Kaleidoscope Workshop with Apple County Quilters

Yesterday I had part two of my two day kaleidoscope workshop with the lovely ladies of Apple County and wanted to share their beautiful work. What was especially nice was how many of them took the technique and made it their own by coming up with unconventional shapes, inserting other fabrics and all sorts of other shenanigans! It was a very lively interesting two days and I do hope they'll have me back another time as I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I look forward to receiving photos of finished quilts in due course!

The room became an art gallery for the day!

South West Textile Group

I have recently joined the South West Textile Group - you can find out more about it here.

Student's Quilt

 

I just received photos of a quilt made by Maggie who did my two part kaleidoscope workshop a while ago.Isn't it fab? The original fabric was beautiful large hydrangeas but it's even MORE beautiful now! And I love her border treatment too. Well done Maggie!

 

 

 

Maggie's Quilt

Close up of the fabulous border detail

Workshops at Ilminster Art Centre

I will be teaching three workshops at Ilminster Art Centre after Easter. Freehand Machine Quilting on Thursday 13th June, Fantastic Fabric Folding on Thursday 4th July and Fabric Collage Landscapes on Thursday 18 July. These will all be all day affairs from 10am until 3pm. This was only finalised yesterday so details aren't on the website yet but if you are interested in booking, please contact me and I can tell you how!

Fabric Collage Landscape

"Long Ponds"

Latest finish - inspired by where I walk my dogs in summer - not autumn and winter as this is shoot land and the pheasants are out! Wouldn't be popular with the gamekeeper if we went at this time of year.

I took lots of photos on several occasions and when I looked back at them, the landscape was all about line - tree trunks, reflections on the water, shadows, the long ponds themselves. The top panel is foundation pieced and grid stitched with a bit of markal stick for effect. The bottom panel is hand dyed fabric, appliqued grasses and freehand machine quilted. The beads joining the two are strung between some suede ribbon that I bought at the Festival of Quilts this year. Each panel is 18" square.

"Long Ponds"



Close up top panel

Close up bottom panel

The West Country Quilt Show

At the Bath and West Showground this was the first year for this event and I entered two pieces in the Small and Large Wallhanging categories. I was delighted to win not only the Machine Quilting and Wholecloth prizes but also the large Wallhanging category AND best of all, Overall Winner with my entry 'The Westering Sun'.

 

 

The event was reported to be quite successful considering it was the first year and here's hoping that next year will see it better supported as it is a welcome addition to our area's quilting calendar!

Christmas Quilting Workshop

I am holding my Christmas Workshop at Whitelackington Village Hall near Ilminster, Somerset on Thursday 6th December from 10am until 4 pm, £25 per person. There are a only couple of places left so please let me know soon if you'd like to join us.

We'll be making all sorts of decorative little bowls, hanging and table decorations and other doodads, many based on the 60 degree triangle of which I am very fond! Oh, and I'll be bringing lots of yummy homemade mince pies to share as well!