What is creative and what is not?

I have just been made aware of the Petition below by Bev at http://www.fibre-reaction.blogspot.co.uk/ – I am about to make a Victor Meldrew statement ‘I cannot believe it!’ how can:-

‘Calling an IT Business Analyst a creative but refusing the title to a skilled potter or ceramicist shows the level of understanding that those proposing the change have of what is and isn’t creative.’

Above is a quote from http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/49537

‘Can I ask that as you are reading this about creative arts, that you take time out to look at this Petition to stop the government from reclassifying craft as non-creative.’

Quote from Bev above.

My name is already on it.

Creative Week 14

I have made 2 quilt tops this week completed an awful lot of research and designing, I have even written a pattern for this weeks quilt idea.  I will be saving one of the quilt tops for next week as it is not quite finished yet but this will also be accompanied by written instructions, whoa slow down – am I having a funny turn or what – writing patterns again after such a long while, admittedly the last patterns I wrote were for knitwear, so I hope these are understandable, please let me know.

I have called this one Double 9 Patch

This is the link for the pattern, which includes all fabric requirements and cutting information:- Double 9 Patch Quilt approx 36

I have yet to layer this quilt up as I have run out of my favourite batting – I feel a need to visit the Cotton Patch (www.cottonpatch.co.uk) coming on -shh don’t tell my husband!

Quilt Show update

It is time for the Quilts UK show this week, it is running from 16th to 19th May at Malvern Worcestershire, below is the link for all the information.

http://www.grosvenorshows.co.uk/html/Uk_Malvern.html

Until next week.

Thanks for dropping by. x

Creative Week 13

I have actually done some sewing this week – I bought a kit whilst in the States last year for this quilt top but decided I didn’t want to make the size suggested so in stead of the 81/2″ by 41/2″ rectangles I used 21/2″ by 41/2″, but made the quilt up in the same manner ( removed some of the smaller triangles replacing them with a larger one where necessary).  This small version measures 28″ by 31″, I will be adding borders.  This all means I have lots of these fabrics left to play with.

Next up for these fabrics is a nine patch quilt.

This weeks quilt idea:- Woven Windows

This quilt measures 491/2″ square

Each block is 6″ square.  I love the way the blue seems to add a third dimension to this quilt idea.

Each block is the same but on a different orientation this link will take you to the quilt layout. woven windows layout

The following is the fabric requirements in yards - woven windows fabric. The rotary cutting info - woven windows rotary cutting and the templates for hand stitch this block - woven windows templates

I have included another version of the same quilt, just by rearranging the colours and adding white has given this a completely different look which I have called Woven Stars.

The layout, the block, the rotary cutting info and the templates are just the same as before so follow those links above but here is the fabric requirements (in yards) for this version - woven stars fabric

Now the garden calls – it is a public holiday here and for once the weather is set to be good – perhaps this is our one and only day of summer this year best make the most of it!  Thanks for dropping by. x

Creative Week 12 – Ooops it’s late!

I like to have my posts done and up on Sunday or Monday at the latest, life got in the way – what more can I say.

We have had an exchange student from Germany with us since Thursday, my little son’s birthday and a trip to Cambridge to see our daughter and to visit the circus, along with meetings and social gatherings at school for the students – we need a holiday now – that’s the excuse, although I have still created several patterns which will see the light of day over the next few weeks.

Just a few quick questions before I post this weeks quilt project – What do you think about the current fabrics available?

Are they the colours you like/are looking for?

Do you prefer modern or traditional?

Where do you buy your fabrics?

Do you dye your own?

This weeks quilt idea – Layer Cake Garden

This idea uses 25 pieces of the layer cake or 25 10″ squares or 100 5″ charm Squares.  The quilt itself measures 74″ by 74″ including a 3″ border.

The following links will take you to the fabric requirements - Layer cake garden Fabric.JPG

The rotary cutting information - Layer cake garden rotary cutting info.JPG, Layer cake garden setting triangles.JPG Layer cake garden corner triangles.JPG

The quilt layout - Layer cake garden Layout.JPG and the block - Layer cake garden Block.JPG

The following is an alternative colour way.

Fabric needs - Black and White Garden on point Fabric.JPG

Rotary cutting info - Black and White Garden on point rotary cutting 1, Black and White Garden on point setting triangles.JPG,  Black and White Garden on point corner triangles.JPG

Until next week, thanks for dropping by.

Creative week 11

This week has been spent doing research for many more quilts and the blocks to go in them, along with finishing off – or trying to – several knitting projects and researching and booking our trip to America in the summer, so I only have this weeks quilt possibility to show.

‘Rectangles’   This is a very simple block using 11/2″ strips of fabric, which could use up scraps with a background fabric as a constant.  The one below sends my eyes into a spin if I look at it too quickly a bit like an optical illusion, they look wonky!

The links that follow will take you to the fabric requirements Rectangles Fabric requirements in yards, the rotary cutting info Rectangles Rotary Cutting info and the block Rectangels block

I have also included other colour possibilities along with the fabric requirements.

Fabric requirements Rectangels b fabric requirements in yards

To this next one I  have added sashing

Fabric requirements Rectangles c fabric requirements

Fabric requirements Rectangles d fabric requirements

Quilt Show Update

26th – 28th

British Quilt and Stitch

Uttoxeter

http://www.quiltandstitchvillage.com/

http://artnextdoor.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/quilt-and-craft-show-calendar/

Until next week.

Creative week 10

My youngest son has been on holiday from school again this week, so we have been learning his part for the Shakespeare play his class are doing at school – he is playing Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream – I know most of the parts myself now as I have been reading them for him – we have also got a copy of the 1998 film version, starring Rupert Everett, Calista Flockhart and Michelle Pfeiffer, to watch.  I hope when he gets to do his GCSEs he does Taming of the Shrew as it is my favourite of the Shakespeare plays (10 Things I Hate About you, starring Heath Ledger, is based on this play), closely followed by King Lear. He has also had one of his friends over to play on the Xbox.  We have done his back to school shopping including his bus pass – why is getting to school so expensive?

I have had time to crochet some baskets from my left over yarns, which have been used to keep things tidy in several places around the house – perhaps now we’ll be able to find things a little more easily.

I used aran yarn doubled up for this one it is approx 9″ in diameter

I used double knitting yarn for the pink/orange bowls/baskets which measure approx 6″ in diameter. Ideal for containing all the keys by the front door, so everyone knows where their car keys are and there is no excuse for loosing the house keys either.

The new home for the TV remotes, sticky tape and anything else that is left lying on the dining room table.

Yet to be filled up but I am sure it won’t be long.

Another one empty for the moment.

I have already lost two blue ones to the two boys for their desks.  In total I have made 6 with another one to be made this afternoon.

This weeks quilt idea came about after seeing a quilt on the internet which used this block along with several others to make a very interesting quilt but using very traditional colours.

Measures approximately 84″ square.

The same quilt using plain colours

The block for the quilt which is used ‘on-point’

The following links will take you to the quilt layout Quilt layout, the fabric requirements in yards Fabric requirements in yards, the rotary cutting info for each of the blocks, rotary cutting info 1 rotary cutting info 2, the corners rotary cutting info corner top right, rotary cutting info corner top left, rotary cutting info corner bottom right, rotary cutting info corner bottom left and the setting triangles rotary cutting info top setting triangles, rotary cutting info right setting triangles, rotary cutting info left setting triangles, rotary cutting info corner top right and finally the templates should you wish to try this quilt with paper piecing templates.

The inner border is 2 inches wide therefore needs to be cut 21/2″ wide, 2 pieces 681/2″ long and 2 x 721/2 “.  The second border is 4″ wide – cut 2 x 41/2″ by 721/2″ and 2 x 41/2″ by 801/2″ and finally the outer border is 2″ wide – cut 2 x 21/2″ by 801/2″ and 2 x 21/2″ by 841/2″.

Here is the link for the quilt show calendar:-http://artnextdoor.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/quilt-and-craft-show-calendar/                         the next show in my calendar isn’t until the end of the month.

Creative Week 9

I have had my children home this week so I haven’t done much other than feed them and clean (after a fashion – anyone who knows me knows I don’t understand the concept of cleaning, life’s too short) but here is this weeks quilt idea.

A few flying geese mixed with rectangles and squares, so is easy to make and could utilise part of a jelly roll with backing and could be made larger using more of the jelly roll.

The quilt is 68″ square; the block measures 16″ square; sashing is 2″ wide  and therefore would need to be cut 2 1/2″ wide with 2 1/2″ square setting squares.  The first border measures 2″ wide again cut 2 1/2″ strips with the second border measuring 4″ (cut 4 1/2″).

It is very easy to change the size of this block should you wish, it is based on an 8 grid but making it 16 inches would make good use of those 2 1/2″ strips, it could also be made from any scraps left after other projects just with the addition of a back ground fabric to link it together.

These are the links for the pdfs for rotary cutting info rotary cutting info and the fabric requirements fabric requirements in yards

 

Finally a show reminder.

 

 

12th – 14th

 

Spring Quilt Festival

 

Kent

 

http://www.grosvenorshows.co.uk/html/Spring_Kent.html

Until next week, thanks for stopping by.