The Splendid Sampler

February 14th, 2017 | Other | 148 Comments

blocks febHappy Splendid Sampler Day!

 

Exactly a year ago today we all started on a splendidly challenging patchwork adventure.

 

Where ever did that year go? It’s not every year you get two presents a week, but that is exactly what happened during our Splendid Sampler year!

 

I have made about 40 of the blocks and some have been a real challenge I must say! This is block 100, designed by Kate Spain.

 

I am going to make all 100 blocks (in my own sweet time) and am looking forward to completing my very first sampler quilt.

 

100If you are just learning about the Splendid Sampler, don’t worry it’s never too late to get started!

 

Join the Facebook group and buy yourself a copy of the book and you’ll be a ‘Splenderette’ in no time!

 

Now, I have a little giveaway for you all:

 

Giveawaytell me something the Splendid Sampler quilt-along has taught you

 

and in a week I’ll pick a random name to win a 5″ charm pack of my latest fabric collection for Moda ‘Aubade: a song to the dawn’.

 

‘Aubade’ was inspired by the sunrise and the promise of a whole new day, everyday.

I designed three quilts specifically for this collection and here they are enjoying the dawn on a Texan beach.

QuiltsDawnI also designed an embroidery thread collection with Lecien which matches my favourite colours and fabric lines beautifully.

My ‘Sky’ embroidery floss collection will be available from quilt shops soon- pop in and ask for it!

Thread

And there will be many more chances to win- pop over to the Splendid Sampler to find out more!

 

 

Aurifil Designer of the month

January 15th, 2017 | Other | 2 Comments

me420wHello and welcome!

I am pleased to tell you that I am Aurifil’s designer of the month for January 2017. The year is off to a great start!

Every year Aurifil and Pat Sloan invite twelve designers to create a special, unique block for you and host a quilt-a- long for the whole year.

And if last years is anything to go by (and it is!) we are in for a treat, and here’s the best part: it’s free too.

studio420w

aurifil1420wI’m going to be stitching along with you all this year and am really looking forward to seeing what the other eleven blocks look like!

Now, please pop over to Aurifil to see my January block!

Pat’s mega fun book tour

November 22nd, 2016 | Other | 6 Comments

machinequiltlogo410Hello and a very warm welcome to my stop on Pat’s mega fun book tour!

I’ve known Pat for a few years now and she is one of the kindest, generous, supportive and encouraging quilters I know.

Pat has written another (her 33rd!) book which sets out to teach us all how to machine quilt.

Even if you have been happily machine quilting for years this book will still teach you a thing or two, and if you’re just starting out do yourself a favour and get yourself a copy!

I thought you might like to see my very first attempt at machine quilting. Far from perfect!

But, I enjoyed every stitch and I have a warm and beautiful quilt to sleep under.

Just remember we all have to start somewhere and perfection is vastly over-rated in my opinion!

firstmachinequilting410w

Nowadays free motion quilting is my favourite! I love to write and draw with my sewing machine.

Pat has a great chapter on free motion quilting which is easy to do, and needs minimal special equipment (just a darning foot) but requires lots of practice and patience.

Practice and patience- the answer to pretty much anything.

freemo410freemofaces410Head on over to all these other lovely people to learn more about ‘Pat Sloan’s teach me to Machine Quilt’:

and then pop over to Pat herself for your chance to win a copy of the book.

 

And the winner is…

August 8th, 2016 | Patchwork and quilting | 1 Comment

Header 420wIt was so much fun to read all your lovely comments, some from old friends and lots from new to me ‘Splenderettes’! Welcome one and all.

And now to announce the winner of my ‘More Hearty Good Wishes’ charm pack…. drum roll please….

Giveaway50goes to comment number 19 (as chosen by the random number generator

Congratulations Syke B!!

Email me your address and I’ll get the fabric in the post to you as soon as I can!

Top of the Hill

August 6th, 2016 | Patchwork and quilting | 337 Comments

TopoftheHill1Can you believe we’re already halfway through our Splendid adventure?

Well, I’ve got around 30 blocks made so far and am really pleased with them.

Some have been rather challenging to say the least and all of them have made me go slowly and actually use my ‘textbook’ techniques as learnt many moons ago.

Here’s my version of the bonus ‘Top of the Hill’ block which you can download at The Splendid Sampler website. 

Next week we are off to the largest quilt show in Europe- The Festival of Quilts which is always inspiring, exhausting and great fun.

Come and say ‘hello’ to me and Chief of Everything on Stand G4.

This year it will be even better as the English Splenderettes (and any other nationalities who happen to be there of course!) are meeting in the Wetherspoons pub (where else?!) at 1pm Saturday 13th August.

Bring a Splendid block with you so we can find each other!

Giveaway50And now, all you need to do is leave me a little comment for your chance to win one of my ‘More Hearty Good Wishes’ 5 inch charm packs (hard to find now!). 

I’m so pleased to be a small part of this wonderful and generous project- aren’t you?

Thanks Pat and Jane xx

A little tip for you

Soap420wI like to use a dry piece of soap to mark up quilting lines on dark fabric.

The drawn lines show up clearly, don’t rub away like chalk can and don’t harm the fabric in anyway either.

You can easily sharpen the soap with an ordinary table knife and if your soap happens to be rose scented too all the better.

Simple, traditional and thrifty!

Wildflowers quilt-a-long

wildflowers1420wWe’re half way through our wildflowers quilt-a-long already!

Here are our flowers so far, one for each month and more to come.

wildflowers2420wIf you’d like to join in, it’s not too late simply sign up for my free newsletter and you can be creating your own wildflower quilt too.

wildflowers3420w

 

 

 

Sign up here for a free wildflower template every month in 2016.

 

Joe’s quilt

choosing420w

My eldest son Joe (14) after years of refusing to have a quilt on his bed suddenly asked me if I would make one for him.

Well, I didn’t need to be asked twice!

He chose the fabric himself from my Moda collections and asked for a simple zig-zag quilt.

After much thought and consultation with my exacting client we both agreed on a delectable mountains design.

And work began (fast, before he could change his mind!).

ZigZag1420w

SO much cutting, stitching, cutting again and more stitching back together again we finally had a very simple, bold and striking quilt top made.


My boy is happy so so am I.

zig zag 3 420wI’ll show you the finished quilt when my Elf has finished quilting it for me.

 

Pottery

July 13th, 2016 | Other | 4 Comments

Pottery1420wChief of Everything and I have been going to pottery classes every Thursday morning and love it!

We have a fabulous teacher called Lucy Burley who is very gentle, encouraging and generous with her knowledge. Do pop over to her website, I’m sure you’ll agree that Lucy makes the most elegant and sophisticated work. 

I am still making small, slightly off centred bowls as you can see!

After two hours of playing with clay and generally forgetting all our responsibilities we go to the pub for ham, egg and chips and half a pint of cider.

Thursday mornings are the highlight of the week.

And we are saving up for a potters wheel and kiln!

 

Lori Shawl

July 11th, 2016 | Knitting | 4 Comments

Yarn420wDid you know I trained to be a knitwear designer? Well, I did and back in the day could design lace, intarsia, cables and garments and all sorts.

These days I still love to knit but always chose simple, off the shelf projects that require no thought from me whatsoever and the Lori Shawl fits the bill perfectly.

LoriShawl420wRow upon row of soothing, mindless garter stitch in beautiful, soft wool yarn and a practical but pretty shawl to wear at the end of it.  

LoriShawl1420w