Nicola Foreman Quilts
  • BLOG
  • BAGS
  • CUSHIONS
  • QUILTYSTUFF
  • QUILTS
  • TABLERUNNERS
  • WALL HANGINGS
  • CONTACT ME

Leanne's House Block 7

27/9/2016

2 Comments

 
While I was away on my hols in Yorkshire a couple of weeks ago, the pattern for block 7 of "Leanne's House" arrived in the post from Cross Patch in Wales! I managed to piece the block together in one evening, and trace the stitchery design with a Micron Pigma pen. The applique templates were traced onto applique paper, cut out and fused to the back of the fabric...
Picture
Picture
...the embroidery is all done by hand, using DMC stranded embroidery threads. This was complimented with some large appliqued tulips in a basket. Once the tulips, basket and leaves were all appliqued into place, I was able to embroider the tulip stems and the handle of the basket oh and the basket was decorated with more satin stitch too!!...
Picture
Picture
...and here's the completed block. Although I think the satin stitch looks a bit wonky, in the scheme of things, it doesn't look too bad. 
Picture
2 Comments

Anderson's Farm Block 8 Peace Offering

25/9/2016

0 Comments

 
I'm really enjoying this Mystery button project by Lynette Anderson Designs. The latest block, "Peace Offering" arrived in the post, and this one was quite a simple block. I traced the applique shapes onto applique paper, fused it to the back of the fabric, cut out the shapes (my favourite scissors are "Perfect Scissors" by Karen Kay Buckly), clipped the curves and turned over the edges with a glue stick and those wonderful apliquick tools...
Picture
Picture
...a few small spots of Roxanne's Basting Glue holds the applique in place instead of pesky applique pins, and my favourite applique thread at the moment is Bottom Line, a 60wt polyester thread by Superior Threads. I always try to match the colour of the thread with the background fabric, and I've been using Clover Black Gold applique needles. The stitchery design was traced onto the background fabric, and I used a wooden hoop for both the applique and the embroidery to keep the fabric taut and prevent it from "tightening". Valdani variegated threads are used for the hand embroidery and these are really lovely to sew with...

Picture
Picture
...I absolutely LOVE this foxy fellow! He's carrying a pretty hand painted button on a vine - each month a button comes with the pattern. The simple border at the top of blocks 7 and 8 is really pretty - I strip pieced some 1.5" strips of fabric for this, rather than cutting individual 1.5" squares. As you can see, I'm using fabrics also designed by Lynette for the project. I subscribed to this Mystery Button Club directly with Lynette via her online shop Little Quilt Store in Australia. There are a few stockists of this here in the UK, and if you have a look on Lynette's blog there is a list of all the shops that are participating in this across the world.
Picture
0 Comments

Journey of a Quilter Block 1

13/9/2016

3 Comments

 
Back in July, Julia from Cross Patch sent me the most gorgeous fabric pack and a set of patterns for another quilt by the Australian designer Leanne Beasley - this one is called "Journey of a Quilter" and is really pretty! This first block was prepared, ready to take with me on my recent quilting trip to Yorkshire. While I was away I made a start on the stitchery designs, and I finished it yesterday evening...
Picture
Picture
...I spent yesterday evening stitching, and here's the completed block. I'm also doing "Leanne's House" by the same designer (also from Cross Patch) - these will look lovely hanging up together when they're finished!
Picture
3 Comments

Curved Piecing with Philippa Naylor

11/9/2016

0 Comments

 
I've just got back from a fabulous week in Yorkshire with my friend Helen and Linda, and we spent the week on a residential quilting course with Philippa Naylor. The majority of the other ladies on the course were doing wholecloth quilting, but I'd emailed Philippa to see if I could do curved piecing again as I really struggled with that when I did it on a course with her a few years ago. I'd packed a selection of batiks for my sample, and couldn't wait to get started!...
Picture
Picture
...it's important to have the right tools for the job - a narrow ruler, a pencil, a small rotary cutter and a pair of perfect scissors! Once the temples had been marked onto the fabric, cut out and pieced together, it was time to decide on the quilting. I'd taken a box full of beautiful Aurifil threads with me, and these were perfect...
Picture
Picture
...I practised lots and lots of free motion quilting, and was really pleased with these swirling feathers in the outer border. Once the FMQing was completed, I added a double row of piping, firstly in bright orange and the second row in fuchsia pink. Finally a half-inch wide curved binding is added to frame it - this lime green certainly is bright!...
Picture
Picture
...and here is my finished sample - I am absolutely thrilled to bits with this! If you click on the pictures, you can see some close-ups of the quilting and the piping. I still need to practise a bit more, but I'm so much more confident now, especially with these feathers, and I'll definitely add piping to more of my projects! I had a brilliant week away with Helen and Linda, and made new friends too. I'm looking forward to going back again next year!
Picture
0 Comments

Off To Yorkshire

4/9/2016

0 Comments

 
Well my bags are packed and I'm off to sunny Yorkshire with my quilting friends Helen and Linda, for a week of quilting with the incredibly talented Philippa Naylor. We're staying at Highfield Farm, a wonderful B&B near Driffield. We've done this trip a few times before, and the food is simply amazing! I'll share lots of piccies when I get back, but I'm now going to load up the car (I've got more fabric in my suitcase than clothes!) and we'll be ready for our road trip. 
Picture
0 Comments

Mrs Hen Needlecase

2/9/2016

0 Comments

 
A few weeks ago, I'd seen this kit in the weekly newsletter from Lynette Anderson Designs, and as I can never resist a small project that is useful as well as pretty, I ordered it from the Little Quilt Store straight away! The kit included the pattern, the fabrics and cute hand painted wooden buttons. I traced the stitchery design with a Micron Pigma pen, fused a small piece of weaveline fusible interfacing on the back, and was ready to start stitching. Valdani threads were perfect for this, and I used Thread Heaven thread conditioner on them as they can be a bit dry. The applique on the front of the needle case was done using applique paper, a glue stick and apliquick rods...
Picture
...once the stitchery was finished, and the appliqued hens and bee hive were secured into place, the panel was then appliqued onto the front of the needlecase, along with some small tabs. Rather than using cotton wadding, I used fast-to-fuse which is quite stiff, and gives a bit of "body" to the needlecase. Inside are some pockets for packets of needles, and a woollen hen is the perfect place to store a threaded needle. I made a slight design change, and instead of attaching ties to keep the case closed, I used a pair of button magnets. I've positioned them so the handle of the scissors is over the magnet, so when it's closed, the scissors stay in place and don't fall out - how clever is that!
Picture
0 Comments

Anderson's Farm Block 7 First Love

1/9/2016

0 Comments

 
I've trying to keep up with my BOM's, but last month had been really busy, so I hadn't started block 6 of Anderson's Farm, and then this pretty block arrived in the post! Once I'd finished block 6, I didn't bother to pack away my apliquick rods as I was keen to carry on stitching! Block & "First Love" is a sweet design, and these two bunnies certainly look as if the're in love! The embroidery is all stitched with Valdani threads, which have a soft variegation and are a delight to sew with. They can be a bit dry, so I use "Thread Heaven" which is a thread conditioner and stops them from breaking and fraying...
Picture
Picture
...and here is the finished block.The finished size for this one is 12" x 4" and was an absolute joy to stitch, even though it was a little bit fiddly. This pretty mystery button club is designed by Lynette Anderson Designs. Now that I've finally caught up, I can play around with some other projects while I'm waiting for block 8 to arrive!
Picture
0 Comments
    Picture

    About me...

    Hi - welcome to my quilting blog! My passions are my family, my dog, my friends and sewing, not necessarily in that order! 
    ​​I live in Suffolk, not far from the coast, surrounded by the beautiful countryside.  
    ​If you want to share or pin any of my pictures, please link back to my blog.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture

    Blogs I follow

    A Quilt Lady
    A Quilting Life
    Abyquilt
    Anne-Grethe's quiltblog
    Anne Marie Quilt
    Bente Malm Quilte-Design
    Bloom
    Cinderberry Styitches
    Daisy made it
    Dilly Dimple
    Karis Quilterier
    Evas Quilterom
    Erickaeckles
    Fantasia Yarns
    Gail Pan Designs
    Hanne's Quilt Corner
    Halfpenny Home
    I'm a Ginger Monkey
    J-quilts
    Just Jude Designs
    Kviltstina
    Leanne's House
    Liv Aagots Quilteblogg
    Lily's Quilts
    Litamora's Quilt & Design
    Lynette Anderson Designs
    Merete's Quiltestue
    Mona's quiltblog
    Pam's Paradise Stitching
    Pia Si Sia
    Random Ramblings
    Sigrun's blog
    Sølvi's blog
    U-handblog
    ZewNice

     UK shops

    These are the UK shops that I use to purchase my quilting supplies - fabrics and threads etc.
    Bramblepatch
    Buttonberry
    Coast and Country Crafts
    Craft Den
    Cross Patch
    Emma's Fabric Studio
    Fiona's Fabrics
    Glenroy Designs
    Halfpenny Home
    Hulu
    J-quilts
    KIS Quilting
    Patchwork Chicks
    Quilter's Cloth
    Quilters Haven
    Sew and So's
    The Eternal Maker
    The Fat Quarters
    The Quilt Room
    U-handbag

    Australian links

    Cookies and Cream Craft
    Homespun magazine
    Little Quilt Store
    Quilt Fabric Delights
    Under The Mulberry Tree

    Scandinavian links

    Lapp-Elisa Quilts HB
    Lappedesign
    Lappedilla AS
    Myquilt
    Northern Quilts
    Quiltegården
    Quiltekroken
    Quiltemagasinet
    Quiltespecialisten
    Sy-Sammen