We've had a little taster of autumn up here in the Northeast this last week, but the sun's shining again, so all's good. This time of year always reminds me of new beginnings and learning new things. What about you? Do you feel the urge to learn something new? A new technique maybe?? For my latest free Pre-cut Party pattern to my Newsletter subscribers, I have returned to my favourite curved English paper-piecing technique to make up these beautiful festive table mats. I've had the idea of an EPP wreath running around my head for a while now, and when I showed this variation on IG, a friend suggested they would be great as table mats, so here we are!
The wreath is hand pieced and then appliquéd onto the background, a feature panel for your cutlery and borders are then added to complete these beautiful mats, which would go nicely with my Table Runner kit featured last month. If you would like your own free copy of this pattern, subscribe to the Newsletter here.
I also have these mats available as a kit - with enough fabric to make a pair of mats, each kit also comes with the pre-cut papers for the EPP, binding, backing and full instructions, you just need wadding. You can find out more about this kit here.
I have also just taken delivery of these glorious fabrics from Alison Glass's latest collection, Road Trip - aren't they beautiful!! I have a 12pc fat quarter bundle (£36) and a 48pc charm pack (£12), both of which would make amazing quilts!
Wishing everyone a happy sewing week - linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday
Benita Skinner of Victoriana Quilt Designs is running the 2018 Online Quilters Meet & Greet during the month of September, and asked if I would like to join in. Of course I said yes, I love any opportunity to meet fellow quilt addicts from around the world!
Throughout September you can visit Benita's page where you will find links to lots of wonderful quilt bloggers, some you may already know, others will be completely new - what a great chance to make new friends and be inspired!! Benita is also running an amazing competition open to all who take part - you can learn more and enter by clicking below.
So let me introduce myself, I am Louisa Goult, I live in Middlesbrough in the Northeast of England, though I am originally from London, and I run my own quilt business, Sewmotion. I have always been fascinated by colour and geometry, particularly symmetry in design, and what better way to express this than through designing quilts! I started quilting in my teens, then had a break in my 20s where work/career took over. Then when I and my husband were both made redundant, we decided to embark on a round-the-world trip which included the US, New Zealand and Australia. It was on a rainy day in Australia, hunkered down in our campervan where my love of quilting was reignited thanks to some wonderful Aussie quilting mags.
When we eventually got back from our travels, I had a couple of jobs in craft retail to learn the ropes as it were, then in 2014 I decided to take the plunge and set up on my own (eek!) Having worked in a quilt shop for four years, I knew how the craft was growing in popularity, I had so many people come in looking for classes where they could learn this great skill, and this is where the idea for my first quilt kit, the Beginner's Quilt kit came from. I also provide free tutorials on the website, including how to make your first quilt which can work in conjunction with the kit if people prefer to follow photographic instruction.
From that first kit, I now offer around 50 kits which include quilts, cushions, runners, purses and hoop art projects, as well as a growing collection of patterns. I have also developed a curved English paper-piecing technique, which seems to be taking over my life at the moment. This method is used in my block of the month quilt, Curve Motion Medallion, which is also a quilt-as-you-go project. You can learn more about this 16-months of hand sewing joy here. I have also made my first YouTube film, a four part tutorial on how to make my EPP Flower Cushion, hopefully there will be more of these in the future!
Having just exhibited at the Festival of Quilts in the UK, I also entered a quilt for the first time, another curved EPP creation, using scraps from my stash. I then big-stitched quilted around the rings in the grey background space.
I also send out a Sewmotion Newsletter, which includes a free pattern every month based on my love of quilting pre-cuts, though it does seem to be whatever inspires me at the time! You can learn more about that here.
Well, I think that more or less covers me and Sewmotion. Working on my own from home everyday, I love meeting fellow quilters online and sharing experiences and ideas, thank you so much Benita for running this great event, hopefully this will be the first of many! Don't forget to enter the competition - the more blogs you visit the greater the chance of winning those amazing goodies!
In the run up to the Festival fo Quilts earlier this month, I decided it was about time I had some more of my patterns printed up and available for sale in paper form. I'm glad I did, they went down very well at the show, especially the EPP patterns which include all the pre-cut papers you need for the project. You can see some of the collection below, and click here to visit the shop.
A lovely friend from my quilt group posted a pic of her latest creation on Instagram this week, and I was over the moon to see that she had used this month's free Pre-Cut Party pattern - the Rail Fence Quilt - isn't it beautiful! If you would like your own copy, plus a free pattern every month, sign up here to the Newsletter.
Meanwhile, when not preparing for the Great Northern Quilt Show next week in Harrogate, I've been playing round with my Christmas Wreath idea, I posted the photo on the left on IG and Facebook (forgive the lap shot, I was sewing in the car :)) intending it to be a new hoop art kit in the style of a wreath, only for suggestions to come flying in for other uses, such as table mats to go with the table runner, a table centre or even a tree skirt! I do love a good group brainstorm and love all these ideas!
I am veering towards the placemat idea, so I went back to the wreath and tilted the shapes to resemble the branches of holly and fir... my next challenge is to see if I can sew the inner ring on top of the outer one, another idea that has been rolling around my head for a while - anyway, watch this space, whether I get these kits ready for next week's show is another matter :)
As I mentioned above, I will be at the Harrogate Quilt Show next week, you can find out more about this fantastic 3-day event here. So I will be back in a fortnight, until then, happy sewing everyone.
Linking up with Let's Bee Social, Midweek Makers and Needle & Thread Thursday.
