Speed Tailoring Course - Gill Arnold - Birmingham UK October 2010

Well I booked this course in March and had to wait until the last weekend in October to attend it and it certainly didn't disappoint me.

 Gill was fantastic and I learned so much, but haven't been able to put any of the techniques into practice yet because I flew straight out to Houston the day after I return from Birmingham.

The course was "Speed Tailoring" and the group was made up of 6 eager participants.  We all made half a jacket, so we could learn how to attach the correct  types of interfacing on the various parts of the jacket, attaching the collar, pressing techniques and setting in the sleeve.

I absolutely loved the weekend, and it went by far too quickly and will definitely book myself on another of her courses.

 This was one of the suits she made - the accent fabric in the front just lifted the pink and it looks fantastic.  I am still trying to find out how she covered the buttons because they looked great too.

If I can make my jackets with the same amount of workmanship that Gill has used I will be delighted.

I loved this suit - it was a Vogue 8519 and in fact the advertised photo that Vogue publish for this jacket did not do it justice Gill's was much nicer.

I hope to get back for another course early next year - however booking her courses is like getting an appointment with the queen - most people on the course I attended had been on previous ones and just wanted more and more (as do I) so its a case of first come first served.

If any of you cyber sewers are reading this here are a couple of her tips:-

1.  Use natural fibres where possible because you can mould the fabrics better to shape the garments
2. Never press your garments after sewing on the flat ironing board always use a ham, or a sleeve roll etc
3. Make sure you grade your seam allowances

Thanks Gill I loved the course.

International Quilt Festival - Houston November 2010

Well I have just returned from another trip this time Houston and New Orleans.

 

I was lucky to be able to find the time to visit the International Quilt Festival with my friend Ann and boy did we have a great time, albeit our feet and my credit card suffered.

I purchased a number of handy items for my day-to-day sewing together with a great deal on a set of feet for my babylock serger/overlocker which I just need to attend my pre-planned tutorial (booked for next weekend) to be able use them all correctly. 


I have to say, you guys in the USA are very lucky because things are so much cheaper out there.

 The workmanship on show was breathtaking and I found myself so inspired I just wanted to get home and start working on some fantastic project with some of the new goodies I purchased.

 Above is a coat from the clothing section - one of a number of beautiful items.

Right - this quilt based on butterflies and the workmanship was just incredible.

 This parrot was amazing - it looks like a painting and I just can't calculate how long it took.

 Many of the quilts on display took the artist (yes I think these people are definitely artists) months and months to complete, which could sort of put you off if you are one of these people who like to do projects that are completed in a few hours or perhaps a weekend.

Here I am next to one of the quilts on display - the photographs really don't do any of them justice.

The only quilt I have made so far is this little one with the ducks for my beautiful granddaughter Alana (seen below on her first swimming day) who was born on 11 July 2010. It was hand sewn using the cathedral window technique, and  I have some other quilted/embroidered squares that I have been working on to make a larger quilt for her cot.