27th September 2009

Justhands-on.tv Newsletter September 2009

The UK’s first on-line tv website for patchwork, quilting, and mixed media textiles, including embroidery

How time flies – again nearly the end of the month and autumn seems to be around the corner – lots more time for sewing now the gardens are demanding less of our time and maybe holidays are behind us.

Jennie made a great job of uploading all the new films and pages to the site last week (I know lots of you have already found them!) You can see that she had a busy time of the summer visiting Stitchfest at Ardingly, the Minerva quilt museum AND the Arts Alive quilt project in Crickhowell, South Wales. Truely a great trio of treats for you; there was so much to see and share with you from Stitchfest that you’ll have to wait till next month for the rest, but what a lot of reinvent and recycle ideas this month – no need to give much to the dustmen at all!!

If you like the idea of owning the Arts Alive quilt called ‘Inner Landscape’ – and who wouldn’t – you can join in their raffle; the grand draw will be made on 28th November. Made by a group of 49 – I am lead to believe they were all ladies, but I’m not sure about that –and ranging in age from 16 to 80+,of various sewing abilities, they were guided on their creative way by Bettina Reeves and Lisa Helllier; great job.

I’ve still to watch all the Minerva Museum film – need a quiet evening/afternoon with a nice cuppa (maybe I should check out the shopping pages and treat myself to those lovely bone china mugs from RSN – in the new Gifts and Novelties section), but how amazing are those older quilts at the beginning.

Sarah Soward’s (from Pauline's Patchwork) simple but striking Jelly Roll Quilt features as one of the workshops this month; this pattern was designed exclusively for Justhands-on.tv and is available to you as a subscriber; all you need is an afternoon, 40 fabrics x 2 ½” plus 1m fabric, and you’ve even got enough fabric for the binding – how neat is that; get a great start on those Christmas Gifts – you don’t of course have to make it quite as big – make two for the price of one? (PLUS congratulations to Sarah who entered the Moda Jelly Roll challenge and ended up being one of the 12 chosen to be featured in the new book by David & Charles due to be in the shops in October).

Jennie, of course, gives a great lesson on log cabin and discusses some of its many varieties; this is truely one of the greatest simple,versatile blocks imaginable. There are, recorded, over 30 different settings of the basic block and that’s without changing it by adding geese in the corners, chimney stones etc.etc.etc. I have to say that when I get stressed it is my default quilt – there is a certain rythm to it that allows you to make several blocks at the same time and that really appeals to me, like strip piec ing.

You can also tell that I love ‘Thangles’ – such a great idea for making all those halfsquare triangle units quickly, easily and so accurately – again you can get into a great sewing rythm and its so straightforward. The two quilt patterns all use just the one size strip of fabric, 2 ½”, so what could be easier? – another way to use up that jelly roll you just love!

Now we are all getting in to the swing of this, we do plan to update the site monthly on/around 24th – even if the newsletter is a little later – so always worth coming and having a look; and keep an eye on the Blog items too as we can give you a hint of what’s in the pipeline there. If you like the look of the workshops, as you know you need to be a subscriber, but you should also be aware that they will only be on the website for 3 months . Some of the tips and techniques will remain for longer, but again in the subscriber section.

Don’t forget about Jennie’s Block of the Month patchwork  programme – block 2 is now posted on the site ready to print. I did find time last month to work on the first block – it was beautifully straightforward and really only took a couple of hours to put together. Missed Part 1? – you can purchase it through the shopping pages (and it will come to you as a hard copy looking like a proper pattern!). – so if you like it, subscribe now and don’t miss any more blocks.

Talking about shopping, and specifically to the embroiderers amongst you, we have some lovely kits, not readily available elsewhere, designed by Heather, who is a graduate from the Royal School of Needlwork– Poppy stumpwork brooch, black work picture and crewelwork picture.

Justhands-on.tv will be up at the Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexander Palace, North London next week (Thurs 8th-Sunday 11th October) – our stand will be manned by myself, my husband, Stuart, and on Saturday, Dave from the Film company will be helping us in the Textile Gallery (TGF3); we will be running a DVD on a large TV screen, as well as having some of the products for sale, so come along and say hello. (Jennie will be working on the Traplet Stand (publisher of the British Patchwork & Quilting magazine), and giving their workshops.)

Off now to sort out some fabrics for a charity patchwork ‘Bring & Buy’ that’s coming up – trouble is, can I part with anything? – maybe I’ll just go along and BUY!
Happy viewing and stitching
Valerie & Jennie
www.Justhands-on.tv