Kate Selene

Patchwork cottage

Whilst in my road to recovery this weekend, I decided to make a start on my new quilt.I am making lots of different patches made all differerntly and then Im going to join the together, I am even looking forward to handstitching the quilted details,  and I have discovered how to put the bias binding around the edge! very exciting!

The cottage itself was a lot easier to construct that I innitialy thought, and all elements of the cottage have been patchworked together, and the only piece that has been stitched on, is the lovely rose flower in the garden. There is no set pattern for the coottage, and you just need to make it up as you go along, choosing the colours that you feel look right, and deciding what kind of garden you would like is as easy as choosing what the grass would look like, and whether you would like a garden on a hill, or on a flat!

I only have a tiny portion of my rose fabric left, so Im excited to be using the last pieces in my quilt. This type of patchworking, where you use what you have, is a great way of using up all of those really small scraps, and it has been a great way for me to try out my new rotary cutter!

This piece of kit has seriously changed the way I make my textile work, there is no better way to cut precice pieces for patch working, and it really is fantastic when the patches line up precisely. my new 'Material Obsession' book has a wealth of patchworking ideas, and I will be trying my hand at some of the more complex blocks during the week.

Ok, I need more coffee! today is a work day!

New books

Winter is fast approaching, although the weather remains quite unusual, and it's putting me in the mood for making the house warm and cosey! Over the weekend, whislt feeling sorry for myself because I was ill, I remade all of my cushin covers in the living room (im one of those people who cannot relax when im ill), so they are now made fom lovely soft jersy fabrics and recycled wool jumpers! I have washed my most favourite patchwork blanket so it all puffed up and snuggly! I thought it wqas about time I had some new inspiration, so I have treated myself to some new books just to kick me back into the making!

Material obsession is one that I have been admiring from affar for a while, and it has lived up to my expectations, as it has some really beautiful quitlts in suitable for all. nad there are some really gorgeous patchwork pieces that truth be told, could be wall art!

I have also been feeling rather broody of late, mostly because Nikkiie is pregnant, so this book I had to have just because it looked so adorable, and there are a few projects which im sure she would love, this one is one of my fav's . . .. 

This really is so cute! and can be made from just odd bits of fabric from your stash. I love making plush toys, but I never have anywhere to store them, well, unless I want our house covered in toys. . . . . I get enough stick as it is for my knitting!

But back onto the sewing . . . . . I want this! we were in Boot's last night buying various things to try and make us feel better, and I saw this sewing basket! who would have thought that Boot's would sell such lovelyness! OK, Im going back to work,

xxx

Blackpool!

Yesterday I went to Blackpool with the new students as part of their induction week. The weather stayed nice, and im glad I took my wellies because the tide came in sooooo quickly that all of the sand castles were swept away with the tide! The downside to spending the day in Blackpool is that my sore head and aching bones have been made worse, and today was a day in bed! I have been feeling under the weather for about a week, and it seems all of the other staff are feeling just as rubbish as I am! However the work must go on!

I have recived some beautiful fabrics in the post of late, and whilst photographing some of my samples I thought I would show you some of the most recent cufflinks that have been flying out of my workshop!

I am also making some cufflinks for women too, and these will be in my new shop in the near furture, as I have had one request too many, so I will have to think about some new, soft shapes just for the ladies, with some beautiful fabrics to boot!

Talking about new fabrics, for my new shop I have given it great though as to how to name them, as 'blue flower pendant' doesn't really inspire me . . . . or anyone else! so, I have been looking at some old fashioned girls names, so that the pieces evoke the kind of nostalgia for the vintage that has inspired me to make them. If you think its a silly idea, I would like to hear from you, it will stop me from making a HUGE mistake!

I have had a delivery of new tools today, which I am looking forward to using in the next day or two, nd just so that you know . . . .  thats not my hand! I have bought and am now the proud owner of a desk top soldering unit, which I am suitably excited about! Im hoping to feel much better by tomorrow so that I can give them all a try, although it does make me feel better that I am not the only one!

wish me well,

xxx

OK . . . . . . i'm sorry . . .

It really has been tooooooo long! Since I last blogged, so much has happened I couldn't possibly condense it all down, but, I did have a fantastic wedding anniversary, we went to Green man festival, and it was my first EVER festival, and it was amazing, we (Jon and I) have been all over the place on days out, visits to family and relaxing and trying to get the house straight for when Jon starts his teacher training. On one of our visits, we went to see Jon's mum in Morcambe, and we decided to have a drive to the pendale whitches site in Lancs, and this is where the picture of the cottage comes in  .  .. . . . . . it's my dream house!

I must have looked like a compleate nutter just taking photo's of it but I had to! We are planning to move in the next year so were on the look out for places we like, and although im sure this beautiful little cottage will never be mine, I can always hope!

On the jewelelry front, my Wedding collection has really taken off, and I have been very busy making cufflinks, necklaces and lots of other jewellery for my August-October brides!

I have been adding lots of new pieces to my shop, and I have studs and a few other pieces to add in the following weeks.

Some of you may have also notcied that I now have a new website, which caters for my Wedding collection, and I will be setting up a seperate shop shortly that will have my personal work in. I have been working on some pieces that have a more mature/vintage feel, using some of the vintage inspired fabrics that I use in my bags. watch this space!

Talking about vintage inspired fabrics, I stayed with my very pregnant (and looking gorgeous may I add) best friend Nikkiie (aka Ditsy Designs) over last weekend, and I was moaning that I couldn't find the 'right' book for the start of term, so, we bought loads of squared paper and then . . . . . I made this!

This is my new book, and I made it using one of Nikkiie's workshop tutorials, and I love it! it's padded on the front and hard at the back, and has just the right paper on the inside.
I think I will leave it at that for the moment, I have some cufflinks that need a making, and a headache that could do with nursing! but I will leave you with this . . . . .since last blogging I have aquired some knitting machines, new sewing tools and gizmos . . . . . . and I will be making time to use them ALL!
xxx