Some quilts are quick and some are slow

This one was started at the beginning of March and was actually finished, quilted and everything by the beginning of April, although I only just got round to photographing it.

The block design is known as a 'Bento Box' and it'll be available as a pattern and a workshop very soon!

This one was made from six specific fabrics, plus the neutral, as it is a Wedding Present and needs to fit in with the bedroom colour scheme, however I have worked out how it can easily be made from a Jelly Roll and a Charm Pack.

Here's a close-up of some of the quilting....

The next one is my Mariner's Compass Quilt which was started to accompany a workshop about 18 months ago (or maybe longer). In fact I finished the piecing by this time last year and took it on holiday with me to Italy which is where I started the quilting. Then it got put on the back-burner for almost a year. I just got it out the other week and finished off the quilting.

And a quilting close-up......

Non-stop classes

Another string of busy days.
Starting last Monday - I went out to Sandhurst (near Tenterden in Kent) to do a 1 day workshop on Foundation Piecing. I was very well looked after by the ladies there, who even provided a sit-down lunch - very civilised!
Tuesday I had a couple of 'catch-up' sessions with people who had missed classes earlier in the year because of the snow.
Wednesday was another busy but fun Stitch and Chat afternoon at Newick. Alistair came along to help with the refreshments. Even so I still find it hard to get round and say hello to everyone and see what they're working on.
Thursday - day off!
Friday - Applique class - we were making the fabric flowers that were in my last posting.
Saturday I had my real beginners here all day for Part 2 of the Introduction to P&Q, teaching them to do rotary cutting for the first time, after working with templates and paper piecing in the first lesson.
On Sunday afternoon I went to Ditchling to help out at a charity event in aid of Computer Aid International. We had about 15 people sitting round the table making simple patchwork blocks using fusible Vilene to applique hearts and flowers. These will be made up into a 'community quilt' which will be auctioned in aid of the charity.
This Monday was Foundation Piecing Block of the Month - a catch-up session with one student, followed by a full class.
Tuesday I had a lovely day out with my Mum! This was in lieu of Mother's Day. I usually find that I have something happening on Mother's Day, so it has now become a tradition that I take Mum out a few days afterwards, instead of on the day itself. (it also means that restaurants aren't fully booked and we're not fighting for a table with all the other mothers!) It was a lovely sunny day - we started off visiting a 'special place' in Cudham and then took a drive out to Westerham and found a little Italian restaurant for lunch. Then back to Mum's house for a cup of tea and some sewing - I showed her how to make the fabric flowers which we had done at the Applique class last Friday.
Wednesday afternoon was the Beginners Block of the Month; they were also being introduced to rotary cutting and made really good progress.
Today (Thursday) I have people here for the Sew-a-Row-a-Month quilt.
Tomorrow I have two ladies here for part 16 of a 15 part course! They had both got a bit behind with their blocks and borders each month and so had asked for an extra session to help them get it finished.

And somewhere in amongst all that a couple of fabric deliveries arrived - with a definite 'Spring' feel to them:
Verna and Cottage Garden.

A Productive Day

I managed to tick quite a few things off my 'To Do' list yesterday.
First, I sewed a binding around my Shadow Quilted Baltimore Wreath block.
Aesthetically, I'm not that happy with it, but as a sample for this particular technique to use for my Applique class, it does the job.

Secondly, I made a few fabric flowers using different techniques. These will be part of another block in the Applique class. I just need to make some leaves and stems and put them together into a Flower Garden!

And finally, I made quite a bit more progress with the quilt for my Stack and Shuffle Layer Cake workshop.
I'm calling this quilt Square Dance.

I'll finish it off by adding a light border, a patterned border made from the remains of the layer cake and a final light border.

Stack and Shuffle

Started making up my Stack and Shuffle example ready for the workshop at the end of March. Used the new Boutique Layer Cake. I came up with a good idea for keeping all the bits in the correct order. I'm glad I took these photos, especially the one of the completed blocks. When you're working on them at close quarters it all looks a bit busy, but when you step back, as in the photo, you can start to see the overall pattern emerging.

 
I can't wait to get it finished now, but I have other more pressing things to work on - like the Medallion Quilt.

Jelly Roll Workshop

Another fun day yesterday with a full class of four students making Jelly Roll Quilts; two were making the Basketweave Quilt and two were making the Star-Crossed Quilt, which was a good balance. It works out that one group are cutting whilst the others are sewing and vice versa.

 

 

Charming Squares

It's been a hectic week, hence the lack of posts.
I did manage to get a bit of sewing done to finish off my second Charm Square Quilt - called Shadow Boxes - in time for the workshop yesterday.
This one's made from the Birdie Charm Pack.

If you want have a go, you can buy my pattern which includes this quilt and also the Disappearing Nine-Patch (below), both in one booklet.
This one's made from the Tranquility Charm Pack.

Janet Cooper Quilts

An unexpected free day, due to the cancellation of a Jelly Roll Workshop at Polegate near Eastbourne, which has been snow-bound today. So Alistair and I got to work putting some meat on the bones of my new Patchwork and Quilting information site - www.janetcooperquilts.com.

So far there is just basic information on patchwork, quilting, its history and explanation of some terminology, but we'll be continually adding other bits and pieces, including free patterns and guides on some techniques.

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.