Gosh, what another busy week! I had a good time at last weekend's quilt show at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford, always a fascinating venue, if a little cold to the bones... someone said the aircraft in the other half of the hangar has to be kept at a certain temperate.. they're not kidding!
Anyway, it was lovely to meet existing as well as new subscribers to my Newsletter, all of which have just received this month's free Pre-cut Party pattern... my Friendship Star Wall Hanging.
I recently rediscovered this lovely block which is made using a pretty clever piecing technique that uses very little fabric and is really quick. To get your own free PDF pattern, you can subscribe to the Newsletter here, not only will you get a free monthly pattern, but I also send out exclusive subscriber-only offers on my kits and pre-cuts, what's not to love! I made my version into a Christmas hanging using Makower's bright and funky Joyeux fabrics, which is available as a kit - click here to find out more.
I've also had a happy dance this week when I saw my Modern Stars baby quilt had made it to the front cover of the latest issue of Love Patchwork & Quilting - another great curved EPP project to get stuck into this winter.
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday
Life's getting a little frantic here at the minute, the mammoth cut has began in preparation for August's Festival of Quilts. Though I'm telling myself I've still got two months, I know that's going to fly by and I really need to get my finger out! As well as getting fat quarter bundles, jelly rolls and maybe some charm packs cut, I need to figure out how many kits I can get out of my fabric stock, what extras I need and how many I actually need to take to a four-day show, and that's all before I can then let the printers know how many patterns I need! Friends tell me I'll be fine and to make a list... I have lists of lists!! haha!
And of course, it doesn't help when my brain is coming up with new ideas for kits all the time! And then I've also got 'normal' work including commissions for magazines, and of course my free monthly pattern to my Newsletter Subscribers.
For June I've returned to the jelly roll strip to create this Disappearing Courthouse Steps quilt - I love building blocks only to cut them up and rearrange them don't you! I have made this quilt using the Heart & Soul fabrics from Riley Blake, and once it's quilted and bound, I plan to release it as a kit. Though I also think this design would look great in Ombre fabrics! If you would like this free pattern subscribe to the Newsletter here.
This week one of the many projects on the go has been a new Hoop Art kit using the cute Kitty fabrics, I particularly love the flower print in this collection - so many fussy cutting possibilities!
And talking of magazine work, I've also got to make a couple of cushions in this gorgeous Dashwood Studio fabrics, so cute!!!
So I best get on! Wishing you all a happy creative week.
We have a winner!! I'm so happy to announce that the winner of this gorgeous fabric bundle and two tickets to this year's Festival of Quilts is... Eileen Gilmour! Huge congratulations Eileen, I will be contacting you via email.
Meanwhile, I've been working on another couple of Curved EPP Hoop Art Kits - can you tell I'm getting addicted! The first one features fussy-cut foliage in prints from Laundry Basket Quilts' Blue Sky collection, while the second is much more vibrant in hot Sundance fabrics from Makower. These kits are slightly larger at 10" but you need less fabric than the 8" designs so the price is the same at £20. Click here to find out more including what's included in each kit. If you're looking for a portable holiday project or you'd just like to try out this curved EPP technique, these kits are a great place to start.
I've also been working on a couple of new projects, a secret baby quilt for an upcoming issue of Love Patchwork & Quilting, and a new version of my EPP Flower Cushion, this time in a lovely bright floral Liberty print.
We're off to sunny (and very hot) Kefalonia next week, so there won't be a blog for the next couple of Thursdays, see you on my return just in time for Quilts UK in Malvern!
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.
I finally had a bright enough day to get photos of these two new Quick & Easy/Beginner's Quilts and now have the kits available in the shop. Each kit includes pre-cut squares, borders, binding and thread, plus full instructions and links to my free online tutorials, making them ideal for newbies who are maybe a little nervous about fabric selection or cutting. With these kits, they can just get stuck in and start sewing.
The first kit features Dashwood Studio's Confetti and Twist fabrics, while the second is made in these lush red and white fabrics from Red Rooster's Coonawarra Red collection.
New products also include these gorgeous fat quarter bundles and a charm pack in Michael Miller's Let's Play collection, aren't they cute!! I used these fabrics in my Novelty Nine Patch quilt kit, and they do make a lovely gift for a new arrival.
Meanwhile, in my sewing time I'm currently working on two 'secret' projects for magazine submissions, the first is developing my love of curved paper-piecing, with a little fussy cutting of these gorgeous Norrland fabrics from Dashwood.
And the second is a larger version of my Wonky Squares block using Riley Blake's Gingham Girls fabrics, I'm really loving how these fabrics look together!
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday
