile art, but more importantly my ability to cope with 3 small boys as a single parent has grown - they are after all the most important part of my life!