The brief was, Paris themed with pale green/turquoise. The fabrics were easy to select. I chose the backing first. This may seem a little unusual, but the more quilts I make, the more I am sure that the backing is a key piece of the jigsaw. Beautiful and bold backings really make the whole project just fantastic and in this case, allowed me to set the Paris theme and the colour way.
Read MoreHello,
I just wanted to say that I had such a wonderful time at Ally Pally and that 'Ruby' did too! We met so many interesting and lovely people, with fantastic talent, from all over the world and it was inspirational in very many ways. Thank you to all my family who were amazing and came to help and support me in my first big show and big hello's to all the wonderful customers who visited our stand.
Read MoreIt seemed all incredibly random to me this afternoon and I put them up on my design wall and pondered over it for sometime. It was always an experiment for sure..... and cutting up vintage linens that are mostly rather tatty seems such a worthwhile project, but in order to upcycle - it has to be cohesive and the end result has to be useful.
Read MoreJust wanted to say a big hello to all the lovely stitchers we met at the Manchester 'Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycraft' Event last week. It was my first show, so I was full of trepidation when we arrived at the venue....
Read MoreI can't tell you how thrilled I am with this. It is exactly how I imagined it would be - pretty, useful and completely unique. It has all the feel of a vintage piece...a handcrafted perfectly matched accessory.
Read MoreA whole new batch of pdf embroidery patterns are now up in my Etsy shop. Take a little wander back in time with my Bloomsbury Squares designs as they chart the dramatic changes in fashion during the 20th century.
Read MoreHope you are all enjoying the summer hols. The weather seems so mixed here at the moment that I thought it was time to mix things up over in the sewing room, just in case you have to escape from a shower and need a little fabric therapy till the clouds clear. I have some new curated bundles in my Etsy shop and they are just delicious. The colours are vibrant and fun and teamed with my favourite Moda Crossweaves and a pop of yellow from Kona, it is a pretty cool combo.
Read MoreI scattered and layered my stars in little constellations on the fabric, a bit strategically placed for effect, but quite relaxed. I mixed and matched grey and white and used several different sizes of templates. As I started to hand appliqué them on, I had so much fun, making each one different. Using a variety of stitches, beads and sequins, I soon had a stellar array before me.
Read MoreWe were lucky enough to live in Stockholm for 3 years from 2011. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and Sweden generally is a country of absolutely sweeping landscapes, peppered with sparkling waters and rocky islands. My husband bought me this cushion kit 3 years ago as a birthday present, just before we left to return to England. As is often the case with hand sewing projects like this, I have picked it up and put it down a hundred times and it has been lurking in our sitting room in a basket for quite some time. I am not really sure why it has taken me so long, but I guess that is a familiar story to most of you who sew.
Read MoreI am rather charmed by this one. I love the soft colours, which is unusual for me as I am one for bright colour pops. Perhaps it is just that I am taken back to another time, when needlework was crafted with precision and used and loved and worn. I love that.
Read MoreI fully plan to make some more of the projects in this book. I am a little bit taken by the author's quest for simplicity, not just in making things but in life. I was impressed that towards the end of the book, she talks about how she doesn't really buy clothes anymore for either herself or her daughter, she makes them.
Read MoreI have never been to Nantucket. It is a long way from Yorkshire. Would I like to go? You bet - it looks like a heavenly place and who doesn't love the seaside and quaint streets and little boats and beautiful houses. I have been lucky enough to visit Newport, Rhode Island, so I guess I have had a taste of what it might be like, but since working on this project, it is definitely on my bucket list. For now though, this quilt will have to suffice and it is not hard to be happy when you see it. Camille Roskelley of ' Thimbleblossoms' designed this quilt pattern after a visit to the island and it is every bit as lovely, as I imagine Nantucket to be.
Read MoreMaking Embroidery Modern
