Threads and Patches

Jean Duffy - we shall miss her

2012-01-28T01:58:00.001Z

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden death of Jean Duffy, Sally's Mum. Jean worked at Threads and Patches from day one in 2001, even before it was a shop (cold, windy days on a market stall in Milton Keynes, Leighton Buzzard and Ampthill), she helped with the opening of the shop in August 2001 and worked most days untill 2004/5 when she felt it was time to 'retire' at the age of 77. She did stop working every day but never stopped supporting and made her mark on our 'Special Days Out' program with her homemade cakes (courgette and apple were firm favourites). Jean was known by many of our customers and was considered a slightly quirky fixture, who was always entertaining and interested in everything that was going on. We shall all miss her terribly. The funneral will be at Crownhill Crematorium on Thurs 9th Feb 2012 at 3.30pm.

Stitching Samples

2012-01-06T06:35:00.001Z

I have been very busy making samples for some up and coming workshops, mainly hand work so it is a bit slower than usual.
Here is an update on my English Paper Pieced Hexagon Quilt - I am really please with it, not quite done, still a few more patches to add and then the quilting, it should be hand quilted really but I think it will end up under my machine! This class runs on Sat 21st April

I have also been embroidering samples for my beginners hand embroidery class on Fri 27th Jan

If you would like to join either of these classes go to our Workshop Pages

Quilted Car Project 3rd Jan 2012

2012-01-06T06:23:00.000Z

The first day of the project - didn't know how many helpers I would have - as it turned out just one - Chris (Thank you!) Who arrived with enthusiasm, fabric blocks and ideas. I had several donated blocks, plus samples I had made over time. We made great progress putting together the roof section

and the start of one side section

Bending our brains to the maths of all these different sized blocks was a challenge but fun.

A huge thanks to Chris for getting me 'kicked off'!

Customer Quilts

2012-01-04T20:43:00.000Z

Fab quilts made by some of my students!

MK MEGS Quilt Exhibition Sat 3rd Dec 2011

2011-12-04T07:57:00.001Z

MEGS is the 'Machine Embroidery Group', who have been meeting once a month for a while now to make a machine embroidered quilt each. Saturday saw the culmination of that work in a truely stunning quilt display. I had said, (ages ago), that I would make a quilt to go in the display, I remembered this sometime around the beginning of November and so got cracking on 'Jacobean Blues', this is machine embroidered motifs, then it is hand pieced hexagons (current passion) and quilted on the embroidery machine, it took a week to make

The event raised over £1000 for Willen Hospice - tremendous! Leanne from Willen came and opened the event, here Marie Baker who did much of the organising is introducing her (plus you get a peak at one of the lovely quilts behind)

Leanne and Marie

Well done to everyone, it was a very successful event

Workshop Passport Goes on Sale!

2011-12-01T13:29:00.000Z

The queue to buy our workshop passport was longer than ever with a very friendly crowd waiting patiently and helping themselves to tea and coffee while they waited. We opened the doors at 10.00am and some classes had sold out by 11am!
There are still plenty of spaces left though! So if you want to join a class for next term get in touch soon!

Cellar Discoveries

2011-11-29T19:34:00.001Z

We have been clearing up the cellar and have found loads of quilt tops I made ages ago, so now I have no excuse but to get them finished,. This is a colourful Fossil Fern one - I think I might sort this out for a workshop in the summer term!

This is a 'pointless Stars' Pattern I made ages ago, I had forgotten what a fun quilt it was - so may be another workshop on the way?

This is a little sheep quilt - again made a long time ago and rediscovered in the cellar, So today I added the blue and yellow check border and began quilting, it is really cute and will be coming to a patchwork class nearby soon!

As well as Cellar finds, today I worked on some of the quilts that have been recently quilted by Sandra Foley of Loose Ends Quilting I stitched on the bindings of the following 2 quilts, now I just need to slip stitch them to the back and they will be finished!

This is 'Superscrappy-Fabricholic-Expialidocious' Quilt. Quilted beautifully by Sandra - see detail below

I also added binding to my American Block Swap Quilt - blocks sent by friends across the pond and one by Dee from the Thursday Patchwork Club (the House in the middle)

Santa Came to Town!

2011-11-27T12:55:00.000Z

Yesterday we were paid a special visit at Threads and Patches by Santa, he called in to see the local children of Fenny Stratford on his way to Bletchley to switch on the Christmas lights. He was definately the real thing - no fake beard and pillow tummy, this one was the real deal.

Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council orgainsed the event. Following the switching on of the lights there was a Lantern Parade through Bletchley and Fenny Stratford.

The attending children were variously excited and chatty, struck dumb in awe or a bit terrified, but all seemd happy with their sweets and with the opportunity to tell Father Christmas what they would like when he makes his annual visit.

The parents and onlookers enjoyed mince pies supplied by Threads and Patches.

I just want to mention the beautiful backdrop for Santas Seat which was put together by Lucy our Saturday girl - didn't she make a lovely job of it?

Lovely Embroidery Workshop

2011-11-25T08:20:00.002Z

Yesterday I held a 'Basic Embroidery Tecchniques' workshop, it was really relaxing just to sit and sew. In the past when I have taught this I have used a 'sampler' approach, but this time we stitched a Little Bo Peep motif using a range of stitches, stem, chain, lazy daisy, french knots, back stitch and satin stitch. The group must have enjoyed it as they requested a follow up class to learn some more stitches, so I shall get cracking on that one for the summer term - watch this space.

Here are some of the group stitching Bo Peep.

If you are interested in joining an embroidery class there is one running on Friday 27th January when we shall be embroidering a butterfly, using a range of basic stitches. Follow the link below to see January's workshops.

http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/January_2012.html

Hand Sewing Addiction

2011-11-23T09:03:00.001Z

I have always hand sewn, but over the last few years have concentrated on making things quickly as samples for the shop etc. When I was on holiday I took English Paper Pieced hexagons with me and stitched like fury every spare minute, once again I was totally hooked on this traditional technique. I even got other travellers involved, here is Emily stitching her first ever piece of patchwork on a boat somewhere on the Andaman Sea!

Since then the quilt I was making has grown and grown - I am really enjoying it.

But I also started making some Folded Somerset Patchwork. So far I have only made one but I know I am hooked and a quilt will be coming up shortly. Watch this space!

Exhibition a Success!

2011-10-09T06:45:00.000Z

Here is an email I recieved this am.
WOW

What an excellent exhibition. Thoroughly enjoyed the hours I spent between Dobbies and the Shop. Such excellent exhibits, especially the competition entries done to such an amazingly high standard. It was very hard to narrow my selection down to 3.

Do I have to wait for another 10 years till the next Exhibition? I hope not as I may be a little decrepit by then.

I found your shop assistants so pleasant and very helpful when I was dithering over the superb selection of ric-rac braid.

My petrol money was well spent travelling down from Rugby for such an enjoyable day.

Many thanks to you all and I hope to visit the shop in the near future.

Yours

Maureen Burns

Busy Weekend Now the Passport!

2011-07-31T07:07:00.005Z

Well the week of the sale was busy, we did not stop and our customers were so delighted with their bargains many of them came back day after day to see what they had missed previous time round!

We did sell a lot of fabric which is good, but as we started at the end of the day on Saturday to put everything back into place we realised fitting the bolts back onto the shelves was still a problem! I haven't even got the new stuff out yet!

I had three staff who were fairly new to working in the shop this week, Steph who usually helps with the website, Lucy our new saturday girl who has only done a couple of shifts and Elaine who again, had done just a couple of training days - what a baptism of fire for them all. They all did brilliantly, and if they can cope with Threads and Patches during our busiest week of the year then they can cope with anything!

Thank you to all those patient customers.

Monday will also be busy I hope booking all the workshops for those who want to buy a Workshop Passport which goes on Sale on 1st August.

If you haven't had a copy of our new workshop list then call into the shop and pick one up, or book on line at
http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/Workshops_and_Classes.html

SALE STARTS MONDAY 25th JULY

2011-07-23T06:01:00.003Z

Yes it is finally here our sale starts on Monday, great bargains to be had. I am having a real clear out this time as I have so much new stuff I want to bring into the shop. Some of the new fabrics are already here and I am struggling to get them stored away.
Don't miss out! Come and see what bargains we have available.
See you there!

Its Official Quilting is Good for You!

2011-06-14T05:26:00.003Z

Read this article that appeared yesterday in the Daily Mail

Those of us who sew have known this for a long time, but its great that the word is getting out there! Pass it on!

Quilts for a Refuge - Held last weekend

2011-06-09T05:42:00.004Z

Last weekend we made quilts for the womens refuge - Ihave to say a huge thanks to all those who gave their time and donated fabric to the cause. The event was sponsored by the Newport Pagnell and Olney Lions.
It was a lovely couple of days with lots of laughs and cake!

I can't believe it is so long since I last wrote my blog - time just flies by. It certainly flew by at the weekend when we worked hard making quilts for the children at the Womend Refuge.

We were visited by Iain Stewart our local MP

Classes, Quilting and Machine Embroidery

2011-04-15T19:08:00.006Z

Wow what a week I have had. Really busy Monday with Craft Club iun the evening when we made little folded fabric brooches.

Then Tuesday - a great 'Get to know your Sewing Machine Class' Really busy but fun, followed by a quick dash to Great Missenden for The Fat Quarters Quilt Group Meeting where I was teaching ' Caveman Quilting as a homage to Ricky Timms. It was great fun and I discovered a lovely little pattern for a stuffed owl - available on The Quilt Show.

Then on Weds, Phillipa Naylor arrived! Day one was the precise piecing workshop. Great fun and a few tips for gaining those precious precise points. But the highlight was seeing her wonderful quilts.

Just Stunning!

The evening was the Machine Embroidery Club meeting where I was to speak on 3D Machine Embroidery. Phillipa kindly came along and also showed some of her quilts and spoke about her quilting nd how she planned her quilts. It was a great evening and I did get a laugh when i brought out my machine embroidered bra - sorry no pics it was just too funny!

Thursday followed weds (thank goodness) and Phillipa Naylor was teachiung free motion feathers, this is the day my sewing machine, which has been by best friend for 4 years decided it was not going to play. After 2 and half hours of frustration I switched machines, Phillipa was fantastic and I finished the day feeling I had finally got the hang of it.

So this morning I got up early and this is what I stitched.

Classes ans

2011-04-15T19:08:00.000Z

Quilts for Injured Servicemen - Sat 26th March

2011-04-03T20:22:00.005Z

Brenda Lincoln looking at the donated quilts.

Brenda Lincoln came to the shop on sat 26th Marcxh to collect the Quilts for Injured Servicemen that have been donated. Brenda takes the quilts to Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre and other support centres for Injured Service people. Many of these young men have lost two or more limbs as they served in Afghanistan. The aim is to try and give these chaps a quilt, they are all keen to get fit and get back to work so the quilts are functional items that get squashed into kit bags as soon as replacement limbs ahve been fitted and they are back to fitness.

Brenda fell into this work by acciedent and now spends much of her time voluntarily collecting, making and delivering quilts. She has my complete admiration. A huge thank you must go to all those people who made the quilts, their time and effort is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Here are all the quilts donated this week - 56 in all - Fantastic!

New Workshops Uploaded onto Website

2011-03-21T17:46:00.003Z

Yes the Threads and Patches Workshop List for May - August 2011 is now available on line.

Loads of choice and national Teachers - Phillipa Naylor and Katherine Guerrier.

We are maintianing the Workshop Passport - so up to 18 workshops for just £65 - we think it is the best deal on the planet!

Don't miss out!

Morocco

2011-03-21T17:41:00.002Z

Loved the table tops in Morocco they were all quilts waiting to be made!

Just need a few more hours in the day so I can make them!

Stitchers Retreat!

2011-03-21T17:33:00.003Z

Wow what a fun weekend, it feels like a while ago now but it was only two weeks ago and we did have a great time!

Thanks to those of you who emailed to say thank you and that they had enjoyed themselves.

Sally

Thanks so much for a great weekend, we enjoyed every minute of it.

Beginners Medallion Sampler Quilt Course

2011-03-03T16:24:00.004Z

Today I began teaching my new course to an enthusiastic group of students. The beginners Medallion Sampler, starts as a Log Cabin Star Block

The block is then surrounded by half square triangles (Bears Paw Fashion) and then set on point with an interesting fabric in the settiung corners.

The next round of borders will include some curved piecing and some applique.

I shall try and include some photographs of the students work as soon as I can.

New York Beauty

2011-02-28T21:31:00.003Z

This is the quilt I have finished this week. It is a 'New York Beauty' made using the foundation piecing method. I actually used the Foundation by the Yard fabric rather than paper piecing. I usually prefer to use paper and tear away, but the printed fabric works really well.
I love teaching foundation piecing, it is such an accurate method and although it is slightly wasteful of fabric the results are worth it - sharp points, clean lines and precise piecing, plus speed, I find it so fast.

2011-02-24T21:20:00.004Z

The anticipated increase in cotton prices is starting to hit, as all my fabric suppliers have now increased their prices, some by a considerable percentage. This is difficult and I am attempting to absorb as much increase as possible. I have found a great blog explaining what is happening with cotton prices at the moment. Please take some time to look at this, it affects us all - at least anyone who sews, quilts or wears clothes!

Click here to read Deborahs analysis

More Early Morning Stitching

2011-02-22T08:48:00.006Z

Playing with my Husqvarna Designer Diamond this am. I have stitched out a lovely floral design from the Summer Flowers range of designs. What I love abput this is that the flowers are FLUFFY! The machine stitches layers of threads, in this case in two colours (difficult to see here as I used an orange and a yellow - must use bolder choices next time!). When it is stitched you cut the threads and fluff them up!

My photography isn't brilliant so does not do this justice, but these flowers look fab, just not sure now what I shall make with them. The Husqvarna Designer diamond is currently on offer, it usually retails at £4899 (yes I know it is a lot of money, but it is fab!) but right now there is a whoping £900 discount if you trade in a machine - ANY machine. Bringing the price down to £3999.

Check out our website for further details of what this machine does, it is both a superb embroidery machine and a magnificent sewing machine.

Early Morning Stitching

2011-02-19T13:01:00.006Z

Every now and then, I wake up with a violent urge to stitch. So today, I drove into the shop, planning my next project. I decided I would take piece of clip art, a flower outline, and machine trapunto the piece.

You can see from the photographs that I had fun, I used a variegated thread for the flower, and a matching thread for the background stitching.

Made by stitching through layers of wadding, this type of quilting is very fast and very effective.

Wye Valley Quilters Coach Party

2011-02-18T20:37:00.004Z

Today we had a visit from the Wye Valley Quilters who took advantage of one of our 'coach party specials' they had a great morning with Nicole, Chris, Margy, Vanessa and Elaine, taking it in turns to demonstrate various craft techniques. Nicoles twisted bag was popular as ever.

The sale fabric table was also a popular spot!

I get the impression they will be back!

This is an Email I received from Donna

Dear Sally

Just a little note to say how I really enjoyed my visit on Friday with my fellow quilting ladies from Wye Valley Quilters. The demos were very good and it was such a nice bonus to have been given a kit of the Twisted Bag to bring home. With lots of tea and coffee available, and lunch included in the price, it really was excellent value for money. The shop is a real "Aladdin's Cave" and I will definately come back for another visit when I have a specific project in mind.

Many thanks again.

Donna

Sampler Quilt Group - The Fab 6

2011-02-18T20:18:00.005Z

Today was the 'official' last session of one of my sampler quilt groups, there were 6 of them in the class and they are all such good mates now, that they hire my upstairs classroom every friday morning to meet up and stitch together. So this morning we all met up to see how they have got on.Some have completed their samplers and have moved on to other projects, some are still working on the sampler , but all are comitted to their sewing and have increased in confidence and ability since starting their class just a few months ago ( September I think). Several of the class had very little stitching experience before they started.

Sue's Quilt
Jackie's Quilt

Well done! Fantastic Job!

2011-02-16T07:08:00.002Z

Yesterday I taught one of my favourite classes, Feathered Star. It is a class where the first half is mainly cutting using a rotary cutter.it is tiring but the results are spectacular. The block below was made by Margaret Warman some time ago, although some blocks were almost finished at the end of the day, I don't have completed block to show you from yesterday's class.

if you would like to do a Feathered Star class at Threads and Patches, I am planning one in June.

This class is only suitable for those who have a good degree of rotary cutting experience. It is currently the most challenging class I teach, however, I am planning to teach a more complex Feathered Star in the autumn term.

Yesterday evening, a new group started the Sampler Quilt. The quilts are going to be lovely with a beautiful range of colours, I shall add some photographs of their work when they are a bit further along.

2011-02-15T06:12:00.002Z

This week we have been very busy with 2 coach parties, one from Leicester, the other from Enfield. The Ladies from Leicester arrived on Friday morning, Nicole Reynolds demonstrated her lovely twisted bag, and how to use the Creative Grids triangle ruler. Margy Johnson showed everyone how to stitch Sashiko, Japanese quilting. The Dresden plate ruler was popular and Chris Harris demonstrated various ways in which you could use it. Sally White made a little kimono wall hanging, and demonstrated the properties of Texture Magic. After a lunch of salad quiche ham and cheese, the ladies had plenty of time shopping. Elaine Leech, the knitting basket and Vanessa Noonan of Craftability, also did demonstrations during the day.

The large group from Enfield came on Saturday. Rowena Allsopp showed everybody how to use the trapezoid ruler, and how to make a prairie braid cushion. Margy Chris and Sally repeated Fridays classes. Jane and Heather were kept busy serving customers as they enjoyed shopping time in the store. Glynis kindly came in to help with lunches on the Saturday, which was warmly appreciated by all the guests, but especially by Sally White.

If you would like to bring a group to Threads And Patches, please contact Sally on (01908) 649687 to arrange a date.

5D Software by Husqvarna Viking

2010-07-30T11:45:00.004Z

I am sitting in the Husqvarna Viking Training Room - its lunch break on day 2 of my training on the new 5D embroidery software - wow, I love this, gradiated colours, realistic photos, fantastically clear 3D view, loads of textured backgrounds and textured fill stitches. I can create different groups of threads for different projects, formats for all embroidery machines, automatic duplication - I could go on and on. Jamie, the Husqvarna educator is so enthusiastic and has completely fired me up - once again all I need to know is how to manufacture time!

If you love Machine embroidery and like playing with designs this is for you!

Click Here

Photos - Here Comes Summer Exhibition July 10th 2010

2010-07-12T06:12:00.003Z

Here Comes Summer Exhibition July 10th 2010:

Click on this link to go to my Facebook Page with photos of all the quilts

The Winners were

1st - Cicley Goldsmith with Bargello Seascape with Ice Cream

2nd - Michelle King with On the Wings of Tranquility

3rd - Sharon Scothern with Stormy Yacht.

A Fantastic day, beautiful weather outside - cream teas under the gazebo and beautiful quilts to look at inside. Many thanks to all those who contributed, it was a great show.

Electric Quilt 7

2010-04-24T03:59:00.006Z

I have just had an email from Electric Quilt. EQ7 will be available to buy from around the beginning of July (they begin shipping to me on the 21st June).

You can pre order by calling Threads and Patches on 01908 649687 and be one of the first to get all the new features!

The Electric Quilt Company Announces
Electric Quilt 7 (EQ7):

Quilts, Blocks and now PHOTOS!
Digital cameras will become a quilter's best
friend. EQ7 has dozens of ways to turn
everyday photos into quilt art images. Or
crop and edit scanned fabrics right in EQ7
in minutes. And that's just the start!

New Activation Policy
You'll never run out of EQ7 activations!
Activation and deactivation is as easy as
two clicks of the mouse. Install on as many
computers as you like and quickly transfer
activations from computer to computer.
This new policy gives you complete freedom
to manage your own activations — and no
dongle to worry about!

Easier than ever for new users
EQ7 is the most user-friendly full-featured quilting software yet.

Complete user manual

22 printable full-color PDF lessons (115 pages)

Point-and-read info on each tool – now linked directly to Help topics

10 videos targeted for beginners

67 “How do I?” topics: printable stepped-out instructions for doing everything

from printing English paper-piecing templates to drawing a New York Beauty

Built-in Help buttons are everywhere, targeted to the task you're doing

New block tools for creating original blocks instantly without drawing

Blocks size themselves – just drag and drop on the quilt

Includes tons of user-requested new features
Exactly the same friendly interface, plus loads of new user-requested features.

5000 copyright-free blocks

5000 new scanned fabrics, plus grayscale textures

120 new pre-designed quilt layouts

Snap blocks to a Quilt grid

Instant border blocks with greatly expanded Auto Borders

Print multiple photos on fabric

Create original fabric designs from photos, then print on fabric

Mirror and use myriad symmetries on photos

Use dozens of artistic effects, making everyday photos look like watercolors or
Impressionist paintings

79 new features in all

Netbook compatible
Works on netbooks as well as laptops and desktop computers.

How much does EQ7 and EQ7 Upgrade cost?
EQ7
Retail: £144.99

EQ7 Upgrade
Retail: £69.99

When will The Electric Quilt Company begin shipping EQ7?
We will begin shipping June 21, 2010

What are the EQ7 and EQ7 Upgrade system requirements?
ELECTRIC QUILT 7
Minimum system requirements: Windows® XP, Windows® Vista, Windows® 7
(32 or 64 bit), Internet access, 750 MB of available hard-disk space,
CD-ROM drive. Netbook compatible. Internet required for activation,
deactivation, and periodic validations.
Recommended: Monitor with screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or greater,
Adobe® Reader®, sound card for demo videos.
Activation: Internet access is required for activation and deactivation.
Unlimited installations. Activations can be easily transferred between
computers. Two (2) computers may be simultaneously active.

EQ7 UPGRADE
Minimum system requirements: Windows® XP, Windows® Vista,
Windows® 7 (32 or 64 bit), Internet access, 750 MB of available
hard-disk space, CD-ROM drive. Netbook compatible. Internet
required for activation, deactivation, and periodic validations.
Recommended: Monitor with screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or
greater, Adobe® Reader®, sound card for demo videos.
Activation: Internet access is required for activation and deactivation.
Unlimited installations. Activations can be easily transferred between
computers. Two (2) computers may be simultaneously active.

UPGRADE VERSION of Electric Quilt 7 This upgrade version of
Electric Quilt 7 will install only if you are a licensed user of Electric
Quilt 6 (EQ6) or the Electric Quilt 6 Upgrade (EQ6 Upgrade).
Visitwww.electricquilt.com for other upgrade requirements.

What is the activation policy?
EQ7 has a new activation policy, created as a result of user feedback.

Activation: Internet access is required for activation and deactivation.
Unlimited installations.
Activations can be easily transferred between computers. Two (2)
computers may be simultaneously active.

Quilt Competition and Exhibition at Threads and Patches

2010-04-14T11:12:00.003Z

Our first entrant to the Quilt Competition 'Here Comes Summer' arrived today. It is a pity the weather wasn't listening!

The closing date is the 30th June, this is a fun Charity Fundraising competition and I want as many people as possible to join in!

All you have to do is make a small quilt, no larger than 16" square on the theme of 'Here Comes Summer' Submit it to the shop with a donation of £3 for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Then come and see all the entries at our 'Here Come Summer' Exhibition on Saturday 10th July 10am - 4pm.

The judging will be done then by popular vote.

The more entries we have the more we raise for Macmillan Cancer Relief, and the bigger the exhibition gets. So get your thinking caps on and start designing those small quilts! This is just for fun - oops forgot to mention the prize, the winner gets the Threads and Patches Cup to keep for a year and it is engraved with their name plus £50 worth of goodies from Threads and Patches Shop

Area Day Region 7 Quilters Guild and Patchwork Schoolhouse

2010-04-11T18:12:00.004Z

I had a busy Saturday, firstly I dashed off to Flitwick Village Hall to take Pam who was going to run the stall for me. Everyone who knows me, knows that I not only lose everything (keys approx 10 times per day) but I potentially lose myself, or at least where i am meant to be. on Saturday I could not find my Sat nav - it has vanished! I tried printing a map but for some reason the printer was playing up, I sort of knew where i was going so blythely set off with Pam totally unconcerned beside me. We got lost, very, and it ended up taking u 40 mins for a 20 minute journey, by which time we were late. This was irrelevant however as when we got there the caretaker had not arrived and lots of quilters were standing around outside in the sun (yes I said sun!!). Once we had access lots of helpers helped us set up realy quickly and i waved bye bye to Pam and the group as I dashed back to the shop in order to take my first Schoolhouse session at 10.30am. Rowena, Nicole and Freya all busy when I got back and I had about 10 mins before I was due to teach.

The program was as follows

10.00 Rowena - Braided cushion 10.30 Sally - Doggy Bag 11.00 Freya - Bread Basket 11.30 Coffee 11.45 Sally - Fabric Fruit 12.15 Nicole - Passport holder 12.45 LUNCH 13.15 Sally - Fast Blocks 13.45 Rowena Potato Bag 14.15 Nicole - Needlecase 14.45 TEA 15.00 Freya - Mouse Door stop 15.30 Nicole - Bag 16.00 HOME TIME!

I ran very late on my Fast Blocks as I had too many techniques to show! But no one seemed to mind. My Mum had made loads of cakes including her famous Courgette cake which all vanished in seconds at coffee break!

As soon as I had finished my final session at around 2.00pm I dashed back to pick up Pam who was due to finish at 3pm. I am really glad I got there with a bit of time as Judith Dursley of the Quilters Guild Miniature Quilt Group was speaking and showing the most amazing group of miniature quilts, quite delightful, I could get hooked on that!

raced back to the shop having loaded up the van in time to see the end of Nicoles bag session, and then help with the rush of customers as they made their purchases at the end of the session. Everyone seemed to have really enjoyed the session, although all the staff were tired!

We do love Schoolhouse but it is a lot of work! I haven't even mentioned kathy who worked all day doing the food and clearing up - fantastic job!

We run a Patchwork Schoolhouse day for some of the coach parties if they request it, and have another coming up quite soon, so do get in touch if you would like a space as there are only a couple of spots left - Sat 29th May this is when a group from Lutterworth quilters are coming. So join us for a fun day!

Easter Bonanza

2010-03-29T20:38:00.002Z

Been planning the Easter Bonanza for Saturday. Loads to do as we still have to plan the Treasure Hunt and all the prizes. The Mega Stash Swap is also happening that day. You can bring along any fabric you don't want any more and swap it for other stuff! We shall weigh your fabric and give you a voucher to use against other donated fabric. Come along it should be fun!

Checkout the website for more details

Busy Quilters and Stitchers Bedford

2010-03-13T21:15:00.002Z

Went to this group with both a stall and a small workshop - my Penguin Pin Cushion. This is rapidly turning into one of my favourite mini classes. He started life as a pattern for a pear and has evolved into a Pin Cushion with pretensions above his station, sometimes in a dickie Bow, and yesterday in a Tutu. Earlier in the week he had been on skis and had a surfboard and dark glasses - I promise a photo as soon as I can get my camera to stop paying silly games.

Lovely day, the group are such a friendly and helpful bunch and so many familiar faces, various members gave my shop a 'plug' as they did 'show and tell' Ann Vincent's American Block Swap Quilt looks wonderful. Ferret who gave the afternoon talk is simply an amazing quilter

When I got back to the shop the Machine Embroidery group were just leaving having been using our workroom to work on their 'Quilt of Valour'.

Very positive staff meeting this pm also, although I was really tired. I do have the most fantastic team to help me.

Off to bed now (9.30pm) as I have to get on with quilting my City and Guilds big quilt in the morning and I have had loads of ideas following the talk by Ferret at BQS this afternoon!

Farewells

2010-03-01T22:07:00.002Z

In the last couple of weeks I have had to say goodbye to two friends both due to breast cancer. Linda I would see about twice a year at the reunion dinners we attend with Tony's university friends. Alison I would see when she visited the shop which became less and less frequent as she became more debilitated.

These women who did not know each other I don't think, one Scottish one Welsh, had a lot in common, they both commanded attention when they talked and both had such an interest in the welfare of others that everyone who knew them felt in some way that they were a friend. Both Alison and Linda taught professionally. Both will be dreadfully missed and the mourning will be deep and I suspect unending. Charles, Linda's husband gave the most moving eulogy at the funeral on Friday, his devastation cannot be imagined as Linda was not expected to die so suddenly, she just fell asleep one night and did not wake up. Nigel, Alison's husband not only has his own immense grief to deal with but that of their children aged 11 and 15.

I didn't see either of these friends enough in the last months of their lives and life has been made acutely fragile and precious by their loss. I am aware that I work too many hours and see too little of the people I should be spending time with. I know I do not check by breasts often enough. I watched Alison's incredibly determined struggle to keep going as long as she could (diagnosed in 2001), and her magnificent achievements in those years.

Alison and Linda were phenomenally loved by those around them. I shall remember them both with a smile as their humour, strength of character and vision marked both of them as incredibly special. I cannot believe they have both gone. The world is a darker place without them and being unforgettable they will not be forgotten.

Goodbye Alison

Goodbye Linda

On My Travels!

2010-02-05T21:23:00.002Z

Tomorrow I am going to Newent in Gloucs (early to bed tonight - very early morning!) to teach ' Get to know your sewing machine at The Patchwork Basket. This class always scares me a bit! I never know which machines are going to appear and although I have done a lot of sewing I have not used every machine! It is a fun class though as so many people have very little idea of what their machine can do for them. It is a class that gives you permission to 'play'.

Looking forward to meeting my stitchers tomorrow.

Really looking forward to seeing Jane who opened this shop recently - she is one of my 'babies', in that she came to my beginners patchwork classes a few years ago, got really hooked and since has gone on to open her own shop (not too close of course!). It is a great feeling to think that you have inspired someone to love the craft as much as you do enough to commit their time to sharing it with others. I would love to say make their living at it, but anyone who works in the craft retail business as a general rule does most of it for love of the products and society, I don't know of any patchwork millionaires!

I wish her all the best in her venture - the more we share the love the more quilters there will be!

The Knitting Basket is coming!

2010-02-05T21:11:00.003Z

Elaine is getting really excited about opening her shop here on the 1st of March. Her enthusiasm is totally infectious and I cannot wait till it opens!

check out her website www.theknittingbasket.co.uk

Houston Here I Come!

2010-01-24T14:59:00.003Z

Very excited, as I have just booked my trip to the Houston Quilt Market in November. This is a trade show for quilt retailers and really lets you see all the cool new stuff when it comes out! It will be a couple of years since I went to one of the Quilt Markets and I need to recharge my batteries and start running with some new ideas. The Quilt Market runs for three days but there are classes and trips organised around it so I shall arrive a couple of days before it starts so I can fit in some workshops. Following the Market the hall turns into the Houston Quilt Festival which is open to the public. This year several of my staff and customers are off to the Festival as well (we shall have a one day cross over in the USA) so they shall come back buzzing with ideas.

OK got to start budgeting now for all the new stuff I shall want to buy for the shop!

General Updates

2010-01-20T10:25:00.002Z

Hi All,

well finally the snow seems to have left and life can settle back to some form of normality, although it is a little difficult to comprehend quite why this country falls apart so quickly once the white stuff appears.

Once again we have been reorganising the shop following the Sale, but also upstairs is in the process of a shift around ready for the Knitting Basket to take on one of the shops. My office has gone and that room is now a refreshment room where customers and staff can relax with a cup of tea or coffee. It is almost ready and looking very nice, I am just waiting for the sofa to be delivered which no doubt will be covered in quilts and cushions in no time at all.

We still have some sale fabrics at £4 and £5 per metre.

I am busy now sorting out the Stitchers Retreat with Anja Townrow. We are really loking forward to our weekend away, we do this every year and each time they get better and better, a whole weekend of stitching, being fed wonderful food and lots of laughs along the way! I have a couple of spaces left at £295 for the weekend so why not consider joining us?

SALE AT THREADS AND PATCHES

2010-01-10T21:50:00.001Z

YES its here! Starts tomorrow at 10.00 am!

Go for it!

Technology - Love it or Hate it?

2010-01-08T07:41:00.004Z

I am a computer fan, I can be perfectly happy for hours, surfing, designing, chatting and all the time learning stuff. BUT the frustration of trying to get simple things to work like the receipt printer on my till which has not functioned now for weeks. Actinic say I should deinstall and then re install the complete till system - Arrgh, I know these guys are techy so to them such a job probably seems like nothing, but to me it feels devastating, the fear of losing all our data (products, customers, history etc) terrifies me. Anyway,as it was snowy and we had very few customers on wednesday I bit the bullet and gave it a go - all my customer info vanished - panic!. But I had used the wrong version apparently (ho hum), so yesterday I de-installed and re-installed again, this time it worked but I still have no receipt printer. So then I get a list of instructions for reinstalling the printer, I am unsure, but I suspect I could have done this at the beginning instead of having two days of stress and a shop where we couldn't use the till properly! Will try this am to get the printer going - we need it all to work for our sale next week! This stuff just eats my time and emotional energy and I don't need it! I want to sew instead!

A Happy Snowy New Year!

2010-01-06T14:17:00.003Z

This is a picture of the shop this morning at 8am when i arrived at work. looking white and Christmassy! Thankfully our heating issues have been resolved and the place was warming up nicely a big thank you to Andy of Agasandy who came and sorted out the heating in double quick time at a very reasonable price, I thoroughly recommend him! I worked at the shop until 1pm, but then more snow started to come down and as it had been a tricky enough drive to get to work I decided I did not want to get snowed in so closed early and headed home. The craft club and evenings course have been postponed till another day - apologies.

A New Wool Shop for Milton Keynes!

2009-12-31T16:56:00.003Z

Hi all,

I am VERY excited, Elaine Leech is to open a new knitting wool shop upstairs at Threads and Patches . The new shop will be called THE KNITTING BASKET, it will open on Monday 1st March. I can't wait!

Now we really are a Craft Emporium.

Free Needlecase Tutorial Ideal Beginners Project

2009-12-29T20:58:00.002Z

I made this tutorial on How to Make a Heart Shaped Needlecase. If you like it please leave a review on Youtube!

Creative Christmas Time

2009-12-27T21:46:00.006Z

I am having such a lovely break, although really I am working and I have popped into the shop today to replenish supplies of thread and buttons! The gap between Christmas and New Year is a kind of limbo, just sort of waiting.... but it can be a time when you actually have time just to sit and make something nice!

Today I made a small Amish style quilt top - this was because I cannot find my 'Amish Style' quilt anywhere.

I have hunted in all the quilt storage places I can think of. So you can see what made today, it took about 5 hours with occasional breaks to make a meal and other boring stuff, so probably a total of 4.5 hours cutting, stitching and pressing. The colours are much better in real life!

I then started on making some blackwork buttons as samples for Craft Club the week after next (why do I leave everything till late?).

They were really fun to do and quite quick. I need to work on th

e designs and also look at doing some different colours. I just used the black fabric because it was there, but need to look at other options.

Anyway if you fancy making a couple do come to Craft Club at Threads and Patches and see what we get up to. It is held on a Weds afternoon or a Monday evening once each month.

February's project will be a patchwork camera case - picture coming soon! - it is just developing in my head!

Also today I finished my Tilda Stitchery. These are gorgeous kits, which have the pre-printed fabric designs for you to embroider / embellish in any way you wish. I did follow the design layout on th photograph on the back although I realised later that all the embroidery might have been done in the same colour thread. I chopped and changed about a bit. I coloured her in with chalk powders and ink from stamp pads on cotton buds used as paint brushes.

The ink and chalk have worked exceptionally well, I discovered that they appear colour fast after I spilled something (honestly do not know what!) on my stitched angel and had to give her a good scrub with Dreft and a toothbrush. I was expecting the painted colours to vanish or fade but they stayed put even under intense scrubbing!

Other stuff I did today - part made a video of 'How to make a Heart Shaped Needlecase' - guess what I got for Christmas!

Joined two great web forums - BQL 0r British Quilters List

and the Hand Embroidery Network There is some fantastic work available to see by joining these groups not to mention the help, support and tuition that is available through them.

Happy stitching

Sally

Superscrappyfabriholicexpialidocious II

2009-12-24T08:00:00.003Z

Have had to have some time off work following a minor op. It has been snowing and I am forced to the sewing machine (sometimes life is really tough!). So I started on another super scrappy quilt. These are really my signature pieces, I just love scrap and I particularly love this method of using up almost every piece of cloth. With this quilt nothing you make is ever wasted, even when it is consigned to the 'sod it ' pile. It works best in fact when you have ready made blocks, or bits of sewing you have no more use for, (yes even the one where the colour scheme was completely awful!

I am running this as a class soon, so if you want to give it a go please sign up. It is fun, faster than it looks and idealogically sound as there is minimal wastage of fabric.

It is also quit as you go! So I usualy make them double sided pieces.

The photo here shows a quilt just laid out, the blocks are not all sewn together yet, so the layout may still change.

I will keep you posted

Threads and Patches Christmas Bash

2009-12-16T20:58:00.003Z

A great night at Wilton Hall Loads of food, wine and dancing. It was great for all the staff to let their hair down and have a good time. It has been such a busy year with so many changes and everyone has risen to the challenge magnificently. I owe them all a huge thank you!

Christmas Craft Evening at Threads and Patches, Tues 1st Dec 6pm - 8.30pm

2009-12-02T16:17:00.005Z

Well it went with a bang, hundreds turned up and we had a great time with all the staff dressed up. Jan Hall was demonstra-ting how to make an applique wall hanging based on the Nativity, Chris harris was showing how to make fabric cones for gfts and napkins that folded into Christmas Trees. Freya Askham showed everyone how eo mke fabric Christmas Crackers, tablemats, little box bags and padded coathangers. Mandy Beacham demonstrated her delightful quilted Tea Cozy pattern as well as using the Husqvarna Topaz 30 embroidery machine.

Nicole reynolds showed how to make little chubby stars using freemotion stitching on the sewing machine plus stitched bauables and folded napkin rings. Karl from The Magic Touch gave anyone who wanted ot a free head massage and the Masqueraders Singing Group sang carols and Christmas songs all evening, with various members of te audience joining in occasionally!

Christmas Opening Times at Threads and Patches

2009-11-25T05:27:00.002Z

Christmas Eve Thur 24th Dec 10am - 4pm

Christmas Day Fri 25th Dec - CLOSED

Boxing Day Sat 26th Dec - CLOSED

Sunday 27th Dec - CLOSED

Bank Holiday Monday 28th Dec - CLOSED

Tuesday 29th Dec - OPEN

Weds 30th Dec - OPEN

Thurs 31st Dec - OPEN 10am - 4pm

Fri 1st January - CLOSED

Sat 2nd January - OPEN

Christmas Craft Evening at Threads and Patches, Tues 1st Dec 6pm - 8.30pm

2009-11-25T05:02:00.003Z

We are planning our Christmas evening. Next Tues 1st December we shall have free demon-strations of Christmas projects and gifts at Threads and Patches, 15 Watling Street, Fenny Stratford, Bletchley, MK2 2BU. We shall have carol singing lead by a group of singers from Masqueraders.

There will also be a chance to take time out and have a free 10 minute Indian Head Massage by Karl of the Magic Touch. There will be a fun quiz and games to play as you go round the shop plus loads of special offers on the night. Vanessa at Craftability upstairs will be demonstrating various projects.

Plus of course our Tea Room ill be serving Festive Refreshments.

Do come along and join in! Tickets £1 in advance £2 on the door.

Workshop Passport - YES WE WILL!

2009-11-22T07:16:00.004Z

I have been planning the new workshops for next term, and was feeling that the Workshop passport had run its course as we did not have so many participants this term. However there has been such an out cry and numerous people have requested it that i have decided to give it another go.

In December 2009 we shall be issuing 'Workshop Passports', these will be available for £60 they are your passport to as many workshops as you like (up to a maximum of 20) during the period 1st January - 30th April 2010.

What this means is that if you wanted to you could attend 20 classes for just £60, How great is that!?

Holding our Workshop Passport also entitles you to 10% discount off any of our other classes and clubs during that period also, just make sure you have your passport with you when you pay.

There are a few conditions to the passport

1. It is not transferrable

2. You must book your workshop at least 2 weeks in advance (we reserve the right to cancel a class if there are too few people - less than 5)

3. If you book a workshop and do not attend for any reason (cancellation accepted up to 14 days before workshop) you must pay the full fee of the workshop as you may have prevented others from attending

4. Workshops are booked on a strictly first come first served basis.

So how will this work in practice?

Once you have purchased your passport you may book your workshop up to 2 weeks before the class, you book your workshop and either pay in cash or give your card details (we are no longer accepting cheques for passport insurance), we will not charge you for the class providing you turn up, if you pay in cash on presentation at the class the money will be returned to you. We will charge anyone who books a workshop and then cancels or does not turn up, we have to do this as it may have prevented another person from attending the class.

You only need to attend a couple of workshops to have covered the cost of the passport, after that every workshop you attend is FREE!

Craft Fair at Threads and Patches

2009-11-13T20:15:00.002Z

Only a day left to catch all the wonderful items for sale at the Craft Fair upstairs.

Run by the Leighton Buzzard Railway Crafters

Threads and Patches Exhibition

2009-10-15T05:08:00.002Z

Our fantastic exhibition of students work is on this weekend 17th & 18th October 10am - 5pm

Don't miss it!

We are not usually open on a Sunday so come and make the most of it!

Large Car Park, Tea Room plus loads of patchwork and quilting goodies.

See you there!

Sally

First Day in The New Shop!

2009-06-27T19:40:00.003Z

Hurray!

We are open, and the shop looks great. It has been a lot of hard work and it would not have happened without the support and help from a lot of people. It has paid off though, you can see all the fabrics, there is space to move around.

Please come and see us in the new Threads and Patches! our 'Grand official Opening' will be Saturday 18th July but we are there every day in between (except Sundays!)

See you soon!

Sally

Cleaners Wanted!

2009-06-14T18:11:00.002Z

Hi,

we are getting on with the new building, most of this weekend I have spent putting in the new wooden flooring and Tony has been putting up fibreboard ready for all those gorgeous quilts.

It has been the most glorious summer weekend and we have spent most of it slaving over a hot saw / hammer/ strange floor fixing tool. Many thanks must go to Gill and Keith Thomas who came and joined us for a few hours on Sunday morning and David who is doing a great job of documenting the changes every week photographicaly, not to mention cutting down the weeds in the garden

The next big job is cleaning, all the building, sawing and drilling have created a layer of dust that pervades everything and I need it to go before I can move the fabrics in to the shop, so the next couple of days will be a cleaning frenzy (after I have finished the floor of course!).

On friday Gill Dalgleish who has been comng almost every day to paint left to go on a well deserved holiday! she has done such a great job for me and I am so grateful for all her time and enthusiasm - Have a great holiday Gill!

2009-06-08T20:38:00.003Z

Hi, well today was more slog at the new shop, but grateful to say I had a good number of helpers, including my daughter Jenny who had not seen the building since before we bought it. Today we almost finished he kitchen, Stephen and Glynis had done sterling work on it yesterday. Jill Dalgleish has been coming to help almost every week day - painting like fury! Mandy Beacham and Evelyn Joy also joined the painters and cleaners today.

Over the last weeks or so the following people have generously given their time to help with getting the shop ready, if I miss anyone, I am truely sorry . Gwen, Thelma, Pam, Mike, Dawn, Neil, Stephen, Glynis, Louise & Man, Nicole & Steve, Rowena, Martin, Steve T, Tom, Anita, Andy, Jenny, Kathy, Evelyn, Sue, Jan, Mary & Peter, Marie, David, Ned, Zannah, Margaret & Doug, Tom W, Cheryl & Mary, Sally-Anne, Jean, Barbara, Marilyn,.

Hope I have got every body, I am bound to have missed someone!

Tomorrow we should finish the Slatwall. Then it will really feel like a shop.

Come and see it when its finished!

Progress, progress

2009-05-31T20:39:00.004Z

We are making good progress with the new building, most of the painting down stairs is now done. Slatwall goes up this week. Onwards and upwards!

Work Gets Started on Number 15

2009-05-25T03:22:00.004Z

Threads and Patches is on the move! We took possession of 'the pub' on Friday and it has been full steam ahead since then. The place was in a mess, with the cellar flooded with beer following Punch Taverns ripping out all the pumps - Tonyt spent quite a while clearing it.The first planned job on Friday evening was clearing out the attic, many thanks to Steve, David and Zanna who came along to help with the part one of the rubbish clearance.

Here is a list of some of the stuff we found in the attic

Cash Registers x 3 (old, may be salvagable but I think they have bits missing)

Music systems x 1 (absolutely dead!)

Bed Struts - a mountain of them

Broken chairs x about 20 (why would you bother putting them in the attic?)

Empty boxes x about 50 (ditto)

A Henry Vaccuum cleaner (this must have been dumped by a domestically challenged person as everyone knows you just have to make sure the tubes are clear to get them to work) - ably rescusitated by Zanna.

The brass foot rest from round the bar - truely a thing of beauty, can't decide what to do with it.

Various bits of wood, cutrain tracks / poles, blinds.

The ubiquitous Christmas decorations (you cannot have an attic without them!)

Boxes of CD covers - no CD's though.

Martin, Clare, Baggins and Molly came to have a look round at the new domain.

Saturday - Demolition Derby

Tony and I made a start early, but in 2 hours had only managed to break down a small corner of the bar (they meant that thing to last forever)

Then Andy arrived with his sledge hammer and it started to move a bit faster!

Steve also came and helped with both the electrics, plumbing and demoltion - Many thanks tp both as we might still be on the first section without them.

David and Ned arrived ready to do battle with the garden, but access was very difficult due to the amount of fly tipping that had happened in the garden. So far I have found the remains of almost 2 cars , 5 beds, 20 chairs plus various other rubbish. They made tremendous progress, clearing two large areas of brush and self seeded saplings. Louise and her husband also arrived and help cut stuff down in the garden.

Mum did sterling work, washing and packing away all the glasses left behind!

Martin helped take up the old floor of the bar, this needed, which showed me how, so then I was all set!

Vanessa came to look round and decided to wants to open her shop upstairs - hurray, so all you papercrafters out there - we shall be the one stop shop!

Sunday - Start of the Renewal

First to arrive were Margaret and Doug who started clearing the weeds in the Car Park, Tom was already at work clearing the garden of some more debris.

Stephen came in and got started straight away on the new floor, and some of the extraneous pipework,(after he and I did a mega trip to Wicks and I became the owner of a cool circular saw!). Meanwhile, Gwen and Thelma arrived and started preparing for painting in the 'Tortoise Tea Room' AKA beadroom1. They were soon joined by Cheryl and Mary who after a quick run to the bottle bank with a couple of crates of bottles, began rubbing down the paintwork on the stairs and landing. Pam and Mike joined the painting troop, with Mike acting as general handyman along the way.

In the afternoon, Nicole and Steve arrived, Nicole did battle with the weeds on the forecourt while Steve joined Stephen on the floor, building a new frame of joists and base ready for the real wood flooring in a few days time. Glynis joined us in the afternoon and started rubbing down and painting the ladies toilet. Mum also helped with keeping everyone supplied with tea.

By the end of the day, the new floor was well on the way, the gloss was almost finished in the Tea Room, the hall and landing paintwork was just about ready for painting, the weeds on the forecourt were banished, the posts and chain on the forecourt were repainted white - looks MUCH better.

One sad thing though - we shall have to say goodbye to the Swinging Pub Sign, it is rotten at the base and too dangerous to leave standing. We shall try and remove that today, Monday. If it can be salvaged (if the rot does not go too far up the post then we may be able to resurrect it, but time will tell.

OK - onwards for the next days work.

NEW SHOP COMING SOON!!!!

2009-05-16T14:24:00.002Z

Hi All,

all the plans for the new shop are finally coming together.

I am hoping it will make all my customers and staff very happy. Plans are to make the ground floor into Threads and Patches and upstairs a Tea Shop plus other craft retailer/s.

It is very exciting, and there is loads of work, and although I know we cannot start work yet, my fingers are itching! Many of my customers have volunteered to come and help with the preparation and moving - THANK YOU!

Will keep you updated on here with our progress. I hope to make a photo journal of the transformation from Gay Bar to Craft Emporium!

Stocktake Blues

2009-04-13T09:47:00.004Z

Despite our mega pre-stock take sale, there was and is still a lot of counting to do! The haberdashery and books are done, but I am still plodding through the fabrics! It is like the horn of plenty, just when you think you have finished you find another rack that needs counting!

In our current shop we have approx 18 racks of fabric - mostly double stacked. In the new shop I am planning approx double that capacity. Goodness knows how long it will take us to count the fabric next year!

I have spent most of my Easter weekend doing this and am starting to feel like I need to get a life! However, if truth be told I love it, just coming across fabric I forgot was in the shop, and my mind goes off to various possibilities for it, so far in my head I have constructed over 100 quilts this weekend, I just need an army of willing slaves to make them all up. The fabric I am counting now is at home, so has never even seen the shop shelf, can't wait for the new place to show it off.

OK approx another 200 bolts to go and then I am done. Total - around the 2000 mark.

Oh Boy!

A VERY Exciting Week!

2009-04-05T06:50:00.003Z

We love our shop here on Aylesbury Street, jam packed with goodies, most customers love the 'Aladdin's Cave' feel of the place. However it is precisely that - jam packed, even I don't remember half the stuff we sell because we can't see it or find it. So fingers crossed we may be on the move to somewhere a bit bigger. I shall keep you updated through the website and blog with progress. When purchasing property as we all know, things can go wrong, so I am reluctant to say too much more until things are definitely happening.

It is true to say that I am very excited about this and can't wait to tell you all about it. The only problem with this kind of move is managing the ordinary running of the shop - I don't know if I dare book myself into teach on a particular day or when and where to plan our 'special days'.

Will keep you posted with progress, if you want to know more call into the shop!

Keep your fingers crossed for us - won't it be great to have our own parking?!

Sally

Sale Week

2009-03-25T18:31:00.002Z

This week is sale week because next week is stocktake! So the less we have to count the better.

The sale is great apart from a range of fabric at just £3 per metre, all our fabric is 15% off! But, if you finish a bolt it is 25% off!

There are lots of other in shop deals as well, including all cross stitch 25% off .

The sale finishes on Saturday at 5pm so pop into Threads and Patches before then if you can

http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/

I have also been getting all the stuff together for Patchwork Schoolhouse - 18th April which is looking very exciting.

Plans for next terms needlework classes are also underway. so keep an eye on our workshop list.

Quilt for a Quid!

2009-03-13T10:18:00.002Z

Hi All,

I have got very excited about an idea I had yesterday, 'Quilt for a Quid'. Similar to the 'Buck a Block' programm we ran last year but our own design and themes and with a whole range of fabrics.

The idea is simple, sign up for one of the colour options (or more if you wish to!), then cll in to the shop during normal working hours at least once a month to collect your block/s. You must collect your block in the correct month or the price is no longer a £1 but £3. You must make up your block during the month and bring the completed block back with you in order to receive the next one.

We shall be running 'Quilt for a Quid' in four colourways - Floral, Latte, Christmas and Amish.

We cannot guarantee that the fabrics will be identical to pictures displayed but they will be as close as possible. The blocks may vary in size and technique, so are a good 'sampler' quilt for beginners.

Ideas for putting the blocks together in a quilt will be available on completeion of the final block and we shall be offering 'completion kits' should you want one (not yet organised!)

Patchwork People - Newport Pagnell

2009-03-04T07:26:00.002Z

On Saturday 7th March I am speaking at 'Patchwork People' at Silver Street Hall in Newport Pagnell, I am terrified! The title of the talk I have chosen as 'How not to run a Quilt shop' in theory telling the story of how I got the Threads and Patches business up and running and some of the errors and incidents that happened along the way. However as I have been thinking about it I have realised that essentially it is probably going to be one long digression and I am concerned that I am going to sound like Ronnie Corbett telling an interminable story that never gets to the end, with numerous wanderings along the way. If I can be a tiny bit as funny I guess it might be OK - the answer of course is to take quilts and more quilts!

I know many of the group as they have come to my classes and shopped at my shop for years now, so hopefully the natives will be friendly, this is weird, I am usually so confident when I am teaching - not sure why this is so different - ho hum!

Sally White

Shrink Fabric

2009-03-04T07:20:00.002Z

This stuff is fantastic, it lends itself to so many uses! just stitch to any fabric , apply steam and Voila! your fabric shrinks with wonderful gathered effects to the stitches to a maximum if 30% (or 15%).

You must try this it is fun!

Apology!

2009-03-04T07:16:00.003Z

Ok,

have to apologise for not maintaining this blog, so will make a real effort to keep up now!

Numerous customers have asked me to update so here comes a few things that are happening,

But like the guys in the photo I shall be careful about revealing too much too soon!

Fenny Poppers Festival and the Festival of Quilts

2008-08-20T05:58:00.005Z

What a week! - it was always going to be busy with the NEC running Thursday to Sunday and then the Fenny Poppers Festival also on Sunday. We had a great time! the NEC was wonderful as ever with a feast of beautiful quilts on display and loads of shopping opportunities. It was great to see some familiar faces who popped by - Margaret and Selma who came on our retreat earlier in the year.

I also met a group of Belgian quilters, their group leader Brigitte had contacted me a few weeks ago and asked if I would be able to do a workshop for them on the Sunday in Fenny Stratford, on their way to catch the Ferry home. This was all hush-hush as I kept meeting them during the days at the NEC but was not allowed to say anything as it was to be a surprise. So at 11am I stood waving a hastily constructed Belgian flag to guide their coach to its parking spot. The quilters had been told about 30 minutes before that they were coming to me for a class and that there was a festival in progress! The street was full of people - see the photos on the fenny poppers website - http://www.fennyfestival.org.uk/

We set up the 'classroom' on the pavement outside the shop and did the class there, making a lovely candlewicked bag. Many thanks to my customers who turned up to help and welcome the visitors, Glynis, Gwen, Freya, Elaine and Michelle. A big thank you also to Kath who was working in the shop and was kept very busy!

Inge has written about their trip on her blog http://chevremont.web-log.nl

Patchwork Workshop Passport

2008-08-10T11:54:00.005Z

Our Workshop Passport is proving a great success - and no wonder, our customers are loving the fact that they can make a one off payment and then book as many patchwork and quilting classes as they like for free.

The way this works is - you buy a passport for just £50 and then book in for any of our workshops where it says ' Passport applies'. So long as you turn up for the class there is no further payment ( we reserve the right to charge if you do not attend the class for any reason as you may have prevented another person from attending).

That's it - there are no catches - we worked out that if you attended every class available you would save in excess of £900 on class fees!

The only problem with this is that classes are being booked up very quickly, we shall endeavor to repeat classes where there is high demand, so if you want to book your workshops we suggest you book as soon as possible.

Book your Passport and Workshops here
http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/Workshops-Clubs-and-Retreats.html

Bye Bye Van

2008-07-09T11:42:00.003Z

My van would not have passed its MOT without a lot of money being spent on it, so it is going to the scrapheap, hopefully to be recycled into better vans, as to be honest it was pretty rubbish, although I did love the graphics. I would caution anyone against buying a Daihatsu, despite the ministrations of Tavistock Motors of Ampthill http://www.tavistockmotors.co.uk/index.htm Who really are very helpful, they were unable to save it.

This picture of me is our final farewell having emptied out all the stuff that seemed to have accumulated in there. Now I just need some wheels ......

Biting the Bullet

2008-06-30T08:05:00.006Z

Went to a play at Leighton Buzzard Theatre http://www.leightonbuzzardtheatre.co.uk/. It was really good, especially the girl who played Dawn. The play was put on my Leighton Buzzard drama Group who perform a range of productiond throughout the year and the pantomime at Christmas - worth a visit! http://www.lbdg.org.uk/

Christmas Patchwork School House

2008-06-28T06:27:00.003Z

On Saturday 12th July we shall be holding our first Christmas Patchork Shoolhouse. This is an event where we demonstrate 10 different techniques or projects (in this case 10 Xmas items) in one day. Students move from teacher to teacher and in each class they get a kit to go home and play with as well as full instructions. Here is a picture of one of the projects we shall be doing this time. As well as a fun school day we also provide lunch and homemade cakes - these are always popluar

Congratulations Tom!

2008-06-26T06:03:00.005Z

Yesterday my very clever son Tom learned he had passed his physics degree with first class honours! Hurray!!!!!! I am so proud of him! OK must stop using so many exclamation marks :)

Frustrations with Software

2008-06-24T21:43:00.004Z

A whole day - I started at 6am, trying to sort out some software issues, my website is functioning but has lost some important features, have no idea how . So chained to the keyboard all day. Did manage to clean the bathroom though. Its amazing how much cleaning I can get done when I am cross, my bath got the benefit of my softwares failings.
GGGRRRRRRR

Stoke Goldington

2008-06-22T20:24:00.004Z

On saturday I spent a delightful day at Stoke Goldington Village Hall. The Stoke Goldington Sewers Circle were having a display of their handiwork which included some wonderful quilts, cushions, covered boxes, wallhangings and decorations. Apart from the volume of homemade cakes available (Yummy), the most amazing thing I encountered was the Stoke Goldington Millenium Tapestry. this truely is a work of art, beautifully planned and executed by the ladies and gents of the parish, this 13 foot long tapestry uses a range of stitching techniques and embellishments to create a stylised picture of the village at the millenium. It was wonderful to talk to the designer, Kay Thompson and those who worked on it. Many people involved had never done any stitching before and it is a real credit to all those involved that they achieved such a wonderful piece. The picture here does not do it justice, if you get the opportunity do go and see it. It was a priviledge to see all the preliminary workings that are stored in fies in The reading room at Stoke Goldington.

Do look at the Stoke Goldington Website which shows how the project came about and the determined stitchers who made it happen.

http://www.mkheritage.co.uk/sga/wallhanging/index.htm

Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council

2008-06-17T20:33:00.003Z

This evening I attended the Town Council Meeting, this was just to check that the grant I had applied for in respect of the Fenny Poppers Festival http://www.fennyfestival.co.uk/ was agreed. However I stayed put as on the agenda was the closure of local Post Offices.

I ended up walking out in disgust. There is to be a meeting in July organised to fight the potential closures of Post Offices in Buckinghamshire, did any of our councillors plan to attend - no!

A member of the public asked what the Council were doing to prevent the closure of the Post Office in Water Eaton, he was told that as it was all rumour the Ton Council would do nothing until it was formal. I guess you can understand the logic, however they Town Councillors had just had a talk on planning for emergencies, management of resources and what the Council can do to help in catastrophic conditions. I couldn't help seeing the irony in them becoming very animated in discussion of that general topic and their deafening silence about the potential catastrophe that is waiting in the wings when some of the smaller Post Offices are closed.

It is proven that when a small Post Office closes that it takes many other local businesses with it. Maybe not immediately but many businesses rely on quick and easy access to postal services. I am very aware that when I use the Post Office at the end of the street I generally run into people I know, it is a community place where many different people meet each other.

Posting a letter has become more and more complicated, it is not easy to work out the size weight etc, it all takes a lot longer than it used to, the Post Office has basically shot itself in the foot.

The hardest thing is how powerless the local community feel in the face of a conglomerate who seems to be acting in a completely random way, it is difficult to see why they choose to close certain facilities which are making money. Their business plan is frankly unfathomable.
But the way in which the leaders of the local community - the Town Council are ignoring the concerns of their constituents and refusing to involve themselves in any form of support or campaign is equally baffling. It will be the Town Council who have less money to spend when the local business community flounders due to a lack of local infrastructure - not only the loss of the Post Office, but lack of local public transport and poorly signed and managed parking facilities. Not to mention putting signs outside Fenny Stratford that tell visitors that they are 'Welcome to Bletchley'.

Let the Town Council know what you think

http://www.bfstc.co.uk/

you can contact them through this link.

By the way, we did get some of the grant for the Fenny Festival (approx 1/3rd of what was requested), thankfully there was still enough money in the pot to send 4 of the councillors on a course at £95 each on how to chair meetings. Its a relief to know that someone knows how to chair a meeting even if they chose to ignore the most important issues raised during them.

Knebworth Classic Car Show

2008-06-16T08:50:00.004Z

Yesterday I took myself, the van, a load of stock and Tony to Knebworth for the Fathers Day Classic car show. This was a try out, my brother who attends these things reakoned there would be loads of bored women desperate to buy sewing stuff. He was wrong! I took a total of £12.50, as the coffees were costing £2.00 each and there were 2 of us it didn't take long for us to spend more than I took.

The show itself was interesting as I had never been to anything like that before, I was amazed to find that the good old Ford Capri counted now as a classic - I do have quite fond memories of those.

Anyway, the long shot was we packed up early had a wander round the gardens at Kneborth house which are lovely, and great for kids if they are into dinosaurs. Had some wickedly expensive tea and scones and came home.

So we tried it probably won't try again!

Here is a picture of me not selling anything at Knebworth! I did get a fair bit of my japanese folded patchwork done though, which is coming on well.

Ho Hum

Fenny Poppers Festival

2008-06-13T06:29:00.002Z

As part of my role as a member of the Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Business Association I am heavily invloved in organising the Fenny Poppers Festival. This is the second year, last year was a big learning curve for all those invloved but very successful despite the fact that we were not blessed with the best weather.

This year the festival is to be held on Sunday 17th August, Aylesbury Street in Fenny stratford, Bletchley is to be closed and an area of it turfed. the turf is kindly donated by Bletchley Turf a local company. In fact if I bagen to list all the local companies who are contributing to this event then I should be here all day

have a look at the website

http://www.fennyfestival.org.uk/

so see some more pics of this fun day. This year there will be more stalls, a bigger funfair, the acts on stage will keep you entertained all day, plus games and competitions - you can even try out diving as the dive shop will have a pool available

http://www.divecentral.co.uk/index.shtml

Elisabeth Fritzl

2008-06-12T21:13:00.002Z

Like everyone else I have been following with horror, fascination and admiration to the story of Elisabeth Fritzl and her family.

I don't know where she found her strength of mind, locked away and isolated alone for several years, knowing that when her captor reappeared he would rape her. Then pregnant, no support, aware she was about to go through a painful and potentially life threatening event with no one even knowing it was happening to her, but probably with the overwhelming love for the baby already waiting in the wings. I remember being pregnant fo the first time, so excited, so much anticipation, wanting to 'show off' my beautiful baby, terrified something might go wrong and afraid I would not be able to cope ith the pain - I couldn't, thank heavens for Pethidine!
Elisabeth - no hope of any help. But a dream I am sure of the love of a child. her need for love turned her into the most phenomenal and amazing mother, I am sure she learned some of her mothering skills from her mother Rosmarie, what joy for them to be reunited. Both victims of a twisted and manipulative ******d.

I hope the family continue to make a good recovery and can get to a point of peace and anonymity if that is what they desire. I also hope the work f the doctors and staff who are supporting them is adequately recognised, they are obviously doing a great job.

Great Class on Stitching with Unusual Threads

2008-05-25T14:57:00.005Z

Nancy Goldsworthy gave us a great insight into use of unusual threads, had great fu playing with all sorts of threads. Part of the reason we don't let ourselves try new stuff is that we don't allow enough time just to play.

So here is my thread resolution. I will regularly allow myself half an hour to try out new threads, the easiest way to do this is take a small quilt sandwich ( 2 fabric pieces witha wadding layer in between), start using a basic zig-zag stitch, play with your tension until it is correct.

Stitch commandments
1. Thou shalt not pass over any thread due to fear
2. Thou shalt adjust the tension on your sewing machine
3. Thou shall clean your machine regularly
4. Thou shall try all types of threads
5. Thou shall buy unusual threads if and when you see them
6. If you buy a thread - use it!
7. Thou shalt keep a record of which threads worked where - keep a written record of what settings worked on which thread (? indelible ink on yur quilt sandwich)
8. A thread stash is not a crime it is a necessity
9. Thread holds your quilt together so do not skimp, quilt it!
10. Stitchin is bitchin!

Play! Stitch have fun. Remember to change your machine needles regularly. A good new needle can make all the difference a small investment in your work and your sewing machine.

If you would like to come to a class about using different threads here is a link to one that is coming up
http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/Workshops-to-be-held-in-October-2008-in-patchwork-and-quilting.html

Quilt Market Portland Oregon

2008-05-25T14:28:00.009Z

Hi,
back from my major trade shopping trip of the year. Wow, what a great place Portland is, well organised clean, friendly and travel in the city centre is FREE!

It is a shame I was not as impressed with Delta Airlines - do not fly with these people- honestly they changed my flight 2 times before I went, on arrival at Gatwick the flight had been put back 3 hours garuanteeing that we would miss our connections. We recieved no explanation of why we had been delayed, but were promised we would be at our destination that day - this was a blatent lie to stop me demanding a switch to another destination. When we arrived at the connection point we were informed that there was no way we would end up in Portland that day and that there was never a chance that we would. we had to overnight in Cinncinati, we did not arrive in Portland till lunch time the following day, thus missing the tour we were booked on. Apparently we have no claim as there is no compensation for consequential loss.

OK rant over, on with the good stuff!

the Quilt Market was great this year, I went to loads of different classes at 'Patchwork Schoolhouse', learned a great technique for Quilt as you Go. There was also an event called 'Event Express' this allowed shop owners to share lots of ideas for events they might hold at their shops - a great resource.

My elderly but incredibly active mother accompanied me on this trip, she had a great time looking round Portland and especially enjoyed the wonderful gardens they have there. I did get to look round the Rose gardens and the Japanese garden which is one of the most beautiful gardens I have ever been in. We also sampled the local beer, there are literally hundreds of 'micro breweries' in Portland, many thanks to the waitress who let us try them all before we bought a pint! That was an expensive drink as I then went to the trade market and was VERY relaxed about what I spent!

I shall be inroducing new stuff to the shop as soon as possible, here are some of the things that are coming up

The Diva Essential bag just £7.95

Order it here

http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/Miscellaneous_Bag_Patterns.html

Queen of hearts bag Pattern just £7.95

Order This one here http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/Moonshine_Designs.html

Making a Baby Quilt

2008-02-25T18:56:00.003Z

I started cutting out this baby qult on Saturday afternoon and came into work early with the idea of getting some stitching done before the shop opened. However I got diverted once in the shop by some stock that needed to be booked out ready for the show we are doing next week at The Westpoint Showground Exeter (March 7th - 9th). Getting ready for shows and exhibitions is a major task, I have realised that there is little point in trying to sell anything unless you have it as a made up sample. Thus the more I want to take the more I have to make. So started making this sweet baby quilt using a printed panel by Block Party Studios called 'Baby Kisses'.

I am really enjoying making it. Am basting at present with a view to quilting it this evening.
Photos to follow!

See the baby Kisses panel Here
http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/blockparty-studios-hand-printed-panels.html

New Block of the Month - Fenny Floral Fantasy

2008-02-22T16:05:00.004Z

Threads and patches will soon launch its new very own block of the month. Called Fenny Floral Fantasy after Fenny Stratford the small town just south of Bletchley where our shop shares this interesting high street.

I designed this quilt using pre-cut, prebonded shapes, so much of the time consuming work is done and you can just get down to the stitching! It uses the wonderful Java Blends fabrics by Timeless Treasures.

This quilt is very versatile, you could make a few blocks as cushions or you could sash the blocks with bright colours, there are 20 blocks so you could easily turn it into 2 quilts!

I machine appliqued this quilt ith Robison Anton rayon embroidery threads, but you could just as easily stitch it by hand with embroidery silks.

See the website for further information anout ordering

http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/Fenny_Floral_Fantasy.html

Exhibitions and Workshops

2007-11-17T13:13:00.000Z

The days fly by and all my good intentions of maintaining this diary go to pot. I feel much of the time I am running to keep up, but at least it means we are busy!

Things that have happened since I last wrote

The Festival of Quilts in August at the NEC - how fantastic was that!
I just love doing that show, we ere busy for the whole time as we had lots of stock that had not been seen before. For instance our hand printed blocks with sayings about quilters or cats or dogs, we sold out pretty quickly andhad to take orders. You would think I would learn my lesson but at the Chilford sho last week the same thing happened. It is hard to judge stock levels for events such as these, but customers seem happy for us to post out to them later.

Sewing wise I have been stitching some Hawiian blocks and have really been enjoying the hand sewing. I have to get a regular fix on th machine though so am still working on all my baby quilt patterns.

I shall endevour to keep a better diary in future.
Will write more next week

Busy Month!

2007-07-30T05:08:00.000Z

Hello,
sorry it has been such a long time since my last post.
Here is what we have been up to. Firstly, the thing that has absorbed much of my time over the last few weeks has been the new computer system. We are attempting to move into the 21st century and barcode everything - anyone who has been in the shop or even examined the website for any length of time will understand what a mamoth task this is, even if everything went smoothly - which it did not. So finally after weeks of struggles (which I shall not bore you with , but if you ever want to feel like hanging your self - just ask me to tell you the story) we seem to be getting there. The bar coding system and the website will now be linked - which is great, but it also means that the website has suffered a little neglect over the last couple of weeks - but fear not we shall be adding loadsof new stuff imminently.
Ok I shall post again soon within the next day or so and tell you all about the Free Auction - which was fab, we made £800 for Macmillan Cancer Relief - how great is that?!
Happy stitching
Sally

Good Stuff and Bad Stuff

2007-06-22T15:09:00.000Z

The good stuff - have had a good few weeks promoting some of the great new products I found in Salt Lake City. One of the best things has been ' Skillbuilder'. This is one of those things that when you come across it you think - why didn't I think of that! It is a self education tool, designed to tkae you through all the techniques of machine quilting. It comprises fabric panels preprinted with a massive variety of quilting designs that you can work your way through. Currently there are 2 panels one which covers everything from straight stitch to stippling, the second which concentrates on feathers - those lovely curvey quilting designs. There is a companion book also, Margy our machine quilting teacher was flicking through it and excalimed - 'Oh! i didn't know that! Which proves it must be good 'coz i thought Margy knew everything about machine quilting!

The Bad Stuff - constant frustration with my bank the Abbey. I pay a lot of my bills on line - so do many people, so listen to this salutory tale and beware! I set up a standing order to one of my suppliers, they never got the money. I had apparently made a typing error in the sort code (I still dispute this - but any way) so the money went to the correct account no. but wrong branch and into someone elses account, even though the account name was wrong. It has taken me months of endless telephone calls and letters to the Abbey for them to finally agree to put in writing what has happened! So now, 4 months on, I can approach the recipients bank with my letter from the Abbey (assuming it actually arrives - Jason in 'Complaints' agreed to send it today!) and ask for my money. Apparently, as this was my error I have no right to demand the money, I can only ask, and if the recipient doesn't want to give it back, I cannot make them! The amount in question is £500. If it had been 500,000 I am told I would still be in the same position!

So beware of typing errors they can be very expensive.

Elaines Joke

2007-05-30T05:51:00.000Z

Elaine emailed this joke

This lorry full of tortoises collided with a van full of terrapins. It was a turtle disaster.

The Illuminated Letters Quilt - Update

2007-05-30T05:38:00.000Z

I have now been working solidly for 3 days on this quilt. Instead of chosing something quick I just keep adding to the work, but the quilt sort of demands it. I shall add photo's soon. So far I have appliqued letters and machine trapuntoed them. Then Italian quilted scrolls around each letter - 6 more to go - whose idea was it to have so many letters in the alphabet? (I am sure we could get on with a few less - any suggestions on which ones to ditch will be welcome).

A Very Busy Week

2007-05-27T06:55:00.002Z

Been absolutely mired this week with
A. The VAT return (Yuk) - this would be fine if I updated my accounts daily, but there is always more important stitching to do.
B. My City and Guilds coursework, I have got several 'Art Files' to complete including 'Shape', 'Form', and 'Texture', plus 3 articles linked to them.
These are
(a) A Wallhanging of a Snowflake - mostly done but I need to finish the write ups
(b) A Container - the item I started with was a jug, it may end up being a pitcher - ie in the bin and start agin!
(c) A Household item - I am stitching a sewing machine cover, this has been fun but is not finished and I need to do the write ups.
On top of that is the BIG project - the quilt.
As part of the course you are meant to monitor, analyse and describe the design process - this is for me a dilemma.
This is my usual design process
1. Light bulb moment - not necessarily triggered by anything obvious other than my fevered brain and alcohol.
2. Make it - usually tweaking as I go along, I rarely make a sample or prctice piece I generally just go for it.

The design process for this quilt has been somewhat different
1. Several months of hoping to have some inspiration - however I am a person who works to time pressure (ie no obvious time pressure no work done!) and obviously so do my creative juices, they kept me waiting.
2. Sudden realisation I have one month to do 1 years work, plus VAT return plus possibly write book (another little project), not to mention run shop, teach, see family and have life etc.
3. Creative juices go into overdrive, I have 101 ideas tumbling to the front of my brain - now I have lots of ideas here are a few
(a) wholecloth quilt based on Indian Paisley pattern
(b) this progresses to wholecloth quilt with painted Paisley pattern
(c) then I fancy haveing a go at Italian Quilted wholecloth, possibly painted or possibly using dyed wools to create shadow effects
(c) Then i realise i am not that great at quilting my forte is pieceing or applique, perhaps i should go on this direction
(d) Find an advert I have pulled from a magazine at some point - it is in pink black and white - I like this colour scheme, decide to do that
(e) But What? Start by playing with applique do a black fan on pink background with some white thrown in - looks OK but too chuncky, lot of work, bit boring
(f) Decide I need something quick - Foundation pieceing - hurray I love this, quickly design a block on EQ5, then start to make it up - looks good but I am not enjoying it, and when I speak to another member of the group, she says 'it has got to look like at least 2 months work' - it will not, it will look like what it is, a speedy throw together, even if it looks nice and is in cool colours - I will finish it one day!
(f2) forgot to add, did some playing with my markal sticks (oil paints for fabric, thought i would try and do something 'Arty' - gave up, just messy and looks like something from kindergarten.
(g) Back to drawing board. Sometime ago I started playing with letters, illuminated large lettters. Start thinking about doing that in the pink white and blck colour scheme. Like the idea of letters changing mind about colour scheme. start looking for archaic fonts on the web - i had no idea there was so much out there. A big thank you to all those designers who put their work out there for free.
(f)Go into shop and see perfect fabric for my letters, would look great on black, so then have to find the font, found some great stuff on the web but when i downloaded it i found I could not manipulate it or get it to the size i wanted - I have no time, i have just used up a week in pfaffing (sorry design process).
(g) Find a font in Word , enlarge, outline, print - hurray.
Have to trace round it on both sides of paper. Think about doing this using upside down applique technique, then go for the old favourite bonding - much quicker.
(h) make up a sample (this is unheard of for me! - I must have learned something on this course!)- decide to machine trapunto letter, soluble thread - never done this before, it seems to work, cut excess wadding away.
(i)Want to outline with gold thread. So applique letter with invisible thread and small blanket stitch (on machine) quilting at the same time, then flip over and with gold thread in bobbin try and follow my line, I have stitched in black on black, this is tricky, but OK.
(j) not ecstatic with results although it could be good i9f my stitching of the gold thread was more accurate.
(k) try a different thread - a braid, try using cording foot and stitching from top with invisble thread, this gives more control of where the gold edge is going, just not sure about the foot. going to sleep on it.

So that was my week, this morning I still have not decided on how to attach the gold highlight, but i have cut out all the letters ready and i have also had some ideas on how the blocks of letters will go together - more coming soon!

By the way,yesterday at the shop we hosted Angela Madden teaching her Five Dot Flowers, it was excellent, loads of new ideas and tips. I didn't get to go, but I did do some work in the shop.

Check out our available workshops here
http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/Workshops_and_Classes_clubs_Retreats_at_Threads_and_Patches_in_Milton_Keynes.html

Quilt Shop Quilt

2007-05-18T06:29:00.003Z

Having fun with my quilt shop house, made using Billie Lauders 'Build it Up' a Dolls House for Quilters. Hav got the 2 floors done, now need to add the roof and the Quilt Shop banner. I plan to take a photograph of the signage above my shop in Fenny Stratford and then transfer that to fabric using Crafters Images fabric I can put through my ink jet printer.
The most fun part of making this 'building' is adding all the finishing touches, like buttons for handles, fussy cut shapes from motif fabric -so far the clock and a stuffed toy duck! Whilt writing this I have realised I can take photographs of items from my shop and print them onto fabric to fussy cut! This is going to be fun!
Ok got to get dressed and get to my workroom now! I know how I am going to be working now. I often use the workroom above the shop when the shop is quiet, I put a notice on the door asking customers to ring the bell, I don't know, but I suspect this sometimes puts people off, but it shouldn't as I am grateful for their custom and quiet often I am doing really boring jobs like cutting kits, or (horror of horror's) tidying up! I am always grateful to be diverted from that stuff!

Buy this Book Here

http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/Easymade_Books_by_Billie_Lauder.html

Istanbul

2007-05-17T06:28:00.000Z

Just returned day before yesterday from a weekend in Istanbul, Turkey. It is the most amazing place. The thing that stood out to me amongst the hustle and bustle and the wonderful architecture was the use of pattern. Everywhere you looked from the tiniest manhole cover to the sweeping domes of the mosques were embellished with pattern. It was a feast for the eyes.
Highlights of trip
- getting off the ferry at Eminonou to be greeted by what seemed like a million people and vehicles all trying to cross the same piece of road!
-Topkapi Palace - the harem and the exhibition of Sultans clothes which weren't. There were no robes on show but there were the most wonderful silk patchwork wraps from the 16thC which were superb brilliant colours, cerise and lime green.
-Underground Cistern - just wonderful.

Threads and Patches May Craft Club at Borders Milton Keynes

2007-05-17T06:27:00.001Z

Last night held craft club at Borders. We made a stuffed 'Funky Chicken' or a patchwork luggage label. Both were made using the foundation piecing method of patchwork using gridded vilene - pictures to follow. Next months projects will be a Crewel Work Embroidered Picture Frame or a Heart-Shaped Needlecase.
There were only 13 attendees yesterday, so next month - can you all bring a friend?

See our available Clubs and workshops here
http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/Workshops_and_Classes_clubs_Retreats_at_Threads_and_Patches_in_Milton_Keynes.html

Stitching a Quilt Shop Dolls House

2007-05-10T14:53:00.001Z

Yesterday evening I had about 40 minutes between closing the shop and going to the meeting of The Bletchley and Fenny Business association. Although I was tempted by the fish and chip shop down the street, I decided to do something more productive. So I began stitching the first floor of my 'Quilt shop Dolls House'. I found this book at Quilt Market (see previous posts). It is called 'Build it Up - a quilters Dolls House', and gives you paper foundation piecing for all kinds of houses and furniture. In 40 minutes I made the front door and a set of shelves filled with fabric. You can see my first efforts here!. I am loving the effect and the options I can add buttons and charms to the quilt to add details.

The book is by Billie Lauder who I met, I would love to get her to come to the Uk to do some classes! The book will be available from the shop in a few weeks - it is on its way from the US.

Today I have been working in the shop, mainly tidying up and booking in new fabrics. also getting fat quarters ready for Helen from Wonderwool in Rugby to collect. Helen sells some of my fabrics in her shop.

Tomorrow I am off on my travels again. My husband Tony is taking me off to Istanbul for a romantic weekend! Looking forward to finding lots of fabric and embellishment inspirations!

Buy this Book here!

Trip to Spring Quilt Market in Salt Lake City

2007-05-08T21:06:00.002Z

Yesterday evening I got home from a whirlwind trip to Salt Lake City. I was there for the Spring Quilt Market, this is the international trade show for retailers and wholesalers of quilting paraphenalia. Everything from fabric to long-arm quilting machines, from pencils to fabric paint. It was fantastic, I found so much new cool stuff to put in the shop.
I finally bit the bullet and after years of umming and aahhing finally bought a long arm quilting machine! Threads and Patches will be up and running our own quilting service as soon as we can, but it will take a month or so for the shipping and a few months for us all to be trained up.

Other things I found for the shop are some fantastic new patterns by Mckenna Ryan, a wonderful new pattern book called 'The Quilters Dolls House'. I can't wait to get started making one of these!

I also got loads of new ideas for classes, including a great Mystery Quilt by Debbie Caffrey. I have decided to hold a Mystery Quilt Night in September, with limited numbers for cocktails and dinner prior to stitching all night! - better keep the patterns simple!

This evening I went to my City and Guilds Class, I am nearly at the end of my part 3 in Patchwork and Quilting, but I am miles behind on my work. Tonight I was playing with designs for a painted wholecloth quilt, which I think will be my project for my final piece. I am considering using machine trapunto under a painted design which is then densley quilted in the spaces. But am still knocking ideas around. There is some superb work being done in the class and I am constantly frustrated by my lack of time. Ho Hum! but I love what happens to my brain when I really sit down and play with this stuff, suddenly I am off at all sorts of tangents with loads of ideas, just no time to make them all! - I need an army of stitching elves - any volunteers out there?

Visit the website for new stuff
http://www.threadsandpatches.co.uk/acatalog/New_Arrivals2.html

2007-05-08T12:53:00.001Z