Munkee Creations - Patchwork & Quilting in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire

Sharon opened her fabulous shop, Munkee Creations, last summer. Based in the small town of Long Eaton, about half way between Nottingham and Derby, this shop is a heaven for patchwork and craft sewers.
With a huge range of patchwork fabrics, you can't help but fall in love with some of them! Sharon has lots of personal experience within sewing and quilting and runs her own workshops in the shop. (of course on Janome machines!)While I was visiting the shop a couple of months ago, just to say hello and take a few photographs for my blog... I signed up for a workshop! I have made various small sample quilts, but never attempted anything full size. Munkee Creations is only 10 minutes away from home, and with my need for nesting (you may not know this, but I am expecting our first baby in June!) I just couldn't help myself!
So a couple of weeks later... I was back.. and ready to sew!!! Firstly, I had to choose from the gorgeous range of Moda and Freedom patchwork fabrics.
I decided on a colourful mix of blues, greens, pinks and reds in a Jelly Roll. (Jelly Rolls are a quick way of quilting... which I'll explain as we carry on). First I had to sew all the strips into sets of five.. the Janome 1600p is perfect for this job, at 1600 stitches per minute, I was finished in no time!
As Jelly Rolls are designs especially with quilting in mind, all the strips are cut ready for you to start sewing. (you buy them when they look like circular rolls of fabric.. see a few photographs up). Once they were stitched into sets of five, the cutting starts. (I can't tell you all the secrets, you'll have to go one one of Sharon's workshops for that!)
But, after a couple of hours, my patchwork blocks are starting to come together! Don't the colours look so retro! I then took my blocks home, and finished on the quilt in my own time....
With my Janome Horizon 7700QCP, I had to embellish my blocks with some fancy embroidery stitches. I haven't done every seam... just most of them!
Then the blocks are stitched together, and the huge space on my Horizon makes this so easy. It took me a few evenings to do the quilting and binding and then .............dad dar................
my first finished patchwork quilt! This is my first item I have made for the new baby nursery.. I'm just so excited to make lots more!

Thank you so much to Sharon for her wonderful Jelly Roll workshop, and teaching me some fabulous patchwork secrets!

For more information on Munkee Creations, please check out their website and facebook page.
Janome Machines are available locally from Ilkeston Sewing Centre.

A busy day in the Isle of Man!

Last week I had a flying visit to the Isle of Man... I was only there 24 hours and we worked all day to fit in as much as possible!

Joan's Wool and Craft opened in 1974 and is now ran by Joans' daughter, Christine. The shop has a mix of sewing and other crafts, including patchwork and quiliting, dress fabrics, haberdashery, knitting wool, craft kits and artists paints.... and of course, full range of Janome sewing machines.

In the morning we had a software training session for Digitizer MB and how to digitize lace, and using the Giga Hoop and Cloth Setter on the MC9700. We worked that hard, I forgot to take any photographs! After lunch we had a look at the Janome Horizon and a range of Janome accessories. Many of the staff at Joan's have Janome machines at home, but everyone wanted to have a go on the new Janome Horizon machine. Above I am demonstarting the new Quilt Binder Set, which allows you to quickly bind the edges of bulky quilts. Check out this blog post for more information on the Quilt Binder Set.

Once I ran through the features of the Horizon, it was time to get hands on and have a go! And no-one was disapointed!

While they were playing on the machine, I had a quick look round the shop.... full range of haberdashery and fabrics... and loads of other crafty goodies! Well worth a visit!!

Joan's Wools and Craft can be found in Village Walk in Onchan, there is a free car pack, so you can spend as long as you like having a look around.

For more information, have a look at their website here, a give them a call on 01624 626009.

New Embroidery Studio in Derbyshire.... White Peak Embroidery!

Do you enjoy of spot of hand embroidery? Or maybe cross stitch, tapestry? and how about a nice drive into the Derbyshire Dales and finish with gorgeous homemade cakes and tea?? Well, I might have just the thing.... White Peak Embroidery opened last week, and can be found on the main road through Darley Dale. Ann, who also owns and runs Heirs and Graces (only a few doors down the road) has always had a passion for sewing, and started her quilting business when the children were small. Heirs and Graces has a reputation for quality, and has a huge selection of patchwork fabrics, along with everything you need to become a top class quilter! Her husband, John, also runs The Complete Knit in Matlock... a heaven for hand knitters.

White Peak Embroidery (and tea room) has been one of Ann's dreams for a long time, and when the right premises became available, Ann jumped at the chance to make it reality. From the minute your about to walk through the door, handmade gifts and the vintage style of the shop are inviting you inside.

The Tea Room part of the shop will be opening soon... Ann gave me a sneak preview of vintage tables, chairs, cups and saucers she's been buying, along with antique sewing machines for display. This will be a ideal place to relax after your shopping... or park the other half while your shopping!

Once inside, the beautiful light shop has lots to offer, from your standard embroidery items to the most specialist fabrics, threads, ribbons and embroidery backings.

Heirs and Graces, is literally a few door down on the same road, and less then a minutes walk between both shops. The building used to be an old Wesleyan Church and is full of character...

Ann has even used the old pews to display all her fabulous patchwork fabrics.

For more information on Heirs and Graces, visit their website Patchwork Direct... and why not pop in for a lovely cup of tea next time your in the area.

Kisco & The Fabric Guild in Leicester ....shop for Patchwork, Quilting and Janome machines!

Graham Cresswell, seen below, has worked in the sewing trade since a young apprentice, and what he doesn't know about sewing machines... isn't worth knowing! His main shop is in Daybrook, just outside Nottingham city centre, but he also has a long history of working with the Fabric Guild and Kisco Fabrics to bring Janome machines to the patchwork and quilters in Leicester. He is usually at Kisco every Friday morning to help with your machine queries, sales and servicing.

Kisco is a heaven for patchwork and quilters, and carries a huge range of supplies, from patchwork fabric by the yard, to fat quarters, haberdashery, bag handles, books, wadding... and free tea and biscuits to refresh you after your shopping! (or park the other half while your shopping!)

Kisco is not open to the public like a normal shop, and you need to become a member, and then you will be offered certain dates to come and shop. Check out the full details here. Or buy from their online shop all year round.

Looking for inspiration...

Anne-Marie Read teaches regular patchwork and quilting workshops all over the Lancashire area, including our Janome stockist, Hobkirks in Blackburn.
Last year, Anne-Marie could resist the new Janome Horizon long armed quilting machine (she came on one of my Horizon Test Drive events) and had to take one home with her! This is one of her quilts she has made on the Janome Horizon, isn't it just gorgeous! All the fabrics are hand dyed and painted with stencil creams before being stitched together.
For more information on the Janome Horizon - click here, and to why not have a look at Anne-Marie's workshops at Hobkirks.

Susan Briscoe visits Bridlington!

Susan Briscoe is a well known textile artist and has written several books and teaches creative textile workshops around the UK. To see her full profile, check out her BLOG and WEBSITE. Susan is happy to travel to your quilting group and run classes just for you... on a huge range of patchwork and quilting techniques and fun workshops.

Recently, Susan visited Bridlington and Barbara from the Janome Sewing Centre in Bridlington attended her workshops and had a wonderful time!

John and Barbara are the main Janome agent in the area, and there shop is a haven for sewers of all types. Apart from Janome machines, they have a gorgeous selection of dress and craft fabrics, threads, buttons, trimmings and all kinds of haberdashery. So, if you fancy a nice day out to the seaside, and a bit of retail therapy... why not pop in? And if you get peckish... there's a fabulous Fish and Chip shop next door with the freshest fish you can find for miles!!

This is one of Barbara's creations and of course, all make on the Janome Horizon.... the best Janome machine for patchwork and quilting!

For more information on the Sewing Centre in Bridlington, visit them at 1, Queen Street, Bridlington or telephone on 01262 603057
Click HERE to see Susan's blog post about the Bridlington weekend and some of the wonderful quilts that were made.

Janome quilted banner takes pride place @ Hobkirks!

Tatiana, Hobkirks resident sewer, has made this fabulous Janome banner for the Janome display area in the shop. Using the Janome Horizon quilting machine, Tatiana has used various quilting decorative and applique stitches, and of course the built in Acufeed to help with the quilting of the layers of wadding and fabric. I'm sure you'll all agree she has done a wonderful job! For more information on Hobkirks in Blackburn and Bury, check out their website Hobkirk.co.uk

Sewing for Pleasure - part 4

Sheila May (on the right) owns and runs the Birmingham School of Sewing... and of course, has Janome machines in her class room. Her classes include patchwork, dressmaking, alterations, know your overlocker...

to more advanced workshops on corsetry, lingerie and bridal. ....

and advanced boned bodice class....

For full information on her courses and class list, check out her website

http://www.birminghamschoolofsewing.co.uk/

To find a sewing workshop in your area, check out Janome recommended class list

HERE

Beautiful Baby Quilt by Jean Jones

Last week I visited The Singer Sewing Centre in Whitley Bay, and had a wonderful surprise! Ann Wheeler, their Patchwork and Quilting teacher was running a workshop upstairs and Jean Jones was there as well. Why is this interesting I hear you ask? Well, they both bought a Janome Horizon at the Test Drive event I ran at the Centre last year! So I popped up stairs to say hello.

Jean had with her, the first quilt she had made on her new Horizon, so I thought I'd share it with you. Her first Granddaughter is due soon, Elouise on 7th April, and Jean has made her this wonderful quilt she will keep forever.
Lots of use of the Horizons quilting stitches....

and a lovely mix of hand embroidery... and the grass and flowers along the bottom are stitched using the Horizon... and so are the random hearts and flowers dotted around as well.

And finally finished off with a hand embroidered quilt label, that is embellished with more Horizon quilt stitches! Well done Jean... it's fabulous!!

For more information on the Singer Centre in Whitley Bay and their Patchwork and Quilting workshops, check out their website HERE.

Patchwork and Quilting Day at Samuel Taylor at Embsay Mill!

This week I spent a wonderful day with a group of patchwork and quilting ladies (some advanced and some beginners) at Samuel Taylor's in Embsay near Skipton.

Samuel Taylors @ Embsay Mills is a fabulous place for crafters of all types of hobbies, of course, patchwork and quilting department (with the most wonderful fabrics!), Janome Sewing Machines, cross stitch and hand embroidery, knitting yarns and Oliver Twist decorative yarns and fibres, plus a huge department of card and scrapbooking paper crafts... and a class room which hosts regular workshops in many of the above! and when you've finished shopping... a coffee shop to enjoy a drink and homemade cakes... can life get any better??During our Patchwork and Quilting Accessory day, we looked at some of Janome Sewing Machines and discussed different P and Q features, such as the hand look quilt stitch (always a crowd pleaser!), straight stitch needle plates, crazy patchwork decorative stitches, and of course, all the accessories to help create a perfect quilt.

We started with the 1/4" Foot, as any patchworker knows, a 1/4" seam is so important, so this easy to fit foot as a guide down the side to "but" the edge of your seam to, and when using centre straight stitch, gives you a perfect 1/4" seam allowance.

And then onto the Ditch Foot, the guide of the foot sits in your "ditch" and helps keep your stitching in the ditch!
The Clear View Quilting Foot and Guide Set combines both the 1/4" foot and Ditch Foot in one... and it also has 1/8" and 1/4" red marking to help your piecing, and you can move your needle position within this foot to let you have a scant 1/4" seam.

We looked at the Acufeed system on the Janome Horizon machine, which is a built in even feed / walking foot / dual feed, and allows you to use a 1/4" Seam Foot, Ditch Foot or Open Toe Foot at the same time as having the Acufeed engaged, this is invaluable for patchwork and quilters. The Acufeed Feet will only fit the Horizon (7700QCP) and the 6600p.

Our other machines have the Janome Even feed Foot available, which helps to feed quilting layers of fabric through the machine and not pucker or slip. There is a standard foot Even Feed, and Open Toe Even Feed and a Convertible Even Feed which has both Standard and Open Toe options.
We also looked at the Darning Foot for free machine quilting and embroidery and the Convertible Free Motion Foot Set (which can be seen above), this has three feet options, a small circle, a horse shoe shape or the clear round plastic with 1/8" markings to help when stippling your quilt.

For more information on Samuel Taylor and workshops they run at Embsay Mills, check out their website. Click on Crafts.

To see if we are running a Janome event in your area, keep checking our Events page on the Janome.co.uk website.

Win a Janome QXL605 and Quilting Kit with Patchwork and Quilting Magazine!

Get ready for a wonderful spring of sewing by winning this fabulous sewing machine from Janome! Just buy the March issue of Patchwork & Quilting for all the details, closing date in the 31st March.

For details on Patchwork and Quilting Magazine, follow THIS link.

For more information on the Janome QXL605, follow, have a look at the Janome website.