The Splendid Sampler

Welcome if you've arrived here as part of The Splendid Sampler. www.thesplendidsampler.com 

I'm so chuffed to be part of this amazing group of quilters. Thank you Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson for including me.

For those who don't know, I'm one of those crazy hand stitchers. I can feel my blood pressure going down every time I pick up my needle and thread. It's like a giant exhale.

Needle turn appliqué is one of my all time favourite things to do

So here are some of my favourite tools

I'm a template plastic kind of girl but you can make templates from freezer paper, cardboard or laminate paper

I trace around my template onto the right side of my fabric using either a grey lead, ceramic lead or silver gel pen. This is totally dependant on the colour of the fabric as you need to be able to see this line

A really good pair of scissors with a sharp point will be your best friend. I love Karen Kay Buckley scissors

I use pins or glue to hold my appliqué pieces in place

A size 11 straw or milliners needle is my favourite. They are long and fine. 50 wt cotton thread matching the colour to the fabric you are appliquing. Aurifil have the most wonderful colour selection

 

I adore circles, spots, dots ...getting the picture. As you can see by the tatty packaging I love and use my "perfect circles" a lot. So quick and easy and they truly give you a perfect circle every time, even the tiny ones

The last product I can't live without is "flatter" by the Soak Co. Use this with your perfect circles and when making bias tape. It is a fabric smoothing spray not a starch. You get great crisp edges that hold their shape but the fabric will stay soft and easy to needle.

Choosing fabrics is also important for any appliqué  project. You need good quality cotton and if you have a piece that frays, pop it back in your stash to use in a pieced project and choose another for your applique 

And now a little eye candy for you as a reward for getting to the end of this "dry" post"! This is a little sneak peek of my new range with Moda. It's called MOVING ON and I'm super excited about it. It's printed on lawn and I'm enjoying every minute making samples for its release. It is perfect for appliqué 

Winterquiltfest

I have always known how absolutely hopeless I am at social media!!! But Amy Smart has really shown me just how bad I am.

Last week I was so lucky to be part of Winterquiltfest in Logan Utah.

12 months ago Amy Maxfield emailed me and asked if I would come to Utah. Little did I know when I said yes, what a wonderful thing I was going to be part of.

When I found out Amy Smart was going to be teaching also I was so excited.

I flew into Salt Lake City

And stayed with Amy at Marci's home for the night.

I was so excited when it snowed overnight and I was greeted to this in the morning. 

The girls indulged me to a great day of quilt store hopping on the way to Logan.

Here we are at Pine Needles in Gardner Villiage West Jordan. I was thrilled to see their version of Green Tea and Swet Beans. It's stunning.

We drove through "the pass" on our way to Logan. I could not stop thinking of the movie "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and when I spoke to  my husband he asked " are you stopping to pick some sorrel" ?? I know for those of you who are used to snow this is so silly, but for me it was just so special!

We arrived in Logan and met up with the amazing Amy Smart

The attention to detail and welcome by Amy M, Dallin and Jake was fabulous.

Now here is where I get really bad.

Classes were great with everyone getting lots of things done but I always just forget to get the camera out. So here is my very poor effort....thank goodness for Amy S who has lots of photos on her blog!

Here is Lisa Garlick ( who also taught) and her friends. The teaching line up was impressive. It was so great to meet Lisa, Melissa Corry, Jen Alexander, Carol Armstrong just to mention a few of the talented teachers

If you wish to see the trunk shows of both Amy and I go to www.diaryofaquilter.com Thank heavens she is a superstar and has some pics for us

The food was amazing, the company superb and it was just an all out great weekend.

I am so grateful to Amy M for asking me to come, looking after me so well and treating me to a family dinner at her home which was a highlight. ( thanks for the snow ball fight girls) 

The following morning before heading to the airport we crossed the state line into 

and visited the girls at Suppose quilt store in Preston ( the home of Napoleon Dymanite). Kathy and Jo have supported me since day dot. It was great to see their beautiful store.

Such a lovely week. I must say, for me who has not spent any time in the snow I was totally fascinated by the "quiet". It was truly amazing.