Wednesday, 19 January 2011

Introducing ....

My little business.
I am also now selling fabric (not yet on the website but will be soon)
Hopefully I will have many more patterns to sell here very soon.
I will be starting out with some yummy It's a Hoot fabric
and my favourite fabric ever Lily & Will be Bunny Hill designs.
I will also be stocking wadding.

Monday, 10 January 2011

Sew Essential ...

I have been in design heaven this week after all the rush of Christmas orders.
Let loose with a jelly roll in one of my favourite colour-ways, pink and chocolate I have designed a project for my friday morning group to sink their teeth into.


There is a sewing bag with lots of pockets, a sewing machine cover ...

a needle-case and scissor case ...

and yummy, calorie-free pin cushions!!


What more could a woman want?
I have also spent all evening writing up a pattern and will give the link next post should anyone wish to make these goodies for yourself or gift to some one else.


Caroline xxxx



Friday, 31 December 2010

Happy New Year ...

I was quite looking forward to seeing the back of 2010 for a number of reasons.


It has been a difficult year in lots of ways.
Looking back at what I have achieved I have actually accomplished a lot this year and should maybe allow myself to have a little pride in all the ways in which I've grown and developed not only personally but within my little business.


I've met some wonderful ladies through my teaching and quilt group, I,ve taken lots of business this year and even won a small comepetition.
It's not all bad. In 2011 I promise to be a better pattern writer and actually get some of my ideas and creations onto paper.


Photo's are as follows from left - right;


row 1; Finally finished 'Starry Night' quilt, Liberty quilt 1, Liberty Quilt squares, Liberty Quilt Petals,' Hearts Abundant' quilt #4.


row 2; Hearts abundant #3, 'All Wrapped Up' quilt, 'Elephants on Parade' #2, My aprons for Domestic Bliss pattern.
row 3; 'Bright and Breezy' quilt, Liberty Amelia Jane quilt, my Iddy-Biddy-bit-bag-buddies designed for my quilting group, Sweetie Jar quilt for Linus, Star quilt for Linus.


row 4; My quilt-as-you-go Rose-of-Sharon quilt designed by me for the group I teach, 'Hearts Abundant' # 2, detail of stained glass rose quilt, blocks from my free Bom.


row 5; Me receiving my award with 'Speaks Volumes' quilt, 'Woodland Gathering quilt', Ethan's quilt, BOM blocks again and finally the ladies I teach with all their amazing creations.


It's certainly a been a busy year. Just this week I have finished making two Christmas Stockings, a new coat for Henri and I'm nearly finished making the project I have designed for my next course.


Happy New Year everyone.
Caroline xxxx

Wednesday, 22 December 2010

BOM 9; Dance Like No-one's Watching ...

Thank you for your messages and here is the link to the free BOM.
I can't believe it's the last one.
I would love to see any pictures you have of your blocks - you can email me at serenityquilts.co.uk
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.


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Glitter Text Generator

Monday, 20 December 2010

Phew .....

I apologise for my lack of blogging, but can promise that even though I haven't had time to comment on your posts, at least some of my time has been used to read your posts and drool over all your amazing pictures of your Christmas crafting.


I can at last start to put my head up for some fresh air and breathe in the beauty of a British Winter. It is freezing here and everywhere is blanketed in fresh, crisp snow.


So, what have I been up to?


Taking this little guy to the vets ... lots ...!!! After his lumpectomy operation his immune system took a bit of a dive and he got a form of doggy - pneumonia. After a course of anti-biotics and lots of cuddles he has made a full recovery ...


until ...
he then got attacked by another dog and has had lots of cuts, scratches and deep grazes to recover from. He's still traumatised and won't go anywhere near the park where it happened.


I can assure you that he is getting lots and lots of TLC.

I designed and made these little chaps, that I call my Iddy, Biddy, Bit-Bag Buddies. I made up lots of kits to sell at my local quilting group and was pleased at there success.

I've had lots of orders placed over the past few months and it has been quite a strain to get them all out on time.

One challenge was set by a customer who wanted 3 quilts made from Liberty fabrics, they had to be single bed size and her budget was extremely tight. With lots of white I managed to fulfil the objective and they have been completed on time.

I seem to have 'lost' the photo's of the first one so can only give you the other two - it's amazing what can be made from a small selection of fabric (plus lots of white!!!).


Appliqued petals - you can't see the quilting in this but I quilted 1/4" all round the petals and the effect was beautiful.

Squares within squares.
This is the last remaining quilt which must be finished by Thursday!!!


I've been teaching the most wonderful group of ladies on a Friday morning - this term we made a quilt-as-you-go quilt which was interpreted in different ways by everyone. I was so excited when they completed their quilts and what a wonderful job everyone did.


I love the enthusiasm and eagerness of these ladies and can't wait for the new term to begin in January.

Beautiful appliqued blocks in different shades of blue.

This is truly amazing, this lovely Lady made tons of blocks from recycled material and even used old blankets for the wadding. The result is a stunning quilt (the first one she's ever made) that will be an heirloom, providing not only warmth but freshness and beauty forever.

This quilt turned out beautiful and was all done by hand, including the piecing, appliqueing and quilting. I love it.
The lady who made these had missed several sessions and decided to make her quilt-as-you-go blocks into mini-Christmas-wallhangings with her families initials added.

The Lady who made these had already completed her quilt so she began making some placements to give as a Christmas gift.
She designed them herself and this is what makes me so feel so happy to see people grow and develop there own style and confidence to go in other directions.

I've also finally got around to completing the last block for my BOM - better late then never!
I aim to put them together in January - should time permit!!!!
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a
Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Caroline xxxxxx



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Glitter Text Generator

Monday, 15 November 2010

All Wrapped up for Christmas ...

It's good to be back from a short break from blogging.
I didn't much feel like blogging or looking at any of your lovely blogs and I have to admit to having missed you all.


Whilst there were quite a few weeks of no-blogging, that does not mean for one minute that there was no sewing. I've managed to get two custom quilts made and posted off, another one to go by the end of the week and fabrics purchased and designs at the ready for some other quilt orders.

My feet have barely touched the ground.

The above picture is a quilt I had a brain-wave about one morning (at 3am) and simply had to make - just for me. Or perhaps a pattern that I MUST get round to writing.


Which reminds me, I have had a lot of e-mails regarding my Elephants on Parade quilt and I will definately be writing a pattern for it. I'll let you know in due course when it's ready.


For now I will leave you with this Merry Christmas picture - sorry reindeer's head didn't quite make it into the picture!!!!

Thursday, 4 November 2010

Bom 8; Live life on the edge!!

Hoorah!!! here at last is this months free Bom. Can't believe it's number 8 already and only 1 more to go.


You can find the PDF pattern here


I've sort of been living my life on the edge for the past few weeks - but more like a knife edge than on the edge of exciting roller-skating like this little lady.

My uncle died a couple of weeks ago, after a short illness - he was 85 but it still came as a bit of a shock and sadness.


The day after that I went to have nitrogen put into my tyres (which should have cost £5.00) and came out with 3 new tyres and a bill for £200.00 instead.
Then I was told that I needed new suspension wishbones and wheel alignment for the princely sum of £200.00. The car is now repaired!! Thank Goodness.


The day after that, my husband found some suspicious lumps on our Jack Russell, Henri.
We took him immediately to the vets expecting to be told to keep an eye on things, only to be told that he would have to have them removed.
Two days later I was sobbing having left him with strangers to be cut open and operated upon.
The vet thought the lumps looked suspicious and we had a worrying week of imagining putting our baby through more discomfort and pain.


However, yesterday the results came back and I can quite happily announce that the lumps are fatty necrosis which are nothing to worry about it.


They are pretty much lumps of dead scar tissue probably from Henri knocking himself during one of his many antics.


We are so relieved and hopefully now life can resume some normality.
The good news is that I have been taking lots of orders for quilts and think I'll be busy right up until Christmas sewing away.


I'm afraid I haven't had much of a chance to comment and look at your blogs but will rectify this at the weekend.


Enjoy the rest of your week.
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Glitter Text Generator