The Quilt Room

Another Quilt on the Machine!

Since the NEC we have been flat out making quilts for the new book - we have thirteen pieced now and we are working away getting them quilted and bound. We want the new book to be as packed full of quilts as Jelly Roll Quilts so we have another few to make yet.

Then we have to get started on the variations. Most of them we will make ourselves but we also have some willing helpers down in Cornwall from Southill Piecemakers who have offered their services and Chris at the warehouse has offered to make one she particularly likes. It will all get done in time I'm sure!

This is one of the quilts on the machine which is for the new book - it's a variation of Storm at Sea and is made from a jelly roll. Nicky found a lovely quilting design with sailing ships which was just perfect. I will try and show you a close up but it might be difficult to see. Yes, you can't really see it - you will just have to wait for the book to come out and then you will be able to see it much clearer - publication date May 2009!

I'm off to a wedding just outside Prague this week so Nicky is going to be at Hever Castle with Chris. I do hope the weather is going to get better as Hever in the rain is definitely not as good as Hever in the sun. It is always a lovely show but fingers crossed the rain stays away. Please go and say hello to Nicky and Chris If you are going to be there - I feel very guilty about leaving it to them but I couldn't possibly miss a wedding!

Preview of NEW Blocks of the Month

Well I just couldn't wait any longer to show you our new Blocks of the Month. This first one is called Pockets of Posies designed by Anni Downs of Hatched & Patched, Australia - finished size 73in x 73in. It is a fabulous combination of applique, English piecing (which is really making a comback) and piecing.

We have chosen to use the Portobello Market range by Moda's Three Sisters which will look absolutely stunning. We are really excited about this quilt - it is GORGEOUS.

The fabrics are due in September and the 10 month programme will start straight away. Nicky will be putting the booking information on the web site in the next week.

This is the beautiful Birds and the Bees from Quilt Soup, USA.- finished size 59in x 59in.

The quilt featured shows the Dandelion Range from Fig Tree Quilts but we have chosen to wait for their new range Fig & Plum - again due in September. You can see some of the fabrics earlier in the blog as we brought some back from Portland. It is going to look very special.

Again, Nicky will be putting the booking information on the web site in the next week. She's going to be a busy girl!

I did say matching tape!

I should have put this photo in the blog yesterday but I forgot I had it.  When I mentioned matching tape, it didn't sound quite as exciting as I wanted it to sound and then I remembered this photo that Nicky took when we were on the Seven Islands' stand in Portland.

We haven't ordered all of these but it just gives you an idea of their gorgeous range. If I'm honest I can't  remember exactly what we ordered. We didn't find their stand until the last afternoon of the last day of the show. You might wonder how we could have missed it but the show is enormous and it is easily done.

Mandy Shaw (who has just written the book Quilt Yourself Gorgeous) will be doing a workshop for us later in the year and she will be making a jewellery roll from some of these fabrics complete with matching tape!Watch out for this in our Workshop Programme which is due out on 1st July. I think she is coming in November so this will give you plenty of time to make some Christmas presents.

A short break from work

Look at these gorgeous bags! They were on the Japanese Seven Islands stand at Quilt Market to display their fabrics. We have ordered some of their lovely fabrics which are ideal for bag making as they are a slightly thicker weave.

They also have matching tapes for handle making and ties. Just can't wait for them to come in - they are meant to be arriving end July so hopefully they will be with us in time for the NEC.

I've actually had a chance to go through all the catalogues and brochures we picked up at Quilt Market and there is so much more I've go to tell you about.

I'm meant to be working on a pattern today and I have nearly finished it. Some fabulous fabrics have just arrived in the warehouse and Nicky is going to make up this lovely quilt we saw at Market. It is made from Anna Griffin's new range called Georgette's Wedding.

If you've got a wedding present to make then how about this for the height of sophistication. Subtle cream and grey with a stunning floral. Nicky fell in love with it and is going to make the shop sample. There will be a kit available but you'll just have to give me time to complete the instructions!

Yes that is me holding it up - I don't look terribly elegant. There is someone the other end but they've managed to hide themselves!

New Range from Blackbird Designs

We are particularly fond of the fabrics from Blackbird Designs and have probably stocked all of their ranges over the years. In fact the quilt on my bed at the moment is one made from Rhubarb & Ginger. I made it from one of the Moda University patterns and I really love it.

Anyway, back to the new range. This is called Harvest Home and it is available from September. We will have the range shown here which is a mixture of large prints, small florals and some checks. As you can see the colours are gorgeous.

And to tempt you further, we will also have the Jelly Rolls. I am really looking forward to making a Jelly Roll quilt out of these - perhaps using one of those large prints as a border - oh yes!

Summer at Last

It is so good to feel the sun on your face. I have to admit to having a very nice Sunday lunch in the garden. A siesta afterwards was called for and I fell asleep for half and hour or so with the sun on my face. Not a good idea I know but it felt so nice. The last couple of days I have looked extremely red faced and I have a horrible feeling my nose is going to peel. That will teach me.

Anyway, here are some summer fabrics which are due in the shop in a couple of weeks. They are a new line called Cottage Romance from Maywood Studio and they are a lovely mix of florals, spots and checks - something for everyone in fact.

Pictured here are the red and blue ranges and we also have the green and yellow colourways.

We have bundled them up into packs of 6 fat quarters. If you are looking to make a quilt in just one colourway, they are especially good as there is such a variety of design and texture. They would also mix beautifully and would remind you that when summer comes it really is GREAT!

Watch out for them in a couple of weeks - this is just your sneak preview!

More Sneak Previews

       

                      

Nicky has been getting very enthusiastic with her camera work and I hope you can see the little yellow flower peaking through the wooden slats above. I think it is a weed but it is certainly a very pretty weed! These are just a few of the fabrics we selected from a range called Recess designed by American Jane for  Moda. We know they are going to be just so useful - lovely bright pin spots and pale little stripes.

Sneaky Peak at Fig & Plum

Soft mellow and desirable apricot, cream, aqua and plum. Here are a couple of peeks at the gorgeous new range from Fig Tree Quilts aptly named Fig & Plum. The fabrics on the left we have ordered specially for our new BOM which will be commencing in Sep/Oct -details of the BOM later on. The pic on the right shows eight fabrics which we've chosen for a range to feature in our newsletter later in the year. These will hit the shop in September and although a bit of a wait we think they're certainly worth waiting for. We'll get a pic of the new BOM posted soon. 

Fabric Mayhem

The evening before market starts there is something known as 'Sample Spree' To put simply it's where fabric companies set up trestle tables and sell the first print run of their new ranges. Make no mistake this isn't a civilised evening - elbows are important! Imagine hundreds of women desperately trying to buy the newest Moda designs over 6 months before they reach shops. Rumour has it that last year two ladies ended up in a fist fight!

To put it into perspective, we take three empty suitcases which are filled to the brim with all that we buy.

Here on the right are some of our goodies. The great thing about it is that it gives us plenty of time to get samples made ready for when the fabric reaches the shops.