In March this year Brit Bee celebrated 10 years! I have loved being part of this amazingly talented group of ladies. We have done a lot of life together, losing one of our original members to cancer, weddings, divorces and lots of new babies!! While we no longer make and swap blocks each month, we […]
A friend recently gave me a pile of Indian sari squares, leftovers from a previous project. I thought I would make her something with them, but they were very thin cotton/linen and irregular sizes. So I chose 50 squares, interfaced them and trimmed them to 4.5" square and pieced 2 panels to make a double […]
I'm often donated fabric bags and offcuts from friends or their creative relatives when they're having a 'clear out', to use or pass on! Most of what I'm given is donated on to sewing charities or Primary Schools for their after schools clubs. But I can't resist scavenging for particular vintage prints, and squirrelling them […]
We are now in week 2 of our Instagram Designers Collaboration with Sotak Handmade, Charm About You, Stuart Hillard Sews, Penny Dog & myself. Last week we made Svetlana's Lola Pouches (you can see mine here). This week we are making Lucy's Melody Mini Quilt/Cushion. This is a foundation paper […]
I'm so excited to annouce a new designer collaboration during the month of July, which will be running on Instagram! I'm teaming up with 4 talented quilting designers to make 1 pattern from each designers shop or book. Each week we will showcase a designers pattern and let you see 4 different takes […]
I promised I would show you the finishes from my first online class - The Causeway Hexie Cushion class. Here are some of the finishes! Janet made 2 of the same cushion, so extra kudos to you Janet!! Aren't they gorgeous! And I know there are a few more still in […]
You may remember the first block of classes this year was all about Tucks & Pleats. We manipulated fabric a few different ways in 3 projects: A pouch with twisted tucks: A cushion with open tucks: A pleated bag: (free pattern by U-Handbag.com) It's fair to say that […]
During our last week of classes we have adopted the tradition of 'Secret Santa'. I love this fun tradition, seeing the variety of handmade and bought gifts, all for under £5! 6 weekly classes means I have 6 Secret Santa presents to either make or buy. This year I'm trying not to buy […]
Well it's hard to believe that we only have 1 more week of classes left for 2019! Where on earth did that year go!! I can't wait to show you the beautiful wreaths folks have been making as part of our (optional) class project this term. They're stunning! But before one term is […]
It was a milestone weekend in the Hollies' household! I dropped my baby off at University of Liverpool to start her 3 year degree, and came back to an empty nest. I've had children at home for the past 24 years, so not having 'on hand' mummy duties and living alone […]
The 2nd of my gifts being handed out this week is this English Paper Pieced (EPP) Hexie Pillow. This gift is actually a 'thank you' from my daughter to a family who've been like a 2nd family to her for many years, and have faithfully supported her missionary training! The family in […]
Welcome to part 3 of my series on Log Cabin blocks (part 1 available here; part 2 available here). So far we've looked at the variations within Log Cabin and Courthouse Steps blocks. This post is all about the Pineapple Block. Like me, you may be surprised that the Pineapple […]
Hi there, Welcome to part 3 of my Spring into Summer '19 series, looking at the items on display in our classroom (part 1 available here; part 2 available here). Part 3 continues the Lori Holt theme, this time looking at her book 'Quilty Fun'. 7 Lori Holt's Quilty Fun Book: […]
This week saw the end of our current block of classes. The optional class project was all about Triaxial and Basket Weaving. I had made 3 class samples to showcase the different types of fabric weaving I would be teaching, but as you will see, a few creative minds didn't stop […]
Hi there, the '5 minute demo' in my classes for this month was all about Portholes! I first learned how to do this nifty technique from Lu Summers at the 2012 Fat Quarterly Retreat. It was so much fun, and one of those techniques that is deceptively easy! You […]
My new block of classes started back this week, and I have a few surprises in store for my ladies! The first surprise is the change to my table display. Not hard to guess what theme I'm going for here! This is the first of 2 posts that will take you […]
This week rounds up the end of my current block of classes where we've been learning about twin needle quilting. My ladies had several patterns to choose from, and as always, they completely rose to the challenge of a new technique Just check out these amazing results! Mosaic Cushion (pattern available […]
Yesterday was my Chenille Workshop, and I've been beavering away this past week getting samples ready. My ladies learned how to make a fluffy, tactile texture in their fabrics, and turn it into a snuggly cushion or a soft and useful bathmat. We learned about how cutting across the bias […]
Hello there! As promised, I'm back to tell you about the rest of the projects on my Autumn Table! (you can read all about projects 1-5 here) 6. Denim Washbag: My love of repurposing denim gets everywhere! Unfortunately I don't have a pattern written up yet for this […]
Hello there! And hello September! September sees the start of my Autumn term of classes, and an introduction to twin needling with fusible bias tape. And in celebration of the start of meteorological Autumn, let me show you my new table display, full of ideas, patterns and tutorials to inspire you to get […]
