Studio 107: 2017

Thursday 6 July 2017

What to do with a layer cake?

I wanted to give my day time patchwork class a bit of a challenge and decided to let them have a go at, what is called, stack and whack, techniques. Not a nice expression is it? So first of all we tackled the three stack of fabrics from two sets of fat quarters. So the ladies produced a pile of blocks about 5" x 6". They worked jolly hard!

The blocks were stiched together to make a couple of bags. These are available for sale in my studio. They are very sturdy with an inner zipped pocket.

So with that done, we moved onto the 9 patch. I had a lovely layer cake with a poppy print. The pack had 42 squares and we picked out four sets of nine fabrics. We stacked nine together and cut in two directions.

Next, the indivdual piles are sorted. Leaving the top left hand pile alone, the next along to the right-you put the top fabric to the back of the pile. With the pile to the top right, you move two pieces to the back. This continues increasing the number each time, until each pile has been rearranged. Keep calm!

Trying not to upset each pile, stitch together row by row. You don't have to match the seams, in fact this is almost impossible to do.

Next, stitch the three rows together

Then, square up the finished block to 8 1/2" I use an acrylic ruler from Creative Grids as it's very see through with very clear black lines.

Here is the trimmed block.

Repeat with all the remaining stacks and sets of fabrics. Eventually you will have 36 lovely blocks. It must be said that the ladies in the class worked very hard and made 18 blocks between them. What a slave driver!

We did discuss the next steps and all agreed that the quilt needed 'something else'. I added on the charcoal grey border of 2" finished width. I made sure there were no dark patches in the blocks close to the border. I then used some more fabric to make an improvised pieced border with dark 'cornerstones'. I added a narrow binding and was done. I'm one of those odd people who enjoys making and adding the binding. I also don't mind hand stitching the binding whilst watching TV.

Then the big decision. How would I quilt it? I found some amazing lime green fabric at Back Stitch out at Burwash Manor. This was just the right width and a mix of cotton and linen. After a few try outs I decided the quilt needed nothing too elaborate and simply stitched wavy lines (about 50 of them!) using my trusty walking foot. Sometimes, simple is the best option.

The finished quilt is now on my studio wall ready for my Open Studios Event.

I live at Perne Villa, 107 Perne Road, Cambridge, CB1 3SB. There is parking nearby and at the local Co-Op. I'm open from 11am until 6pm weekends of

July 8-9th

July 15-16th

July 22-23rd

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Sunday 4 June 2017

A creative few months.....

For those of you 'out there' you might wonder why it is I haven't posted on my blog for ages. You might think that I've been hibernating over the winter but nothing could be further than the truth.

I've been very productive recently and completed several quilts, bags and small framed pictures in readiness for my Open Studio event in July

My friends will already know that I'm part of the team which organises Cambridge Open Studios. I look after almost 500 members and deal with most communications. The team began their work for 2017 back in the previous autumn when we comissioned the design for the guide cover. This year sees over 350 artists participating in Open Studios in over 250 venues.

This is my guide entry picture showing both my textiles and jewellery.

Mine is a 'working' studio and is number 70 in the guide book. I'm open from 11am until 6pm each weekend of

July 8-9

July 15-16

July 22-23

or my arrangement out of these times by phoning me on

01223-249385

The artists closest to me in the Coleridge area have put together a lovely flyer which includes Fernando Feijoo, Jim Butler, Naomi Davies, Lindsay Duff, Clare Wood, Sarah Went, Birgitte Bruun and Sarah Blake.

Guides are now available from places like libraries and post offices. Do come and as our logo says

"Meet the artist and see how their work is made"

Sunday 22 January 2017

Pineapple blocks are not so hard after all.

I have always wanted to try out making the well known pineapple block but despite owning the special ruler from Creative Grids, never quite round to it.

With the new term looming I felt I ought to give it a try before atempting it at my adult education class. Obviously you could paper piece it but I did find a couple of methods of making this fascinating block.

First of all, I tried the 'exploding' method, much publicised by Karin Hellaby who used to own Quilters' Haven out at Wickham Market. This is a neat method of making this block, without any special rulers. You simply place two identical squares (one dark and one light) together, sew all around then cut through the uppermost square to create each 'round'. This method is easily found on U Tube so I will not linger over the method. I started with a small centre square but there seemed to be a maximum size before the block was no longer a square. The biggest drawback is that each 'log' has to be the same colour (because they have all emerged from the same square of fabric). This is not impossible to overcome but very fiddly.

I then thought I would try out my special ruler. Starting with a dark centre of two and a half inches, you stitch on a round of 'logs'. These are pre cut to one and seven eights of an inch wide, and long enough to cover the sides.

Then you trim and add another round.......

The Creative Grid Pineapple trim tool is very accurate but it takes a while to get adjusted to all the different markings and pay close attention as to whether you are on a even numbered or an odd numbered round...

Doing quite well....quite like the colours so far

Until I didn't pay enough attention and lopped off the wrong bit....didn't I say you had to pay attention?

So, I just had to resort to reading the instruction leaflet but did whip up this block in no time.

And finally this one with batik fabrics. This could become quite compulsive.

By the way, the ladies in my class found this easy and very enjoyable.

Sunday 1 January 2017

Reflections and future plans

Not much going on at the moment in my 'creative' life; what with Christmas entertaining and being stuck indoors with a bad cold. it's a good time though to reflect on the year that has come to a end.

My only big piece of work was a quilt commission (pieced but still needs quilting) I have had time to do some design work and think hard about what I want to do next.

Teaching has been most enjoyable as well as the couple of talks and workshops I've given. By September though I was feeling in a bit of a creative 'cul de sac' with nothing planned. Teaching my daytime ladies has giving me a new direction and so many new ideas. Some of these I've posted about recently. I can't wait to get started on a piece I hope to call 'Midnight Stars'.

I thought I would end the year by sharing a few quilting memes