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Thursday 30 June 2016

Flying Geese & Adorable Ellies


This week I’ve been working on a quilt for a friend to give to her niece who's expecting a little girl, and what could be more perfect than these cute little ellies!

Janet Goddard’s pattern “There Always Has To Be One” is featured in the current edition of Popular Patchwork magazine and has been a real joy to make.



The no-waste technique for the flying geese was a revelation to me, and I will definitely be making more geese in the near future. 


I also want to do more machine applique. Though Janet’s pattern uses a zig-zag stitch, I chose to use my favourite, a small tidy blanket-stitch around each of the elephants – and I just love the little accents in the ear, tusks and feet – so adorable!



I’m just waiting on some backing fabric now so I can get on with the quilting, and I just so happen to have some geese left over…. I can feel a pieced backing coming on!


Another close finish is my latest version of my All Squared Up Quilt Kit, this time in P&B’s American Patch fabrics – I just need to finish the binding, take some pics and this will then be available to buy as a pre-cut quilt kit, approx. size 56” x 56”. 


You can see my current All Squared Up Kit in Sevenberry’s Japanese prints here, or for my free online tutorial for this lovely simple quilt, click here.


Upcoming Craft Fair…




July 16th, 2016, Pickering Memorial Hall, YO18 1AA 10am-4pm

In other news... 

https://doughtysonline.co.uk/?target=main
I've got another busy weekend with Doughty's coming up, and just thought I'd let anyone living here in the North East know, Doughty's are holding not one, but TWO of their fabulous roadshows this weekend. On Saturday we'll be at Stannington Village Hall in Morpeth (NE61 6EL), and on Sunday, we'll be at my local quilt group, The Village Quilters, at Linthorpe Community Centre, Middlesbrough (TS5 6JG) - both 10.30-2.30pm.

This week I'm linking up with Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts - why not go and say hello!


Thursday 23 June 2016

In Print with Folksy, and Exciting News!

After a rathering shattering weekend with Doughty’s at the National Quilt Championships at Sandown Park – (as usual too busy to take photos, and yes I am kicking myself!!)… 


…I came home to find my mum had sent me a copy of the latest Homemaker magazine that features an article on Sewmotion! Yay!! This being a special Sewing edition, Camilla at Folksy contacted me for help with her regular column about selling online. You can see my top 5 tips below ;)

 
While I’m here, I’d like to say a bit about Folksy. Similar to Etsy, but British and much smaller, Folksy is an online marketplace providing an invaluable outlet for British crafters and makers in the UK. You will find over 17,000 handmade products made by over 5,000 designers and crafters - from beautiful lino prints, pretty silver bracelets, and quirky illustrations to knitted made-to-measure dog coats and funky overnight bags. Not only are these items handmade to the highest quality, but you know it has been made by a crafter/designer in Britain, and will often be a one-off item, making it all the more special.

https://folksy.com/shops/sewmotion

If you’re feeling inspired to make something yourself, there is also a large collection of craft supplies and kits, including of course, my Quilt and Cushion Kits!

EXCITING NEWS… Sewmotion will be attending its first quilt show!!! I still can’t decide if I’m excited or nervous as hell!! We’ll be at the Great Northern Quilt Show in Harrogate on Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th September, 2016. All I can think about at the moment is stock and more quilt designs for kits, starting with a new All Squared Up Quilt Kit… It’s going to be a very busy couple of months!!


Back to the present – don’t forget we’ll be at Rainbow Plant Centre’s Vintage/Craft Fair this Sunday, 10am – 3pm – if you’re local to Nunthorpe near Stokesley, why not pop along and explore what our local community has to offer – the cream teas at the newly revamped Tearoom sound pretty good too!


Looking for more quilty fun and inspiration? Why not pop along to these Linky Parties and say hello!
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts - who is having a fantastic Giveaway Week by the way.
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
 

Tuesday 14 June 2016

A very wet weekend, upcoming craft events & Doughty's Roadshows


What a weekend!! I can honestly say, I’ve never seen rain like it!! Having arrived nice and early for set-up at the Great British Food Festival at Ragley Hall, Alcester, the skies did look ominously grey and within an hour the rain started…  and then didn’t stop. Sunday wasn’t much better, which sadly meant not as many people came along as we had hoped. What could have been a great weekend of fantastic food, great music and fine shopping was more or less a complete wipe out, all thanks to this poxy weather!



Lessons to be learnt… maybe a marquee in a field in the middle of a grand estate isn’t for me… but I had to give it a go, so I think for the next few months I’m going to go a little smaller and more local - starting with the monthly Vintage & Craft Fair at Rainbow Plant Centre (Stokesley Road, Nunthorpe) on Sunday 26th June, 10am - 3pm – if you’re local it would be great to see you there.


The next few weeks do look pretty busy in fact, which is great! This week I’m helping my old employers Doughty’s at the National Quilt Championships at Sandown Racecourse (Fri 17th – Sun 19th June)


Then good old Doughty’s are coming ‘up north’ for a couple of their fabulous Roadshows – on Saturday 2nd July, we’ll be at Stannington Village Hall in Morpeth, and on the Sunday 3rd, we’ll be at my local quilt group, Village Quilters, at Linthorpe Community Centre in Middlesbrough (both 10.30 – 2.30pm)

So if you’re a quilter or general fabric lover, why not come and see their fantastic range of quilting cottons including batik, novelty and blenders, plus all sorts of quilt waddings and extra wide backings.
My next craft fair will be the Dippy Craft & Gift Fair at Pickering Town Hall on 16th July (10am-4pm).
https://www.facebook.com/events/1161983833840577/


So I may not be as regular with my blogs in the next couple of months, but I just wanted to leave you with some more May is for Makers inspiration. I know I’m a little late, but I did manage to keep to the plan and purchase five patterns from independent designers – you can read my original blog here to find out more about this great idea.

For my fourth buy I just couldn’t resist Hazel the Hedgehog by the extremely talented Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson. I have loved this lady’s work for ages and just needed the push to just buy a pattern! I’m really looking forward to making Hazel, complete with those fantastic specs!!
http://ohfransson.bigcartel.com/product/hazel-hedgehog-ii-pdf-quilt-pattern


My final purchase was this great idea from Charm About You aka Lucy Brennan. This Stitchy Pie needle case is so cute, and a great opportunity to do some hand embroidery, something I don’t do enough of!! 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/275076312/stitchy-pie-pdf-pattern-instant-download?ref=shop_home_active_1


Did you get involved in May is for Makers? I would love to know what tempted you and, unlike me, if you’ve actually had the time to make something!

I do hope the weather is better wherever you are and that we get some sort of summer here soon… fingers crossed!

This week I'm linking up with
Main Crush Monday over on Cooking up Quilts 
Monday Making on Love Laugh Quilt

Thursday 2 June 2016

Going Dutch Again, & Two New Quilt Kits


When Justin plans our holidays, he likes to take inspiration from a favourite film, “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” – though this time it was a ship instead of a plane… so our week in the Netherlands started with a pleasantly smooth overnight ferry from Hull to Rotterdam. The fun really started the next morning when we realised that by updating the SatNav the night before, we’d somehow deleted the European maps… oops!


So, a little longer and a little more stressed than planned, we finally arrived at Duinrell Campsite to our cabin for the next few days. Apparently our accommodation had only been finished a few days ago, so we were the first to use it! This one had three bedrooms, a fitted kitchen and bathroom (with constant hot water) and a beautiful covered deck. Alas, the day we arrived was the only time we saw the sun - we managed a couple of wet bike rides to the sea, and a trip into Den Haag, but the highlight of the trip was the beautiful town of Wassenaar… and the food!



With its elegant architecture, cute cobbled lanes, and pretty brick houses, this town couldn’t be more Dutch! And the cherry on top has to be the impressive number of restaurants - all within walking distance - including a Greek (amazing pork), Italian (best king prawns ever), an American Diner (the flank steak was perfect), a traditional Dutch (so happy to catch the asparagus season) and to finish our night off in style, a gorgeous ice-cream parlour! So yeah, the weather might have let us down, but man did we eat well!!



Still, I shouldn’t complain about the weather too much, I did have some time to make a start on my Perpetual Spring EPP project, one of my May is for Makers purchases.

I’m really enjoying the piecing, and curved seams aren’t as daunting as I first thought! Flossie Teacakes’ instructions are easy to follow, and once you get into the flow, you’ve made two flowers before you know it! By the way, if you are an EPP fan like me, you have got to check out Florence's latest design, The Peony - absolutely beautiful!



Meanwhile, at Sewmotion HQ




As promised, I have finally been able to take some pics of our two new kits and get them uploaded into the shop. The first is another Quick & Easy Beginner’s Quilt Kit, this one features Riley Blakes’ Keep On Groovin’ collection, plus a couple of matching Kona Solids.
http://www.sewmotion.com/sewmotion_shop/prod_4962874-Quick-EasyBeginners-Quilt-in-Riley-Blakes-Keep-On-Groovin.html

These kits are great for someone new to quilting  - the co-ordinating squares are all pre-cut, so rather than worrying about choosing fabrics and the cutting, you can get right on with the sewing! If you need a little extra help you can follow my comprehensive free tutorial online as you go. 



Our second quilt kit is this cute Baby Quilt featuring Riley Blake’s Teddy Bear’s Picnic range, with an added white-on-white print and some blue Kona for the binding.
http://www.sewmotion.com/sewmotion_shop/prod_4962877-Teddy-Bears-Picnic-Cot-Quilt-Kit.html

This kit is slightly more advanced in that you have to cut the white fabric yourself, and you also use a couple of quilting techniques – fussy cutting and creating a four-patch from charm squares. This quilt is also sewn on-point, which may be another new technique to some.

Both of these kits are obviously also great for more experienced quilters looking for a new project, the Quick & Easy kit would make a great weekend make, and the cot quilt would make a beautiful gift for a new arrival, be it a boy or a girl.

As an introductory offer, we are offering our Newsletter subscribers the chance to purchase the Teddy Bears’ Picnic Cot Quilt kit for £30 (normal price £35.00) To sign-up to our monthly Newsletter and take advantage of this limited offer, please click below.


http://sewmotion.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=283af0689412a27dde38a81a9&id=94559d9e45


Upcoming events


http://www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com/ragley-hall.asp


We will be at the Great British Food Festival on 11th and 12th June (10am-5pm). You will find us in the Arts & Crafts marquee where we’ll be selling our handmade gifts including purses, glasses cases, make-up pouches and novelty cushions, as well as our collection of pre-cut quilt and cushions kits. If you’re in the area why not pop along for a day of fine food, live music and a special shopping treat.

If you're looking for more quilt-inspired fun, visit these great Linky Parties;
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Sew Cute Tuesday at Blossom Heart Quilts