Module 2 Shape

Well I have passed my second module on my City & Guilds certificate in 

Patchwork and Quilting. It has taken up a lot more

of my time than I expected but I enjoyed it.

This Module was on Shape and had an Industrial theme 

and there was a lot more work

involved with this one but I suppose I 

will have to get used to that as I suspect that will

continue all the way through now.

I was really excited when I saw the theme, I find

a certain beauty in rusty old machinery and industrial decay.

I even have some in my garden turned into a sculpture

by local artist Bernie Marfleet.

 My module information pack arrived just before we went off

on a 3 week holiday to Madiera ( which was fabulous )

so I had plenty of time to take photos and do some sketching.

This time I had to come up with 10 designs,

make one into a block that I had drafted myself,

2 had to be foundation pieced , 1 curved pieced block

and one block made with pieces cut with a rotary cutter.

I won't bore you with all of them,- just a couple.

I loved the piles of old chains that were by an old fort

in Funchal quay side and this was to provide the drafted block.

It is a very simple design and was perfect for my first 

drafted block which for those who don't know is when you

draw your block onto graph paper and make templates for

the pieces before working out the best way to put it together.

This is the block I came up with, I tried it in different colours

but actually prefer the rusty coloured one as it looks more

like the original picture.

I took photos of factories, cable cars, electricity pylons

and all sorts of mechanical bits and bobs. The design above

(which is a preliminary mock up not just badly put together)

is from a pylon as is my first foundation pieced design below .

Whereas the one next one is from an

old gas holder which I saw on the M25 driving to the airport.

This is my favourite design and the other foundation pieced

block. I will be using it as a border on my next quilt I think. 

I did the blocks in mainly monochrome colours

as I thought this went with the theme but am looking forward to 

trying it with bright colours.

So now onto Module three which is Colour.

Wish me luck.

Gillxx

Module One

 Well how about that my first Module is done and passed

so I am feeling very pleased with myself at the moment.

After the Doodle stage you saw in my last post ( too many weeks ago)

I went on to colouring the design in loads of different ways

and in different mediums.

It felt a little like painting by numbers or 

one of those colouring books for adults ( which I love)

 that all the rage at the moment.

The whole idea of the first few modules is to 

get you into the swing of design so  

the next exercise was mark making.

There was a bit more to it than just making a grid of

different marks but I love the look of this grid more than 

some of the sketches I came up with.

This was my final design which I'm not overly pleased with,

I can see things I would changed but the process

is great fun and a total revelation to me.

The work handed in at the end of the module

is a power point presentation showing the

work you have done and the various results and then 

sewn examples of certain patchwork blocks.

4 blocks had to be hand sewn, which are the ones

above, and 4 machine sewn, the ones below.

  So having had a fantastic holiday in Madiera

it's on to module 2 which is all about Shape.

Speak again soon.

Gillxx

A Trip Around The World

This is where I come every other week to my Patchwork group

with the wonderful Jane as our teacher and problem solver.

It is a collection of old barns which has been turned into

a collection of little shops housing all sorts of craft artisans such

as stained glass and pottery as well as a great patchwork shop

and workshops above. 

This photo was taken in the morning before the public 

where allowed in.

As well as the patchwork there are all sorts of other fabric

related workshops such as dyeing and free machine embroidery.

The class I did this week however was creating a quilt called

" A trip around the world"

I sure all you long time patchworkers are familiar with

this pattern but being fairly new to patchwork it

was new to me and I loved it.

We get a list of requirements before the day and in this case

the cutting instructions so some of the work was done before we

started.

It is made from 10 different fabrics which you cut into strips

stitch together then cut into strips across, it is very easy but you have to 

pay attention to make sure you get them in the right order.

An essential piece of equipment is a seam ripper.

The variety of fabrics and colours we had all chosen

was wonderful to see.  My friend Caroline went with

these wonderful zingy limes and lemons.

Next to her was a collection of marbled effect.

I went with blue and white, it's a colour combination

I have always loved and wanted to try it in a quilt top.

This was the first lady to finish

Closely followed by the marble effect fabrics.

I love this colour combination of turquoise  and white

and here is mine with just one strip left to put in

but I put it in up side down twice so decided I was

too jaded and left it there for the day.

I have finished the top now but need to layer and quilt it

I promise to show it to you when  finish.

Another thing I have had a go at this week is

natural dyes.  I started with onions skins which don't need a mordant 

to fix the colour. I have been reading  blogs about natural dyes

with incredibly talented ladies ( Here and Here) as well

as browsing pinterest to find out how to do it  and 

this was the general consensus of opinion. 

I have collected white onions skins for a while

and put them in a pan with water and boiled them for an hour.

then I drained the skins off making sure to keep the remaining dye fluid.

I'm one of those people who would have strained it over the sink

and then realised I had just thrown away the dye.

I then put some wet white linen, these were pieces of vintage

linen from my stash of damaged and stained tablecloths and napkins.

I left them in the dye for an hour and this was the result.

There are so many things you can use in natural dyeing.

I'm now saving red onions skins to try them.

The other thing I have done is turn this pretty pottery flower,

which was 50p from one of the open studios I went to,

into a pretty summer brooch.

Oh and I've signed up for a couple of swaps as well so a 

very crafty week.

Hope you have all had a good week and

have a great weekend.

 I'll see you all soon.

Gillxx

One Ends and Another Begins

Well my quilt is finished.

This is the one I have been doing in 

my Patchwork group since january.

The colours were specifically chosen for this spare room

but I think I should have added another couple of rows

 so it covered the whole top of the bed.

Never mind I will just have to make another one

to fit better but for the time being this one looks alright.

So work has started on this terms quilt

and I have decided to go brighter with

my colours this time although

I'm now wondering if they are going

to be a bit too 'in your face'.

I don't have a specific place or purpose for this one

so I suppose it doesn't matter really.

It's another sample style quilt with 6x12" blocks 

set on points. The spaces will probably be white to 

keep it light and airy.

So watch this space.

My other W.I.P at the moment is some more

baby named bunting, this time for a friends

little Granddaughter called Erin.

Pretty name.

I've been asked for pastel shades and this is what I've come up with.

I was going to do the letters in white but they don't look right

so have to try something else.

Since writing the above I've finished  the bunting and 

it has gone off to it's new home.

Now what's next on my list?

Gillxx

Early Morning Catch Up

It's the wee small hours of the morning and I'm wide awake,

So having had a read around blog land I've decided to do

a catch up on what I'm doing in this term Patchwork group.

Firstly, I have been doing a class in Baltimore quilt techniques.

I like doing this as it's something I can do 

while I sit and watch TV with Mr T in the evenings.

When he's not working that is.

It's obviously not expertly done but I'm pleased with the result

and I like the mixture of colours although I would use a different

background fabric next time as this one creases terribly.

These are the blocks I'm doing in my Patchwork group this term.

Jane, the tutor, gives us the blocks to do but how we finish them

and what we make is up to us.

We started with Grandmothers fan which I thought needed something 

to finish the edge so I did a couching stitch around with ordinary

embroidery silk and think it looks quite effective. 

One of the other ladies

had the same thought but she added some narrow lace which

looks very pretty.

I love doing this one which is foundation pieced on to Pattern ease.

It's a lot easier to work with than freezer paper  but not sure how it will 

be when it's all put together. I'm wondering weather it will give the quilt

and uneven feel as the bow tie and maple leaf blocks below 

aren't as thick and a lot more flimsy.

I have fussy cut the centres on this one and like the

finished framed picture effect, it is again foundation pieced. 

They will all be in rows of eight with sashing in between.

The last row of blocks

will be Dresden Plates but I have got a little behind with them

after my week away.

The colours have been picked to go in my spare room

and match up with this wall paper.

This is the biggest quilting project I have undertaking so far

so lets hope it continues to go as well as it is a the moment.

Well I suppose I might try and get some more sleep.

 See you again soon.

Gillxx

A UFO No Longer

I stitched this lovely whimsical girl a few months ago.

It was to be used as part of a folder

cover to commemorate the naming ceremony for my Great Niece.

It was done onto a vintage linen napkin with her name 

at the side.  The Pattern is one by Lilipopo

who does some really pretty bits.

  When it came to actually

making the cover I decided that it didn't really suit

so made it with just her name cross-stitched on the front.

That of course meant I had this just hanging around 

waiting for me to make something out of it,

 as, lets face it,  it was a waste not to use it.

So finally this week I have made it into a cushion

to take down with me next time I go West.

I have to say I'm really pleased with it,

 I hope her Mum and Dad feel the same.

Have a good day.

Gillxx

Storms, Dips and Hopes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I can't believe how long it is since I've written anything

on here, I've even missed the last two scavenger Hunts although I'm determined to 

complete this months.

 It was so long ago that  I still had summer flowers in the garden

whereas now my winter Clematis are in full bloom and look lovely

on the rare occasion it is nice enough to wander around the garden.

A lot has happened since we last met and I will show you some of the things 

I've been up to in my next post which I promise won't be far away.

The Norfolk coast, along with so many other places around the country,

has suffered at the hands of the weather and my heart goes out to 

all those people who have had their lives and homes destroyed.

I haven't seen the damage anywhere other than at Cromer but that 

was shocking enough with huge chunks of concrete ripped from the sea wall

and thrown around like drift wood along the promenade.

Great gaping holes left in the pier, beach huts reduced to 

match wood and tons of mud having slipped down the cliffs.

But the British are a resilient lot aren't they.

Within a few days the pier was patched up and the 

theatre was open for business again even if you had to have a head for heights

to walk out to it past the fenced off holes.

By Boxing day it was business as usual with the 

BOXING DIP pulling thousands of spectators to watch

hundreds of those mad enough to run into the sea, not just once but twice,

wearing swimsuits or flimsy fancy dress as no wet suits are permitted.

My Son and Youngest daughter were amongst those crazy people

even after my son said last year that he would never do it again.

All my family have now returned to their own homes

and I have returned to my sewing room after it's temporary

use as a bedroom.

Now I don't make resolutions as I don't keep them, year after year I tried to give

up smoking in January and finally managing it (many years ago now) in September.

So I thought this year I would set out a couple of things I hope to achieve this year.

Firstly--I want to do more hand embroidery.

This has been brought on by finding this fabulous 

embroidery stand in a local charity shop for £3.75!--can you believe it.

I had this old linen table cloth among my boxes of old linen

which is printed and ready to embroider 

and even if I don't manage to finish it, it still looks good

in my room.

Then on my sewing table, other than one of my new mugs,

is something else I'm going to add some embroidered embellishments to.

It started with a little foundation piecing

and will end up as a book cover.

The pattern is by Anja Townrow

which I bought when I did a workshop with her a few weeks ago.

Now to just add some stitching. 

My second hope for 2014 is to be more organised 

so that it isn't 2 months before you hear from me again.

So with that in mind I wish you all a very Happy New Year

and will see you again soon.

Gillxxx