Christmas is coming!

Despite the weather being exceptionally hot, I've made a start ready for Christmas.  I picked up this panel from the Bramble Patch last February. It was reduced in a sale so I couldn't resist. I pieced a red band around the central panel then added the 'Happy Holidays' border. not very creative but a means to an end.  Although it doesn't show up in the photo, I machined embroidered the baubles on the Christmas tree before quilting the large star. I did some simple quilting 'in the ditch' to complete the design and added a plain red binding. 

I was asked some time ago if I would give a talk and run a workshop for Priory Quilters in Royston. Of course I would!  The title of my talk is 'Passionate About Textiles' and will take place on Tuesday 4th October in Royston Town Hall.  I am the running a workshop for the group called 'Festive Table Runner'. This will be on Saturday 8th October at  Vicarage Close Melbourn SG8 6DY. 

The plan is to teach how to sew this Christmas table runner. Made of a series of triangles, what makes this special is the use of some rather unique fabric. 

This series of festive prints was designed by a friend called Jo Clark. Jo posted her designs onto Spoonflower, discovered by Cloud9 and put into production.  

This refreshingly simple festive fabric was an inspiration to me so I designed this table runner that will form the basis of my workshop.  I used straight line quilting to add interest. 

Close up of the runner

 I made all the samples last spring but got to work this week making a sample in more 'traditional' Christmas fabric.  I added a simple vermicelli quilting to the trees and a smaller scale version to the white background between the tree trunks. 

Runner with traditional Christmas fabric

Here's an earlier version with straight line quilting. 

Last, but not least, I have several packs of bunting kits prepared for sale. The kits comes with a selection of Jo's prints ready cut out to stitch together, some red bias binding and a set of comprehensive instructions. The kit makes a string of eleven large flags, 2.5m long using eight different fabric prints. 

Each kit is ten pounds. Email me marion.curtis@ntlworld.com if interested and I'll work out the postage or delivery arrangements. 

Workshop by Janet McCallum 'Loosen Up Quilt' Saturday 19th March 2016

Amazing photos from Saturday's workshop. Following on from Friday's meeting, Janet McCallum taught a workshop on her 'Loosen Up' quilt. Sue Morris has been kind enough to send me lovely photos of the work. Thank you ladies for giving your permission to publish these. You clearly had a great day! 

Well done Jenny Ayres, Margaret Rumble, Sue Morris, Rosemary Auker, Virginia Lavender and Maggie Squire! Hope to see them finished soon.

January 2016 reflections

If there are any followers/readers out there, well I must apologise for the serious lack of posts. It's been a busy post Christmas month. What with the dreaded Tax form, completed on time, phew! I have been fully occupied in the 'day' job of helping run Cambridge Open Studios.  465 members on the 'books' for 2016 and around 288 studios set to be in the summer guide.  The deadline to pay the fee to be in the guide was midnight on the 31st January so I hope I can relax a bit from this work. Only the AGM to get through on the 6th.! 

So, it has been a month of catching up and reflecting on the year that has just gone. I always spend some time writing letters to any friends who added a letter in their Christmas card to me.  On looking back to 2015 I saw just how busy I was. Five exhibitions including jewellery, various voluntary jobs, family, life and hobbies.  I did a tally, and I somehow managed to read 46 novels during the year-not a bad feat I think. I discovered the historical novels of C.J. Sansom set in Tudor times-loved everyone even though some ran to 800 pages. 

The photo I've included was one I found on Twitter posted by Jo Riches of Spirus Marketing. Jo kindly visited my studio last July and I accidently found the photo on Twitter. I really mean "accidently" found as I have come to think that Twitter is pointless as it is like finding a tiny needle in a trillion haystacks. 

After some thought I have decided to give a few things up and declutter my life.  Handed in my notice to the gym (no time to go and have taken up walking instead), decided not to go to the Thursday lacemaking group and stopped delivering newspapers for a (nameless) political party - not sure how I got into that!  There are a couple of other things I may give up later on, I'll see. 

You might ask, what about the creative work then Marion?  I attended Cambridge Quilters the other week and did a piece for the Chairman's Challenge for 2016. More of this later on. Did I mention I'm working with another member to re do their website?  I've also been working hard in preparing some samples ready for a Christmas table runner workshop in the autumn.  I do like to be organised ! I've also been perfecting how to restring pearls and made a few necklaces in preparation for July Open Studios. 

 Christmas table runner using fabric designed by my friend Jo Clark.