Hello All!
I know I say this every time I write a blog, but where does the time go?? (……having fun completing a mystery BOM perhaps?) It’s just about March already, hopefully we’re all still safe after germs & storms? Quite possibly owners of more fabulous pieces of patchwork & quilting items?
10 months ago I started with a set of the fabulous fabrics above…… I’d been doodling designs, in truth, I never stop doodling designs, but I wanted something to show off these bright, ditsy floral prints. I generally have a quick rummage through previous ideas but none were speaking to me in quite the correct manner for these fabrics.
I generally take my inspiration from nature and my surroundings, forever taking photos so that I remember what I see and store moments for future use……. nature – a huge mathematical calculation – Fibonacci. I remember learning about this at school, well, the generals about it anyway, enough to feel the want to go and do a bit of revision. I get a bit headstrong when I’m designing, I had an idea and I was going to use it come what may, quite how or which bit, who knew?!
The mathematics of nature form a spiral, so maybe that would be my ‘thing’ and the ditsy flowery fabric could be the nature bit? Now I had something to work with, so I set about drawing spirals and flowers, spirals and spirals, repeated patterns in a growing sequence…… it was all looking a bit complicated for a design in fabric, then I got stuck on circles for some reason, so what happens when you combine circles, spirals and ditsy flowers?? A Mystery Quilt BOM is what happens……. Lots of sketches and finally a proper rough draft of a design that I could work from….
I wouldn’t expect anybody to be able to translate this sketch into anything fabric, but this is how I started this quilt, fabrics first then a design sketch and then to make.
I take hundreds of photos as I make so that my designs can be translated into visual learning aids and act as a reminder to me when I write instructions to suit all.
Every month those taking part get a full sized pattern and or diagrams with numberings and all sorts of notes where needed, a full written explanation of the how to with colour photos. ‘I don’t want to set anybody up to fail’, (one of my favorite quotes) I try to ensure all of my quilts can be completed by anybody with just a basic patchwork knowledge, with me acting as a query point throughout as well.
So here is the finished quilt, as you can see, many changes along the making way, many lessons and ‘design developments’, I’m quite happy to say, that participants generally make a far better item than my ‘learning sample’!!
Here’s the back of the completed Fibonacci Spiral as well, it’s been long-arm quilted by Sarah at Ambleside Quilting, I just love it!! There are a couple of small areas that have been left for me to hand quilt a couple pf bees & dragonflys in……….
Fibonacci Spiral, the past Mystery Quilts and my Witter Quilts will have their own display next month 24/25/26th March, at the Craft4Crafters Show at Westpoint, Exeter if you’re anywhere near and would like to see them all in person. I’ll also be teaching mini workshops all day – Japanese Folded Patchwork using my new templates as seen on Craftstoretv. There’s also a discount for pre-booked tickets – C4CFB22
I’m busy plotting the next Mystery Quilt now, it should be ready to run from 20th April, I’ll open sign up as soon as I finish the sample and know that the design is going to work! The fabulous Tilda fabric for this one me thinks, along with some traditional reverse applique – people generally associate me with machine reverse applique (I call it Pile & Plunder) which is a raw edge technique, but this time we’re going to turn the edges under to give a lovely smooth finish……. who’s with me???
(There will be a limited amount of kits available, but the design will work fabulously with your own stash! So maybe just the pattern and how to is all you will need?)
Just one thing left to say —— Be Lovely!!
Abbie xxx
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