Ardingly Day 2

Where was everyone today? It was a very quiet day, not just for us, everyone else said the same.
Still, it gave me a chance to do a bit of shopping myself. I bought some metallic threads, so I'm going to have a play about doing some fancy quilting using those - I'll let you see the photos of that when I'm done.
Also, stocked up on several pieces of cheap fabric to use as quilt backings.

Proof that we did have some customers today!

Ardingly Day 1

A really busy start today. I actually remembered to take some photos while Alistair was finishing setting up, before the early-birds arrived! Lots of familiar faces at the show and lots of new ones too. Thanks to everyone who came to see us.

Ardingly Set-up Day

Last minute preparations at home this morning, printing off flyers etc. Then loaded up both cars (having recharged the flat battery on the Mondeo overnight) and drove all of 15 minutes up the road to the showground.
We've gone for a slightly simpler set-up this year, but it still took us 4 hours to get everything laid out and organised.

Ardingly Quilt Show

Ardingly Quilt Show is coming up this weekend, so I'm spending all my time, between workshops, cutting up Fat Quarters and generally trying to get things organised.

Piles of bolts waiting to be cut.

Pile of cut fabrics waiting to be folded.

Thank goodness for Really Useful Boxes!

Cute or What?

Just running through my Bag making instructions for Saturday's 'Handy Bags' workshop.
I made up a miniature version, only 6" x 8". Very cute don't you think?
I was rushing it a little, so don't look too close, but I got this together in less than an hour!

Flutterbies

I've been working on the Butterfly block, which is the last block of my Foundation Piecing Block of the Month quilt. Here is the block on its own.....

...and here it is laid out with all the others.

Just the borders to get together next.

If you like the look of this, you'll be pleased to know that I'm working on getting it set up as a mail order / web-download project. 'Follow' the blog so you'll be the first to know when it's ready.

Alistair has been busy hunting round the web and finding lots of links to pages with FREE quilt patterns for you to print off or download. Just click on Free Patterns on the top Menu Bar to find a page with all the links built-in.

Ooh, and I'm set up on Twitter now too. So if you want more blow by blow updates of things as they happen, then look at www.Twitter.com/patchesbc.

Only 11 months to go.....

....until Christmas! I made up a few samples to give you some more ideas for what to do with those little 3" Picture Squares which seem to be rather popular, although I still get people asking 'What do you do with them?'

• Well, I cut out the square of fabric (picture plus 1/4" margin) and also a 3" square of scrap cardboard. 

• Stick the fabric to the cardboard and fold the edges over the back. Hold it all in place with Fabric Glue.
  
• Then I decorate the pictures with Glitter Glue, leave them to dry completely (overnight).
• Stick the picture squares to Blank Cards with little Sticky Pads and add some Peel-Offs to finish.
  

Before and After

Got those notions organised today, with lots of help from Alistair!

Before

After

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass from OK Go on Vimeo.

Victoria - this one's for you!

More stock in stock

Finished upating the stock levels with yesterday's delivery, just in time for another couple of boxes to arrive. Now we have Quilting Notions all over the dining room table as well as the workshop!
Got some more prep done for next week's Beginner's Block of the Month Class, so I'm all ready to go on that one now.
Sent out our Patchwork & Quilting Newsletter telling people about the Blog, so now I'm writing in the blog and telling you about the Newsletter!

Venturing Out

First day out driving in the icy snow. We went down to Townings Farm shop to pick up some South Downs lamb for dinner tonight, having lived on things out of the freezer for the past week and on Christmas leftovers the week before that.
Just got back from the farm in time for deliveries to arrive - the workshop is now full of wadding, 505 spray, rotary mats and blades etc. etc.
Didn't get much quilting done today, but getting ready for next week's classes.