Free Motion Quilting Project

I came across Leah's amazing and generous videos while teaching on line. This is a wonderful resource for any quilter and I have added a link for anyone who doesn't know about it, Thanks, Leah.

Making Matters

I have just booked to be a student, make a nice change to be on that side of the classroom. I'm going to Bobby Britnell's studio in Shropshire for two sessions with Mary Sleigh.
Here's a bit about the two days,

'Making Matters'

Friday 4th and Saturday 5th May 2012

£100 for 2 days 

Discovering by making is an exciting way of developing visual ideas.

Using a variety of materials and simple tools we shall create surfaces and forms.

These inspirational ideas will be translated into fabric and stitch on day two.

Mary uses a variety of found objects that she has picked up on her travels.....a bird's skull here, a feather there, some thorns or a luggage label.







I'm very excited to be meeting Mary for the first time and spending some time with Bobby, we worked together at Westhope College years ago.
There are a few places left on the workshop, to see more about it and other opportunities go to  Bobby's website or you can contact her directly by email at bobby@bobbybritnell.co.uk

Quilts and Embroidery 2012

Yesterday I spent the day at Margaret McQuillen's show at Uttoxeter race course, it's a good venue, not so big that you get exhausted walking around but big enough to provide a varied range of quilts, embroideries and traders. I hadn't been before, New Zealand got in the way last year, so it was a first for me.
Having embroidery and quilts, the traders covered all bases for me, quilt requirements and the odds and ends I need for my dolls, such as bits of metallic stuff, merino felting wool and Treasure Gold, I didn't buy one bit of fabric!
I have added two photos, the winning quilt in the Innovative category, a triptych made by Hilary Beattie and, from the same category, my favourite quilt, the work of Anne Armes, little cushions in a wonderfully subtle colour set.The open spaces say so much.

Hilary's Quilt 

Anne's Quilt

As well as quilts there is an amazing display of embroidery that I found most inspiring, Natural Resources,  a selection of work from Wolverhampton Embroiderers is an inspiring exhibition. The work of June Parkinson especially interested me, below is a piece by her. 

One of June's embroideries, the textures and colour are rich and beautiful.

Here are some of my bits of metal, can't wait to get into the studio and start playing with them.

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If you can get there I recommend a visit to the show, I found it had enough to keep me interested for the day along with a pleasant lunch break and the odd rest on the many chairs dotted around the show galleries. The other pleasure was catching up with old friends, many of whom I haven't seen in years.

I have at last managed to get a few more pictures on my doll's page. Do have a look, lots more to go yet and lots more quilts on that page to come.

I make my dolls for my pleasure but sometimes I get asked if they are for sale. Some could be but there are a few I couldn't part with, if you see one you really like email me and perhaps she might be available.

Here is Dragon Maiden with her not very scary dragon, she was made as a commission and now resides in a private collection in Germany

Sugar Plums in Worcestershire

A selection of the wonderful characters that came from the workshop
for Worcester Embroiderer's Guild, well done ladies!

A few more, although the pattern for all the dolls is the same it always amazes
me that so many individuals emarge.

And one more!