I hope 2015 brought you everything that you hoped - and if you were lucky, maybe even more.
With that in mind I have decided to create a Pinterest board where I can put some of the most interesting images that I find that may spark off an idea for a new quilt. And if you would like to join me then I would love to invite you to do the same and add your images to that board too. Between us we could create a wonderful resource. Anything I (or others) put there is fair game - if you want to use the image to create something beautiful then go for it - the original image will never be 'yours' (but anything you make using it, will of course be yours) - I believe in sharing, not stealing - so if you decide to share then please be aware that others may use your original image.
All you need to do is let me know your e mail address or Pinterest name and I will send you an invitation to join the board - then you can add as many, or as few images as you like. Click here to see what the board has on it at the moment.
If you are new to Pinterest - don't worry. The best way I can describe it as a giant box full of scrapbooks that you can stick pictures in, and you can have as many scrap books (called boards) as you like. It is completely free and you do not add any personal information. You can give yourself any name you choose when you sign in. The only thing you need to do is sign up with an e mail address. If you are unsure (although as far as I have experienced, there is nothing to be concerned about), then create a new e mail address (with something like Yahoo or Gmail) just for Pinterest. You don't need any other social networking stuff. No Facebook or anything else for that matter.
I am busy with my new series of work and I have finally begun the first quilt! I will post a few pictures over the next few weeks to show you what I am thinking about! Happy New Year, and thanks for reading.
So - this is what you do...........................
Re-forming the plates
|
Cut or rip the gel plate you wish to recycle into chunks. This helps speed up the melting process. Put it into a microwave bowl and heat for around 1 to 2 minutes on full power (I have a 750W microwave). Keep your eye on it and give it a stir after a minute. If you need to add more time do it in short bursts and watch it at all times. You want the mixture to just bubble up but not over the edges. If it spills over, don't wipe it up - just allow the hot gel to cool then peel it off and stir it back into your molten gel. |
Suppliers you may find handy to know about
UK |
Glycerine BP (that means pharmaceutical grade) can a be bought more cheaply in chemists (such as Boots) than in supermarkets where you find edible grade glycerine.
Isopropyl alcohol - also commonly known as 'surgical spirit' or rubbing alohol in the UK. Don't bother with Boots for this one - the thought police have been there and they just give you 'the look' when you ask for it. Last time I tried Superdrug still sell it. |
New Zealand |
Gelatine I buy at the supermarket
|
I hope you will find some of this info useful should you wish to try making a gelli plate for yourself. I would love to hear if you do try any of the recipes - and have any feedback . They really are quite fun to use and you can make some very beautiful papers and fabrics using them. I will let you know how my agar agar plates hold up - I don't intend putting them in the fridge - so I will see if they go mouldy or not.
Thanks for reading.
Please feel free to share my website or blog with your friends by using the buttons to the right. If you would like to receive an e mail each time I post a new blog, please click here. I promise to never send you junk or give your address to anybody else.
|
|
This is how a few of them looked. I addressed them to different people I know in New Zealand, put a postage stamp on each one and then dropped them off into my local postbox. (I crossed my fingers that they would make it to their destinations!) I did wonder if they were large enough to make it back - but they all did!
Thank you New Zealand Post!
Here are a few photographs which show a little of how the quilt was made.
Thanks for looking!
Please feel free to share my website or blog with your friends by using the buttons to the right. If you would like to receive an e mail each time I post a new blog, please click here. I promise to never send you junk or give your address to anybody else.
|
|
2015 Challenge: Poetry, Rhyme and Verse
The Midsomer Quilting annual challenge and exhibition of 12 x 12 quilts has begun! As you probably know, this has become a regular part of the calendar at MQ and is something I always look forward to. It runs everyday from Friday 4th December until 21st December, 10.30am until 4.00pm
Norton Green Garden Centre, Chilcompton, Bath, BA3 4RR, United Kingdom
|
This year is the first time I have ever managed to see the exhibition in person, (up until now I have always been away, so have had to wait for the pictures of the quilts to be uploaded on the MQ website) and I was so impressed with the marvelous work on display. The quilt above is my personal favourite. However, the entire gallery of quilts looks amazing - over 160 quilts have been hung with great care and consideration to ensure every one of them is shown to its best. I know how much time and effort Chris puts in to the whole event - and his encouragement and commitment to giving people the opportunity to show their work is remarkable. Thanks, Chris.
Generosity
Another wonderful thing about this annual event is the generosity it brings about. Many people donate their beautiful little quilts to this exhibition to be put up for sale in a secret auction that runs throughout the exhibition. The proceeds of the auction are donated to the superb local hospice charity, Dorothy House. Click on the logo below to find out more about Dorothy House.
All visitors are offered the opportunity to own any of the little quilts that are marked FOR SALE by placing a secret bid into a special box. The highest bid for each quilt, placed by 21st December (the last day of opening before Christmas) will become the owner of the the quilt - a very special and unique piece of original artwork.
This year's theme has clearly provided lots of inspiration. Entries have been sent from all over the world - the only stipulation is that to enter a quilt you must have some connection with the shop. This year's quilts have been made by ladies, gentlemen and young people. The youngest entrant is just 5 and a half years old. I met her on Friday and she is delightful (we had a brief chat about flying back and forth to Johannesburg!) Look out for her lovely Fairy quilt with beautiful blanket stitch using metallic thread!
Positively old in comparison, there are entries from two lovely sisters aged 8 and 10; keep your eyes peeled for Incy Wincy Spider climbing up his water spout and the cute little witch from 'Room on the Broom'. Finally another 10 year old young lady (who will be taking her turn at stewarding too!) has created a really brilliant quilt about a 'special' jumper..... find it and read the poem. You will see what I mean!!
Isn't it great that there is such a diverse group of people making quilts ?
Thanks for looking!
Please feel free to share my website or blog with your friends by using the buttons to the right. If you would like to receive an e mail each time I post a new blog, please click here. I promise to never send you junk or give your address to anybody else.
|
|
Click here if you would like to receive an e mail when I add a new blog post.
OR
Categories
All
Challenges
Classes
Colour
Cool-ideas
Courses
Designing
Doodling
Dye
Exhibitions
Experimenting
Festival-of-quilts
Flower-bowls
Gelli-plates
Hanging-sleeves
How-to
Inspiration
Line
Lino Blocks
Making
Marbling
Mending
Mono Printing
Mosaic
New-products
Purchasing
Quilt Gallery
SAQA
Sew On The Go
Sketchbooks
Software
Stencils
Stitch
Surface Design
Talks
Thread
White Horses
Workshops
Yarn Bobming
Archives
December 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
May 2020
February 2020
December 2019
October 2019
September 2019
July 2019
May 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014