Patchwork and Quilting Workshop with Janet Bottomley

This post is all about Janet Bottomley who is running the Patchwork and Quilting workshop on 10th April. I first met Janet a few months ago and we immediately clicked through our love of crafting and VW camper vans. Janet even brought along some VW campervan fabric for me but I can’t decide what to use it for yet as I want to make the most of it!

Janet is clearly a patchwork and quilting junkie, have a look at one of her blogs at http://www.aquiltersjournal.blogspot.com/ if you need the proof! This is a picture of one of one of Janet’s mini-quilts which won an award at the Harrogate Quilt Show. (We'll be making a mini-quilt at the workshop on 10th April)

As well as having a husband, 2 sons, 5 cats and 3 rescued ex-battery chickens Janet also finds time to travel from Barnsley to Skipton, North Yorkshire, every month to continue her love of quilting by undertaking a city and guilds certificate in ‘Patchwork and Quilting – Creative Techniques’ (Janet already has a Certificate in Patchwork and Quilting!). You can follow Janet’s work on her blog

http://www.cityandguildspatchworkandquilting.blogspot.com/

I am very jealous, as they seem to do some fantastic assignments where you can let your creativity run riot. Here are a couple of my favourite pieces from Janet’s course




Janet also likes to incorporate used fabrics into her projects, here’s one with the odds and ends of shirts which weren’t used in other projects. I really like this one!


As if that’s not enough Janet is also involved in producing memory quilts and charity quilts, runs workshops and arranges talks from national quilting specialists!

Here’s a couple of images of Janet’s quilts which I’m sure you will agree are absolutely fantastic.






At the Running With Scissors workshop on 10th April we will be learning the techniques of piecing, appliqué and quilting, using all the necessary equipment and materials. If you’ve always wanted to have a go, this is an ideal starter session to learn the basics, take home your very own mini-quilt and have the initial skills to be able to create your own quilt later at home.

Hope to see you there!

Pins and Needles

I have been meaning to compose a post all about pins and needles for some time, sounds a little strange, I know. It all started when and friend and I went to York for the day where we visited the sashiko exhibition at York City Gallery. Sashiko is a type of traditional sewing technique in parts of Japan. It is created by lines of tiny running stitches through a number of layers of fabric, some of the stitch lines sometimes converge into ornate patterns. The sashiko technique was mainly used to create working clothes for working class people, such as loggers, builders, fishermen etc. The layers of fabric made the garments warm and practical and many examples in the exhibition had been patched several times. The art of sashiko is now dying out in this modern age, so many of the pieces were from early last century, but also there were other examples of modern day sashiko garments created by the designer Tokunaga Miyoko which were absolutely stunning. Heres a picture of a sashiko garment, as they are quite hard to describe with text.



Also in the exhibition was an information panel on the Hari Kuyo Festival. This is a thanksgiving and memorial service for worn sewing needles and pins. It's held in Buddhist temples on 8th Feb every year and holds the belief that both living and inanimate objects have a spirit and soul. As needles are laid to rest in trays of tofu the giver also takes that moment to console themselves by burying secrets too personal to reveal. Even today cloth makers, fashion students and other people regularly using needles and pins take the day off to go to the temple.



....and on that note here's a picture of some new pin cushions I made for the first Running With Scissors workshop. They worked out quite well and what's more they didn't cost a penny being made from recycled tins and scraps of fabric and paper.

Wolf spotted in Sheffield!

A rare snow wolf (Mitchus Snowus) has been spotted in Sheffield. Believed to be friendly but should be approached with caution. Experts say he may be around for the remaider of the week.

Project Runway Update

I thought it was time to have a bit of an update on Project Runway (for those of you new to the blog its kind of like The Apprentice for fashion designers in the States). The last two challenges have been to design an outfit for the US Olympic team to wear at the opening ceremony and to design an outfit for Brooke Shields character in a drama called 'lipstick jungle' (the garment was also judged by Brooke Shields). The competition is hotting up - I think that Daniel and Blayne are hanging on by a thread and I'm surprised that Stella has managed to hold on as she only makes garments out of leather. On the strong side I think both the black women are good designers with a keen eye, and Keith (who won last week) I think creates some really nice pieces and the guy with the goatee (can't remember his name) seems to be doing OK. This weeks challenge should be great - it's to design an outfit for a drag queen which should be really entertaining - lots of sequins and feathers! - it will be right up Blayne's street if he doesn't try too hard, but I think some of the others will really struggle with the challenge..

Tune in for the next exciting episode

Sky 3 (freeview 11 or 12) Sunday evening 7pm (rounds off the weekend nicely)

Running with Scissors sewing machines

I have been meaning to share of photo of the Running With Scissors sewing machines with you all for some time. Finally here is a image of the lovely machines - Janome 525S (recent winner of 'Which' sewing machine Test)

Happy Valentines Day

Valentine's Day buns (with quality icing) for the love of my life x

Back in the Frame

Well - I'm back. I can't believe that I've not posted at all this month. This is all because I have been quite ill and am now recuperating and taking lots of rest as instructed by my G.P. It's been quite a difficult and emotional time but I should be getting back on an even keel now. Apologies if Running With Scissors has not been running as smoothly as normal.

I've been doing little bits of crafting here and there - mainly knitting as I've been stuck on the sofa for a number of days. I've been working on my knitted blanket squares which is an on and off project for the last five years. I'll share some photos with you later. In the meantime here are a few shots of general things now that our broadband has been connected (fingers crossed!)






These are from when we first moved in. As everyone knows after you have moved house the one thing you have lots of is cardboard so I made the noticeboard from some of the boxes and covered it in an old tablecloth which doesn't fit our table, however the colours went perfectly with the room. I also trimmed the lampshade (the trim cost more than the shade - I'm just that kinda gal!). The last picture (or maybe the first picture depending on how the images load up) is the view from the craft room in the snow.

Fortunately I have managed to watch both the Project Runway episodes on the telly since my last post and will have lots to say on a up and coming post.

Heres to a healthy and happy February for all.

Skirts and Chilli Peppers

Today has been a perfect day - sun streaming into the craft room, working away on the A-Line skirt whilst singing aloud to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and jigging away on the chair, whilst sewing! Its a good job the house isn't overlooked, and the neighbours may not be partial to some of the song lyrics (but I make them up mostly..)

Once the basic skirt is made I have decided to make it into my Mae West skirt. Is made from cream fine wool fabric (inspired by recent snow) and I'm going to embroider onto it the this quote from Mae West:

"I used to be Snow White, but I drifted."(it works on so many different levels!)

and spiral the text around the skirt with maybe an applique snowflake - what do you think?

Many thanks to all of you wanting to join the mailing list and to all of you booking on the workshops. Its going to be a crafty Sring!

Nearly time for Project Runway (hurrahh). This weeks challenge is .....

One of those satisfying days...

Well what a lovely day, it was such a beautiful morning that I took our dog out for a run in the park. It was so fresh and breezy - the kind of weather that brings apples to your cheeks!

I've had a productive morning replying to e-mails and coordinating bookings for the workshops, some of you are quick off the mark - it's great to know that Running With Scissors is putting on the kind of workshops people are interested in doing. I then spent some of the afternoon on the sample skirt for the A-Line skirt workshop which is coming along nicely. And the dog spent some time laying in the sun in the kitchen!

We've just then topped off the evening with a stroll around the block with the dog and to catch sight of the huge moon hanging in the cloudless sky. It looks like a full moon but it might be a new moon too - I'm not sure of the difference.

Maybe a glass of wine to complete the evening....

Looking forward to the Spring

Today we have uploaded some of the new workshops ready for booking (but there is more to come). I'll be sending out a newsletter to the mailing list very soon so get your skates on if you interested in any particular session.

Well theres not too much to say about this weeks Project Runway. The dress designs this week were based on photos the designers took of New York at night. I was a bit distracted at the end and I think the painted fabric / puff ball dress design won. Yes it was very 1980's. I'm old enough to remember them the first time around and I'm not intending to recreate any sort of puff ball creation any time soon (a la Pepsi and Shirley - anyone remember them?). The rejected designer's dress wasn't that bad - it was based on a long exposure photo of car tail lights, but I think I would have opted to create the pattern with coloured ribbons rather than ruffles. I did feel a bit sorry for Keith as he put so much effort in and was in the bottom three.

Good news on the broadband issue - we have a date of next Tuesday for activation hurrahhh.... it would be so nice to get some photos on the blog - I need to have lots of pictures!!

The Fashion Essay

Hello everyone,

Well the Spring and summer workshop programme is nearly ready I'm hoping to upload all the information this weekend! There will also be a couple of guest tutors giving you the opportunity to try soemthing new and exciting (more information coming soon.....)

I have been avidly watching Project Runway again this weekend (freeview channel 11 or 12, can't quite remember, Sunday evening). The budding designers names make me laugh - Suede, Blayne etc! Anyway I think Suede deserved to win this week with his bias strip dress whcih looked fantastic. I did feel sorry for the girl who did the gold dress with the extra loops on it, I don't think it was that bad really and it was well made, but the judges really slated it!

Some of you may be under the misaprehension that I am a complete fashion victim, which those of you who know me will know is far from the truth. I would hate to be involved in the 'fashion industry' - far too much back stabbing and paper thin shallowness, however you have got to admire the designers who turn out stunning creations every season. We all know that they don't actually make them and other designers then have to take the creations and turn them into something wearable, but watered down for for the high street. I'm more of a fan of uniqueness I think that people should dress the way they wish by making, customising, buying / acquiring vintage, altering, accessorising, wearing old with new or upcycling - generally mixing it up to get a look that you're happy with. Although I slob around in jeans just like everyone else I do feel that its a shame that people don't make more of an effort in general. It seems that having 'style' has becoem a rare comodity these days which is a shame, but don't get the wrong idea - I don't pop out to get a pint of milk in full make up and heels (although I'd like to think I could!)

snowed in

Well there is still snow everywhere and I've cocooned myself in our new warm house and keeping busy making stuff. As well as planning the spring / summer programme I have also made a few things including a noticeboard for the craft room, a lampshade (well I put some trimmings on it, if that counts)- and I went a bit mad and bought a load of pieces of antique lace to make a curtain - its currently pinned together and I'm not sure exactly when its going to get sewn up. The craft room is full of projects in progress and I've been in contact with some lovely tutors to run some of the sessions for the new programme ... all will be revealed soon!

I would love to share some photos with you but we are still waiting for the BT man again on Wednesday and then it takes 3 weeks for the broadband to get connected ...arrgghhh

On the plus side after a stressful day yesterday I fell upon Project Runway on one of the TV channels (I'm not a big TV watcher unless it's an Agatha Christie drama but that's a different story)- of course I've heard to Project Runway (kind of The Appentice for American fashion designers) but didn't realise that I could get it on one of the myriad of channels we have (via a just plugged in recycled Freeview box). So I actually got to watch an episode and whats more it was a new series so now I have to work out when the next programme is on. Probably more blogs to come on the subject as I totally missed out on blogging on the Saatchi programme!

Onwards and upwards!

Happy New 2010

Hi everyone I'm back - after a busy break and being frustratingly ill, culminating in bringing in the new year with a hot mug of Lemsip. Over the next couple of weeks I'll be organising and planning and you should start seeing the results on the website. We have finished painting the craft room although it needs a massive amount of tidying and I have lots of pictures and products to share with you all when we finally get a broadband connection which works properly (maybe I'll do a week of picture blogs to make up for having no nice images to look at!)

Happy new year to you all - lets hope its a crafty one!