LATEST NEWS

WE ARE COMING TO SCOTLAND

SEE YOU AT EDINBURGH SPRING QUILT FESTIVAL 24th-26th FEB

NEW BATIKS HAVE ARRIVED AND THEY ARE ON THE FABRICS PAGE

We are now stocking a new range of batiks from Anthology Fabrics. They have arrived and we hope you love them. We will have them all at Edinburgh Quilt Show so do come and see them.

I met Jill Wheeler at Ludlow Quilters where we were both members and Jill has recently bought felt, threads and beads from us and made her grand daughter who is only 5 years old a wonderful fabric book and Jill has agreed to share it with us all. I think you will agree Jill has done a grand job and isn't her grand daughter so lucky to have such a talented grandma, I think she will treasure her handmade book forever. Well done Jill it's beautiful.

Above is the front page and one of the inside pages

more pages

and more pages and below a quilt made by Jill using our batiks

a FQ is whiling it's way to Jill as a thank you for sharing her work with us, Jill is starting another project and judging from the batiks she has ordered it's going to be a stunning quilt, watch this space, happy stitching Jill.

Thank you to everyone who supported us at Ardingly Quilt Festival, it was lovely to meet you all, we have booked the same spot for next year. We look forward to receiving some images of work you do using our products. Don't be shy, we hope you get much joy stitching.

I said I would put an image of my bag on line for you so here it is

A DAY WITH RICKY TIMS £40

(PRICE INCLUDES POTATO PIE LUNCH)

WEDNESDAY 4th APRIL 2012

AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL OLDHAM

Ricky Tims is a quilting legend and he will be delivering two lectures

"CAVEMAN QUILTING MEETS CONVERGENCE QUILTS"and "RHAPSODY QUILTS"

BATIKS n BEADS WILL BE TRADING along with PATCHWORK PARADE

TICKETS ON SALE FROM PATCHWORK PARADE 01616 335900 or www.patchworkparade.co.uk

COME AND JOIN US FOR WHAT PROMISES TO BE A DAY TO REMEMBER.

Below is a beautiful Quilt made by Ludlow Quilters from our batik fabrics. It is first prize in the raffle at their next exhibition in April.

Whilst walking along the canal path this morning I came across a couple of daffodil's. When we were in the Lakes we visited the Pencil Museum in Keswick where I treated myself to some Inktense pencils so I must sketch the daffodils as a reminder Spring isn't far away. Maybe it will lead to some new work!

I took my camera this morning and found not only daffodils but snowdrops too. Spring is on it's way!

OAK BOOK FINISHED!

I HAVE STARTED TO STITCH THE ASH BOOK NOW front and back cover below (work in progress)

I have completed a small Indian Style Bag to fix into my Inspired to stitch book its only 8 inches tall

Delia Lefley is a member of Ludlow Quilters and after seeing my work at a talk I gave at Ludlow Quilters she bought some beads to use on her work. She says it's all my fault that she is now addicted! I have broad shoulders and will take the blame! I have asked Delia to share her work with you, see images below

This is a beautiful wallhanging made from silks and Delia backed it with one of our batiks and used the batik for the binding and beaded the edges. Such lovely work.

Now this is where the addiction is.........

all her quilts are getting beaded edges......... and there are 7 more to bead! Delia is going to be busy for a while yet. Thank you for sharing your work with us Delia.

Has anyone else got addicted to beads after seeing my work please share it with us

I have almost finished my Oak book see images below now I must start The Ash Book

I am also working on a fabric book called SEW INSPIRED TO STITCH below are some images of work in progress

As you can see it's still very much work in progress and I am addicted to stitching sisha mirrors. I am really enjoying this fabric book and every spare moment I am adding some more stitches. Maybe it will be finished in time to show you at Ardingly, I always live in hope!

A WHOLE NEW RANGE OF BATIKS WILL BE ARRIVING IN FEBRUARY SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED ALSO MORE BEAUTIFUL HANDYED FELTS

NEW PACKS are now on the bottom of the fabrics page

AT LAST SHISHA MIRRORS have arrived see beads page

NEW SHOWS FOR 2012 WE WILL BE TRADING AT

THE SPRING QUILT FESTIVAL, ARDINGLY 27th-29th JANUARY

THE SPRING QUILT FESTIVAL, EDINBURGH 24th-26th FEBRUARY

THE SPRING QUILT FESTIVAL, EXETER 30th MARCH-1st APRIL

RICKY TIMS IS COMING TO OLDHAM APRIL 4th

SCOTTISH QUILT CHAMPIONSHIPS, EDINBURGH 21st-23rd SEPT

THE AUTUMN QUILT FESTIVAL KENT 18th-20th OCTOBER

PLUS ALL OUR USUAL SHOWS more new dates to follow see trading news at the bottom of this page for a full list

IF YOU WOULD LIKE A TALK FOR YOUR GROUP AROUND THESE SHOW DATES PLEASE GET IN TOUCH BY E-MAIL OR TELEPHONE

I have had some stitching time and have made a new quilt to hang behind our stand at next year's shows a very simple trip around the world quilt made with 4 inch square's so very easy for beginners to stitch. The quilt is called Full Circle as I made my very first quilt using 4 inch squares. This one is made using our newest batiks

Left image front of quilt Right image back of quilt it has the usual beads around the edge (see below)

I am working on another book with Sandra from Busy Bees and below are some images. I am putting the book together so some images of it finished will appear soon

above front and back cover

above and below some of the inside pages

TAKE A LOOK BELOW AT SOME LOVELY WORK BY JO ITTER FROM ESSEX

Jo bought some felt and thread from us at Chilford and has wasted no time in making a phone cosy and a kindle cosy we hope these images inspire you to get stitching, a complimentary thread is on it's way to Jo for sharing her work with us. Well done Jo we look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

Don't be shy send us an image of any work you make using our fabrics, felts, threads and beads and we will share it with all our customers, happy stitching

Chilford was our last big show for 2011 and I will be posting trading dates for 2012 soon, I will hopefully get some stitching time through the winter months and I will be showing you what I am doing so keep watching!

A big thank you to everyone who visited our stand at Chilford Autumn Quilt Show, we hope you enjoyed the show as much as we did, it certainly was busy. We will be back at Chilford Spring Festival in March 2012 and Autumn 2012

My apologises to anyone who came to our stand on Friday at Malvern expecting to see me. Geoff did a wonderful job setting up the stand and manning it all on his own for me as I was spending time with our Golden Retriever who sadly passed away. Thank you to those who gave us their sympathies, it's proving to be a very hard time.

I am on another course with Sandra from Busy Bees, above is the front and back cover which is still work in progress, I shall post more images as I work

Above is a quilt made by Gill Abram using some of our batiks called Amazonian Nights, Gill says she thought the greens were all abit rainforesty and with the stars - night time. A beautiful quilt Gill, thank you for sharing it with us.

I would like to thank Teme Valley Embroiderers for inviting me to give a workshop on the Indian Style Bags. I was very well looked after and really enjoyed my day, didn't they do well with the bags (see above)

Leominster Quilters Exhibition had lots of visitors from far afield who spent a lovely day looking at all the beautiful work and enjoying the delicious cakes!! Well done it was a super exhibition as always, if you missed it, put it in your diary for 2 years time.

Thank you Walsall Patchworkers and Quilters for inviting us to trade at your wonderful exhibition, I had a lovely day with you all

I would like to thank Harben Oak Quilters for inviting me to give a workshop and for the lovely lunch. I look forward to seeing some work from them in the future.

TIMELESS TREASURES EXHIBITION BY LEDBURY QUILTERS was a wonderful exhibition and thank you for making us feel so welcome. It was lovely to see so many friends there.

We would like to thank Swansea Quilters for making us feel so welcome when we visited to give a talk to their group Below are some photo's of our day together

DIDN'T PAT DO WELL AT HARROGATE

What a wonderful surprise Pat Fernandes had when she arrived at The Northern Quilt Show in Harrogate, Pat's quilt won a Judge's Merit. Pat made the quilt after attending a workshop with me at Patchwork Parade. Well done Pat we are so proud of you, it was a truely lovely wallhanging and so well deserved. I shall always remember your emotion and surprise when I told you. When Pat arrived at our stand she didn't know she had won a rosette.

Above Pat and yours truely with Pat's wallhanging and rosette

We had the greatest pleasure to visit the Flower Festival at St Michael & All Angels Church in Lingen where Lingen Stitchers and the Needling Along Group had made Quilted Biblical Blocks using our Batik fabric to enhance the flowers which were arranged by a group of ladies from Lingen and the surrounding villages.

Well done ladies the blocks, the flowers and the church looked fabulous and I hope these blocks will be displayed again for those who didn't get to see them.

I have returned from a couple of days at The Festival of Quilts where as always there was plenty of inspiration. I am now blessed with having a couple of weeks in which to stitch. I have been using some of the new felt we now stock

to make some wrist cuffs, a lovely way to while away a few hours

I am making a felt Batiks n Beads Indian Style Bag, I will post a photo soon must get back to the stitching now

MINERVA QUILTS 11 SUMMER EXHIBITION at Minerva Arts Centre has now closed. This years exhibition was an exciting combination of Antique and Contemporary quilts featuring work from Dorian Walton, DeAnne Hartwell-Jones and members of Zero 3 The Quilt Association are now working towards next years exhibition.

CASH 4 QUILTS

The Quilt Association fund raising project is running until next years exhibition, you are invited to look at the quilts from the collection which are displayed on their website, choose a quilt and reinterpret it in whatever way you wish producing an A4 piece to be donated to The Quilt Association to raise funds for further acquisitions. This will be done at the summer exhibition in 2012 Let your imagination go and help The Quilt Association. Below some work already donated

WE NOW STOCK HAND DYED FELTS see them at shows

At last I have had the time to do some stitching. I am making another Stitch Book based on Indian mirror work. I t is called Inspired to Stitch and below are some pages in progress. I will post more images as it progresses, there is nothing better than hand stitching and I am enjoying another challenge. If anyone is interested in joining the Stitch Book course at Busy Bees in Newport, South Wales in September then contact Sandra 01633 810801 they are enrolling now. I am doing another stitch book course with Sandra in September based on trees so keep watching for new images.

We met old friends and new at the Stitched Up Exhibition at Sutton Coldfield below is Norma Wright one of our customers choosing her threads for a new project.

It was lovely to see so many people supporting Maldwyn Quilters Exhibition, it is a very tall order to exhibit every year but Maldwyn Quilters manage it very well and it was another super exhibition of their work, below is the back to basics corner. The homemade refreshments went down well with everyone too and we'd like to thank them for inviting us to share their exhibition

I would like to introduce you to The Shumba King (pattern by J. Lankester) which has been made by Norah Stocker, Shumba is Swahili for lion, he is an African lion hence the beautiful mane. I met Norah at The Spring Quilt Festival, Chilford in March where we chose batiks to make the lion head, so I was absolutely thrilled to hear from Norah and to see the finished work. Well done Norah he is a beauty and a complimentary FQ will be heading your way for sharing him with us all.

Below is a book cover made by Maria Day I met Maria at a talk I gave to Carno Quilters and after seeing my work she was inspired to make this book cover. Maria is quite new to Patchwork so its lovely that she has produced this work so beautifully stitched well done Maria.

IF YOU MAKE A PIECE OF WORK USING OUR BATIKS WE WOULD LOVE YOU TO SHARE IT WITH US

We would like to thank Wombourne Quilters for making us so welcome at their group, they were a wonderful audience, its always a pleasure to meet new quilters, keep stitching!

We visited Penarth and District Quilters Annual Exhibition which again was a feast for your eyes and it was super to see so many of you there. Below is a view of the exhibition which is staged in an old theatre, so a fabulous venue.

Some of the members had been on a course at Busy Bees and made some super Fabric Stitch Books

and below some ladies looking after the Stitch Books

Well done Penarth and District Quilters another lovely exhibition, ladies put it in your diary for next year

We had a super time at The National Quilt Championships at Sandown Racecourse, another of Grosvenor Shows.

Below are some lovely ladies we met who were enjoying our batiks, beads and threads

I hope those of you who made it to the show enjoyed your day and the lovely quilts that were displayed

W'd like to say thank you to Churchdown Patchwork and Quilters for inviting me to talk to their group and making us feel so welcome, above are the ladies enjoying our fabrics and looking more closely at my work.

We would like to thank Gwent branch of the Embroiderers Guild for making us so welcome at their Regional Day and for the lovely tea, coffee and dare I say wonderful homemade cake! The speaker in the afternoon was Marjorie Manalowe and was a joy to listen too. Above some of the ladies enjoying our batiks. Another Regional Day will be in Llanidloes 2nd June 2012 See you there

We had a super time at Quilts UK and it was lovely to see so many people who knew us. Thank you to everyone who came and said hello and to all those who supported us. We will be back again next year.

Above are the lovely ladies of Malvern Quilters who attended a Batiks n Beads Bag workshop

and below are their bags, all at different stages, thank you for a lovely day ladies

Recently I gave a workshop at Patchwork Parade in Chadderton, a lovely shop run by Philomena Langford. One of the ladies Pat Fernandes who attended the workshop has e-mailed me this image of the wallhanging she is making, which is still work in progress. I am thrilled to see such a lovely piece of work, well done Pat we look forward to seeing the wallhanging completed.

below we now have Pat's Wallhanging finished. Well done Pat I look forward to seeing it at Harrogate in September

We visited Leominster Quilting group to give a talk, "The Obsession Continue's," and below you can see some of the ladies getting a closer look at my work. We had a lovely evening with you all. Leominster Quilters will be holding an exhibition of their work October 13th-15th 2011 at The Royal British Legion Hall, South Street, Leominster. If you scroll down there is an image of their last exhibition. Batiks n Beads will be trading at their exhibition so put the date in your diaries, its an exhibition not to be missed. It was a pleasure to see the lovely work they have produced for the raffle prizes, so make sure you buy a ticket!

We would like to thank Margaret McQuillen for inviting us to trade at The Quilting and Embroidery Show which was held in Uttoxeter. It was a wonderful show and it was lovely to see so many of our regular customers and meet lots of new ones, so thank you all again for your support. WE WILL BE BACK NEXT YEAR 13th-15th APRIL 2012

We had a wonderful weekend trading at Ystrad Mynach Quilters Exhibition which was held at Llancaiach Fawr Manor, Nelson, South Wales, such a beautiful setting and it was so nice to see so many friendly faces, so thank you to all who came to say hello to us and for your support. Their exhibition is held every two years. Below is an image

It was a lovely surprise to see work that had been completed after I did a workshop with Ystrad Mynach Quilters below is a snapshot of their work

and more

and more

Well done Ystrad Mynach Quilters for producing some lovely work and yet again a super exhibition

Above is an image taken at a talk I gave to Bishops Castle Embroidery Group, we had a super evening with them all

Below is an image of my work hanging in The Exhibition "Bonded by Threads" which was held at The Pierhead in Cardiff Bay. The exhibition was organised by The Women's Art Association in conjunction with The National Assembly for Wales. Images kindly by Hilary Carney.

Above and below a view of the exhibition

I would like to thank Philomena Langford for inviting me to visit her new shop PATCHWORK PARADE and give a workshop, below is Philomena

and some of her customers and Philomena's work hanging in her shop

It is a beautiful new shop and if you visit Chadderton near Oldham or live nearby do pay a visit. Philomena has alot of workshops going on so do visit her website www.patchworkparade.co.uk for more details.

I also gave a talk to Philomena's local quilt group, Broadway Stitchers, a very enthusiastic group of ladies and gentlemen they were too. Thank you for all your support and we look forward to seeing you at Harrogate Quilt Show with some work to show us!

We also paid a visit to Delph in Saddleworth to the Piecemakers Quilting Group, we had a wonderful evening with the group and thank you so much for inviting us along to your meeting and supporting us. We really came away feeling we had made so many new friends. See you all again soon.

Above and below a glimpse of the ladies

We would like to thank Moelfre Quilters in Anglesey for making us feel so welcome at their quilt group. They are a relatively new quilting group but are a very enthusiastic group of ladies and the group is growing in numbers. We coundn't have chosen a more beautiful day to go and visit them, a perfect spring day and thank you for encouraging us to take a walk along the coastline before we headed home.

Above a view of the mountains on the journey there

Above and below Moelfre Quilters enjoying our fabrics

And a rest to enjoy the weather on the journey home

Thank you Moelfre Quilters we will always remember our day with you all

If you would like a talk for your quilting group please make contact with Maryke details on contact page

We traded at The Spring Quilt Festival at Chilford Hall Vineyard, Cambridge, it was lovely to see such a fabulous lively show and thank you to all the ladies who came by our stand and supported us. It was our first visit to Chilford but the good news is we will be back again 9th-11th March 2012 Below is our stand ready for the show.

Chilford Hall is a wonderful venue, as it was our first visit I had to take a photo of the quilt show to show the lovely setting, see below

Below some ladies enjoying our fabrics

We would like to thank all the ladies of Busy Quilters and Stitchers in Bedford for making us feel so welcome

below are the ladies enjoying mini workshops

and below enjoying the Batiks n Beads stand

I had the great pleasure of visiting Walsall Patchers and Quilters to give a talk

Above and below are Walsall Quilters enjoying our fabrics

I spent a lovely day with Ludlow Quilters doing a Batiks n Beads Indian Style Bag workshop, a photo of them all hard at work is below

and another

below are the bags they made

Well done ladies and thank you for a super day, I look forward to seeing all the beads on the bags at the next Ludlow Quilters meeting

STEF FRANCIS textured selection threads buy now on-line see beads/threads page

I have been lucky to squeeze in some stitching time and I have made a new wallhanging based on one of the fabric books I have made. It's called Rosa Corina . An image of it is below

and a close up

I have also been working on a new fabric book, smaller this time and a few less pages but already my head is buzzing with new ideas for the next one, these fabric books really are addictive, so lovely because its all hand stitched which is my real love.

The image above is showing the outer pages

one of the inside pages

and another

and another

We had a lovely card from a lady we met at Presteigne Quilters Exhibition last year called Mary Neville. Mary chose several of our fabrics to make a bag and it won 1st prize in the Kington Show and she kindly sent us a photo (see below) of the finished bag which was a design by Liss Rae Hawley. Well done Mary and thank you for sharing your lovely work with us. We love to see what you are making with our fabrics.

Shropshire Quilters Exhibition was a great success and below is an image of a couple of Abermule Quilters browsing our stand it was lovely to see so many quilters there Shropshire Quilters next exhibition 13th/14th October 2012

WE WOULD BE VERY HAPPY TO TRADE AT YOUR EXHIBITIONS contact details on contact page

My second fabric book is finished and it is based on my walks and wildflowers that I see growing in the hedgerows and along the Montgomery Canal path below is a page from the book .....lots of beads!

Another page

below the inside back page

some of the wildflowers

one of my favourite flowers, the daisy

a view of the spine embellishments and part of the book cover

I have so enjoyed my walks and working on the book I feel a little lost now its finished, but not for long as I am starting to work on another fabric book I am also starting work on a new wallhanging so keep watching.........

If you would like Maryke to visit your group and give a talk contact details can be found on the contact page.

We had a lovely time trading at Presteigne Quilters Exhibition and above is part of their exhibition, it is always such a friendly show and it was lovely to see so many people enjoying the work that Presteigne Quilters had made. It is a tall order to host a Quilt Exhibition every two years but all I can say is the work they pack into two years is amazing and a show worth seeing so put it in your diaries for 25th/26th May 2012, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Another view of Presteigne Quilters exhibition

This is a quilt made by Beth Parmee which was part of Presteigne Quilters Exhibition that has been made with some of our fabrics , a beautifully executed piece of work, well done Beth. Its so lovely to see what is made with our fabrics and if we feature them on our website we give you a complimentary fat quarter to start you on your next project, so do send us images of your work we'd love to see them.

Do make contact if you would like a talk called My Quilting Obsession at your quilt group, we can bring a selection of batiks, beads and threads too. Details on contact page.

Last year at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham the theme for the tombola which raises money for The Quilters Guild of the British Isles was PENNANTS FOR PATCHWORKERS.

Below is Daisy a pennant I have made which has made its way to The Quilters Guild, I hope whoever wins Daisy will like it and I would love you to get in touch to tell me you have won it. Look forward to hearing from you.

This has given me ideas for a wallhanging and I am wanting to get in my room and stitch

This was Abermule Quilters exhibition. Three years ago I founded the Quilt group so was thrilled to be trading at their very first exhibition. Abermule Quilters meet every Monday evening at 7pm at The Community Centre, Abermule where new members and visitors are made very welcome. Their next exhibition will be in 2012

IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO TRADE AT YOUR EXHIBITION DO CONTACT US

TRADING NEWS 2012

We will be trading at

STAND 30 THE SPRING QUILT FESTIVAL EDINBURGH, MacRobert Pavilion, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH28 8NB 24th-26th February 1oam-4.30pm Sunday 4pm

STAND 29A THE SPRING QUILT FESTIVAL CHILFORD, Chilford Hall Vineyard, Linton, Cambridge CB21 4LE 9th-11th March 10am-4.30pm Sunday 4pm

AREA DAY QUILTERS GUILD, Cawley Hall, Eye, near Leominster 17th March 10am-4pm speaker Gwenfai Rees Griffiths

STAND 50 THE SPRING QUILT FESTIVAL EXETER, Westpoint Exhibition Centre, Exeter EX5 1DJ 30th March-1st April10am-4.30pm Sunday 4pm

RICKY TIMS IS COMING TO OLDHAM, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham, OL1 1NL Wednesday April 4th

QUILTS AND EMBROIDERY 2012 Uttoxeter Racecourse, Wood Lane, Uttoxeter ST14 8BD Friday 13th April-Sunday 15th April 10am-5pm Sunday 4pm

STAND 150 QUILTS UK MALVERN Severn Exhibition Hall and Marquee Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcs WR13 6NW 17th -20th May 10am-5pm

PRESTEIGNE QUILTERS EXHIBITION The Assembly Rooms Presteigne, Powys 25th/26th May 10am-4pm

REGIONAL DAY EMBROIDERERS GUILD LLANIDLOES Saturday 2nd June 10am-4pm

STAND 26 THE NATIONAL QUILT CHAMPIONSHIPS Sandown Exhibition Centre, Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey KT10 9AJ 22nd-24th June 10am-5pm Sunday 4.30pm

REGIONAL DAY EMBROIDERERS GUILD Priory School, Longden Road, Shrewsbury 23rd June 10am-4pm

MALDWYN QUILTERS 10th ANNUAL EXHIBITION, Carno Community Centre, Carno, Mid Wales SY17 5LH Friday 27th July-Sunday 29th July 10am-4.30pm

STAND 34 THE GREAT NORTHERN QUILT & NEEDLECRAFT SHOW Exhibition Hall 1, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate HG2 8PW 31st August-2nd September 10am-5pm Sunday 4.30pm

STAND 10 SCOTTISH QUILT CHAMPIONSHIPS MacRobert Pavilion, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh EH28 8NB 21st-23rd September 10am-4.30pm Sunday 4pm

SHROPSHIRE QUILTERS EXHIBITION West Mid Showground, Shrewsbury 13th-14th October

STAND 29 THE AUTUMN QUILT FESTIVAL KENT at Exhibition Hall, Kent Showground, Detling, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3JF 18th-20th October 10am-4.30pm

STAND A121 THE AUTUMN QUILT FESTIVAL MALVERN Severn Exhibition Hall, Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcs WR13 6NW 26th-28th October 10am-4.30pm Sunday 4pm

STAND 62A THE AUTUMN QUILT FESTIVAL CHILFORD Chilford Hall Vineyard, Linton, Cambridge CB21 4LE 2nd-4th November 10am-4.30pm Sunday 4pm

WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO VISIT YOUR QUILT GROUPS AND YOUR EXHIBITIONS WITH OUR BATIKS, BEADS, FELTS AND THREADS

MARYKE GIVES A TALK CALLED MY QUILTING OBSESSION AND MY OBSESSION CONTINUE'S and

A BATIKS N BEADS BAG WORKSHOP please e-mail for more details