Fruit Challenge at Midsomer Quilting

Hello everyone. I haven't posted for a few days for which I am very sorry! In my defence, in between workshops and talks this week, I have of course been busy with Sirius the new puppy. He is doing very well - in a week he has learned to 'sit', 'heel' and walk on the lead. I fear he is more intelligent than I am - perhaps I'll teach him to type then he can blog for himself!

I had a very enjoyable afternoon on Tuesday with the Quirky Quilters so thank you to them for having me! Also my two Christmas workshops this week were great fun, despite the sewing machine gremlins striking nearly everyone during the Tuesday evening session - but it's good practice for me to find my way around different models of machines. But why oh why can't manuacturers standardise where they put the presser foot lever? It' s very embarassing groping around the back of a strange machine only to find that some bright design spark has decided that on this model, they'll put the lever to one side! Aaaargh!

I am delighted to have been asked to teach a couple of workshops in the New Year at the wonderful Midsomer Quilting at Chilcompton near Bath. I love going there, it is such a treat and the coffee is always on! If any of you live or are in the area I would strongly recommend a visit. I also made a little wall hanging for the Fruit Challenge they are hosting to raise funds for CLIC Sargent - a very worthwhile cause supporting the families of young people with cancer. I heard from Midsomer this morning that entries have been numerous and of a very high standard, and from such noteworthy quilters as Alicia Merrett, Dawn Cameron-Dick and Lynne Quinn. Many of the entries will be offered for sale by secret auction with proceeds going to CLIC Sargent. If you can. please do visit the exhibition at the shop and support this wonderful cause. It runs from Thursday 1st until Tuesday 6th December from 10.30am until 4pm and admission is free. Details of how to find the shop are available on their website http://www.midsomerq.com/index.html

Confetti

I've been meaning to try this for some time, then my artist friend and neighbour started talking to me about alliums one day and how they looked like fireworks and she gave me a photo of one. So this got me thinking...

I started with a square (12") of a pale green batik and spray basted it onto wadding and backing. Then I drew a circle lightly in pencil. I got a handful of scraps out of my purples box,chopped them up with the rotary cutter and spread them out inside the circle. I used lots of different shades, dark and light and bluish and reddish. When chopped up, the colours blended beautifully like paint. I laid a square of organza over the top and pinned in place then freehand stitched around the circle. Then I trimmed off the excess organza about an 1/8" from the edge of the circle. I then FMQd radiating lines in lime green and purple from the centre out and stitched little purple florets along the purple lines. I stencilled gold floret shapes in the 'border' with gold shivastik (I used a stencil I got from a carboot sale - it is actually starfish!), then pebbled in pale green over the top to give some texture. Then I hand stitched a pale green bead in the centre of each FMQd floret and bound in a dark purple batik. I really enjoyed making it and confetti is definitely something I will do more of - if nothing else, it's a good way of using up those scraps too small for anything else! I am teaching a workshop in the Art Centre in Ilminster on Thursday 12th April 2012 and confetti will be the subject - it is such fun!

Close of my exhibtion and Christmas Workshops

Just wanted to say that my exhibtion at the Meeting House in Ilminster closes this Saturday. I have been so thrilled with the way it has gone and would definitely like to work with them again in the future. I will be going in at midday on Saturday to take it down so last chance to come and have a look if you haven't already!

Also, I am running Christmas Workshops at Whitelackington Village Hall near Ilminster on Tuesday November 22nd from 6.30pm until 9.30pm and Thursday 24th November from 10am until 3pm. I can take a couple more people for each if anyone would like to join us. We will be making various styles of fabric bowls both simple and complex, a little trinket box, tree decorations and some quilted mats. All abilities are welcome. See my website for details or contact me here via my blog. I'll post pictures of what we've made after the workshops but here's a little taster...

A new addition to our family

Yesterday we made the trip up to Lincolnshire to choose out Munsterlander puppy and here he is - 'Raycris Branko' who will be known to us as 'Sirius' after the Dog Star, NOT the character in Harry Potter and absolutely nothing to do with IPods!!! We were so impressed with the breeder and owner and his mum, Hanna was an absolutely gorgeous girl with a temperament to match. We chose this little chap as he was full of character and beautiful with it. The breeder called him the 'thug' - he was certainly the fattest so is apparently getting more than his fair share from the 'milk bar'. But he doesn't throw his weight around in a nasty way - he just tries it on a bit and is contrite when corrected (perhaps I can identify with that myself!). This behaviour to me speaks of great intelligence and when properly channelled, will make a fantastic dog. Now begins the looooong two week wait until we can go back and collect him!

Talk Art at the Meeting House

I just wanted to thank everyone who came along and made the afternoon so enjoyable - and especially to all those who asked me such challenging and interesting questions!