WEEKEND

Here at last, a lovely three days without a huge plan of 'things to do' within stitchery.  Still trying to get back to somewhere near normal, I am not going to work at weekends.  Having done this for what seems like ever, it is so strange to get two days off together each week.
I am ever hopeful this weekend to be well (please)
Its not been a too bad week, with the highlight a visit from both of my children, certainly a big boost for the immune system.  Gosh I hate being an 'empty nester'

I found a jelly roll whilst looking for some other pieces of fabric.  For those of you not patchwork obsessed a jelly roll is a selection of fabrics from a fabric manufacturer cut to 2 1/2 inches by the full width of the fabric usually around 42 inches.  There are usually around 20 strips.
Anyway I found this, the only one that I have ever bought, purchased for one of the fabrics alone (mad and madder I get)
I spend hours faffing with it to make it work into the pattern I devised for a table centre using Ricky Tims Kalediscope method
In the end, I sewed them together and have just finished cutting it out

Three of the colours, they are Fabric Freedom Lily fabrics, all really bright and funky

Ive cut them out now and wow guess I have taken a trip back to the late 1960's

I have misplaced my lead to my camera to take photos at the moment, which is really annoying me

I shall be stitching this piece over the coming weeks, hopefully I can show it, if I find the lead

Had a new class this morning with some new students, all very lovely.  The sun was streaming in the window, what a lovely way to spend a morning with happy people quilting.  I had a lovely couple, young man and woman who worked together and chose beautiful modern fabric.  I was so pleased to see him stitching so well, I love my job

ACCUQUILT GO

I have posted my story of the Accuquilt Go on this blog
http://patchesgalore.blogspot.com/
If you get time please read it, a story of a lovely person.

Video

Thank you to those who have replied to my questions in the previous post

I am considering doing some videos but am a total prat of a presenter, hilarious, perhaps I should put the one I did up and give the whole world a huge laugh, might make the top ten of the youtube, ha

In the meantime I am going to put a slide of images on here (keep thinking of that silly advert s l i d e r s with the old puppets)

Now just need to work out how to do it

Let me know please if you can see it or not, then I can do other ones

Hi

Hi, am totally fed up with feeling below par.  Creativity seems to be eluding me, have managed to stitch some traditional pieces of patchwork & done a little machine quilting, but as for developmental stuff ..poof...nought

I stitched this a while ago, it is on hand dyed raw silk & is all made of different colour threads, no painting or colouring

This is me (in my dreams) hohoho

A clever technique to try using a kitchen cloth, follow the grid

Patchwork using folded and manipulated techniques, also using my Clover Yoyo makers, which are easy and satisfying to make little Suffolk puffs, okay you can do it with a circle blah blah but these are so much easier and predictable, a favourite tool.  This piece is heavily quilted and the fabrics are commercial bright colours all from the same manufacturer

Lovely Lutradur, fragments of time, resembling the innarts of clocks

Lots of techniques combined for this textural piece.  I love doing this type of work along with macro photography, problem is in the area where I live there is no call for either

I am considering offering my previous workshop courses again

Smashees, Tantalising Techniques & Follow My Heart, also the original Yahoo workshops.

If anyone is interested can you email me on shelaghfolgate@aol.com or leave a comment

It is hard to judge pricing structure as the take up rate is unknown when a workshop is advertised

Locally a day workshop 5 to 6 hours cost 20 to   50 English pounds.

Mostly one technique then make samples or a quick fix item

Online workshops usually cover lots of techniques, have the option to download and print off, to remember whats being taught forever.

How do you price that?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this.  I would love to supply a product that is eagerly wanted rather than a re-hash of freely available information

It seems that there is a trend towards videos.  I think that they have a place in enforcing a visual of a difficult technique but are not a substitute for the written word

I wish I could publish on Kindle - hmmm thats a thought

So please forgive me for my absence, moaning is not the intention of this blog

I suppose a freebie giveaway might get more comments, let me know if that would encourage you to comment

So over to you my creative readers - what would YOU like???

Thanks for reading & waiting x

Getting Better

Feeling a bit better today altho not enough energy on a glorious sunny day to go for a walk really dragged me down mentally, still lots of interesting stuff on the TV (groan)
The group that I belong to BOAT had a meeting last night and we are starting new pieces of work to be bound into a book next December
The first month is White, my piece is sitting looking forlorn on my desk waiting for the energy to stitch it, I will try and post pictures of stages here, some of you might like to play along with our theme NATURE
Thanks for reading and baring with me during my absence & the good wishes x

Still ill

Sorry folks, still feeling quite ill and not wanting to impart tales of woe, be back soon and thank you for the messages x

OUT & ABOUT

Hooray...I have made a discovery.......there is something outside of my house....an outside...whoo hoo, roads....shops...SHOPS....ooh a plastic thingy that zips through a machine and buys things - like a new coat, a lovely new coat, a bright red huge new coat, very happy me, I, have wanted a new coat for ages
Okay its not fabulous and it is much too big but it was a bargain and it is wool and knee length so covers all my loonng cardigans that I am obsessed with and the sleeves fit and its red lol, I do look quite monsterous in it but I dont care, its warm and its red.
Then I have new shoes as well, they are pink, but they are running shows, when you have size 10 feet, getting running shoes that are not very manish is nearly impossible, but today they snuck up on me via my lovely husband and they fit and they are pink, oh bliss.  They fit as well (what is happening two things that fit and I LIKE them...nope love them) and finally a new dressing gown to replace the cruddy one that I use to do craft work in (well not really, but I do find that I go into the studio in the morning and evening and seem to do dirty work with the lilac dressing gown on, so its now cruddy around well everywhere)  Dave said promise to throw the other one away, silly man after 38 years he does not realise I can promise anything (Is that new...nope had it years...you know how it goes girls)
I have no intention of throwing it away, its great for craft work and can now live in the studio instead of a boring apron
So lunch out, new clothes & a visit to a friend, its Christmas at last.  Coughing is subsiding, did have a funny turn but okay now, just tired

ONE DAY IN A LIFE

Hi, hope that you had a lovely Christmas time wherever you are or whatever you did or didnt do!
I enjoyed seeing my family, but am only just starting to recover from the dreaded germ that is laying low alot of people here.  Two weeks now, driving me potty.
I have today been stitching, at last.  I have a new set of classed locally in Patchwork & before the germ designed a quilt to teach.  Sometimes it is difficult to teach standalone courses, I much prefer to be able to extend techniques over more than one lesson.  However, I am hopeful that the new quilt will be interesting for my students.  Have not taken any photos as I have a huge amount on my card to upload from the work of our local Embroiderers Guild.  Must get on with that.
I am not making promises to myself or anyone else for the new year, as it really is a bit silly to put myself under a cosh.  I am way behind with workshop planning, but it will all get itself sorted out, all I can do is try my best when I feel okay.
Back soon, maybe with normal service lol, thanks for reading x