ARUM & HEMLOCK
I made this cushion using the Cuckoo Pint template from A Patchwork of Poison. I appliqued the cuckoo pint motif onto a ten inch patchwork square, then added a narrow half inch border and a two and a half inch border with more arum leaves appliqued on. I used machine embroidery to write on the plant names, Arum maculatum , and Cuckoo Pint, then added a narrow piped border, and finally quilted the cushion top before sewing it to a backing and inserting the cushion pad. The second cushion uses the Hemlock template from the book. I tried it on a background of small patchwork squares but it looks better on a plain background, and I used the patchwork as a frame instead. Both the Arum and the Hemlock templates are free to download below.
Arum pattern
Hemlock pattern
SEA QUILT
This is the wall hanging I made as part of my City & Guilds course in Patchwork and Quilting. We had to have curves in it which made for some good waves. The quilt was free machine embroidered. I also stitched the opening lines from a poem by James Elroy Flecker
West of these out to seas
Colder than the Hebrides
I must go
Where the fleet of stars is anchored
And the young Star captains glow
'GIFFORD' NARROWBOAT QUILT
This wallhanging is based on a calender photo produced some years ago by the Canal and River Trust Waterways Archive, and used with their kind permission. 'Gifford' was the first narrowboat in the collection of the National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port which opened in 1976. I used free machine quilting, applique and patchwork with hand embroidery and some fabric painting. I love the traditional folk art and still have the rose painted metal jug we bought on our first narrowboat holiday. The distinctive sign writing was quite a challenge. The wall hanging was first exhibited in Oswestry's Qube gallery as part of their Open Art competition, then last year featured in the Textile exhibition A Stitch in Time held at the Flaxmill in Shrewsbury. The old buildings have been painstakingly renovated by Heritage England and our textile group, STACS, hosted the event with help from Historic England and many others, with textile artist Wendy Riddick and her group steering the way. The Flaxmill had a change of use to a Maltings in later years, but still remains an important heritage building globally as it was the first iron framed building ever constructed, and led the way to creating all the skyscrapers we have today. The exhibition also celebrated the importance of the Shropshire Union Canal in transporting raw materials and goods to the wider world, including London's Foundling home where the Flaxmill's linen was used to make clothing for the orphans.
Partridge template
BALTIMORE STYLE CUSHION
Another of my City & Guilds pieces. This time a Baltimore style cushion featuring a partridge in a pear tree with some lightly stuffed applique. The layout I designed shows where the padded elements are.
Download below.
I am tempted to do a few more of these cushions for Christmas. Swans aswimming maybe, and the gold rings would be relatively easy I think.
DOWN THE GARDEN PATH
My entry for the Moma Art competition recently, with the theme of home. My piece is an embroidered and applique picture of my home and garden. It did not win the competition but I am pleased to have it hanging in our house instead. I hope to carry on making little applique images of gardens for cards if my eyesight holds up. It was certainly fun to make, and I used all sorts of bits and pieces, including beads and small mulberry leaf flowers stitched on.
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