Mini embroidered canvas

In addition to the shopping and quilt sight-seeing at the FoQ I also took part in a fab workshop -
"Embroidered Seedheads".
This was such a fun way to spend a few hours in the evening and I was really pleased it was a workshop where I came away with a finished outcome (rather than something that gets put in a drawer, one day to be finished but never sees the light of day!).

We were each given a little kit that contained a chunky canvas, bits of fabric, organza, netting and scrim. Shown some amazing examples, clearly explained each stage and then off I went!
It was also great that the workshop was using my favourite machines - Bernina!

So after I had secured my fabric with bondaweb it was off to free machine embroider over all the different pieces. I went with a linear pattern.

 

Then when all my different pieces of fabric were stitched down the edges were trimmed and then neatened with a close zig zag

 

Then it was time to decide what kind of seedhead we wanted to embroider on. I did a bit of drawing by freehand first to get an idea of design and scale before heading off to the machine. This was the really scary part in case I sewed straight off in the wrong direction!

 

Canvas prepped ready for the embroidered picture

 

And ta da! You can see that when I got home I spray painted the canvas a chocolate brown colour before re attaching the embroidery

Loving how this worked out and will definitely be making a few more of these!

Close ups

A few closes up, mini quilts and 3D quilted items from the show ~

 

Quilts

So here are some of the amazing quilts on display at this years Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, UK.

 

It was only fabric!

So I'd like to say that the little sneak peek yesterday was a huge delicious pile of blocks I've been busy working on ready to be sewn into the most wonderful quilt!
Who am I kidding right! (One day a quilt will be accomplished) It was however a gorgeous stack of fabric that are the most wonderful vibrant colours.
I've been meaning to update on my visit to the Festival of Quilts this August in Birmingham so here is a start. This was my little pile of goodies that came home with me:

I didn't go overboard this year (partly as I was also doing a workshop) and stuck to a few things that I had on my list.
Will show you all the awesome quilts tomorrow!

"Must do better"

Yep that's what it would say on my Blog report card!
Currently not sure where a day or a week is going but its going somewhere and its Autumn Equinox on Friday as well!
I have far too many blog posts stored in my head and photos of what I've been up to that need sharing that my plan is to get around to sharing them this side of Christmas! (Yep Christmas cards and mince pies on the supermarket shelves as well! Argh!)

So here is a little sneak peek of what's to come ......

Blogs I Love!

Summer is sadly and well and truly coming to an end!
The lights are coming on earlier and the leaves are starting to change which means less time out and about and more time being cosy at home ..... and catching up on lots of blog reading!

I have recently discovered some fantastic blogs out there some with more of a Home focus (rather than sewing or quilting) with amazing, gorgeous interiors and decorating ideas and other fantastic blogs all about organisation something true to my heart! So I have updated my "Blogs I Love" links down on the right hand side. They are definitely worth a visit!

A couple of my newbie fav daily reads:



Perfectly Pretty