Workshops for QG AGM

The Quilters' Guild AGM was to have been held in the Suffolk/Essex region this weekend. However......it is now a virtual event with lots of workshops, talks and social events as well as the AGM itself. I have been busy preparing for my workshop Layered Landscapes which will be taught twice, both sessions fully booked, over zoom. I am looking forward to meeting' quilters from all over the UK.

Bluebell Wood 

Poppy Field

Workshop participants can choose to create landscapes in either Bluebell Wood or Poppy Fields designs - both inspired by landscapes near my home on the Suffolk Essex border. Here is my photo taken last year. This year they are not quite out yet, only a few more weeks before they reach full bluebellness

Bulmer Bluebells

I hope to share some of the results from the workshops, with the makers' permission. This workshop can be booked by groups, on zoom or in person. Packs of materials are also available for £10

STARS continue to shine

 STARS members and visitors made some delightful Thread Bowls at a recent zoom workshop. The finished results have been shared with all the participants via WhatsApp (STARS is a very friendly and supportive group) and I have the makers' permission to share them here too. 

Denise Sullivan

Heather Parker

 Denise Sullivan was one of our visitors - an honorary STAR for the day

Denise says:

"I really enjoyed Saturday and was surprised how successful a zoom workshop can be"













Heather Parker selected a range of blues and greens for for her lovely fluted edge bowl

Heather says:

"Bowl completed!"

Jackie Ferguson

Jackie Ferguson was inspired by leaves when stitching her fresh Spring bowl

Jackie says:

"Thank you so much for the great workshop today Mary, thoroughly enjoyed it"

Jane Marsh

 Jane Marsh could not attend the workshop on the day but worked completely from the set of instructions provided for all workshop participants. Lovely colour combination of turquoise and orange

Jane says:

"Thank you Mary for very comprehensive and clear instructions"

Sarah Burke

Sarah Burke selected a range of icy blues for her bowl.

Sarah says":

"Lovely workshop thank you. Having seen other people's bowls I feel the need to make another one with less fabric and more gaps. The free motion zigzag was an absolute revelation for me"

Caroline Anderson

 Caroline worked with a purple/green colourway

Caroline says:

Thoroughly enjoyed the day. Learnt a lot. Excited to make another to develop the technique. Thinking one could make seasonal ones, Christmas, Easter, Spring......endless possibilities"

Jenny Butcher

Jenny's Fire bowl is wonderfully jagged

Jenny says:

"All went well"

If you would like to learn the Thread Bowl technique the workshop can be booked by groups for delivery either by zoom or in person. Oliven are booking now for the workshop there on Tuesday 15th June https://www.oliven.co.uk/  or look out for the workshops at The Festival of Quilts when booking opens in May

STARS produce some stellar bowls

Members of STARS (formerly Suffolk West Emb Guild) and guests took part in a zoom workshop to make Thread Bowls.   Many were new to using soluble film and to free motion machine embroidery. Each person used the same taught techniques but worked in their own chosen colourway. The results are great.

Kay Phillips

This gorgeous bowl was made by Kay Phillips.

Inspired by bull rush heads. Kay says:

"An excellent day, I've always enjoyed being taught by you Mary. Overall I am very pleased with my first attempt. I will definitely do this again, ordering more Romeo today!"

Jenny Jarvis made this beautiful bowl in a range of purples with angelina film for extra shine.

Jenny says:

"I really enjoyed the day. Going to try another design today!

Suzanne Morton

Suzanne Morton is a highly accomplished hand embroiderer  but relatively new to machine stitching. Here is the fabulous 'Fire' bowl she created with a range of vibrant reds and oranges.

Jean Hurlock

Same technique but quite a different look to the bowl made by Jean Hurlock.

Jean says:

"My attempt a a seaweed looking rock pool. Thank you Mary for the workshop and an opportunity to develop this into more fun work"

Jane Kelly

Jane Kelly used the pack of materials supplied in the green/gold colourway to make this super bowl.

Jane says:

"I love how all the bowls are different. Love this technique, I am going to make lots of small ones as gifts"

Sue Morgan

Sue Morgan has a delightful fluted edge to her hot colours bowl.

Sue says:

" I just wanted to thank you for such a lovely workshop. I was a little uncertain as to whether I would be able to keep up in a real time on-line workshop, but your pace of delivery of each stage was so well-timed.

By the end of the workshop I felt confident to finish my bowl, that I had worked quite hard, but had a really fun day and was buzzing with what I achieved"

More bowls to follow in the next blog post. If you would like to learn the Thread Bowls technique I  offer it as an online zoom workshop or a face-to-face workshop for groups. 

Or book for the workshop at Oliven on Tuesday 15th June https://www.oliven.co.uk/

The Thread Bowls workshop is also being offered at The Festival of Quilts  https://www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/  Booking is not yet open

Out of the Fold Exhibition for Sept 2021

 The much postponed Out of the Fold Exhibition 'Drawing Threads' is now confirmed to run at The Guildhall, Bury St Edmunds, from Wed 22nd until Sun 26th September 2021. All eleven members of Out of the Fold will exhibit work and offer items for sale. We hope to see you there. 

Drawn Thread work in progress