Blog Archives - Nicola Foreman Quilts

Elephant Key Case

16/4/2019

A few weeks ago, I bought this Elephant Key Case kit from Sew and So's of Bungay. The kit included the pattern, all the fabrics (just love these Liberty florals), wadding, binding fabric, the leather key strap and even a tiny black button for the elephant's eye. It was really quick and simple to make, and only took a couple of hours from start to finish. I used the Apliquick method of applique for the elephant that is appliqued onto the front of the key case...

...and here's the finished key case. This is perfect for clipping onto a tab in my handbag and in my tote bags, so I don't loose my keys! I bought another pack of 2 leather key straps from Sew and So's, so I can make a couple more of these cute key holders for friends.

Pink Flowers and Pink Lace

15/4/2019

I needed another cosmetic bag as a gift for a work colleague, so a few weeks ago I spent a couple of hours in my sewing studio, preparing this little bag. She particularly likes pink fabrics, but all I had in my fabric box was a small piece of floral Lecien with pink flowers on - this was was perfect but I didn't have enough to make the complete bag with the same fabric, so I added some blue spotty fabric and kept the pink theme with some vintage lace trimming. Now the gift has been delivered I can share a picture - she was really pleased with it!
The pattern is, as usual, Anna's Sminkepung by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. These patterns are only available from quilt shops in Scandinavia - there are some links to these shops on the right hand toolbar of my blog. Oh and the instructions are in Norwegian too, but I just followed the diagrams!

Bless All Who Enter - Completed

14/4/2019

It's finished! My latest project "Bless All Who Enter" is a small wall hanging, approx 12" x 18" designed by Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse Patchwork Designs, and was purchased as a kit from Cross Patch, a fabulous online shop based in Wales, here in the UK. The kit included all the pattern, and all the fabrics needed to make the wall hanging including binding and backing. These gorgeous fabrics are by French General for Moda...

..I've used a selection of DMC threads for the hand embroidery. The blocks are machine pieced together with a neutral coloured Aurifil 50wt thread, and I used the same thread to quilt it in a very simple stipple design. Buttons were used in a creative manner to replace the satin stitched flowers!...

...one of my small hand embroidered labels has been embroidered to the back of the wall hanging, to remind me of the year it it was made. A narrow quilt sleeve has been stitched to the back, so it;s all ready to display on the wall of my sewing studio. Now it's time to tidy my sewing table, clean and oil my Bernina, and have a think about my next project!

Clever Ways With Buttons

13/4/2019

Here's a sneeky peek at the applique for Bless All Who Enter (pattern by the Australian designer Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse Patchwork Designs). Instead of satin stitched flowers, I decided to use buttons - as I didn't have red buttons the right size, I layered buttons up in different colours/sizes. I'm really pleased with this effect. The stitchery has been completed using DMC threads. The fabrics used for this are by French General for Moda.

Get Ready... Get Set... Go!

11/4/2019

Get ready... Get set... go!! Lots of triangles and squares have been cut ready for the border blocks of Bless All Who Enter (pattern by Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse Patchwork Designs). These GORGEOUS fabrics are by French General for Moda and were in the kit supplied by Cross Patch.

Bless All Who Enter

10/4/2019

Bless All Who Enter - another gorgeous pattern by the Australian designer Natalie Bird of The Birdhouse Patchwork Designs - this packet of loveliness arrived in the post on Monday from Cross Patch. Julia has put a super kit together for this project, using a selection of fabrics by French General for Moda. This will be a small wall hanging, that will be displayed in my sewing studio once it's completed. Now I just need to prepare the applique templates, then sort through my thread box and pull out some embroidery threads for stitching this project!

Tulip Embroidery Needles

9/4/2019

I've been using Tulip embroidery needles for a few years - they are wonderful to sew with. Although they are more expensive than other brands, such as John James or Bohin, they really are well worth the extra money - they are the Rolls Royce of sewing needles. And best of all they're now available from Cross Patch. Tulip needles are in beautiful packaging too, as they come in little glass vials with a cork, and the box is tied with red ribbon - it's almost a shame to open the box and use them!

Marian Nichols

8/4/2019

If you're local to the Leiston area, there's a small exhibition of textile art by Marian Nichols in the Leiston library. This is on until May, and there are some stunning pieces on display...

...I called in on Sunday morning, and was lucky enough to meet Marian in person, and she gave me some really helpful advice for my future EPP projects. She's currently working on a La Passaglia Quilt, that really is stunning, and her stitches are incredibly neat and tiny! Marian was using my favourite thread, Aurifil 50wt for her EPP...

...it's based on this one in the book Millefiori by Willyne Hammerstein of the Netherlands...

...it is known for it's geometric, intricate shapes and complex designs. Marian really was an inspiration...

...here is a selection of the textiles that were on display. It was a bit tricky photographing them asthey are displayed quite high up, but they really do look fabulous. There are 15 pieces on display altogether...

View From Rodmell Church, Sussex, was beautifully embellished with hand stitching

Teasels - I really liked this piece

Purple Sunflowers, made on a workshop with Mary McIntosh

Art Noveau Leaves, also made on a workshop with Mary McIntosh

...and finally this stunning piece, called Melting Glacier. I hope these pictures will encourage you to go along and have a look. I felt so inspired when I was there!

Tiny Town Table Runner - Completed

7/4/2019

It's finished! Tiny Town Table Runner is designed by the Australian designer Anni Downs of Hatched and Patched - this was bought a few weeks ago as a kit from Cross Patch in Wales here in the UK, which included the pattern, fabrics and jumbo ric-rac. Machine quilted very simply, I decided to leave off the ric rac trimming from the original pattern and used a narrow single fold binding instead, using the same fabric that I used for the backing.

Tiny Town - Ready for Quilting

6/4/2019

Excellent customer service as always - my backing fabric for the Tiny Town Table Runner was ordered yesterday, and arrived in the post from Cross Patch this morning! Many thanks Julia - as soon as I've finished my chores, I'm making a start on quilting my table runner!
*if you're eagle-eyed you might notice I've re-made the brown roof that was a bit wonky! 😋