Busy Getting Ready For The Festival of Quilts

Hi everyone,

I’m busy preparing for my workshops for the Festival of Quilts at Birmingham’s NEC in August. There’s still time to get tickets Here

The workshop will be about Botanical stitching using vintage fabrics and trimmings …..

I’ve been busy organising Swadlincote Art Trail but event time is finally here….if your near by make sure you come and visit…

But I have been working on a few bits in between.

Free Motion and raw edge appliqué……kit coming soon……

And thread paintings which have just gone off to be framed ……

Ive also had a trip over to Birmingham to visit the Sewing Quarter. Watch this space ……

And a lovely surprise from Madeira Threads, a big box of threads. I always use Madeira threads in all of work, the quality and colour ranges are the best, so a big thank you.

Anyway that’s it for now. Thanks for reading

Ami

Xxx

A Grey Day Again :(

Hi everyone,

I’m really looking forward to the warmer weather now…..Winter seems to have been so long this time.

On the plus side it’s perfect weather to stay at home and sit behind the sewing machine.

My current project is a kaleidoscope quilt that has been ongoing for a few months. It’s all on my design wall but still needs to be pieced together…..

I’ve been working on it in between other projects. I’ve been thread painting on my new machine to see how it copes, plus I find it very relaxing and addictive……

If you’re visiting the Creative Craft Show – Sewing for Pleasure at Birmingham NEC this week, I have a few bits on display as part of the Midlands Textile Forums exhibition. We’re on stand L30, I’ll be there on the stand on Sunday morning. If your there please come and say hello 😘

I’m excited to say I’ll be teaching at the Festival of Quilts this year. I’ll be there for three days – Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets go on sale on the 9th April for guild members and the 16th April for non members….

I’ve had some lovely feedback about my memory box kits and photos of finished boxes……

My kits are available from my website – https://www.simplyneedlecraft.com/store/p53/Memory%2FTrinket_Box_Full_Kit_.html

and also all of my workshop dates in the Sewing Studio- https://www.simplyneedlecraft.com/workshopsclasses.html

Thank you for reading, I hope to see you when I’m out and about.

Ami

xxx

Bishops Castle Lie of the Land Exhibition

Hi everyone,

Yes my first exhibition with Midlands Textile Forum started yesterday at Bishops Castle. I’m so excited to be part of this and I’m hoping to get to see it soon….

I had such a fantastic week last week. On Thursday we made the journey to the International Festival of Quilts where two groups of my sewing students entered.

I’m pleased to say both groups did amazingly well, the theme was ‘free’. The younger primary school aged group made a quilt of hot air balloons and kites and named it ‘Up, up & away. They received a highly commended.

My older group of secondary school ages made a 4 panelled quilt called ‘ Natures Wardrobe’. They won 3rd place.

I’m so proud of them ❤️

I’ve been busy hand stitching recently. I bit different for me and a break from machine stitching.

Thread painted landscape. This is a hand stitched version of my machined landscape.

And I finished my botanical fabric journal. I’ve loved making this sample book ready for my new workshop dates. Made from vintage fabrics, lace and threads and inspiration from garden centres and countryside.

All of my new workshop dates are now on the Haberdashery website, all dates, times, details and booking is available to see. Places are filling extremely quick…….Please see here

Its been a busy time and I haven’t managed to catch up on coursework so that’s the next task……hopefully.

thanks for reading

Ami

xxx

Busy Behind The Scenes!

Hi everyone,

I’ve not had chance to blog for a few weeks, things have been a bit hectic here.

My son started the summer holidays by dislocating his knee. He been very brave and in a lot of pain, so everything else took a back seat.

The Lie of the Land exhibition start on the 16th August so my piece has been packed and shipped to join the exhibition at Bishops Castle. I’m slightly nervous as this will be my first exhibition with the group. If your near or passing pop in and have a look.

I’m also getting ready for Melbourne Festival which takes place 16th and 17th September. I’ll be located at 52 Blanche Croft. I’ve still got a few pieces at the framers but a couple have already been returned ….

At the moment I’m concentrating on my hand stitched botanical fabric journal.

im using upcyled and vintage fabrics, lace and threads. I’ve still got plenty to stitch but I’m making good progress…

My latest workshop in the Sewing Studio was the extremely popular, free motion for beginners workshop. I was joined by four lovely ladies who were eager to get to grips with free motion stitching.

I love this workshop, it’s fun, creative, inspiring and everyone leaves feeling very proud and rightly so……