Inspiring Improv :: A Book Review

Well it was definitely worth the wait to get a copy of Nick Ball's book Inspiring Improv.  This is Nick's first book and was published by Lucky Spool Media and released in April 2019.  It is available from Search Press in the UK - head on over here if you feel so inspired!

I first met Nick whilst waiting to collect quilts at Festival of Quilts several years ago - it happened we were the only two waiting ..... we quickly realised we were in the wrong place! 

What can I say - I love this book!  I like the style it is written in - it is full of information but not dogmatic, which is the way I like to teach. 

Topography

There are three parts: Planning, Practice and Progress.  Each part is broken down into sections covering such topics as inspirations, tools, techniques, binding.  The Progress part contains twelve projects where Nick has talked about inspiration, fabric and quilting for each project.  As I turned the pages I would think "Oh this is my favourite"  before seeing the next one and thinking "No, this IS my favourite".

The section on techniques is very informative and can be followed as is or as a jumping off point for you to head in a totally different direction.

There is some great information in this book and it will really encourage you to have a go at Improv Quilting.  Sadly, due to an injury, I am not in my studio at all, otherwise I would have raced straight in there to get cutting and sewing.

Kintsugi

To see other people's take on Inspiring Improv head over here.  Nick recently ran an Inspiring Improv IG Tour and there's some lovely projects going on.

Liberated Log Cabin

I really am on a journey into improv and the many books on this topic, including this latest addition, on my shelf can testify to this!  I definitely view them as resources and inspiration which I will delve into frequently over the coming years.

Nick can be seen at many quilt shows around the country demonstrating on the Bernina Q24 longarm machine and over on IG @quiltsfromtheattic.

Stitched Textiles: Nature - A Book Review

Well it certainly has been a long time since I have been here - where does the time go?  I have not been sitting idle it's just most of the day to day things get posted to Instagram and then I run out of hours in the day to write a blog post .... sound familiar? 

A recent fun day out was to the Handmade Fair at Ragley Hall.  I had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie Redfern and seeing her gorgeous work and so I am delighted to have got my hands on her book Stitched Textiles: Nature, which was released in April by Search Press.

The book covers the materials Stephanie uses in her work, which she describes as textile- and mixed-media-based, design and inspiration and process and practice.  Having been drawn into her stand at the Fair by her wonderful appliqued art it has been great to read about how she goes about the process of creating a piece.  I do not come from an art background and so I am always interested in how other people create especially with paints and printing.

The chapter Themes contains more inspiration ideas and design advice and step by step projects.  I haven't had the time to get started on one of these yet but have decided that it will be a summer project with my daughter once the summer holidays have started.

In summary, I think this book has a great balance between detailed how to and more general design  information which could lead you down your own path to creating truly unique textile art.  I have been really inspired to seek out natural images from when we lived in New Zealand and to begin to use them in some art pieces.  It may be some time before they appear so don't hold your breath!

If you are interested in finding out more about Stephanie's work she is running a two day workshop at the RBSA in Birmingham at the end of August - sadly I am already busy that weekend otherwise I would have signed up straight away!

July that was ... and my OMG

July was a month that I would rather not dwell on .... so apart from my Bee Blocks:

a quatrefoil block for Patty in the Stash Bee - this is the third time I have made this block this year but I love it ... this quilt in the colours she chose is going to be sensational!

a double star block for Kirsty in the Bee Hive, actually this was for August but because of holidays we were given instructions early and I got to it because .....

 the July Queen in the Bee Hive had also chosen this block!!!

This block was designed by Christa Quilts and the tutorial can be found here.  Contrary to what you may think this block comes together easily and pretty quickly.  I was really surprised but it uses the fast flying geese method which I had never used before and it's great!

and my books (top left - easy read picked from a book swap shelf, top right recommendation from Ruth at Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner which made it onto my book worm list, bottom left seen on a friend's IG feed, bottom right booked picked for initial book club meeting):

I am going to move swiftly on to August!!

To that end I am going to state my OMG intention and link it up to Red Letter Quilts:

My OMG for August is to make 5 blocks for my Summer Sampler quilt.

It was only because I had linked up for the first time in July that my first block was made. Admittedly it was just under the wire but I would never have sat up that late and done it otherwise and it's got me eager to get some more made!

Bring on August - more sunny days, family staying and lots of sewing!! x

June in review

It's July already ..... wow!  I just looked back at my May round up post and it states:

There were definite signs of Spring and a few days of glorious sunshine, which could have fooled us into thinking the weather was improving, she says typing this looking out a cold, grey, wet first day of June!

which is somewhat ironic because today is the second day of July and it is a cold, grey wet day aswell - oh the joys of a English summer!!

Yesterday I posted about my Quarter 2 finishes which goes a good way to seeing what I have been up to in June.

Bee News

Annah in The Bee Hive, Swam Anneliese, requested Wanta Fanta blocks in blues and white and so I made her these ....

The mini bee for Siblings Together has now finished in terms of monthly block making but I did manage to get my blocks pieced into a lovely top.  This is now near the top of the pile for quilting and sending on to Nicky.

I was Queen Bee in the Stash Bee, Hive 5, and was very excited to choose this block.  Checking the post throughout the month has been such a wonderful thing and what lovely blocks landed on my door mat in June.  I am soooo in love with this!!  It is definitely not going to languish on the shelf and I hope to be sitting underneath it when we light our first fire of the season!

Making News

The damson gin made last September was almost finished ....

whilst this year's elderflower cordial was made!

I took part in the Rainbow Rose QAL ....

and now have to consider how I am going to finish and quilt this ....

In Home Ed news we have:

:: visited a Hindu temple - which was amazing and so colourful

:: meditated with a Buddhist monk at a Hermitage - which was the most at peace I have felt in a very long time

:: visited the National Trust property at Packwood House - which was cold that day!

:: continued with piano lessons - which the girls are loving and it is wonderful to hear them play

:: saw an Oddsocks production of Much Ado About Nothing - which was fantastic and very funny

:: learnt about the history of the EU - which was fascinating (and did an old jigsaw of Europe!)

It was my turn on the New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop aswell which was great.  There's still another 2 weeks to come so keep an eye out and try to get to meet some of these lovely new bloggers.  I asked people for their book/author recommendations and got loads ...... I compiled a list and yesterday started reading the first of many from this list.  Which leads on to the books I have read in June ....

 

July, yet again, will be busy.  As well as the usual things we get up to we will also receive our shipping that's been heading over the seas from New Zealand.  It's supposed to dock in Tilbury tomorrow but quite when we can expect to see it I am not sure.  It's going to be wonderful to see all our things from NZ but quite where it's all going to go I'm not sure .......

I have also signed up for another mini swap and a round robin style travelling quilt bee which should be great fun.  I am in the middle of compiling my new Finish Along list too which will hopefully be up tomorrow.  Wishing you all a wonderful weekend and to those of you in the States enjoy your Independence Day celebrations! x

Any bookworms amongst you?!

As you may well know it was my stop on the New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop last week and I asked people to let me know their favourite book or author.  Thank you so much for all the book/author recommendations.  As so many people seem to enjoy reading I thought I would collate that list here in case you are looking for some new reading material and/or some new blogs to go and visit!

Books

All Souls Trilogy / Deborah Harkness from Velda at Granny can Quilt

The Kitchen House / Kathleen Grisson from Heide at Heide's Quilt Hugs

Mudbound  / Hillary Jordan from Heide at Heide's Quilt Hugs

Gone with the Wind / Margaret Mitchell recommended by Needled Mom

Rosemary Rogers recommended by Anna Brown

The Graveyard Book / Neil Gaiman from Ruth at Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner

Outlander series / Diana Gabaldon from Kate at Smiles from Kate

World Without End / Ken Follett from Kate at Smiles from Kate

Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow / Orson Scott Card from Yvonne at Quilting Jet Girl

Cutting Stone / Janet Burroway from Rilene

Armand Gamache Series / Louise Penny from Ann Petersen

The Passage Series / Justin Cronin from Ann Petersen

The Grapes of Wrath / John Steinbeck from Stephanie at quilt'n party

Outlander Series / Diana Gabaldon from Amista at Hilltop Custom Designs

The Heritage / John Grisham from Rosa at Rosa Patch - the love of sewing

The Lightning Thief / Rick Riordan from Sandra at mmm! quilts

A Man Called Ove / Fredrik Backman from Sandra at mmm! quilts

My Grandmother Sends Her Regards and Apologises / Fredrik Backman from Sandra at mmm! quilts

Vintage Kitchen Mysteries / Victoria Hamilton from Holly at Lighthouse Lane Designs

All The Light We Cannot See /  Anthony Doerr from Lisa at Sunlight In Winter Quilts

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children / Ransom Riggs from Sharon at Yellow Cat Quilt Designs

A Prayer for Owen Meany / John Irving from Diana at Red Delicious Life

Cider House Rules / John Irving from Diana at Red Delicious Life

Authors

Ursula le Guin from Ruth at Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner

John Scalzi from Ruth at Charly & Ben's Crafty Corner

James Patterson from Jennifer at RV Quilting

Lee Child from Jennifer at RV Quilting

Dana Stabenow from Jennifer at RV Quilting

Margaret Attwood from Amanda at This Mom Quilts

JK Rowling from Laurel at Quilts By Laurel

JD Robb from Quilter

Jeffrey Archer from Sue at Sevenoaks Street Quilts

Bernard Cornwell from Sarah at 123 Quilt

John Irving from Diana at Red Delicious Life

Picture Books from Emily at The Darling Dogwood

Wide Mouthed Frog / Keith Falkner

Caps for Sale / Esphyr Slobodkina

The First Tulips in Holland / Phyllis Krasilovsky

Click, Clack, Moo / Doreen Cronin

Obviously I could not have a post without any pictures so these are pics of a mini quilt I made yesterday.  It's currently on the frame being quilted and will hopefully be finished in the next couple of days. x

Goodbye May ....

where did May go?!!! 

 

The top priority in May was to get my quilts finished to enter into Quilts UK.  If you are a regular reader you know that I achieved that, but by the finest margin!  You can see the final results here, here and here.  The other quilt I entered was already made, thank goodness!

Bee Blocks this month included a Christmas tree in the Stash Bee ....

 

two Quatrefoil blocks for the Bee Hive ....

 

and two yellow and grey blocks for the mini bee for Siblings Together ....

There were definite signs of Spring and a few days of glorious sunshine, which could have fooled us into thinking the weather was improving, she says typing this looking out a cold, grey, wet first day of June!

 

One of our monthly Home Ed groups was somewhat late running their World Book Day meeting, but it was definitely worth the wait.  Cat Weatherill came to do a morning session with the middle group and we had a wonderful time.  She is a storyteller who became an author and her storytelling had children and adults alike captured in the tale.  There were books to be signed and my youngest was delighted to have another signed book by an author she had met after meeting Cathy Cassidy last summer - the book also made it onto my reading list!  My eldest went as Raven Queen from Ever After High, for which I made this collar.

 

Science involved learning about smoking and alcohol!  For now, I don't think I have to worry about my eldest smoking.

 

We were also involved in Rocket Science, more about that in a future post ....

My youngest was working on her Hostess badge for Brownies and so held a Morning Tea Party ....

.... she is the Master of Victoria Sponges in our house!

Another Home Ed parent has also arranged a series of visits to various places of worship and this month we had a presentation from a Rabbi (synagogue visit to happen later in the year) and a visit to a mosque.  These two events have given us lots to talk about and investigate further.  Next week we visit a Hindu temple and Buddhist Hermitage, which I am really looking forward to.

 And last, but definitely not least are the books I read ....

 

I am always amazed when I look back at the month and realise how much we fit in.  Quite often my life seems to be a very fine juggling act to keep everything running smoothly and sometimes all the balls fall to the ground!  But taking a few minutes to reflect on the month has really helped me see that ebbs and flows and that in the end we are all on the right course! x

 

I am linking up today to Let's Bee Social over at Sew Fresh Quilts.