Making a start on this year's Handmade Christmas

Well we certainly seem to be living through some strange times, and they don't look to be getting easier any time soon. I am very lucky that I am able to keep myself busy with my online business, and also feel privileged that I am helping my customers keep themselves occupied and grounded through our wonderful craft. If there was ever a time for some immersive hand sewing or EPP then this is definitely it!

In the last month I have been concentrating on getting my Christmas Kits published and available for purchase on the website. My Picture This table runner has been a favourite over the years, and looks particularly good in this year's festive prints from Makower, in both the Yuletide and in the Scandi collections. Each of these kits comes with all the fabric you need for the front, including binding, the full amount of templates you need for the easy half-square triangles foundation piecing, and full comprehensive instructions. You can find out more here.

My second festive project is my Christmas Wreath Table Mats kit, these kits again come in the two collections, Yuletide and Scandi, and include fabrics, pre-cut paper pieces for the EPP wreath, and full instructions. You can find out more here.

My last Christmas project is a lovely hand sewing EPP project, my Christmas Star Bunting. These kits have flown out this week to customers looking for a relaxing project to lose themselves in while the mad world carries on around them, what a wonderful thought eh? You can see my Star Bunting Kits here.

I do hope this has inspired you if you have started your festive makes yet, it's never too early right? :) Wishing you all a peaceful and creative week. 

Linking up with Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Back on John Scott's Sewing World

It's been such a busy month, yet most of my sewing has been secret so I haven't been able to share much. A couple of projects are my new Diamond Star and Hexy EPP Cushion Kits which I demoed on John Scott's return show after lockdown. We were all happy to be back in the studio, but it felt very weird not being able to hug anyone - it is lovely to realise how much hugging is done in the sewing world though. 

Anyway, we managed ok, if you missed the show you can watch the show on YouTube here - I'm on in the second hour where I show how to hand piece the diamonds and hexagon shapes together using two EPP techniques. The Cushion Kits are also still available to purchase on the Crafter's Companion website here and include all the Alison Glass Sun Prints fabrics you need for the front, plus the grey background fat quarter, pre-cut paper pieces and full instructions.

I have also been keeping my Newsletter subscribers busy with my free lockdown mystery quilt, Hope in the Stars. You can see some of the latest blocks below, aren't they beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing (clockwise from top left) Bev, Carol, Helen T, Ruth, Helen L, Andrea, Elaine, Jayne and Gracie.

If you would like to learn more about this hand sewing block-of-the-fortnight quilt, free to my Newsletter subscribers, sign up now by clicking here for the latest block, the Le Moyne Star, plus links to all past blocks.

As we are now in July, although it feels more like October here, I think we're now allowed to mention the C word, us makers have permission to start Christmas projects early don't you think!? I have a long list of projects and kits to get on with, including a new Christmas Wreath Table Mat kit, to be featured and demoed on my next appearance on John Scott's Sewing World on 14th July. Kit production is in full swing, which included cutting 600 2.5" fabric strips, ahhh!! 

So, I best get back to it, I really hope you are all keeping well, managing to stay safe and sane during the madness, hopefully through sewing, and hope that we can soon look forward to better days. Best wishes to you all xx

Linking up with Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday

Mammoth Kit Production and a Handmade Christmas

This week I have been buried in cutting, folding and packing fabric into kits for upcoming shows. It seems since moving into my new unit, I just haven't stopped, not that I'm complaining of course, it's all great, but rather stressful!

My next show is next week's Autumn Quilt Festival in Duxford, one of the more interesting venues of the year as it's held in one of the hangars at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford Airfield. So once visitors have had their fix of fabric retail therapy and inspiring quilts, they can have a wander around the huge aircraft on show, read about aviation history and may even see a Spitfire taking off, it really is a great day out! The Duxford Quilt Show runs from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th October - you can out more details here.

I have also released a new Christmas Wreath Table Mats kit, this time in Merry Christmas prints from Makower. This design features curved English paper-piecing to make up the wreath, which is then appliquéd onto the background, add the borders and side panel, and then machine quilt to finish. Each kit includes fabric, pre-cut papers and full instructions to make two mats.
There is also a new Scandi version which you can see below. 

If you are making a start on your Handmade Christmas, I also have my Picture This Table Runner kits to match the mats - you can see the whole collection here.

One last word on Christmas, one of my lovely Newsletter subscribers sent me a pic of her version of my Strippy Circles Table Runner, isn't it lovely, and I'm sure will take pride of place on her festive table, thanks so much for sharing Maureen :)

Don't forget, you can receive your own free patterns every month, including this one, by subscribing to my Newsletter - click here to find out more.

Wishing you all a happy and creative week, linking up with Midweek Makers and Brag About Your Beauties

New and Updated Digital Patterns

I seem to have spent the last 48 hours glued to the screen, well I have slept a little... I have been neglecting my website for so long that I decided this was the week to get stuff done. Having been told that my provider has updated all their systems and that I'm on the old one, it appears that I will now have to update every page.... ahhh!! Don't you just love ever evolving technology! 

Anyway, I thought this was a great opportunity to update my collection of digital patterns, many of which have been Pre-Cut Party patterns offered to my Newsletter Subscribers for free for a month before going on general sale - you can subscribe now and join the party!

As you can see on the Digital Patterns page, each pattern has a button which takes you through to the relevant Payhip page, from here you can read more about what each pattern includes, fabric requirements and skill level. Once you have purchased a pattern, you will receive them via email together with any templates.

Among this collection of 23 patterns is last month's Pre-Cut Party pattern for my Christmas Wreath Tablemats, which don't have to be festive at all! I was so happy to see this version on Instagram made by Katy. Instead of the mats, she used the pieced design to make this beautiful bag, isn't it stunning! It still amazes me how patterns can look so completely different depending on the fabrics used. Thank you so much for sharing Katy.

Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday