Welcome to 2012

I’d like to think that 2012 will be good for all of us. I have lots of plans coming to fruition at different times of the year,including; a new book (or two), new fabrics being introduced to the textiles market, new ventures in the papercrafting world which includes designing rubber stamps and luxury papers (watch this space) as well as securing 25 hours in the day (no….just kidding, but what a gift THAT would be!!).

No doubt I will also be spending even more hours staring at a computer screen, driving half way around the country and continually being caught up in reels of sticky tape, and before you ask, NO, I don’t do New Year Resolutions.

My first port of call is Textiles in Focus, 17-29 February and next to Glasgow, 8-11 March for Hobbycrafts at SECC. So I hope to see you there….or there….or there…

………and for those of you who have been keeping track over the last 12 days, this is my 12th day of Craftsmas.

Preview article in Stitch magazine

I thought I would just give a plug for ‘Stitch with The Embroiderers  Guild’ October issue, due out near to the end of September. I have an article appearing about how to use foils on Lutradur but most of the techniques are transferrable to other fabric.

Some of the samples feature transfer foil or hot foil used in combination with Bondaweb or other heat activated webbing.
  
If the Bondaweb is predyed, the foil colour will be slightly altered.

One of the unusual qualities of synthetic fabric is that if you have cut the edge with a soldering iron, the fibres thicken in the melting process. This raised edge will then cling to hot foil

The sample above uses most of the techniques described in this post to form a leaf shape.

Festival of Quilts – update

For those of you who will be at the Festival of Quilts and may want to purchase some supplies or a copy of my book or have any queries I will not be on a stand, so if you come to find me at the end of everyday at about 4.30pm in the workshops I will be in the process of clearing up ready for the next session. Or of course you can always call or email me at wendy@gallerytextiles.co.uk. The business will be closed from Weds 10 to Sun 14 August and again Mon 29 Aug to Weds 31 Aug (inc) and up and running from Thurs 1 Sept online at gallerytextiles.co.uk. Any orders placed during the closed period will be dispatched as soon as after these dates.

PS If you’ve ever wondered what my rooms look like just before a show – see above!!

Festival of Quilts, NEC 11-14 August 2011

 I was just sitting here starring into space when I got a call from Twisted Thread to say that one of their workshop tutors had had to pull out and could I step into the breech…….so despite what I have told some of you out there, I WILL be at the Festival of Quilts.

Quick summary;
Thurs 11 Aug one day workshop ‘Colourful Explorations with Lutradur & Evolon’
(this replaces Lovely Lino – so if you’re interested in signing up go to Twisted Thread

Fri 12/Sat 13/Sun 14 @ 15:30
One hour Quick & Easy Workshop ‘Markal Mark Making’

Sat 13 @10:00 one hour talk ‘Lutradur & Evolon – what are they?

I’m not sure if they are going to find a space for me to sit and rest my weary bones in between workshops, but if they do, I’ll post an update.

En vacances mes amies!!

Officially I am on holiday this week, but fate took me to the shop on Wednesday instead of Tuesday as planned. A few weeks ago I had an email from Gloria Hansen (well known quilter for those of you in the know) regarding Evolon and Print.Ability.  We had a bit of an e-chat and ending with her promising to call in when she was next in the UK. This turned out to be this (last) Wednesday. It was only after she left that I realised how much our interests and ways of working were similar and we had had time for a longer chat.

The other thing that I do on my holidays, is get the chance to go out into the world and source new products. The good news is, I think I have found some decent foam stamps. Anyone who has seen me at the shows has probably heard me say that I haven’t got any foam stamps to sell. Well….No more….watch this space. And one way and another, I have seen lots of new exciting products but more on this later in the autumn.

Review in Flair magazine

Many have asked me if it is the Interweave Press edition ‘Lutradur & The New Fibers’ is the same as ‘Spunbonded Textile & Stitch’. The simple answer is YES, although it has a different cover and ISBN number.

I had a frantically busy week in the shop this week or more important on the webshop with overseas orders – and was at a loss to work out quite why. A friend came up to me at the Quilt Show and told me that my book had been featured as a one page advert in this issue of Quilting Arts. Mystery solved. BUT that’s not all, another friend also told me that Flair (machine embroidery magazine) had reviewed my book on a double page spread in the magazine. HUGE thanks to Liz Keegan the editor. I can see me owing a few favours in certain quarters!!

Gallery Textiles at Quilt Show Bromsgrove Rugby Club

The Gallery Textiles Roadshow has been out and about again this weekend. This is an annual event in June held by local quilt groups and this year was held in aid of ‘Headway’ the charity helping victims of head and brain injuries.

 

The pics show the event before the hoards came though the door and the cakes were just as fabulous as ever including, a chocolate cheesecake, apple cake, fruit cake, non gluten selection for those that couldn’t have any of the above and a really ‘to die for’…….raspberry cream sponge.

Er, back to the quilts! The main theme or should I say technique, featured use of Thermofax screen decoration and lots of plain dyed or undyed fabrics rather than the pre-printed cottons. And not just quilts, but quilting on journal covers and other ephemera.

Congrats to everyone.

Back from Creative Stitches

Just back from Creative Stitches at Aintree and to say hello to all those lovely people I chatted to over the three days.

Lots of people were interested in Lutradur & Evolon as well as the inkjet printing onto fabric. I did a mini workshop everyday so anyone could have a go at printing an ordinary piece of fabric through an inkjet printer. For those of you that watched the disaster unfold on Friday and Saturday – in other words my sticky wasn’t sticking – Sunday was a triumph, as I used sticky labels to mount the fabric. No matter how old we get, we are always learning, and my lesson in life was – not to listen to other (so called) expert advice, especially if they’ve never fail to disappoint.

No matter, this is a subject I will be returning to………

Gallery Textiles at Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts Aintree

Just to give everyone an update, I will be at Creative Stitches 20-22 May mostly to demonstrate, but also with some goodies from Gallery Textiles to sell namely; most of the spunbonded fabrics like Lutradur & Evolon, distressed metals, some distressed fabrics, vintage buttons from 1960s, pigments and other bits and pieces not easily sourced.

I will also be doing Quick & Easy workshops at 10:30 everyday on Inkjet Printing onto Fabric. Just turn up for your 15-20 min session and go away with an image on fabric!

See you there

Creative Stitches 20-22 May 2011

The last of my current season of retails shows. Come along to Stand F20 Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts 20-22 May at Aintree Exhibition Pavillion, Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool. My new book entitled Spunbonded Textile and Stitch will be there and as a special show offer, if you purchase the book you will also receive a starter pack of Lutradur worth £7.50. If you can’t wait until then ….click here

There will also be a mini workshop on offer everyday at 10:30am looking at Inkjet Printing onto Fabric – first come first served. For details….click here