Summer is here!!!

Given Joan a week off from the blog so don't worry if this makes no sense.

Decided to change the window last week in the hope that Summer may make an appearance although whilst doing the window the heavens had opened and it was torrential rain outside.  I was quite pleased with the final design even though originally it was just a mish mash idea in my head.  A large amount of wire was used to make everything stays in place, particularly the flowers in the window but as soon as the door opens they all turn the wrong way round.

Also had a delivery of small prints last week, all deliveries cause a major problem now as we have to find yet more space.  When the postman arrived I did tell him that I used to look forward to his visits but now he just sends me into a panic - not sure he knew what to say to that.  So made a decision to clear out everything under the button table (which I just haphazardly placed out in our tiny store room) and replaced it with the new bolts of fabric. Poor Joan came back into work last week to be greeted by this huge mess which you had to jump over to get to the sink or the loo.  I called in on Monday morning and it was all sorted out and organised - thank goodness. Sorry Joan.

Thought I would show you a very simple jelly roll quilt which has been greatly improved by the long arm quilting 

Quilting was done by Sue at School House Quilting in Newport and has really given it some texture.  The quilt design is from the Jelly Roll Inspiration book by Pam Lintott and the fabric range is Oasis  from Moda.

This week I have had a few days off and have been a passenger in a Corvette Stingray which was noisy, bumpy and even though I don't want to admit it also slightly exciting.  I had booked the car as a present for my husband for his birthday but it has taken over a year to find a time when we could actually use it. 

He was absolutely in his element and when young lads were shouting to him "love your car mate" he was chuffed to bits (small things). Not so good for both of our knees, particularly when getting in and out, after three days I practically rolled out of the car rather than struggle to get out elegantly which I had been trying to do.Unfortunately I have now created a further problem as he is now searching on ebay for one that he can afford (he can't afford one) but I suppose this will keep him occupied for a while.

Our new website is now live but the pricing structure is not quite right, the designers are in the process of changing this section so hopefully it will be completely finished by the end of next week.  Feedback on the site so far is quite good, would be nice to know what you think. Down side is that I now need to use Twitter which I find quite difficult, love to follow people but can never find much to actually say so please excuse any inane comments as I am still learning.

Debby

Torch, Jubilee, Bags and More

In my last post, I said I was off the the County Cricket ground here in Somerset to see the torch arrive.  It was a lovely evening, we sat in one of the stands in the sun and watched the proceedings eating chips and drinking cider - well we do live in Somerset.  It was quite good fun, but I am not sure we had quite the atmosphere that was out in the street, although there were 6,000 people there.  The best bit was when the torch arrived, mainly because there was a fanfare from the Royal Marines!

I have finally got all my bags together, and am now ready to run the workshop, and hopefully everyone will like them.  The two above are the same pattern, but look very different.  I have shown the linen bag with the hearts before, but decided to include it because it has been so popular, the stiped bag is exactly the same pattern.  These are very simple bags to make, but they are good for someone who has not done much sewing, as it includes all the basics, such as handles and lining.

This one is another simple shape and great for using up all your scraps.  I partcularly liked this one.  It`s very quick to put together but looks good.

This bag is a little more structured, again it is simple to make, but includes some more techniques, including pockets, and binding.

 Again this one is more structured and the most difficult one to make.  There is a patch pocket on the back  in the same fabric as the pockets on the sides.  I used pellon rather wadding, and it certainly makes a difference to the structure of the bag.  Once I actually got into making them, I quite enjoyed myself!  The next lot of samples I have to make are Gifts, but luckily I have until July to make them.

I also said in the last post that I had made a camera strap that was featured in the last issue of Modern Quilting and that I would take a photograph of it, so here it is.  It`s very exciting to see your own work featured in a magazine, especially when your work stands alongside so many excellent quilters whose work you have admired in the past.  It is such a shame the company went into administration after only two issues, but I understand they have been bought out, so hopefully we will see the magazine again fairly soon.

A couple of weeks ago Shirley from Stitcherydo came in and was telling me that she had seen on another blog how to make pinwheels quickly.  I thought I would have a go, and was really impressed with the result.  I thought I would share it with you, so have taken photographs so you can see how easy it is -

Believe it or not, this is 2 x 5" squares with right sides together, and then stitched all the way round with a 1/4" seam.

You then cut the pieces as indicated in the first photograph above.  You then open out and press as shown above, how clever is that!

Finally turn them to make your pinwheels and stitch together.  Apologies if you already know this technique.  I have been surprised that quite a few people knew it, but a lot didn`t.

This is what I have made using the technnique.  I have used a charm pack from the new Moda Cabbages and Roses Athill range.  I have been slightly irritated with the darker red bits, and am even more so now I have taken the photograph, although the photograph does make it look much darker than it is in reality.  I am now hand quilting it, and will put it up in the shop when it is finished.

We have been doing a roaring trade with jubilee fabric the last week or so. Everyone seems to want to celebrate.  I am off to London after I close the shop tonight, and intend to go to the Water Pageant, it`s a shame about the weather forecast, but hopefully the rain will stop for a while.   We also intend to go to the procession on Tuesday before we come home. Debby is also going to be in the South East - her mum is holding a tea party.  Hope you all have a good long weekend.