I am very happy to share my block design with you all for the Splendid Sampler 2 - Sailor Collar on page 42 in the book. This is the first time I have been part of a worldwide sew-along and it has been a really interesting journey so far. I feel more confident in different quilting skills and watching my quilt grow is exciting. I also love watching everyone else's projects develop, and seeing how each person can put their unique spin on each block. The block represents a sailor collar and that is because I am working on a quilt project using the remnants of one that belonged to my Grandpa Stanley when he served in the Navy in...
This is a very exciting milestone for me and I am glad I can finally talk about it after many months of secret planning! The Splendid Sampler kicked off in 2016 with 84 designers producing 100 quilt blocks for people to make throughout the year. Pat Sloan (in the US) and Jane Davidson (in Australia) are the masterminds behind the whole project and managed to engage thousands of creative people around the world. I loved watching my friends get involved and following the project on Instagram and Facebook. I met Pat and Jane at Spring Market in St Louis last May and admired the first Splendid Sampler quilt in all its glory. They are very warm, talented and hard-working women. ...
On the eve of the release of my debut quilt pattern, Morris Mouse, I wanted to share a few insights. The strongest value in my business is to be helpful. This goal drives the studio classes that I teach, and the patterns that I produce. I want people to improve their skills and to feel the sense of pride and achievement that I love at the end of a craft project. I know from experience that written instructions for any sewing or quilt pattern can be tricky - however well drafted. I have been frustrated, confused and, at times, I may even have had a little cry when I just don't get it! Therefore, when I wrote down my vision...
Happy World Quilting Day 2018! We have been very busy behind the scenes producing our first studio quilt pattern. Introducing Morris Mouse. A dapper young chap, inspired by Liberty's Cottage Garden range. He loves relaxing amongst the cosmos flowers and bluebells, which surround his cosy thatched cottage. How is he made? Morris is a foundation pieced sewing pattern. This means that you sew through the paper templates on your sewing machine and then remove the paper afterwards. It's a technique that allows you to make very accurate lines and we love it! When can I buy him? Morris is making his debut on Sewing Quarter TV on Sunday March 25th at 10am. He will also be available on our website...
Earlier this week I attended the funeral of my Great Auntie Margaret - a lovely celebration of her 96 years on this earth. Margaret was my grandpa's sister and she is the one person in the family I am compared to the most. I had lots of good parties with her over the years and loved going to her house to visit her and Uncle Cyril. We would eat cakes, listen to stories and hear her play the organ or laugh infectiously. In recent years she would be sat in her lounge with toy meerkats, other fun ornaments and a garden full of gnomes - watching Big Brother on the I pad or learning about something new across the world. ...
