Blimey, it was cold the other night! As it's now June, the heating's off and we've gone to the summer duvet... I know, we live in the north east, so brave! So with the wind and rain battering the windows, and even leaking from somewhere through the roof, we were cold! Thankfully though, I have a room full of handmade quilts! Hahaha!! We were soon cosy again. But what is going on with this weather?! What's more we've just heard that our insurance won't cover the roof as the wind was only going at 42mph, not the 47mph they demand... you couldn't make it up!
Anyway, it seems like ages ago now when we were sweltering under the marquee at this year's Quilts UK in the beautiful town of Malvern. Sewmotion had a great weekend, and it was so nice to see so many familiar faces from our time living in nearby Hereford, especially lovely Doughty's customers who were so encouraging about my venture into the 'quilting world'.
With it being a four-day event, I even had time to have a wander and look at the beautiful quilts on display, here are a few that caught my eye.
"Churned to a T" was designed, pieced and longarm quilted by Abigail Sheridan de Graaff - isn't the quilting on this quilt beautiful, and such a great use of negative space.
Frances Meredith's "Nearly Insane" quilt is based on the original sampler quilt by Salinda Rupp of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1870, as published in the book of the same name by Liz Lois in 2003. I know of the Dear Jane and Farmer's Wife quilts, but this is a new one on me, and it's stunning! Hand-pieced using English paper piecing (my favourite) using red and white fabric scraps, it is hand-guided quilted on a longarm. This quilt quite rightly won show awards for Sampler Quilt, Piecing and a Judge's Merit.
Finally, "All Things Bright and Beautiful" is Evelyn Walton's version of Kim McLean's stunning design. Made using Kaffe Fassett prints, Evelyn has machine pieced and hand appliquéd the top, and it was longarm quilted by The Bramble Patch. This quilt also marked Evelyn's journey to full recovery from severe M.E. Again, this quilt quite rightly won show awards for My First Bed Quilt, Use of Colour and a Judge's Merit.
Meanwhile, back at Sewmotion HQ...
My Red Brick Tile quilt is now available as a pattern, both in paper form, and as a PDF for instant download. If you like these fabrics, why not subscribe to my Newsletter and get 20% off the whole kit!
It's all go here this week, with two weeks to go before the Stitching, Sewing and Hobbycraft Show in Harrogate, followed closely after by Quilts UK in Malvern (eek!) I'm sewing and cutting like mad!! As well as some gorgeous fat quarter bundles, strip sets and charm packs...
I'm been finishing up the instructions and packing for my Red Brick Tile quilt. I decided to wash it, it being red and everything... and with a couple of colour catchers, it came out fine.. thank goodness, you know that heart in your mouth feeling... thank the world for colour catchers!! I include a note at the end of all my kits recommending these babies, they really do work. This quilt is so big, it nearly filled our little garden! The kit will be available on the website after the shows in June.
I've also been working on a couple new Quick & Easy / Beginner's Quilt Kits, one in that gorgeous Coonawarra Red collection and another is this ditsy Confetti range from Dashwood. The Harrogate show is my first one of these Hobbycraft shows, so I'm hoping it attracts new quilters as well as the more addicted, sorry experienced.
So if you're in the Harrogate or Malvern areas in May, why not visit to one of these wonderful quilt and craft shows, details as follows;
Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycraft Show
11th - 13th May, Harrogate Convention Centre
10am - 4.30pm (5pm on Saturday)
Quilts UK
18th - 21st May, Three Counties Showground, Malvern
10am - 5pm (4.30pm Sunday)
If you're looking for more quilt fun and conversation, why not pop along to these links parties and say hi.
Let's Bee Social at Sew Fresh Quilts
Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication
Needle & Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation.
