Busy Weekend

Wow, it was a busy weekend.  Firstly we did a stand at the Make It day which was part of the Science Festival on Sunday.  We made quilted Fibonaci inspired coasters with lots of children (and a few adults).  It was a good, but tiring, day.  The Bighton Belles WI had a fab cake stall where they iced the periodic table on cup cakes…photo here.

Then on Monday I went up to the Stitches trade show with Debbie from Purl www.purl-brighton.co.uk.  I went in 2010, but skipped last year so was keen to see what’s new.  We had a good journey up there (did the school run first) and took it easy walking round the show.  It was great going together as I got to look at yarn (not sure she agreed with the lime green merino I took to) and she got to look at fabrics (had to keep telling her I don’t do muted).  Our strategy worked, with a walk round first, then a cup of tea to calm down a bit before going back in to order.  There are a few exciting products which will be coming in soon, however, as much as I love my habby fabric is my passion.
The highlight was seeing the Art Gallery Fabrics in the flesh (so to speak!).  The colours are amazing and what also set my pulse racing where the colours of the machine quilting thread had been matched to the Art Gallery fabric range by Pat Bravo.  When you like to work in bright colours it can be annoying that many machine quilting threads are quite dull.  I have used rayon on wall-hangings before to get that “pop” colour, so it was exciting to see it in 100% cotton.  I have samples of the Poetica range in case you want to pop in to have a look.  We hope to get them in later in the Spring – watch this space!
The journey back was also good, although not sure the late night Prosecco and Subway dinner on the train was the most healthy one on my diet!

Here is a link to the Art Gallery Fabrics video to go with the Poetica range – the last fabric is my favourite.

Crafts Brighton Science Festival – Tomorrow!

We are taking part in “Make It”  (which is part of Brighton Science Festival) tomorrow.  It sounds like it is going to be great – cakes and crafts on a science theme.  We have a small quilted coaster project based on Fibonacci for you to make and take.

More details are here…

http://www.brightonscience.com/2011/category/make-it/

Hope to see you! x

Spring Quilt Show Ardingly

Just popping in with a quick message to say we have a stand at the Ardingly Quilt Show that runs from tomorrow till Sunday at the South of England Showground.  Come and see us, other traders and lots of quilts there.  Will drop by to post some photo’s of our stand tomorrow…

PS – The shop will be closed for the weekend, but we hope to see you at Ardingly.

Half Moon Modern and Thirties Playtime

We have some new fabrics from Moda in the shop…

Firstly Half Moon Modern.  I loved this range when I saw it, very unfussy graphic prints in bright  colours.  We have 3 colours in yardage (or metreage as we are in the UK!) and charm packs and layer cakes due in this week.  I think a layer cake will be especially fun to play with.  We have the orange, blue and green prints in below…

Thirties Playtime.  A marmite range – some people love and some people, well not so keen!  I personally love a thirties print, and picked this cat one as animals are always something we get asked for.  I also felt it would be good for baby quilts.

I love the vintage feel of this red and black floral and for a second when I opened it I though I should hide some of it away for me to make into a tea-dress if I had the skills in dressmaking and the time.  However I don’t – so it is for sale!  We also have jelly rolls in this range.

Fresh Sampler Quilt

So, our current Sampler quilt course finishes in a months time and we move onto our next course.  We run them twice a year, and they last for 11 sessions, fortnightly.  Students seem to like this as they get time to complete blocks between classes and for those with commitments such as work or family it feels easier than a weekly class.  Sampler quilts are an excellent way to learn how to make a quilt.  They are made up from a selection of blocks which use hand sewing, machine sewing, strip patchwork, English patchwork, appliqué and more…  Each block/sample is then quilted and made up into a finished quilt using the quilt as you go technique.

 Terri emailed over these links to her lovely quilt.  It was based around Amy Butler fabrics, and the use of white for the sashing has made it look so fresh.  I think it is such a great representation of a modern sampler quilt – mixed hand a machine quilting, very bright and the risks with colour have really paid off.  Would love one of these on my bed!  Check out the scrap binding too.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57421358@N08/6713259563/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57421358@N08/6713258705/in/photostream

If you have any queries about the course don’t hesitate to ask!
Dates for course starting March 2012

Mondays…5th March 2012, 19th March, Easter Break, 16th April, 30th April, 14th May, 28th May, 11th June, 25th June, 9th July, 23rd July, 10th September

£145 (£40 deposit secures a place, with the balance due by 27th February 2012)

Morning Course 10 till 12 – 3 spaces left
Evening course 7.30 till 9.30 – 1 space left

 

(thanks Terri for letting me share your quilt x)

Retro Sausage Dog Draught Excluder Workshop

We had our first sausage dog workshop last month and it went really well.  Cassie was the tutor and when I popped in at the end of the course everyone was giving their dogs names and personalities.  I have just been emailed these photos of one of the dogs.  He is made from Moda brushed cotton, which gives him rather a chic business look about him – all he needs is a pipe and briefcase to complete the look!
We are running the workshop again over 2 evenings at the end of January/February – details are here http://www.quilty-pleasures.co.uk/pages/retro-sausage-dog-draft-excluder

 

doesn’t he look fab?!

Charm Commission

I don’t get a lot of time to work on commissions at the moment, and refer most of the requests onto other local quilters.  However I did make up one commission last month.  The customer, a really lovely lady, came in asking for a large single bed quilt to be made.  It was to be a bed runner for her king size bed, but also large enough to cover a single if needed (great idea don’t you think?).   She just wanted a very simple design and was more concerned about the fabric used than the style of quilt, as she wanted it to go with her wrought iron bed.  We picked out charm packs she liked (Luna Notte), and fabric for the border and backing and so I ran this up…

It was quilted by Carolyn Clark, a long arm quilter who lives in a village just outside Brighton.  She doesn’t have a website, but if you want more details on the services she offers contact me.  It was the first time I have used a long arm quilter and can see how it can get addictive, especially for someone like me who finds no pleasure in basting.  I wanted to use a contrast binding and feel the cream rosebud fabric works well, but also isn’t too light to make it hard wearing.
One of the things I like when I make quilts for other people is the opportunity to use fabrics I wouldn’t usually choose.  I love the fabrics in this quilt, but would not have chosen to use them to make something for myself (they are far too muted and classy!).

The back is a small scale floral to go with the bed and furnishings.

She was delighted with it, I love happy customers!

Recycled Denim Quilt Course – Saturday 21st January

How’s this for a thrifty course for January!  We are running a 1 day workshop on how to make a denim quilt on Saturday 21st January at the Vallance Community Centre, Sackville Road Hove.  It runs from 10 till 3.30, and costs £32.

To make your throw all you need is 3 metres of fleece and old denim – jeans/jackets/dungarees (plus sewing machine and basic sewing kit).  My denim quilt has lasted for years – travelling to several beaver/cub camps with my son.  This type of quilt really suits boys as they don’t grow out of denim (does anyone!)

Below is a picture of a denim quilt which uses pink fleece.  To book or find out more get in touch with us.

   

A peek at the sale table

Just a reminder we are having a little January sale starting tomorrow. Selected bolts are £7 or £8 a metre and there are a few haberdashery items there too.
Open 10 till 2 Wednesday to Saturday (our winter opening hours) – sale section will be updated online at the weekend.

Have 10% Off – Happy New Year!

A New Year treat on us! 

 Enjoy 10% off on internet orders from now till midnight Monday (2nd January 2012).  Just put in the code HappyQuilty2012 and it will automatically deduct the 10%.   Offer excludes cutting mats, Accuquilt hire and courses.

On the subject of grabbing a bargain, I have been at the shop today sorting  some bolts for a sale next week.  We will be open Wednesday to Saturday 10 till 2, and there will be some fabrics reduced to £7/£8 per metre, along with some haberdashery and books reduced.  I will try and put photo’s and more details on the blog on Tuesday.

It is that time of the year when thoughts turn to New Years Resolutions.  Now, I won’t bore you with my non quilty ones (lose weight, be tidier etc) but I do have a few quilty ones to share with you…

1. Finish all projects started.  The little pile of “samples” is multiplying.  I enjoy binding, so must must finish them off before I get on with the next (by that stage more exciting!) project.

2. Make a quilt for my bed.  I often get comments “you must have lots of quilts at home”, but our bed does not have one – yet! 

3. Start keeping a sketchbook reguarly again to work on ideas, instead of having random bits of paper hanging around.  Also, getting to more exhibitions is a must although there is inspration everywhere… 

4. Learn to knit.

That’s more than enough for now.  I hope you all have good intentions too – cheers to at least trying!

Happy New Year
x

PS – Have you seen our Hungry Caterpillar Fabric?  It is in the shop now www.quilty-pleasures.co.uk