The Textile Maids recently held an exhibition of their work at the Castle in Bude. It was a brilliant exhibition - I spent ages there, and if you missed it you can see some pics on their blog. I particularly liked seeing the books they had made especially one by Margaret Pellow - every page was filled with the joy of stitch, one page for each month.
It reminded me that I had made a book of the seasons a few years ago before I started blogging. The front is a rectangular block sewn in the way of courthouse steps with the soft colours of Spring at the top, vibrant colours of summer to the right, the oranges of Autumn at the bottom and greys of Winter to the left.
The book measures approx 6" x 5" and the pages are 5" square.
The first page is Spring and this was inspired by a "corner" at Flowerpatch Quilters meeting where Julia F and Trudy explained how to do a pineapple block.
Summer next and at the same meeting Jane showed us how to make a Rag Rug on a hessian backing.
For Autumn I wanted to have a go at some 3D oak leaves and I sewed them onto a background of Kantha stitches. This was yet another FPQ meeting with Tricia Warman who was so expert at Kantha.
Lastly Winter which is supposed to be like looking through a window at night with snow falling and laying a little. The background of blacks is made from many small squares of different textures of fabric which are stitched over with free machine embroidery as shown to us at FPQ by Jan Tillett.
The ties that hold the hinge together, and make the closure loop were also one of Jan's ideas. Mine are wool covered with zigzag stitching.
The backs of my pages looked very blank so I added some appropriate words for each season.
I remember this as being such an enjoyable experience that I really must find the time to do another book. I'm thinking of calling it "The LOVE of Stitch". :)
Happy making
Anita x
I'm linking up with Busy Hands Quilts - Finished or not Friday
As expected our October meeting at Flowerpatch Quilters was a very busy one. It gives me yet another opportunity to show you our 'Over the Rainbow' quilt which was made to raise money for Guide Dogs for the Blind.
We were thrilled to be able to give a cheque for £2600 to Trudy Sherwood as a representative of the charity. Trudy gave a delightful talk about the charity and her own experiences with her beautiful dog, Connie.
The raffle for a Quillow was drawn and this was won by Liz B. The Quillow was made from left over blocks from the main quilt and every person who made a block was entered in the draw.
The cushion cover
and the quilt inside
This meeting was our AGM, but business was soon dealt with and we had lots of time to browse the lovely fabric and quilting sundries that Painter's Crafts had brought along to tempt us ........ and I succumbed of course!!
At our exhibition in August we displayed our 'Chinese Whispers' quilts and these were shown for the last time at this evening meeting. Bear with me while I try to explain what these are for those who don't know. It all begins with a photograph, chosen by one member and handed to another who uses it to inspire the making of a small wall quilt - ours were approx A4 size. This first little quilt is handed to another member who uses it as inspiration for their own wall quilt - they don't get to see the photo. They pass their quilt to yet another member who again uses it as inspiration for their quilt piece. This carries on for as many times as you wish with each person only ever seeing the wall quilt before their own.
We did two sets starting with two different photos. How exciting when the results were revealed, but also how puzzling as the designs seemed to go full circle!!??
Below is set no.1, starting with the photo.
and the first wall quilt by Liz B
followed by Iris L then Anne W
Next Anita then Pippa
and the final two by Ruth then Monica B
So how did those beautiful flowers in the first quilt change to the rugged Cornish coast and back to flowers again??
This is set no.2 - the photo
and the first wall quilt by Christine T
The second quilt by Jane, then by Dawn
Next Dy and then Annie
and the final two by Lois and then Sue S
We had quite a change in the season in the middle there, but soon came back to the sunny coast!
I think this must mean that many of us belonging to Flowerpatch Quilters are like-minded and on the same wavelength!
There was just time left for the Flowerpatch committee to do a bit of a Show and Tell. Many had brought along their very early quilts to show, some dating back over 20 years.
During the meeting packs were handed out for making next year's charity quilt and the charity was chosen as the new air ambulance for Cornwall.
Our next meeting is on the 8th November 2018
Happy Stitching - Anita x
The Launceston group of West Country Embroiderers recently held an exhibition and I'm delighted to be able to show you some photos of their lovely work. At present they only have 20 members so it was a real surprise to see so much sewing on display and such varied items!
This is one of Joan's beautiful cushions
and Moira's exquisite framed embroidery on silk.
Ruth's riotous garden in a hoop looked such fun to do. She must have used every single embroidery stitch known!
and she also made these delicate ribbon work flower twinchies.
Valerie had been very busy and made these two boxes - both lovely and practical,
and she sewed a set of 8 mandalas displayed in hoops. These 4 were my favourites.
This is Anne's sweet redwork snowman - I like the border she used, too.
and I loved this single colour relief embroidery, but I'm not sure who's nimble fingers created it.
There was so much more than the above to see and many beautiful stitchings beneath glass which I couldn't photograph sensibly.
Launceston embroiderers would love to welcome new members to their group. They meet at St Cuthbert Mayne Hall on the last Friday of every month from 10 am to 3 pm, when they share ideas, learn from each other or have a workshop with an expert tutor.
Happy Stitching - Anita x
