Many of my followers in the UK will know of this hugely successful Facebook group dedicated to the British quilting enthusiast, but did you know they're on the brink of launching a brand new website?
Aimed at providing an online resource for quilters in the UK, both new and the more experienced, the site will provide access to patchwork and quilting services across the country.
As well as a an extensive directory of UK shops and businesses, both bricks-and-mortar and online, there will be regular blogs from a wide range of members, book and product reviews, plus great projects to inspire and keep us entertained, including a Mystery Quilt and a Block-of-the-Month starting in January. The website goes live on 9th January 2018, is totally free to access and can be found at ukqu.co.uk- you can pop over now and register to enter a wonderful competition to win this complete quilting package, including a Janome Horizon sewing machine - just like mine!
Meanwhile back at Sewmotion HQ...
You can now buy Gift Certificates for the Sewmotion Shop - perfect for those who would love any excuse to go fabric shopping! Even better, why not spread the word to those loved ones around you who try as they might, just don't understand your quilting addiction at Christmas!Click hereto find out more.
A few weeks
ago I remember promising a round-up of my favourite handmade gift ideas to be
found in online marketplaces, and I seem to have got as far as Etsy… and then
we moved house. I completed underestimated how much time this was going to take
out of my month, and now I fear I’ve missed the Christmas shopping bubble. Hopefully
there is still time for last minute purchases, and where better to look in the
UK than Folksy.
For those of you who are new Folksy, this online
marketplace is very similar to Etsy, but only sells hand crafted or designed
work from UK designer-makers. This is a great opportunity to support British
makers, and also handy for last-minute gifts! Folksy provides handy Gift Guideswhich have been curated by some of the talented
makers over the past year. These include ‘British Printmakers’, ‘Gifts for
Makers’ ‘Eco Friendly Gifts’ and ‘Gifts for Music Lovers’ – there really is
something for everyone! Here are just a few of my favourites...
If you're still stuck for last minute gift ideas, why not check out my own sale in both the Sewmotion shop, and my Folksy shop - with up to 30% off selected gifts and cushions.
Folksy is also running a great campaign to
celebrate everything handmade – use the hashtag #celebrate_handmade on social
media to find some beautiful items. They also have a wonderful article on their blog by Tash Goswami who explains why buying and giving handmade is so much
better - why it's more sustainable than mass production, how handmade is
forever, not just for now, and how, by buying handmade, we are supporting local
businesses and keeping craft skills alive.
I think the last point Tash makes about keeping
craft skills alive, which also demands education in these skills, is something
I feel very strongly about. I could go one for days about how wonderful,
relaxing, therapeutic, and just so good for you, crafting is, whether you are
sitting at your sewing machine all day sewing endless half-square triangles, or
in front of a roaring fire with an EPP project on the go, the repetitive action of crafts
like patchwork and quilting is what slow craft is all about. Being able to unplug,
for even just an hour, and concentrate on one thing, is as beneficial for many
as a good night’s sleep. This is why through Sewmotion, I aim to introduce as
many people as I can to my wonderful craft, be it through my free online
tutorials such as the Beginner’s Quilt series, or through one of my Quick and Easy Quilt Kits. These would also make great Christmas gifts!
I hope this blog has helped you out with any
last-minute gifts, before I go I just wanted to share this fantastic video. As
you may know by now, I’m a great fan of star quilter Angela Walters, and I was
so happy to discover she’s just started a new quilting channel on YouTube for
Craftsy called the Midnight Quilter. In the first episode Angela makes this
gorgeous Variable Star Quilt and shares some great tips along the way, at the
same time raising a glass of red wine – she is my kinda girl!
This week I'm linking up withLet's Bee Social on Sew Fresh Quilts and Midweek Makers on Quilt Fabrication. If anyone knows of any UK linky parties out there, please let me know - otherwise, I'm thinking of starting my own in 2017...
