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

Flowerdale - Quilted and Bound and Labelled!

30/11/2016

2 Comments

 
I'd finished this quilt, "Flowerdale" by Gail Pan Designs earlier in the year. It had been with the longarm quilter J-Quilts for several weeks and I finally collected it a couple of weeks ago. My longarm quilter had done an amazing job with this one, as you can see if you click on the pictures below to get an enlargement...
Picture
Picture
...this had been hand quilted using the applique paper and glue stick method, and the blocks had been machine pieced with Aurifil 50wt thread. These fabrics are a selection from the Blueberry Crumb cake collection by Blackbird Designs for Moda. This was actually a kit that had been in my fabric box for about 5 years, as it took me that long to feel confident about tackling the amount of applique!...
Picture
Picture
...well, the binding is on, it's been labelled and will be wrapped up as a spacial Christmas gift. I absolutely loved making this one, and it may have been the first Gail Pan Designs quilt that I've made, but it certainly won't be the last! 
Picture
2 Comments

Jurassic Jamboree Baby Quilt

26/11/2016

0 Comments

 
Several weeks ago I'd bought a super charm pack "Jurassic Jamboree" by Abi Hall for Moda from a local quilt shop, Kis Quilting Ltd in Ipswich. It was perfect for the quilt that I had in mind, and to complete it I needed some backing fabric - I was thrilled to find the same fabric range in stock at Puddleducks, so was able to get some for both the backing and binding - and finally some plain white cotton from another local quilt shop, Fiona's Fabrics, in Woodbridge. I used a favourite pattern, Charm Squares Baby Quilt by Elizabeth Hartman (this is a free download from her blog Oh Fransson!) and only took about an hour to piece together...
Picture
Picture
...most of last Saturday was spent quilting it in straight rows wit Aurifil 50wt thread in white, and machining the binding into place. This was folded to the back and hand stitched into place, using another Aurifil thread in this fab bright orange! One of my labels was stitched into the corner before the binding was machined into place...
Picture
Picture
...and now this has been given to the new baby (my nephew and his wife has a gorgeous baby boy a few weeks ago) I can finally show you a picture of the finished baby quilt. This really is a very simple quilt to make, and the rows of straight quilting does give it a lovely soft ribbed effect. Hope the new baby will be kept warm and wrapped up in plenty of love from his great-auntie!
Picture
0 Comments

Aurifil Thread Club

25/11/2016

0 Comments

 
I can't believe it was 6 months ago that I signed up for the Aurifil Thread Club over at Sew Hot here in the UK! Each month I get 4 fabulous spools of 50wt thread and these colours are just gorgeous! These threads are perfect for piecing and quilting and my Bernina loves them as much as I do!! Sew Hot has an offer on up until midnight to get 20% your order of Aurifil thread if you want to try them too - just use code SBS20 at the checkout. I might just have to indulge in a little more thread shopping as I do love a bargain!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Leanne's House Block 9

24/11/2016

1 Comment

 
The pattern for the final block of "Leanne's House" (by the Australian designer Leanne Beasley) arrived in the post at the beginning of the month, and I've been working on it in between some other projects. The initial fabric pack and the patterns were bought online from Cross Patch in Wales. Once the block was pieced together I started the hand embroidery...
Picture
Picture
...I used a soft, fusible interfacing on the back of the fabric to give it a bit of "body" and stops shadowing of the threads. I used DMC embroidery threads for this project. The heart was appliqued using appilque paper, a glue stick and apliquick tools. The heart was then hand stitched into place using Bottomline thread (this is a very fine 60wt polyester thread and is ideal for hand embroidery)...
Picture
Picture
...and here's the completed block. I'm having a sewing day on Saturday with my friend Helen, and I'm hoping to get all 9 of these blocks pieced together. Next month I'll get the fabric for the borders sent to me, so will show you the finished quilt top then, although I just MIGHT give you a little peek at the blocks sometime over the weekend!
Picture
1 Comment

Sunglasses Sminkepung

17/11/2016

0 Comments

 
Now this has been gifted, I can share a picture! This was made for a colleague who needed a small quilted bag to get bottles of solutions for her contact lenses. This fabric was perfect for this project - it's called "Sunglasses" and is from the "Vacation" collection by Henley Studio for Makower UK. I'd bought this a few weeks ago from Lovely Jubbly Fabrics when I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Ally Pally in London. The pattern I've used is "Anna's Sminkepung" by the Norwegian designer AnnAKa. This really didn't take very long to make at all, and I'll be busy making a few of these for one of two colleagues who need a "special" gift at the end of the year!
Picture
0 Comments

Journey of a Quilter - The Borders

17/11/2016

0 Comments

 
The fabric for the borders and binding arrived in the post from Cross Patch Patch in Wales, and it didn't take long to cut the borders, pin them in place and stitched them into place. My favourite Aurifil 50wt thread and a Schmetz Microtex size 60 needle was used for the machine piecing...
Picture
Picture
...I really did enjoy the journey of making this quilt, and now the borders are on it will be packed away until the New Year, when it will go off to be custom quilted.
Picture
0 Comments

Anderson's Farm - Quilt Top Completed!

13/11/2016

2 Comments

 
Anderson's Farm is completed! This gorgeous quilt is a mystery button club quilt, and was designed by Lynette Anderson Designs. I'd signed up for this with Lynette's online shop Little Quilt Store, and received the first block back in February. Each month I've received a pattern, along with a beautiful hand painted wooden button. (These will be stitched into place once the quilting has been finished). Once all of the 10 blocks were pieced together, the borders and corner stone blocks were added. An embroidered heart is appliqued to each corner stone block. I decided to use neutral coloured fabric for the hearts to showcase these beautiful Valdani threads that were used throughout the rest of the quilt...
Picture
Picture
...this quilt was pieced together using Aurifil 50wt thread, hand appliqued using applique paper, glue stick and apliquick rods, and was hand embroidered. I'll really miss getting these gorgeous parcels through the post every month. This quilt has been a real pleasure to stitch. Thank you Lynette to a wonderful design - this was my first mystery button club, but it won't be my last!
Picture
2 Comments

Anderson's Farm - Borders and Cornerstones

12/11/2016

0 Comments

 
The outer borders for Anderson's farm involved lots of strip piecing! I used my favourite medium grey Aurifil 50wt thread, a Schmetz Microtex size 60 needle and a shorter than usual stitch for the machine piecing and spend a busy morning selecting fabrics, sewing and sewing and more sewing - then when I had enough strips for the borders, machine stay-stitched a scant eighth of an inch from the outside edge to stop all those seams from unravelling!...
Picture
Picture
...the outer borders were pinned and stitched into place. The corner stones had the same embroidered hearts as some of the blocks in the quilt, and these were appliqued into place before the corner stones were added to the top and bottom borders. These Valdani threads are gorgeous to use, as the variation is very subtle and blend with the colours of Lynette's fabrics perfectly...
Picture
Picture
...a final press, and the quilt top is finished! I can't believe I haven't taken part in a mystery BOM before - I have absolutely LOVED getting a little package with a surprise inside it each month from Lynette. It's just like having a birthday every month!! 
Picture
0 Comments

Friends For Christmas - Block 2 - Three Friends

11/11/2016

0 Comments

 
Yippee!! Look what arrived in the post today! Three Friends is the next instalment of this festive BOM Friends for Christmas quilt by Lynette Anderson Designs. I've signed up online with Puddleducks to take part in this BOM, amd just need a few more hours in the day so I can make a start!
Picture
0 Comments

Anderson's Farm Block 10 - Friendship Oak

11/11/2016

0 Comments

 
I'd only just finished block 9 of Anderson's Farm (a gorgeous mystery button club by Lynette Anderson Designs) and the next one arrived! Block 10 is called "Welcome Oak" and is made with only 3 fabrics - this pretty blue print, a neutral background for the applique and stitchery, and the wonderful wool for the appliqued tree. This was appliqued onto the background fabric using Lite steam-a-seam 2 (bought online from Barnyarns) and hand embroidered with blanket stitch using Valdani threads...
Picture
Picture
...the edges of the appliqued arch were folded over using a glue stick and apliquick rods, and appliqued onto the blue print by hand using a fine applique needle and Bottomline thread (this is a 60wt polyester thread and is perfect for hand applique). The hand painted wooden button will be stitched into place one the quilt is completed and quilted. The instructions for this block also included the information for making the borders, which will be pieced together soon. All the fabrics used in this quilt are also designed by Lynette, and are a mixture from her previous collections. The fabric pack including the wool and a set of Valdanin threads came directly from Lynette. There is more info on her online quilt shop Little Quilt Store if you want to sign up this using her newest collection of fabrics.
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous
    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

    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