Corris Uchaf, Wales
jane
Quilter who loves textiles, colour and design. I also paint a bit and sort of play several musical instruments.
Posts by jane
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?
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
A couple of days
Aug 18th
And a couple of busy ones at that. Its been hell for leather in the shop. Lots of visitors, some new and some long-standing. But I enjoyed speaking and working with all, thanks ….
I’ve not done much yet to mend the quilt top I mentioned before here, but I have taken some time to look over all the completed squares and maybe it’s not quite as drastic as I thought earlier. Won’t really know till I start unpicking in earnest.
But I haven’t been entirely idle, nor spent all the time in frivolity with my visitors.
We have seen quite a few people of all ages having a go with needlefelting, either by machine or by hand, and crafting their own designs with felt and nothing more except some exceptional imagination and creativity.
I have also been busy making fabric items for a charity fair, to be held sometime before Christmas. I have made several Welsh themed cushion covers, some fabric Christmas decorations, and quite a few cake or pastry covers with different but seasonal motifs. Hopefully the fair will raise a bundle for their charity. When I have more details, I’ll share them. But for the two days I have been joined again by Hazel – and some fun but creative time we’ve had as well..
Tea Time now ……
Patience
Aug 17th
Perhaps that should read Patience and Trigonometry. And this is not a new card game with triangular cards.
I am creating patchwork squares for a new quilt top. These squares are made up in part of triangles. These I overcut. This is far better than undercutting, but a pain in the proverbial I’d rather do without. It will mean unpicking, re-cutting and re-stitching all the affected fabrics.
This only came to light when I had completed the squares and was about to join them them all up.
I am also aware of the old adage – Measure Twice & Cut Once.
So, either I was too impatient when drawing out the designs and calculating the angles to give me all my measurements or else I need to revise Pythagoras and his cunning plans. But I know it’ll work out fine in the end ….
Which leads me to my new favourite comic strip of the day which seems to sum up this quilt.
Patience - from Mimi & Eunice
Patience – from Mimi & Eunice – by Nina Paley (with grateful Thanks)
Gardening today
Aug 15th
Or at least for most of the day so far. I did manage to spend an hour in the shop pressing some of the squares I am making for the new quilt top.
Since then though the day has been too nice and sunny in Snowdonia, so I have spent the time outside in the garden. Makes a pleasant change.
We have an old bath, so have sunk that in the ground to create a bog garden to be filled with water lilies and other boggy plants. As we live on a steep hillside we need to face the font of it with a small slate wall to hide it, and that’s the next job.
There are plenty of natural boggy areas in all the streams running of the foothills of Cadair Idris, but this one will be different and a bit of a feature. Hopefully.
We can then level the rest of the area and grass it (lawn would be too posh a word in this rural and damp environment) so that we have somewhere to sit and maybe even build a BarBQ as well.
Back quilting tomorrow and preparing for some joint work later in the week, just needed to take advantage of the weather and get some exercise whilst still being creative albeit in a different environment.
