Cupcake Cottons -

The night shift.......

2012-02-26T10:52:00.000Z

We run an evening class on a Wednesday evening for beginners - Sue teaches this one for us - and I thought I would add a photograph of Shelley's quilt.

Six blocks down, and three to go!

One other thing - one of our ~~punters~~ customers has phoned to say that she is desperately trying to find approximately a fat quarter of a fabric that we no longer have in stock. It is a French General Fabric. The range is 'La Petite Ecole' - and it is the plain steel blue/grey that Sue is looking for. If anybody has a piece would they please get in touch?

Rag rugging - a little heart..................

2012-02-24T10:06:00.002Z

As you know - last weekend was spent rag-rugging with Carole at Urchfont - needless to say Carole has finished her sample and I haven't!!

Measuring about 12" square - and two different techniques - hooky and proddy! Hooky is the loopy style in the heart and proddy is the raggy effect around the outside. We both enjoyed our foray into rag rugging - it was surprisingly relaxing to do - mind you the endless eating and drinking helped!

Rag rugs...........

2012-02-20T17:26:00.001Z

Last weekend I went to Urchfont Manor with a friend, Carole - it is an Adult Education Centre just outside Devizes in Wiltshire. The course ran from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon - and we did Rag Rugging with Debbie Siniska - I've always wanted to have a go at rag rugs! It was a brilliant weekend, a group of around nine who were all really easy to get on with, lots of excellent meals and plenty of laughs as well. Of course we did learn the techniques and had a go at a smallish piece each. I had raided my wardrobe for rags - not difficult - and it soon became obvious that I wear virtually nothing that isn't striped.

I'll add some photographs of my work in progress in a day or two - I want to get a bit further forward with it before I show it to the world. Of course himself has said that he used to make rag rugs as a child, with his mum, of necessity of course - he does tend to exaggerate the down side of growing up in the East End of London. He will insist that my family was well off because we had a paraffin heater to warm up the bathroom, and that where we had condensation on the inside of the windows permanently, they were making snowmen in their bedrooms!

Two new workshops..............

2012-02-15T15:56:00.000Z

We have got two new workshops coming up very soon, one is with Lynne Johnson - the Country Compass Quilt. It is a foundation pieced Mariners Compass, surrounded by pieced stars, and is quilted-as-you-go. It is spread over 3 one day workshops, each 10am-3pm, on Tuesday 1st May, then Tuesday 29th May and Tuesday 19th June. The cost is £75 for all 3 days.

The other workshop is a stencilled quilt. Based on two 1 day workshops, with a month inbetween. The first workshop is learning how to do the stencilling (all paints included) and cutting out. The second day is the technique of scalloped edging. The cost of this course is £60 for 2 days -

Mariner's Compass - our Class

2012-02-11T15:43:00.000Z

Our Saturday afternoon group have been in today and all have got their Mariner's Compass in one piece now! They still need a circle appliqued in the centre, to fill the gap, and then the corner sections to make a square. The first picture is Steph's, which has a spotty frame in place. The next border is to be simple squares, set on point.

In order, Steph's, Lindsay's, Hilary's, Maureen and lastly, but not leastly (!) and fussy-cut to boot, Pam's

Ta Da..................

New Look -

2012-02-11T14:54:00.001Z

As you may have noticed, I have been fiddling with the layout and colour scheme of the blog, mainly because we were still showing Tilda fabrics as our header, which we loved - but which didn't work for us in the shop. I have replaced the picture with some appliqued hearts in reproduction fabrics - just temporarily, until I take a better photograph. It isn't as sharp as it should be, but is a better representation of what we do here. Although we have contemporary fabrics as well, reproduction fabrics are our most favourite, and a lot of what we do leans that way!

Have a good weekend, lots of sewing - and if it is freezing where you are - as it is here - sit by the fire and relax!

New layout!

2012-02-10T15:22:00.002Z

I am playing with the layout of the blog - so if you keep seeing a different looking page, panic not! It is only I !

French General - Petite Odile

2012-02-08T20:38:00.001Z

Our Moda representative came in to see us today. There was one range of fabric, in particular, that grabbed us. It is 'La Petite Odile' by French General - and is inspired by the prints found in a little French girl's armoire - sweet, yet sophisticated - perfect for today's little girl's room. It has a vintage look, in soft shades. Right up our street!

What a lot of lightweights!

2012-02-08T19:51:00.000Z

What happened to all our usual Fat Friday crowd? Possibly the threat of bad weather kept everybody indoors. We found ourselves having to eat the strawberry meringue, in order to avoid wastage!

Wednesday morning is our beginners class - and now that everyone has done three or four blocks, it is interesting to see how different they all look. Two of the quilts have dark backgrounds - one has black with batiks, the other has a dark red background. They all look smashing!

Here they are..............

2012-02-02T17:58:00.000Z

We've been on overtime today - at long last, our Barbara Brackman Battle Hymn 1862 has arrived! The entire range - and charm packs too. Stunning fabric, and we were desperate to get it on the shelves immediately, if not sooner!

A number of people are awaiting its arrival -

We were so pleased with it, we awarded ourselves a charm pack each! Oh, the rewards of owning a quilt shop - LOL !

This is the quilt we made using this range of fabric - buttoned, instead of quilted.

Fat Friday........

2012-02-02T09:39:00.000Z

Don't forget it is Fat Friday tomorrow - come and join us for the afternoon, a piece of cake, tea or coffee and a fat quarter of fabric (of your choosing) and all for £5!

Blue Hill Shirtings..............

2012-02-01T16:18:00.002Z

Our poor postman staggered up the stairs with two enormous boxes of fabric today - Blue Hill Shirtings - by Sara Morgan for Blue Hill Fabrics - and a few others :)

The shirtings are all a special price at £10 per metre.................

.........and some more..............

pinks, blues, browns.........

Barbara Brackman William Morris Fabric....

2012-01-28T15:56:00.001Z

I have managed to finish the new Miniature Scrappy Hearts Quilt - ready to become a kit, with the Malvern Quilt show in mind. I have hand quilted around each of the little hearts, which really makes them pop!!

Lynne's Medallion Class.............

2012-01-28T10:56:00.000Z

Here are some photographs of some of the quilts that are being made on Lynne Johnson's Medallion Course - the quilts are about three quarters finished - don't they look beautiful?

The next border is a scalloped one - I can hear a lot of muttering going on as they are busy working out measurements!

And another one....

2012-01-26T19:43:00.000Z

Here is Steph's Mariner's Compass - finished this afternoon - it'll be the centre of a neutral quilt! It just needs the circle appliqued to the centre to fill the hole!

There were quite a few of us this afternoon for the drop-in, and it always turns into a lively afternoon. Judy and Lucy were in - Lucy was finishing some hand quilting and Judy knitted and unpicked twice, and left with a ball of wool with a knot in it, and nothing else!

I made a start on our new William Morris Miniature Quilt - twelve little hearts, all in different fabrics, appliqued onto two different backgrounds. The centre will have a dotty frame, and a larger print border - and measures around 18" x 20" when finished. It will be available as a kit very soon -

Barbara Brackman William Morris Range

2012-01-25T15:25:00.000Z

The new William Morris range by Barbara Brackman for Moda Fabrics -

Glorious colours and finely detailed! Rolled up yesterday and on display now - Barbara has a very interesting blog, click here to go straight to it!

Finished...............

2012-01-24T19:41:00.003Z

Our Friday lot have started to make Steph's Mariners Compass as the centre piece of their new quilts. Foundation pieced - so deadly accurate and fairly easy to put together. I decided that I would do one as well - so here it is -

I haven't got the central circle on it yet - but that won't take long. I am really pleased with it! Him indoors has been wondering what on earth I am up to, sitting at the machine with tongue lolling!
I'll put some more photographs on, as soon as there is more progress made.

Another busy day.....

2012-01-21T18:07:00.000Z

Another busy day today - two Beginners Classes, one this morning, one this afternoon - really interesting to see the finished tops. Here is Barbara's -

Very fresh looking. This afternoon's group started later, and so most are on session number 4, which is curved seam! Ha! Drunkard's Path - that'll give them plenty to do until the next lesson, which will be a Dresden Plate block.

Hilary came in to collect her Taste of Tudor Applique quilt, which has been longarm quilted by Barbara at Fir Tree Quilting. Barbara has custom quilted it -

Difficult to see the quilting in the photograph, but beautifully done, and bound too.

We had some new books in this week, one of which has got some nice projects in 'Tilda' style. Sue has made up some of the doll bodies for us, from the book - mind you, I think they must have an eating disorder. Two are incredibly skinny, and two are porkers! It must have been ~~hell~~ quite challenging stuffing those skinny legs! Mind you, they'll be fine with clothes on I'm sure!

As you know, we always have a bit of a theme going for The Festival of Quilts in August, at the NEC. I am not allowed to divulge any information at the moment, but lots of boxes of display items have been rolling up, and I've just had an idea for those mis-shapen bodies on our sofa!

I think Sue was disappointed with them, and refused to give them either hair or faces. That'll teach 'em!

Battle Hymn - 1862 - Barbara Brackman

2012-01-19T17:00:00.000Z

Hooray! Finished.......... We used calico for the sashing which really makes the fabric stand out. Buttoned instead of quilted, with vintage style buttons, and bound in calico. The fabric is Barbara Brackman's Battle Hymn 1862, for Moda Fabrics, and due to arrive next month. We managed to get hold of some samples, enough to make up this quilt.

Mrs March Quilt.....

2012-01-18T17:45:00.001Z

We have been working on a new rotary cut and machined sampler quilt using Lecien 'Mrs March' collection fabrics.

Nine blocks altogether - set 'on-point' - three of them are foundation pieced, and the course is suitable for beginners and more experienced. Starting at the end of April, on a Wednesday morning, from 10 - 12pm, fortnightly. 12 lessons, 2 hours each, and £120 for the entire course.

Photograph of finished quilt coming shortly!

New fabrics..................

2012-01-18T15:40:00.000Z

Some new fabrics rolled up today - by Robyn Pandolph - 'St Remy de Provence' is the range - beautiful toile fabrics, and soft and vintagey looking. I think we may need to each take a little home with us later................

There is a new bag making book - also some other simple craft and gift idea books - no need to be behind next Christmas!

The quilt in the foreground is made with Barbara Brackmans 'Battle Hymn'. We've got the entire range coming in next month, but we managed to get hold of some samples. The quilt is held by vintage style buttons, rather than quilted.

An improvement....

2012-01-17T19:54:00.000Z

I've been trying to think of a way to avoid wasting too much fabric when foundation piecing. I haven't done much foundation piecing, but found that I was cutting way too big pieces in order to 'cover' the area required. I photocopied an extra set of foundation papers, and then cut them down to make paper templates. I am using these extra paper templates as a guide when cutting my fabric, adding on three quarters of an inch all round each piece for the seam allowance (and a little leeway), and placing the template on the right side of the fabric.
So far, so good - and so far, less wastage!

Mariners Compass

2012-01-17T13:31:00.001Z

I couldn't resist having a little play myself! I really like foundating piecing because it is so accurate, and once I've got into the 'back to front/inside out' lark, I'm off. The only thing I don't like about it is the waste of fabric. It does seems to use much more than ordinary piecing. I'm playing around with the paper templates to see if I can find a way of reducing the fabric waste!

I'll keep you informed...............

Early days....but here they are!

2012-01-14T18:15:00.000Z

Here we are then Gill - and I don't think anybody struggled - it does take some concentration, but they were all on a roll - notice the fabric with footprints....

I didn't quite catch all of them for a photo - the plan is that they will all be in for the next lesson with 8 sections like the blue one above, ready for the next stage of joining!

Mariner's Compass............

2012-01-14T12:01:00.000Z

Steph has had her Professor of Mathematics head on this last week or so. One of our regular groups expressed an interest in doing something 'challenging' - be careful what you wish for! This'll keep them quiet for a bit. Steph has drawn this Mariner's Compass out from scratch - foundation pieced - it measures something like 18" in diameter, and is a proto-type, in as much as there are one or two places which are not quite 100%!. Steph is making another now, in neutrals/browns/golds, which will be the centre piece for a hand-pieced medallion quilt.

The would-be Mariner's Compass makers will be in this afternoon.....hope they are feeling bright eyed and bushy tailed! (They probably won't be when they leave)

Second photograph shows the back - the compass was made in eight sections - the centre circle is added as an extra to cover the unfinished middle.