Fear of Quilting

Sometimes we forget how scary it must be for people to sign up for the first time to one of our workshops.  They probably wonder about all kinds of things: will it be hard?  Will we laugh at how bad they are at sewing?  Should they know how to sew before they come?  Where are we?  Are we real? (-that always reminds me of the the people who advertised a Santa Wonderland and when visitors turned up they discovered a muddy farmyard with a grumpy santa sitting in an outhouse!) 

Over a period of about 3 years,  a lady called Jenny would e mail me every now and then expressing an interest in quilting, but she never actually booked to come on a workshop.  Then last year she said she was interested in the Beginner's course so I said, "Well then, come along".  She ummed and ahhed a bit and then wrote, " you say it's for beginners - but is it really for ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS or will everyone else know what they are doing?".

I assured her it was for beginners and so she signed up.  She only lives a few villages up the valley but still wasn't sure what she was embarking on and so when she reached East Garston, - she turned around and starting heading back home!  Then she said to herself "Pull yourself together Jenny!" and bravely turned back round and found her way to Lorne Hill Farm.

We are glad she did!!  Jenny finished the Beginner's New Sampler Quilt Class - for beginners, with beginners and with no previous experience needed(!) and is proud to show off the beautiful quilt she made:

Yes - those are a pair of camels top right (don't ask)

She had never sewn before and has good reason to be proud.
Jenny has now joined our Medallion Quilt class and over the next year will be making a stunning King Size Medallion Quilt.
And she knows she has nothing to be afraid of........

Meanwhile, I have started finishing things and am gradually ticking UFOs (unfinished objects) off my list.  I first saw this knitting bag when Sheila brought one that she had made and when I saw the pattern and kit at Malvern I bought it!  I can't remember which shop it's from, but it's called the Woolly Jumper Knitting Bag and is by Brenda Walker.  I love it! - and the kit was brilliant - they were really generous with the fabric so when I cut a bit wrong (of course) it wasn't the end of the world.  (I hate it when places are really tight with the fabrics in kits).

Front
(the stitchery above was from Il Etait Une Fois)

Back
( should have done the applique a bit higher up)

Wonder what Amanda Bond will think of it when she comes to take the knitting class on Saturday (knitted collar with cable: brilliant for beginners)?

Cross stitch

For Victoria's 21st Birthday we bought her a (proper) sewing machine.  Victoria has always done really brilliant cross stitch, many of which she designs herself.  I have lots of framed pictures she's made for me.  I was really pleased this evening when she sent me these photos - using her sewing machine she has made her latest two creations into cushions.  One is for my great niece born this summer, and the other is destination unknown.  I think they are lovely:

Sadly, her photography is about as good as mine - at least she doesn't have holes in the toes of her socks!

Happy 5th Anniversary to us!

Wow -it's our 5th anniversary this week - five years of running workshops here at Lorne Hill Farm - we can hardly believe it!  Sandra really couldn't get her head round it - five years of driving out here at least once a week and she's finally managed to get her car into 4th gear!!
As a mini celebration we had chocolate brownies at Pitch and Stitch (thanks aunt Bessie), and looking round it was great to see all the projects underway: Sandra was making felt hairbands, Dawn was working on the tapestry of her daughter's dog (she commissioned the pattern from the kneeler people), Jackie was working on her cat quilt, Jacqui was doing cross-stitch, Bev was working on her quilt, Heather was doing a house block to go in her caravan (she and her lovely family have come all the way from Suffolk to stay on the CL for half term - the children love looking at all the animals), Freya was working on her cushion with Sandra's help, and I was knitting.  All very, very busy - oh, and of course, chat, chat, chatting!

One table - I took an appalling picture of the other table - it looked like a Hallowe'en scene so won't get posted!

All very inspiring.

The children are home for half term this week and it's great to have them around.  George has gone busking with his melodean in Andover - it's his first time so I hope he has fun and it's not too cold.
Victoria and I had a great day yesterday: first we went to Swindon collect my repaired Singer from the two Tom Dillys - father and son - same name, same genius when it comes to sewing machines.  They were happy to put mine right, even the knee control which I thought they may have to change to a foot control.  Tom D the younger said that because it was a Centenary machine they did all they could to save it!  So pleased to have it back in working order - 62 years old and still great.
Then we went to Hobbycraft and bumped into Clare Kingslake - I was so pleased.  We always love having her out here to give classes but she's had a busy year so we haven't seen her for a while.  I was thrilled to hear that her beautiful book, Folk Quilt Applique, has sold more than 10,000 copies but not in the least bit surprised - it's a lovely book to have.  Look at her website www.clarespatterns.co.uk for inspiration.  I was also really happy that she'll be coming to do another class for us in the spring - she's made a beautiful satchel and Victoria said she'd love it so it appeals to young people too.
The we went to Burford and after getting some lovely new fabrics for the workshop at Cupcake cottons we had lunch in the old Bakery shop (chocolate eclairs too!) and then I took Victoria to the needlecraft shop - she thought she'd died and gone to heaven: everything a cross-stitcher could want and more!

November is here and I have decided to make lots of Christmas presents this year.  I was looking at all the lovely panels we have for Advent Calenders - we have a great selection which are included in the workshop price for the Advent Calender day on  24th November

These are so easy to make and can be used year after year - not all of them have pockets which have to be filled, some have numbers which you attach each day in the countdown to Christmas - loads of fun for little ones!