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Deck the Halls!Yes, we know, bit early for Christmas, but if you want to decorate your tree with lovely handmade frivolities, maybe it's time to look for ideas. And, as we say, Decorations are For Life, not just for Christmas/Solstice/Winter-Festival-Of-Choice. My front window to the sewing room (HH writes) has a string of 300 coloured lights which come on at 6pm and go off at midnight, and are both joyful and comforting all year round... Perhaps your Easter decor can blend into Midsummer, then Autumnal follies, and round and round..So, small stuff, some nice little things to make by the fire, perhaps. And to keep from year to year; let's get away from those nasty sparkly throw-away gew-gaws that the supermarkets seem just too keen to have us replace every year... Helen Howes and AitchBee Contact us direct on newsletter@modernartquilters.co.uk Why not forward this message to your quilty friends who might enjoy our ramblings. They can CLICK HERE to go straight to our newsletter sign up page. HEADER IMAGE: JOINED UP WRITING Button Together Bunting by HB - rearrange the letters to make the message of your choice (do keep it clean while the kids are around!) CLICK HERE to visit HB's "Say it with..." webpage for a range of alphabetty options. |
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 Dreaming of a Blue Christmas? These little Japanese-style draw-string bags make great re-useable gift wrapping and are beautiful things in their own right! See patterns and kits for these KINCHAKU bags on HH's website |
 During lock-down (can it really be five years ago!) HB's QUIP pattern for these conical Scandinavian Peg Bags was a huge hit. Patterns and kits for these are available on her website. Why not make one in Christmas Greens with lots of bling - a laundry day decoration! |
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Click on any picture in this Newsletter to read more. These are mostly links to external websites and blogs - have fun and enjoy looking!  |
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There is something very comforting about working into felt. Hopefully these lovely images will inspire you to get your felt box out (or go and buy some - lots of super colours in the craft shops at this time of year) and do some embroidery. What an excellent use for small lengths of ribbon and braid - you know the ones, they lurk in your stash because they are too nice to throw away, but really they are too short to be of any use! If all that is too much effort these are available as a kit on ETSY from CraftyJoDesigns |
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Lots of little projects for things both useful and beautiful. Danish hearts are a very traditional Scandinavian Christmas decoration, and the simple bunting pattern would be perfect in Festive fabrics. If you have a more gothy bent then the bat bean bags might tickle your fancy - no-one said you can't have a batty Christmas, in fact, we would encourage it. | ||||||
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Some years ago, one of our regular class members made these beautiful, folded fabric stars for everyone in the group - thank you Jo. Mine hangs up all year round over the table at home - it is far too nice to take down. This excellent tutorial version of the star appears thanks to Amy on her blog, AMY LATTA CREATIONS, along with lots of other crafty Christmas decorating ideas |
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Earlier this autumn I relaunched my SPRUCED UP light-up wall hanging (HB writes). It now includes a revised pattern and kits in a range of colours. It has been out to a couple of venues with me and is also proving well-received on-line. What I have found a pleasant surprise is the popularity of the navy blue and silver colourway - by far the most sought after. I will be taking the samples plus patterns and kits in all three colourways to Newmarket later this month - see further down for details. |
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These practical and beautiful items would make a delightful addition to anyone's festive table arrangements. The free pattern is accompanied by a full tutorial on how to make the three-dimensional leaves that adorn each item and can be found on HH's website. | ||||||
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The Quilter's Apprentice and I (and HH on the Friday) are back at Newmarket this month for the Autumn Quilting & Sewing Show - our last big outing for the year. It has been lovely meeting so many of you at the shows around the country, thank you for stopping by the stand to let us know how much you have enjoyed these missives. I look forward to seeing lots of friends at Newmarket (our local show) and hope to see more friends, old and new, next year - we kick off again at the end of January at Ardingly! Autumn Quilting & Sewing Show Newmarket Racecourse, Rowley Mile Drive, Newmarket, CB8 0TF Thursday 6th to Saturday 8th November Click on the image and find the opening times for each day and other details on the organiser's website |
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Bunny bunting! How can you resist? In the same way that bats aren't just for Halloween, bunnies aren't just for Easter. Of course, you can always take an idea and run with it - how about snowman bunting? A similar shape to bunnies (OK, leave off the ears!) and add some faces, perhaps another use for some of that glittery felt I keep seeing? Button eyes? Embroidered features? A bit of imagination can get you into a whole heap of trouble... I mean... | ||||||
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We do love to decorate even if our taste doesn't necessarily run to traditional colours! It gives us even more of an excuse to leave the loveliness up all year round. These little hexi-rings are fun to make and very easy. A perfect fireside occupation or travelling project for those idle times on the train or waiting for appointments.
HH had fun doing the samples for this FREE TUTORIAL for the MAQ website. Note the fabrics in the rainbow version: skulls and spiders' webs - a perfect gothy Christmas theme! |
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Where would we be without our walking feet? I have managed to wear out two over the past ten years (HB writes) but I never begrudge buying a new one and can't imagine how difficult life would be without it. Lots of useful information and advice from HH in the latest instalment of her series: Sewing Machines for Beginners |
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HH will be doing the Christmas Makers' Market at the Fisher Theatre in Bungay again this December. With a stall full of beautiful made items - perfect Christmas Gifts for yourself, or for your friends if you can bear to part with any of them! The Fisher Theatre Broad Street, Bungay, Suffolk. NR35 1EE Sunday 7th December : 10am-4pm : Free entry The Bungay Street Market is also on the same day |
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| We are happy to publicise your exhibition or quilting event anywhere in the country, please let us know at least a month before it is due to start and provide details of venue, dates, times, a brief description, and image and a website link if you have a relevant one.
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Not very Christmassy I know, although I am tempted to make a version in a wreath shape just because. I fell in love with this design when I first saw it on Pinterest and was not surprised to find that it was by Robin Pickins, a favourite designer of mine. The pattern, MOD FLOWER BOX, is available on ETSY for a very reasonable price.
This particularly lovely version is by #alilymimi and appears on her instagram page. |
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From baubles to bunting, there is bound to be something that appeals to everyone on this month's Pinterest page: DECK THE HALLS
As far as we are concerned, sprouts are definitely for life, not just for Christmas. If you don't want them on your plate, you can always hang them on the tree! Lots of lovely versions available on ETSY, or make your own, you clever people! |
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| Our mailing address is:- 4, The Raveningham Centre, Beccles Road, Raveningham, Norfolk, NR14 6NU. United Kingdom | |||||||