...and yet more!

Collage Work for Layering



Layering sheer fabrics, nets etc. on dyed backgrounds. Using fabric paints. Finishing with hand or machine stitches.



Alternative colourway painted with watercolours-I loved doing this!



...and more living creatures

 We have been dyeing fabric and so there's the requirement/expectation that we'll incorporate our own dyed fabrics in the samples.

Art Work for Shadow Work

Dyed Silk-Shadow Work & Raw-edge Applique



Module 2 - Colour - Living Creatures

Attendance on the course was one Saturday and Sunday each month with a lot of art work and fabric samples to be produced at home. It was great going back each weekend and seeing what everyone had produced - all with the same brief but hugely different pieces of work.



Stitch and Slash



By this time, we're starting to present our art work and samples a little more coherently!

Chenille



Lots of experimenting with colourways then producing Crazy Patchwork



The Last 3 Samples in Module 1

Secret Garden Patchwork

Broderie Persie

Stitch and Flip

Silk Painting

My Best Efforts!

An enjoyable session drawing and then experimenting with silk paints. This was my introduction to gutta and other ways of forming barriers to stop the paint from spreading. We then had to complete 2 pieces by backing with calico and wadding. Lastly we used metallic threads to enhance the design. 

The First Module - Line-Plants and Gardens



Strip Patchwork



 We were looking at garden structures-fences, paths,trellises, conservatories and geometric lines/small curves. We also looked at how tonal values affected the balance of the design. All our work meant copious amounts of art work before we worked with the fabric. That was very scary for most of us, but

became less daunting over time.







Rail Fence Patchwork





English Patchwork

...and on to a big adventure!

Having enjoyed making the quilts below, I decided I'd search for a course where I could learn a lot more about patchwork,quilting and design. It was difficult at the start because I didn't know anyone who did it, didn't know about shows or shops and didn't know where to seek out courses. Eventually I found out about workshops in some venues but really wanted something more substantial. I decided to enrol at Craven College in Skipton for their 2 year City and Guilds Certificate course.
Boy, was I nervous as the first weekend approached and to make it more complicated, I couldn't go on the first day, so by the second day it seemed that everyone knew each other. However, it didn't take long before I was part of the group. The class had quilters and embroiderers. So, with trepidation, I had started-and what a fabulous 2 years it turned out to be. I'm going to post some of my work from the course with a little information about it.

Celtic Intertwined Hearts

This was part of a wedding present. I worked this using Italian cord quilting-thought it was about time I did some hand sewing. I embellished it with some little pearl clusters.

The Angel Quilt

This little quilt was made as part of a

Christmas present for my two great nieces.

They've now requested 'dragon' quilts for their birthdays. Watch this space...

A Good Day Out

I had a lovely day out yesterday with my quilting group. Went to see a fabulous exhibition of the Quaker tapestry-it's a hanging that tells the story of 350 years of Quaker experience.There are 77 panels and more than 4,000 men, women and children in 15 countries have contributed to it. It was started in 1981 and finished in1996.

After lunch we were lucky enough to be in the cathedral when an inspirational talk was just beginning. Liz Wall a textile artist from Southport in Lancashire showed amazing works of raw-edged applique which encompasses animals and plants. Her most oustanding work was of 2 chasubles (ecclesiastical garments) which werejust wonderful...talk about being in the right place at the right time! 

Sunbonnet Sue (as introduced by my daughter-in-law)

An Early Quilt

An early attempt at quilting saw the production of Sunbonnet Sue. Nothing original here-straight from a book, but this was great fun with all the clothes and colours. It was like playing at dressing dolls. But my skills were very simple. I was limited to applique but getting more and more enthusiastic about Patchwork and Quilting.

Circular Seagull

The quilting group I did my recent course with are trying lots of things to keep in touch. One is by working on a Circular Seagull (or Round Robin). Our leader likes the idea of being the Chief Seagull so there we go! This month we had to maKe a square with the fabrics provided but they had to include applique. So here's mine.

I've posted last months too which had to have right angled triangles. I decided to piece that one and really enjoyed it.

Looking forward to tomorrow- a monthly quilting workshop with friends. The plan is to make felt and make vases or bowls with it. I didn't enjoy felt making at college so I'm going to start working on a baby play mat for Emma's baby. First attempt at designing with EQ7-whoopee!

A quilt waiting to be made

Snapped this on a visit to Lindisfarne. Just loved the colours of the lobster pots. Some day I'll make a clamshell quilt withthis as my source.

Quilting Beginnings!

My first 'go' at quilting! Jen's family photographs are on the left side of the trunk and branches and include fav. recipes, college photos, great grandparents and loads more. Jim(my) family is on the right side of the trunk and includes Manchester United logo, pets, generations of our families . Both have important milestones in Jim and Jen's life. Space was left on the branches for wedding photos and future children.

How It All Began

So here we go! I've been thinking about having a blog for some time now but still not very good with moving photos around computers - so anything could happen.
How did I get started into P & Q? I was asked to make a 'chuppah' or canopy for my son's wedding to Jen. Having no idea what one was or how to proceed, I spent a few weeks visiting fabric shops and picking people's brains. I decided to make a quilt...but didn't know how to do it! To cut a long story short, I came up with the goods and produced what was asked - a 'chuppah' on the theme 'The Tree of Life' which displayed fabric photos from generations past, people present and images of important events in the life of the bridal couple.