tuesday thoughts
a bit of MOTIVATION...
a little SNACK...
get to WORK...
a little EXERCISE...
a lot of COFFEE
SMILES
HAPPY BONFIRE NIGHT!
a (somewhat) needed sunday stash
I bought fabric at Festival of Quilts and the Stitch Gathering - supporting those artists and shops I love - but there's not been much fabric shopping going on and that's mostly down to the fact that I want to be using what I have. There are plenty of times I do 'fake shopping', adding beautiful fabric to online baskets but I don't hit 'checkout' because I know that it will ultimately end up in the piles and piles of fabric I already have. The decision to buy fabric now has to be because I need it for a project I am actually working on. For my Manx log cabin blocks I am using woven fabric for the back of each block. I thought I had quite a selection but turns out no where near enough, so I picked up this gorgeous selection of fabrics from Patchfinders. It's a mix of shot cottons, Robert Kaufman Fabrics - yarn dyed, herringbone and gingham.
As the blocks are similar to quilt as you go, it's going to be so cool seeing a patchwork back of the woven fabrics. I've realised (thanks to comments on instagram) that this will be a coverlet rather than a quilt because there's no wadding in it. We have so many quilts in our house I am excited to create something slightly less structured and more blanket like. My Manx coverlet started with a peachy/pink and navy combo but I decided to add some mint to the mix too. I pulled all the mints from my stash but it was still lacking so I added these three from Patchfinders.
a piece of this & that
My newest A Piece of Me Pouch is a combination of this and that; a culmination of bits I have gathered, an unfinished project and a couple of new things I wanted to try. This is larger than the version in my pattern - it's very easy to make in any size you choose! - and I'll show you how I created a loop for carrying or hanging.
Always on the look out for interesting fabrics, I found this fabulous buttery soft Punched Faux Leather and as soon as I saw it, thought it would be great for stitching on. It has a tiny bit of stretch so rather than trying to battle with it on the bias, I made cross stitches into plus stitches. Of course it was stitched the same way, it just took a little focus to make them + + + + +
The floral pattern is part of a design in Anna Maria's Needlework Notebook which looks modern and pretty. It was tempting to add more stitches but at the same time it's nice to see the punched fabric and not have that texture lost.
To make the stitches stand out I used all six strands of Aurifloss. The bright colours work really well and the thread has a nice sheen so it doesn't look dull against the pewter. The combination of the soft faux leather and the stitches make it very strokable!
Stitch Gathering 2019 ✁
"This is the power of gathering: it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful: in a word, more alive." - Alice Waters
Last Sunday was Stitch Gathering, the wonderful day retreat organised by Jo Avery of myBearpaw, in Edinburgh. It is always a full day of fun, with great classes and company and it's always over too soon. I was there teaching a class - something a little different, more on that later! - and also had the opportunity to take a class. As someone that relishes learning and trying new techniques it was very exciting. And oops... I've started a new quilt!
Now, as I type this, something has occurred to me. For the first time I did not have the overwhelming anxiety I've had before every social occasion/journey/outing/time being around other people that I've had for the past three years or so. It could be because life has been extra crazy busy and I didn't have time to stress, though I suspect that's disbelief talking because those negative/anxious thoughts shout really loud. Mental health is fluid, with ups and downs - I am under no illusions but right now it does feel that gradually all those things that previously felt SO difficult just aren't. Usual worries like 'have I got everything?' and 'will people enjoy my class?' were fleeting and manageable. Thoughts like 'I can't do this' and 'I don't want to do this because of x,y,z', which would usually flood my brain, didn't take over. I know I batted a few of them away, they weren't non existent but they were quiet and didn't feel real. Anyway I'm taking that as positive and, however I may feel in the future, it feels nice that there wasn't a dreaded build up and it was all enjoyable!
At Stitch Gathering, Jo asks us to create a 'ticket' and each year these are swapped between participants. This year it was an 8" hoop, which we could stitch and embellish as we liked. It was fabulous to see them all hanging together and a nice variety of hoop art! Here's a closer look...
✖ you need to calm down ✖
I do always like to try something different and have found myself more drawn to incorporating vintage fabrics and re-purposing fabrics. Partly so that I can create something completely unique and also to use what already exists. I happened to discover a unique find that worked perfectly for this months Aurifil Artisan challenge! I've created a cross stitch piece using vintage lettering and a second hand embroidered cloth... yet it still has a modern flair!
While I was at Stitched Up my eagle fabric spying eyes were drawn to a dainty and beautiful cloth. Amongst a variety of left-over bits and fabric scraps that were being used to create peace banners; there was this piece of white cloth with intricate detail, floral appliqué, embroidery and weaving. I believe it is a small table cover or tray cloth.
hugs not thugs 🞤 free template
Gathering together to sew in company is really quite special. It can be lonely and a bit boring sometimes sewing at home by yourself. While that quiet time is still vital for my sanity, recently I have been much more open to getting out and taking part in sewing groups. Partly because I have more time in the evening now, also my anxiety is manageable, it feels nice to be sociable and join in. Also real life is better.
Great British Quilter • Instagram Challenge
I am super excited to be guest hosting this challenge with the founder of The Great British Quilter, Sarah Ashford! The photo challenge is on Instagram and we invite you to join in! (exactly what + how is outlined further along in this post...)
Starting 1st September we will post a photo prompt every day throughout the month. Joining in is simple and it's a great way find inspiration, make new friends and for us all to share our passion for patchwork and quilting!
There is also the opportunity to win some amazing prizes when you take part in the challenge and (since I know what they are) trust me, they are AWESOME!
keith haring wholecloth quilt (in progress)
This month's Aurifil Artisan challenge was to make a wholecloth quilt. I was sent fabric and thread to work with and given free reign to create. There were a few ideas swimming around my head but when we went to the Keith Haring exhibition in Liverpool recently I couldn't resist doing hand quilting inspired by his designs.
This is an incredibly playfully stitched project and there are elements I absolutely love and also some lessons learned.
I was sent solid fabric in the colour Haze, Painter's Palette Solids by Paintbrush Studio. It's one of their 2019 colours of the year and it a beautiful grey blue. It looks different in the photos because of the time of day they were taken but the one below is possibly the closest to real life. The piece I'm stitching on is about 20" square. Aurifil also sent me a spool of 12wt thread, in #2612 Artic Sky - a lovely soft grey.
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