Bumble Bee Quilting Blog
Corris Uchaf, Wales
Corris Music Festival
Aug 29th
The rolling hills of southern Snowdonia will rock for 4 nights commencing 2nd September 2010 to the sounds of bands, singing, choirs and general harmless frivolity.
Corris Music Festival again hits the scene of this largely forgotten corner of Wales under the watchful eye of the Mother Mountain – Cadair Idris.
With most of the local venues participating it will be a good community event – made even better by the fact that the annual Corris Show almost coincides next Saturday afternoon.
Everyone is more than welcome to come, join in and be entertained by local musicians aided and abetted by acts from much of Wales from traditional Welsh Choirs to modern electronic strings. the event is varied and ambitious in its scope.
Full details can be found here.
As an added bonus there will also be a mini beer festival at the Braich Goch Inn – an opportunity to sample differing flavours from some carefully chosen micro breweries 
Embellishing Machines
Aug 28th
We have been asked several times whether we sell our Pfaff Hobby 350 Embellisher machines as used for needlefelting.
Until now the answer has always been no as they are in use, although we do sell new machines. But, following our move from Corris Craft Centre the area we have available for needlefelting has reduced.
So now we are offering, on a first come first get basis, embellishers at a whopping £99.00 discount. These machines have only been used for a couple of courses and a few demonstrations, so are almost as good as new ….Free postage and packing as well (mainland UK ONLY – overseas is +£25.00 postage and packing)
You can order from our online shop here. There are only 2 left at £150.00 each, so when they have gone they have gone ….
Pfaff Hobby 350 Embellisher
Blog update
Aug 27th
Yep, I had a major database hiccup earlier today and blog etc disappeared from the ether as it could not connect to the sql server.
Still not entirely sure why (suspicions without evidence should never be made public). But, hubby knowing something about Databases, Applications and Unix sorted it for me.
So now we are again rockin’ ‘n rolling – but without yesterday’s post. I did not back up having created that post and uploading its photos — more fool me. Backups are crucial I am always being told. We are all equally fallible on this score – hopefully others can learn from my public omission here… 
I shall re-post the blog + photos re Jinny’s Quilt — meanwhile I hope that none of you fall foul of the gremlins as I did.
Motto = Don’t get your Hope Up – get your Back Up …..
Celtic Knotwork designs (1)
Aug 26th
I have a commission which I have worked on bit by bit over the past few weeks. As you all know only too well, design for another is an iterative process, especially when locations are far flung.
Anyway, the idea was to create a celtic knotwork inspired quilt top, with a post-modernist fairly strict geometric pattern with quite vibrant colours.
So here are some of my initial ideas in chronological order:-
celtic knotwork - design idea 1
celtic knotwork - design idea 2
celtic knotwork - design idea 3
Progressing from the initial design brief into something rather more complex and thence morphing into to what might be regarded as a Roman mosiac but trying to show knotwork geometrically and with at least some sharp colour.
Being an ongoing process, the design concepts continue …
But, do the ideas work for you?
Database crash
Aug 26th
Sorry folks
The blog had a database crash and had to repair as best I could – that meant though without the recent blog post on Jinny’s Quilt. Apologies
I’ll re-write and repost soonest …… Meanwhile the shop is full of chatter and tiny feet as the needlefelting is going full blast
Kids enjoyed themselves
Aug 23rd
Ah Well – the kids had a field day … for it was indeed their day. Mostly lousy weather so they were all dry and safe indoors being constructive and learning new worthwhile crafting skills, as well as using some imagination.
Designing, choosing fabrics and colours, sewing and needlefelting. Every single one of them managed to create something of their own, either for themselves or for a friend or relative. Everyone took something home with them, something that they had made themselves – with just some guidance (usually with scissors and needles) from myself or Mum.
But with all those needles, pins and a gaggle of small girls and boys I did not take any pictures (again ….) – too chaotic and noisy with tiny piercing squeals of joy.
But, a hugely enjoyable day that we’ll repeat soon. A day they can all be proud of themselves for what they have learnt and for what they have made.
My stash of “old” fabrics, wools and felt is now sorely depleted, but in a very worthwhile cause.
Children’s Day
Aug 22nd
Monday 23-Aug-2010 is Children’s Day at Bumble Bee Quilting.
The shop will be buzzing to the happy sound of young ‘uns beavering away, being creative and learning something about needlework and quilting whilst they are about it.
We hope to demonstrate basic design techniques, colour matching and the processes involved in putting it all together so that they can take something away with them that they have made.
It will not be a “heavy” day, but bright and fun although hopefully something will have been learnt come the end of it.
It’s an opportunity for the kids to get together, enjoy each other’s company and have fun with colour and cotton.
If you are in the Corris area and you want to join in the rampage — then just turn up. All are welcome.
A round to it
Aug 19th
I sometimes look for and read through other quilting blogs. I say only sometimes as there is a time constraint, and it’s not because I am either arrogant or ignorant …. (I hope)
But, the thing that most strikes me about many of these blogs is the length and number of blogposts, and number of words and links and the quantity of usually excellent photographs or videos.
Makes me feel quite useless in this respect ( sob 
)
So the questions I ask myself about these fine wordsmiths – do they write all day maybe even professionally, or are they quilters or quilting teachers who can also construct excellent articles, or are they better at time management than !? Or perhaps its a combination of at least two of these suggestions.
I run my own craft shop full-time, so blogging is just an incidental when I have a spare couple of minutes. But I’ve said before that I’ll try and take more relevant photos. As you’ve guessed, I’ve mainly failed in this respect.
But, I will try harder and I will get around to it
