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World Embroidery Day 2019

31/7/2019

Well obviously I should've shared this picture yesterday when it was World Embroidery Day! The pattern is "Bee Happy" by the Australian designer Gail Pan, and I'm using one of the gorgeous Valdani perle threads from the Cross Patch Favourites collection for the hand embroidery. The design was traced with a Micron Pigma pen with a very fine nib (my favourite is 005) and a lightpad. I've used a lightweight fusible interfacing on the back, and I prefer stitching with my fabric in a wooden embroidery hoop.

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A Merry Christmas Garden - Block 1

29/7/2019

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And here it is! Block 1 of A Merry Christmas Garden just needs a final press. This is a 6-part pattern by the Australian designer Gail Pan, and is absolutely gorgeous. he patterns, along with the fabrics, were supplied as a kit from Cross Patch in Wales. A selection of techniques were used for this block - some simple machine piecing using Aurifil 50wt thread, hand embroidery (I used one of the red Valdani perle threads from the Cross Patch Favourites collection for this) and hand applique have been combined to make a very simple but effective block. Most of the applique has been made using the Apliquick method. The berries and larger circles have been made using Karen Kay Buckley Bigger Perfect Circles. All of the applique has been hand stitched in place with Superior Threads Superbobs. This block has gone together quick quickly, and is 18.5" x 24.5" so I'll keep it rolled up whis are being made as it's too large to store in my block keeper! I've decided to reward myself with making a small project inbetween making each block, so it might be a few days before I start block 2.

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AMCG - Applique for Block 1 Completed

28/7/2019

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The applique for block 1 of A Merry Christmas Garden by Gail Pan Designs is completed! The set of 6 patterns and all the fabrics were supplied by Cross Patch, an online shop based in Wales, here in the UK. Most of the applique has been made using the Apliquick method. The berries and circular flower have been made using Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Circles. All the applique has been hand stitched in place with Superior Threads Superbobs (polyester 60wt thread).

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Hoorah! Tickets Have Arrived!

27/7/2019

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Hoorah! Finally time to celebrate!! After the ticket fiasco which has been an absolute shambles, all of my 5 winners have now finally received their free pair of tickets to The Festival of Quilts which is starting on Thursday. Many appologies to my winners, as unfortunatly this was completely out of my control. There have been several complaints on social media about problems this year with receiving tickets, workshop bookings and VIP passes. Apparently a different company was responsible for the distribution pf tickets this year so I hope a few lessons have been learnt! Anyway, I hope my winners and any of my other followers who are going along will have a fabulous time. I'll be attending Sunday 4th August, so you might bump into me there!

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Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Circles

25/7/2019

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I think I should have shares in Karen Kay Buckley, as not only do I have 5 different types of her scissors, these templates are brilliant too. I've been preparing lots of appliqued circles for my latest project, A Merry Christmas Garden, and these Perfect Circles have been essential! Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Circles are templates used for a method of turned edge applique. There is a selection of sizes in each packet, and a handy ring to keep them on when they're not in use. There are some great tutorials on You Tube demonstrating how to do this technique. I first used these several years ago when I did an applique masterclass with Philippa Naylor. You can also get Larger Circles, Perfect Ovals, Perfect Leaves and Perfect Stems. The perfect stems have also been used for making the bias stems on my quilts, I'd be absolutely lost without them!

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Ticket Fiasco

24/7/2019

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A few weeks ago I was contacted by the Festival of Quilts offering 5 pairs of free tickets for my social media followers. 5 lucky winners were notified by me, and their addresses were sent off as the tickets were being sent from FOQ directly. Unfortunately my winners haven't received their tickets yet, which is very disappointing. Other hosts have also had similar problems. After several emails raising my concerns, I received an email back from the FOQ press office yesterday stating the last batch of tickets had been posted and my winners would receive them today - and they haven't. This not only reflects badly on The Festival of Quilts but it reflects badly on me too . I can only apologise to my 5 winners and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you all that they arrive tomorrow.

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Superior Threads Superbobs

23/7/2019

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At 5am this morning I couldn't sleep due to a terrific thunder storm and spectacular lightening display so decided to stitch some applique. The only problem was that I'd run out of my favourite Aurifil 80wt thread that I prefer to use. Then I remembered that a few years ago I'd invested in a Superior Threads Superbobs from Barnyarns and so by 5.15am I was happily sitting on the sofa with a cuppa and stitching these leaves into place! This lovely red Bobbinsaver is compete with 35 size L Superbobs. There is 1 each of the full range of Superbobs (prewound Bottomline 60wt thread). Although these feel a bit "wirey" compared to my favourite Aurifil 80wt thread, I'm really pleased with the results, and will also try them out on my next EPP project too.

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AMCG - Applique Preparation for Block 1

22/7/2019

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I've made a good start with preparing the applique shapes for block 1 of "A Merry Christmas Garden" by the Australian designer Gail Pan Designs. These gorgeous fabrics are included in a kit available from Cross Patch, where this is available as a BOM...

...these leaves and birds have been made using applique paper, Apliquick tools, and a glue stitck. There are several videos on You-Tube demonstrating this method of applique. The bias stems were made using Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Stems. I've used a shorter than usual stitch length so the sttiches don't unravel when the stems are trimmed to the required length. Once the larger shapes had been prepared, I decided to use Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Circles for preparing the applique berries rather than the Apliquick method. These are now all ready to be glued-basted and stitched into place.

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Block Party - Completed

21/7/2019

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"Block Party" is finally quilted and hanging in my studio. This pattern is by Helen Butcher and was started on a workshop at Kis Quilting Ltd last weekend. This wall hanging has been made using Foundation Paper Piecing, and Helen's tutition ensured all her students had the knowledge and confidence to complete the started blocks at home. This has been quilted very simply in a geometric grid design following the outine of the cubes, using the edge of the walking foot as a guide. I'm really pleased with this and the quilt sleeve has been added to the back so it's all ready to displayon the wall of my sewing studio along with some other batik projects!
If you can't get to one of Helen's workshops, her patterns are available from her website Little Patch Pockets. I've already ordered a couple of her designs, and just need another weekend free to concencentrate on stitching it!

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A Merry Christmas Garden Fabric Pack

19/7/2019

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A few weeks ago this GORGEOUS kit arrived in the post from Cross Patch - it's been sitting on my cutting table while I havd a few other bits and pieces to finish. The pattern is "A Merry Christmas Garden" by the Australian designer Gail Pan Designs, and it really is a beautiful festive quilt - it's now available from Cross Patch - an online quilt shop based in Wales, here in the UK - as a block of the month. Julia (the owner of Cross Patch) has put a gorgeous selection of fabrics together for this quilt, and I'm looking forward to stitching the applique for block one over the next few days.

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<<Previous

World Embroidery Day 2019

A Merry Christmas Garden - Block 1

AMCG - Applique for Block 1 Completed

Hoorah! Tickets Have Arrived!

Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Circles

Ticket Fiasco

Superior Threads Superbobs

AMCG - Applique Preparation for Block 1

Block Party - Completed

A Merry Christmas Garden Fabric Pack

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