New work

Chough at Lizard Point 2012

Stitched paper collage

Cowslip Workshops

I'm getting ready to exhibit at the Cowslip workshops Christmas fair in Launceston. There will be loads of lovely stalls, the brilliant shop full of fabric and the organic cafe. It will be open Friday 18th November 11.00am - 7.00pm, Saturday 19th November 10.00am - 4.00pm  and Sunday 20th November 10.00am - 4.00pm

Here and Now Cornwall

There is an article about my work in this magazine! You can get a free download here if you would like to read it

St Ives

Stitched St Ives wall piece ready for framing

Open Studios Countdown

Only 4 days left till Open Studios starts! Last few pieces to frame and I'll be ready

A Bird in the Hand

Postcard

Another postcard experiment - quilted through a map

New Size

More experiments with quilting through maps. I was inspired by Barbara Cheesman to work with this small postcard size and I really like it. Have ideas for lots more of these

Spots and Stripes

I'm working on a new version of my Squares and Stripes cushion, this time with a mix of lovely spotty fabrics with the stripes, I've used some real favourites fabrics for this cushion. Now its all pieced together I need to have a think about the type of quilting I want to do, I'm itching to start

Journal Quilts

Journey 11

I have completed my last four journal quilts for 2010

Journey 10

This is an annual project with the Contemporary Quilt Group

Journey 11

Its a great way to try out new ideas on a small scale

Journey 12

and stretch your imagination

Quilt and Cake success

The Quilt and Cake evening I was teaching last night was really enjoyable. I had 13 lovely people come out on a bitterly cold and icy night to enjoy sewing, socialising and cakes. Everyone put together a Tumbling Blocks block and they were all laid out together at the end which looked wonderful. Unfortunately I forgot to take any photographs, I was so busy and the evening raced by and it slipped my mind!

So instead here are some pictures of new sketchbooks

and new notebooks which will shortly be available in my Folksy shop

Quilt and Cake

Tonight's the night for the first Quilt and Cake session that I'm running so I'm just sorting out all the supplies I need to take with me. I have finished quilting the Tumbling Blocks pattern and it is now made up into a cushion, which is going to be the sample for tonight's project.

I feel very excited about this evening but also nervous, wondering if anyone will come along. If nobody turns up at least I will have lots of Karens lovely cakes to eat! Wish me luck

Tumbling Blocks

Tumbling Blocks is probably one of the oldest patchwork designs but I find it fascinating how a pattern made up from one basic shape can be so effective and absorbing

These are samples I'm putting together for a Quilt and Cake evening I'm holding at the begining of December so hopefully other people will like this pattern too

More Squares

Here is the finished quilted cushion

This is a very satisfying pattern to make. I'm going to make up another version with some lovely spotty fabrics

Squares and Stripes

Here's a new pattern I've been working on using my favourite fabrics, checks and stripes.  This shows the cushion top sewn together ready to have its tacking and papers removed

Here's the back with the papers still in - I really like the way this looks with the seam edges showing

and here's the top with tacking and papers removed, waiting to be quilted

Illuminated Windows

I'm still loving this pattern and have made up a new cushion with this lovely stripey fabric

Patchwork kits

Here is something I have been working on for some time! Handsewn patchwork kits for anyone who would like to try patchwork but doesn't know where to start.

The kit contains an illustrated instruction booklet, cardboard templates to cut your fabric and pre cut papers for your fabric pieces, just add the fabric of your choice. These patterns are great for using up scraps of fabric or you can buy new, full details are supplied in the kit

There are two designs available, 'Boxes' and 'Illuminated Windows'.

They are available in my Folksy shop and would make a great present for a budding quilter!

Blocks cushion

I have finished my blocks patchwork cushion. This version is hand pieced and handquilted 

Festival of Quilts

A few details from the hundreds of beautiful quilts at this years show

Quilt top complete

All the borders are now attached and the whole top has been thoroughly pressed. Trying to sort out the backing fabric today which I need to fit together in some broad stripes. Then it will be one of my favourite tasks, removing all the tacks and the backing papers from the pieced top. Once removed the top will look quite different smooth and complete. Then it will be time for the quilting frame