Calling past speed quilt students

I've now got time to go back to some of the projects I was working on before the gallery came up. One of those is Speed Quilt. I am looking to publish the patterns for all the designs and I would love to include pictures of quilts that have been made in classes. If you would like yours to be one of the featured quilt please get in touch. Also if you know someone who has taken the class pleas do pass on this plea.

Exercise

I am exhausted, long weekends are hard work. It's been a very productive weekend for me though. The quilt I showed you yesterday is progressing. I'm sure I once heard that small repetitive movements were more tiring than larger movements. Well in the case of longarm quilting it seems to be the case. There are a lot of areas of very dense quilting and they are mostly filled in with a zig zag. I can do about 30 minutes of that type of quilting before I have to have a break. It's surprisingly tough on my forearm. I guess it is because the movement is coming from my elbow to get the precision to fill in the areas I want. Ho hum. Still I am thrilled with the effect and I've nearly finished this stage of the project. When it's done I can move on to filling in the background which should be more varied and a lot quicker.

I've also managed to get some gardening done, and a washing line up. Both are more impressive than they might sound. I burn very easily so going out during the day in the weather we have had is interesting. It was something of a necessity though as one of our cats decided to throw up on the quilt that is on the bed. It was actually quite funny as I had just watched an episode of "The Quilt Show" where they had been explaining that traditionally quilt were used and when the cat threw up on them they had to be washed (hmm I wonder if that is what gave the cats the idea?). I had just commented I must be a pretty traditional quilter then as I think quilts should be used, then I went into the bedroom and found the mess. Of course it's the only quilt in the house at the moment the rest are in storage ready to do talks. It get better it is one of only two quilt's I own that don't fit in my washing machine. However I had noticed the quilt has got a lot softer and thinner with use (Ginko Typography) so I thought I would give it a try. It now fits, just. It saves a trip to the laundrette which I really don't have time for right now. However I didn't want to put a quilt that heavy straight into the tumble drier on a hot sunny day, that's just daft. So time to get a washing line, or indeed a rotary airer. I found one that claimed to be a complete kit. I assured me I would be able to take it home, install it and put up to 4 loads of washing on it (it even came with pegs). Surprise it worked! The rain held off just long enough to get everything dry too.

On the way in with a washing line we noticed the hedge cutting frenzy in the street. Of course we felt obliged to have a go too. The hedge looks great, but we need a new broom. I used it the head fell off, no biggie I put it back on. Tet used it and the handle broke in two! He really doesn't know his own strength. On the other hand as I type he is on the final stages of getting two of my patterns ready to send off to the printer which is very cool. Both of the patterns are designed to use ombre fabrics. One is "Dawn and Dusk". It was the first pattern we produced ourselves. It was a worrying pattern with very slow sales to start with but in hind sight I think that was my lack of marketing skills rather than any problem with the pattern. It's sold out it's first print run, hence the reprint. The other pattern is "Under the Rainbow". This was initially made for Popular Patchwork and I have always told people to contact them for a the back issue to get the pattern. They have sold out of that issue so it's time to produce my own pattern of it. I am really looking forward to them arriving. My short patterns are printed in full colour double sided on one sheet of A3 paper. This is then folded down to an A5 booklet. I like the fact that you can't lose any of the pages as there is only one sheet. It also reduces the possibility of me forgetting to put everything into the bag. Either the sheet is there or there isn't a pattern. Hopefully people using the pattern will enjoy it too.

Patterns patterns everywhere.

I'll try this as one answer for all, as I am getting a lot of queries on this. I haven't got any of the Turning Twenty range of patterns right now, but they should be with me in a few days. They sell faster than I can buy them, which is great but does mena you will somtimes have to wait for them. I am selling them at 8 pounds per pattern whichever one you choose plus 50p posst and packing.

I do have Dawn and Dusk patterns (the photos show the back and front of the quilt) on hand, they are 5 pounds each. If you are looking for ombre fabrics try calling Patchwork Corner, they still have some of the same range I used for the pattern and at this morning there was at least one kit. If that doesn't turn up the colour you want then Equilter may be able to help you. Put ombre into the search bow, you will a get a great range to choose from.

Aliens

I've finally had some time to put together the other top I cut out a while ago. It's a fun quilt that one day will end up on my bed. After it has finished working. You may notice it isn't the normal aspect ratio for a quilt. I decided that I really need wider quilts with less length for our king size bed, so this one has been designed for that. It could easily be made a more traditional shape if needed.

I fell in love with this fabric as soon as I saw it but found it impossible to buy in the UK and hard in the US. So this is the result of a lot of searching, and I think I have enough left for a second quilt when I decide what else I would like to do with it. I don;t know if you will be able to see in the photograph but there are some fantastic space craft in the small print with a black background. I especially like the bus. The range is called Alien Invasion by Amy Bradley Designs, and was produced by Moda fabrics.

I guess it's time to put the border on now. I think I have just enough of the sashing fabric left.

Wanted - Pattern testers

• Do you like being the first to try a new pattern?
• Do you love finding a designers mistakes?
  
• Do you enjoy the challenge of badly written and occasionally missing instructions?
  
• Do you love working just for the satisfaction of a job well done?
  
• Can you deal with all that and communicate the problems back to the designer?

If so you could be the person I am looking for. I have several patterns I am working on at the moment, and I am running low on people to test them. Besides I think that over time people become used to your way of describing things and may not pick up something that would be confusing to others. I can't afford to pay you, but I will happily credit testers. If you think this is something you would like to have a go at, please get in touch either via the comments or the contact link to the right.

Feeling smug, and rather tired.

I feel like I've had a holiday and that I have been stunningly productive. I'm not even sure how you can feel both things at the same time, but I am very pleased I do. As you can see I've got the side panels on my bugs quilt. I was hoping to get that final two borders on but it wasn't to be tonight. I think this will be the first of my patterns for big kids. I've been thinking a lot about patterns for big quilts using novelty prints, I know too many big people who want silly quilts. It also struck me that some of the same patterns might work really well with other big print fabrics. So I will test them in my loud prints then go hunting some more traditional fabrics to try them in. I will make sure the quilts have a smaller option too for the real kids out there.

Today I've also managed to write two more chapters of my book. It is a bit of a cheat, I am into quite short chapters now, but still it sounds good. I hope my students will enjoy it, even though I spotted a typo just after printing 20 copies. A typo that my spell checker managed to miss even though I am certain it isn't a valid word.

So over the weekend, while having my relaxing time off I've,

• made most of a king size quilt top
• quilted two customer quilts
• written a requirements list
• made a necklace
• cut a king size quilt top
• sewn half a quilt as you go quilt
• written a pattern for a quilt
• written two chapters of my book
• listened to three audio books
• watched half a series of The Equalizer
• utterly failed to eat fish and chips (not for want of trying)
  

and perhaps most importantly, had fun. Can you see why I can't understand why it felt like a holiday?

I have to share this link. It was sent to a mail list I am on, and I just love this artistic use for old technology.

For those interested, this weekends racing was largely a washout, but Trogdor did manage a new fastest ET. We think it has a 13 second run in it somewhere, we just have to find it.

Bugs everywhere

I've been writing up a pattern for novelty quilts today, and it inspired me to use this fabric. I just loved the bugs and lizards, and I like the idea of a couple of novelty bed quilts. This will be the center panel of a large double bed quilt. I want to tone things down a little bit on the sides. It isn't clear in the picture just how bright these fabrics are. Think real primary colours. Fro the sides I think I will just some black fabric with bright paw prints on it. I also have a little of the green and blue fabrics left which should contrast well with the black.

I will produce this as a pattern for a single bed quilt and possible a child's lap/floor quilt too. I think it would be great for all sorts of novelty prints. Once I have this one done I think I will start on my aliens quilt, which will be a similar that will use panels as well as the large print fabrics. That will be a somewhat more subdued quilt. The fabric isn't anywhere near as bright.

Scary day

Well I've done it now, the gallery is booked. I will be showing some of my work at the Dissenters Gallery from 7th March 2008 to 7th April 2008. It seems a lot more scary now I have confirmed it. I have plans for all the work that will be on display, I just have to decide the title. I am excited too, but sooo nervous. I guess my next step is to take some time to try and work out the bulk of what has to be done before the opening. I've a feeling it will be a long list.

I can finally talk freely about a project I completed back in February. Unfortunately I don't seem to have a picture of it finished but here is 'By the Hearth' in progress. It is a wall hanging of a life sized fireplace. Today I got my copy of Popular Patchwork, who are printing it as a three part project, and I love the photograph they have taken of it. I will have to ask someone to pat the model for me.

It could be used just as a decorative piece, or by adding Velcro to the back of all the decorative items it works as an advent calendar too. The stockings button on and would be great to hold a few small presents. The fireplace and it's quilting is very closely based on the fireplace in my sewing room. The cat would have to be Heimdal who is my ginger tom and love the fire.

I also have designs for decorations to hang on your real fireplace (if you are lucky enough to have one) which I will be teaching at Patchwork Corner on the 20th October. We will also look at making Christmas stockings and quilted cards.

Tired

The daft things I do in the name of quilting. Having had several people proof read my pattern we noticed an error after having them printed, so I needed to get a reprint. Well I can put in a correction, but I would like to have so correct ones too. So yesterday I went back to the print shop that did the first ones to get some more. This time they couldn't open the pdf file. They were adamant that it was either faulty or too big and I would have to change it. OK not ideal but not a complete disaster this was first thing in the morning and they were open late. We got back there half an hour before closing but the computer still didn't like my files. They couldn't do it. I decided I really wanted this resolved, and I know there are 24/7 printers in Soho, Google being my friend, it was pretty easy to find them. It turns out the cheapest is actually in Vauxhall, south east London, of course I live north west London. Ho hum, at least it is quite quick to drive across town around midnight. The printer did a great job and by 2am I had a new stack of folded patterns. Sorted. Just what everyone would do right? I do think it will be my chosen way to get my printing done it was a lot easier than doing it during the day.

Then an early morning to get the machine set up at the show. Fortunately I can live on five hours sleep, sometimes at least. I took one of my MQS quilts to cover the table, although I have put a cutting mat over it to protect it you can still see it around the table. Playing with the Sapphire has been a lot of fun. It really is a very nice machine for free motion work, even if the thing that most impressed a customer was that is could draw caravans! I think tomorrow I will take a larger selection of threads to play with, I missed having my whole range with me. Isn't it funny how spoilt we get by our stashes.

Oh yes, two of my quilts got awards. I got second place for longarm quilting with the 'Blue and Red Tulips', Mandy Parks won the first prize, but I haven't had a chance to look at all the quilts yet. 'Wait' also got a second place this time in the art quilt section. I will try and look at the quilts tomorrow and see what the winners look like. As I said I haven't really looked around yet but I am told there aren't as many traders as last year. Hopefully the ones that are there will be interesting enough to make up for it.

It was great to meet so many people in person that I 'know' online. It's so fun to have people I've never seen come up an talk about my work. Thank you all for taking the time to chat. To those I left abruptly I am sorry, I tend to take work related distractions quite seriously and drop the social thing. I was thinking about it on the way home and I will try and make the transition more elegant honest.

Hope to see lots more of you tomorrow.

Wow!

Some days things do seem to be coming together. I took my Houston entry forms to Mail Box Etc to try out the FedEx next day delivery service. I like the idea that if they don't deliver I don't pay. Although I have just realised that I didn't manage to get a copy of the terms and conditions. I did ask but there were other customers distracting me and the staff member, I'll go back tomorrow and see if I can get them. Anyway I went in and they offered me somewhere to sit and fill in the forms, which I thought was very nice. I got most of the form filled in but I didn't have a phone number for the recipient. I asked if it was required and he said yes it was essential, they couldn't accept the shipment without it. Before I had a chance to say anything else he offered to look it up for me. What a difference. It was certainly a lot easier than booking a DHL collection and filling in their paperwork. Now I just have to wait and see if it gets there. I checked earlier and it was making progress, but having just checked it is stuck at Stansted with a delay beyond their control. Oh well maybe it is something about me, I can get even simple packages stuck.

I followed this up with delivering my new patterns. It is official, I will be launching my first pattern at the National Quilt Championships Sandown. It will be for sale at the Patchwork Corner stand. Somehow along the lines I also volunteered to demonstrate the Husqvarna Viking Sapphire, so if you are coming to the show, please pop by and say hello. I was really pleased that the patterns passed inspection, it is very similar to the first time I put a quilt into a show. I guess it is all a matter of sending your creations out into the world to fend for themselves. I am quite looking forward to spending the whole weekends at the show and meeting lots of new people. I am sure it will be very tiring, but hopefully it will be fun too.

I've finally finished squaring up the 204 blocks of Splash of Darkness, and I should have it on the frame tomorrow. I even think I have decided how I am going to quilt it, of course it may change once I get it on the frame, quilts seem to get more chatty once they are loaded.

I take a night off and work happens!

I spent tonight at a concert. I don't go to so many now, so they are even more of a treat when they do come up. I tend to only go to bands I know will put on a good show, I don;t have time to waste (let alone money) on those who are more variable in quality. Tonight was Motley Crue, who I love going to see. It is a very high energy show and I always leave feeling better, more alive and usually inspired.

Strangely it was the support band that provided most of the inspiration this time. I wasn't looking forward to them at all, Papa Roach didn't sound like my sort of band at all, but actually their newer material was pretty good. Their older songs really weren't to my tastes but they didn't play too much of that. They did give me an idea of a male nude. I have been thinking about it for some time now but I find men are harder to show in ways that speak to me. Sorry but most male nudes are somewhat untidy to my eye. I have nothing against the male form, it just isn't an neatly beautiful as women. The lead singer of Papa Roach mostly wasn't that exciting, but just sometimes the light on his arms was fantastic. I think I know what aspects of it made it work for me, and I think I have someone who could model for me. If I can make it work I will be thrilled.

They also sang a song dedicated to people from broken homes. After the song the singer said that believed that anything that doesn't kill us makes us stronger, and that he was proud of who he has become. It reminded me that I have a series and a one off that I need to make on that kind of theme, and I think I now have the skills I need to make them work. I think I will dig out the fabrics and bag up those projects next time I need a break.

It was good to see Motley Crue, I always wonder if the concert will be the last time I see Mick playing, and it seems that he plays each as if it were his last. He is still a great guitarist, and I do love watching him, even if I did need my binoculars to do it this time. Unfortunately Tommy Lee wasn't able to play, he has injured his shoulder. Whilst I felt sorry for him having to sit out the concert which he obviously wanted to be involved in, I felt even more sorry for his stand in. Can you imagine having to perform in place of someone with that big a personality, in front of their fans with them coaching you from the sidelines. Not my idea of fun, even if the idea of playing with the band is. It was a fantastic show, and they did a good job of the sound mixing. Sadly a lot of rock bands don't seem to be able to do that and it spoils a lot of concerts. I loved the flames, flares and pyrotechnics, just what you need on a hot day in a hot venue, we must be mad.

Having showered and changed, I've managed to get my Houston entry forms done, the photos are OK, they could be better but Decadence really didn't want to play ball having been rolled up for two weeks. Hopefully it will be good enough to show the concept to the jury. Then when I logged on to update my show spreadsheet I found that another of my secret projects is about to become a lot less secret. In the next day or so the pattern for 'By the Hearth' should appear on the Makower web site. It's obviously my week for publishing patterns. It is a pattern for a life size fireplace, complete with candles, Christmas cards, presents, stockings and of course a cat. It will also be published later this year in Popular Patchwork. It was a fun project to work on, I just wish I could have shared it at the time.

Yay, another milestone hit

By the skin of our teeth we got the first batch of my first pattern printed today. I am so thrilled. If things go according to plan I hope it will be available it Sandown in two weeks time. It shouldn't be a big deal but it has been a long time in the planning. I have three other patterns ready to be typeset, proofed and then printed, which hopefully will be easier now we have done one.

I have started looking for some online shop software. We had planned to write our own, we are a household of software engineers after all, but really there is too much other work to do. So if you have software you would recommend I would be very interested to hear about it. As well as my own pattern I have the Turning Twenty, Turning Twenty Again and Turning Twenty around the block patterns for sale. If you want to order anything before we get the online shopping working use the contact me link and I will be happy to sort out manually.

I've also sent another secret squirrel off to it's owner, which is always nice, it will be secret for a bit longer, sorry. Other than that I have just finished my first ever bias binding on a quilt. Yes it has curved edges, and it went pretty well. I don't think it is something I want to be doing too often though.

Hi, I am still here

I thought this was going to be a quiet week, how wrong can you be. The bridal hand off went well Monday, and I took a little time off before preparing for my class the next day. Just as I was arriving for the class (only just on time due to bad traffic) I got a phone call. The job I had planned to do Wednesday - Friday had just become urgent and could I please get there today (Tuesday). I refused to cancel the class but said I would head over as soon as I had finished teaching. The job was prop making and ran until Thursday. We didn't quite get as much out as we wanted for the Wednesday, but we finished on time for the Thursday collection. It did involve some late nights to do it, and as you can imaging, after the double shift and then not a lot of sleep I have been too tired to blog.

Today I had a chance to work on the next magazine quilt. I've finished the base layer of the top. Tomorrow I will quilt it and add the details. It is supposed to have removable pieces, but I realised (after buying the velcro) that it might be better to stitch them in place on the quilt that will be going to trade shows. Oh well, I am sure I will use the velcro sometime.

In the midst of all this I did manage to go out for dinner on Thursday at my favourite sushi place. The food was good and it was nice to see them open again after moving. We ate until we were ready to burst and then the chef produced us 'desert'. It was an inside out roll with eel in the center. The outside was wrapped with assorted fish and avocado. It was beautiful. Fortunately I had my camera with me (I had been taking pictures of the snow on the way t work) so I managed to get a picture of it. Apparently it doesn't have a name yet, but I hope it gets one soon. Something that pretty really should have a name. It tasted amazing too, and despite having all claimed to be full we managed to eat it all. It's a great place. It is called Wankara, and is in Oriental City in Collindale..