Category: News
Sewing on a Rainy Summers Day
Lesley, Marie and Steph
There was much to admire today at Cutting Edge. Corinne, Keris, Fran and Jan were keen to show off the quilts they had made on Friday at a Gail Lowther workshop – and stunning they were too!
And it is important to mention here that Jan used some of the fabric that she had dyed at last week’s DtP session. They do look rather stunning – well done Jan!
Brenda and Truda were busy working on current projects. Brenda was reaching the end of sttiching a whole cloth quilt – her 5th! Truda was working on a beautiful cross stitch. She was very expertly creating it with silks from her stock in an effort to use them up and she was using 26 count linen!!!!
Glynis brought along a quilt she started in 2006. After recently completing it she has had it long arm quilted. She also brought along a quilt that she has recently made and machine quilted hereself – quite the expert! Obviously with time on her hands she had also produced a lovely bag
Hillary brought along three pieces of work. Chives painted with a toilet roll on hand dyed fabric – which look fab. She stencilled flowers onto another piece and hand embroidered them and she showed some parasols which she stencilled onto fabric using freezer paper – very cheerful and summery!
Salinder brought two beautiful quilts that she made a few years ago – giving a seaside theme with lighthouses on them…
She also showed the results of her ice dyeing and a piece of work in progress
and Gilly showed a quilt that she is completing and which has been beautifully quilted by a long arm quilter in Chepstow.
A wonderful show of talent – well done everyone. Looking forward to more of the same after the summer.
And great to see that some of the hand dyed fabrics and being used!
Off To A Flying Start!
Today was the first meeting of the New Year and it was off to a flying start with lots of new projects on the go and some finished pieces of work to admire.
First, and most importantly, we welcomed two new members to the group – Truda Theodore and Sally Wood. We are sure they will enjoy and indulge in the Cutting Edge experience!
They were making a wonderful start. Truda was using her fabric scraps to make a quilt and Sally quietly beavered away and produced a new cover for her sewing machine before she went home!
Meanwhile Dilys and Caroline were tucked away in the corner with their heads down. Dilys was busy making a bag with Oakshott fabric and one of their patterns and Caroline was concentrating hard on collating patchwork pieces for a quilt.
Gilly was creating beautiful blocks with trapunto work – this is one she made earlier
Helen was making Japanese folded patchwork squares with Scottie Dog fabric centres which looked delightful!
Liz was busy sandwiching a wallhanging together
And the trio on the table were focused on various activites. Julia was using fabric scraps to make a quilt. Helen was busy hand quilting her whole cloth quilt and Lesley was making a wallhanging
Lesley, Julia and Helen
Following ‘morning prayers’ we had our usual show and tell with some beautiful pieces of work to showcase
Salinder had made a quilted bag from a charm pack of batik fabrics.
Lesley Anne brought a quilt that she had made for last year’s Glamorgan Quilters challenge but it was the wooden hanging frame that her husband had made that she wanted everyone to see – which was beautifully carved.
Caroline showed off a little robin brooch that Monica had made
And Monica brought along two quilts and a cushion to show
The first quilt, a Cluedo board was one that she had made quite a while ago for her son and it featured him on the Colonel Mustard card at the centre of the quilt.
The second quilt, recently completed, reflects some of Monica’s travels featuring fabrics and buttons that she had bought when on holiday.
And the cushion featured an applique of a Welsh lady in traditional costume.
Another creative day in the life of Cutting Edge – blissful!
Merry Christmas from Cutting Edge!
Today, we enjoyed our Cutting edge Christmas lunch but before we got stuck in to all the yummy food there was a little bit of sewing to do…
Brenda, Chris and Diane
and handicrafts…
Jan and Catherine
plus a little bit of chatting!
Sandra and Caroline
Then…. after “Morning Prayers” it was time to show off recent completed projects. There was a flurry of beautiful Christmas tree wall hangings – same pattern but all so different – well done folks – you should be very proud!
And, whilst we missed Linda today she emailed and sent a photo of her completed tree – wonderful Linda – well done!!
Linda Baldwin’s tree
Not forgetting of course, we have Dilys tree
Dilys tree
Chris’ tree
Chris’ tree
and Liz. Monica and Sandra’s finished trees
We should have Caroline’s as well…. where did that slip off to?
And Monica showed an advent calendar cushion that she had made adorned with a little fairy decoration – a present for Caroline’s grand children
At last it was time for lunch and as ever, members did us proud – producing a magnificent spread. Lots of lovely savoury and sweets to enjoy which seemed to be going down well with the many red Santas seen lining up for food!!!
And, what would we do without Sandra – who kindly provided delicious spicy mulled wine to get us all in the christmas spirit – she’s a star!
Sandra Ajax
A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who made it happen by sharing food, providing delightful table decorations and music, helping to set up and clear away and for just being there to enjoy your company!
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas – have fun doing whatever you are planning to do over the festive period and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2017
P.S – the flyer for the 2017 Autumn Quilt Show is out and we feature on it – something to look forward to next year!!!
A Message from Portugal
Pat Hixon is currently sunning herself in Portugal and has sent the following message:
“Thinking of you all at Cutting Edge from a very hot and sunny Algarve.
This is one of my hand projects that I brought out here to start sometime over the 3 weeks. It is called Dancing Dresses and each dress uses a 10″ square of fabric, and a 10” square of background. It is designed to use up fat quarters.
I am hoping to make one for each of my 3 grand daughters, and the plan is that the two destined for Brisbane will be tropical.
At the moment I am not sure whether to make each into a wall hanging or a lap quilt. Watch this space”.
Pat H
Glad you are keeping busy Pat. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
A Poem for a Quilt
Jan Webster’s sister wrote this beautiful poem after Jan showed her and told her the stories behind two antique quilts that she has recently acquired.
Patchwork Quilts
by Cherry Harris
It read like a jigsaw,
each fragment section of fabric
sewn into place.
Teasing intricate shapes,
Frayed by the utter life of living,
Seams forming creations.
Peeling back the lives of lovers,
To represent the forgotten life of a nation.
Leaving bitter sweet memories.
Cotton thread lovingly sewn,
Between the intricate and the remarkable.
Now almost complete,
A body of complexity,
Is neatly folded.
A message from Jan:
“I showed you all a couple of months ago 2 antique quilts a friend gave to me and the stories behind them. My sister was so taken with them and the stories about them that she wrote this poem.
One quilt was a third or 4th generation passed down, the other was a paper piece hexagon quilt (both shown above) which a lady started to make before her young men went off to war. The papers inside are from that time. Sadly he never came back so the quilt was never finished”.
A Fantastic Start to the New Term!
Well, whilst the summer break was designed for a bit of R&R in the sun it seems that some just couldn’t resist getting on with their various projects, which was evident at our first meeting on 13 September.
There were some beautiful quilts…..
Catherines quilts above reminded me of a recent enjoyable talk by Christine Porter
There was cross stitch…..
And wonderful bags. Stephanie’s is very apt as this year celelbrates of Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday
Well done everyone – you have set the bar high indeed for this year!
A Fitting Way to Remember Those Who Died in the First World War
As part of their tour to mark the Centenarary of the First World War our WW1 quilts were recently (29-30 July) exhibited in the Old Hall, Cowbridge. Visitors were able to view 23 small quilts – a number of which were made to remember a relative who died in the war.
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What a memorable exhibition it was. There were just short of 500 people visited the town over the two days to see the exhibitions. And two of those who passed through were from New Zealand!
Visitors were invited to mark their visit with a comment in our visitors book and we plan to share some of their comments here soon. The book will also be available at group meetings for members to view.
It was a stunning display beautifully created by Liz Price, Chris Dobson and Yvonne Davies. Many, many thanks to them for so generously giving their time.
We are also extremely grateful to David Howell and his colleagues from the Cowbridge Branch of the British Legion who very kindly looked after the quilts for us throughout the two days. And in the process raised £270 for the charity by selling commemorative badges.
The quilts journey will continue in the following locations:
Vale Agricultural Show (weather permitting) – 10 August 2016
Giles Gallery, Pontyclun – 27 September – 6 October 2016
Malvern Autumn Quilt Show – October 2017
Senedd Oriel, Cardiff Bay – 4-15 December 2017
To read about how we came to make the quilts click here
