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

Learning is always my therapy!!!!!

I love coursework……. learning new techniques and methods is a great way to stay intrigued.

At the moment I’m nearing the end of a City & Guilds Level 3 in Design and Stitch with Sian Martin at Distant Stitch.

The module I’m working through at the moment is named Textures in Landscapes.

I’m working my way through stitching textured samples which is great fun and addictive.

But I’m also taking part in the new course, Exploring Textures with Sue Stone. I’m finding this very relaxing and therapeutic. Using basic hand stitching and threads to make samples………….

On a personal note, I’ve been stitching and thread painting landscapes…..

still needs to go off to the framers

hopefully over the next week or so I’ll be planning which pieces are coming along to Melbourne Art Festiva.

have a lovely weekend

Ami

xxxx

I’m Back Behind My Sewing Machine

Hi everyone,

At last I’m back where I feel most comfortable…… behind my sewing machine getting relaxed by stitching.

I always roughly draw up a design and plan……..however 9 times out of 10 it never looks like the original idea 🙂

I’m focusing on landscapes at the moment …. so I’ve started stitching, with plenty more to do.

It’s been a hectic few weeks as Derbyshire Open Arts took place and the shop became a gallery…..

I’ve been busy preparing for the Midlands Textile Forum exhibition at Bishops Castle in August. The subject is ‘Lie of the Land. My piece in the exhibition is called ‘Mother Earth’. It still needs mounting and framing though…….

Some extra news –

I will be exhibiting at Melbourne Festival, Derbyshire in September which I’m very excited about. It’s a fantastic festival.

Melbourne Festival

and i’ll also be at Bank Mills Studios in Derby 24th – 26th November

http://www.evolvederby.co.uk/os2017

I’ve managed to take some time off this week and carrying on with the landscape theme I decided to go a walk in the woodland national forest close to our house. I’m not the best at drawing without a visual example so it best for me to take photo,s……..

I’m planning on having a calmer week next week so I can get plenty of coursework and stitching done……..fingers crossed. I’ll let you know how I get on 🙂

Thank you for reading

Ami