Goodbye blogger

I have been busy on the computer this week and I now have my new blog ready! So I shall actually quite sadly say goodbye to this page - but new layout will offer more information about the workshops I do and will be a space to share ideas around craft and community. I would really like it to be a platform for others who are making patchwork and quilts - so please do keep sending me your projects. There is also a section for this on my new website (which I am still working on) - I really have been a computer geek this week!

So here is the link for the new home of Circles. I am still getting to grips with the new template. I know you can follow the page with RSS feed, but I hope to add in more options as time goes on - so I hope not to loose any 'bloggers'! You can always drop me a line here and I'll check back to see if anyone is having troubles.

I wanted to leave with a celebratory image - and I was very happy when I found this story...
In 1980 Joan Vesper and Pam Plumridge became interested in Patchwork after visiting the Irish Patchwork Exhibition 1800-1900. They couldn't find a local quilt group through the guild so they formed their own. They put a notice in a local School to see if anybody was interested and as a result nine prospective members were invited to meet at Joan's house to discuss how to get started.

By the second meeting the numbers had grown to twenty one, this became thirty two and meant a move to Pam's house where she had a larger room. The group now makes one quilt a year and more for charity.

I hope the quilt group I started may grow to the same strength!

Pottering Locally

Hello! I am still here! It has been a busy start to the year with many proposals and lots of lovely workshops, so I'm afraid I just kept running out of steam when it came to blogging... Things will still be a little quiet whilst I create my new website! There may be some calls for images and stories again, as my new site will have a section just for all you and your patchwork projects!... Watch this space...

But for now I just wanted to leave you with my most recent joy - the local village hall where I have started a monthly quilt group.(Images above) Here people are coming together to share their larger quilt projects, swap ideas and get some technical support when needed. Each month I write a page with a patchwork or quilt story and after the 12 sessions we will do a workshop in making a hand sewn book. With space for notes in the book, you can record your thoughts and ideas as you make, very much like Muriel Rose did as she peeped over the washing lines of houses in Wales and Durham during the 1930's, to record and find the best quilters to bring to London and exhibit in The Little Gallery.

There will be more to come on Muriel Rose and many of the artists she worked with in my new site...

A little festive post before I hibernate a little over the Christmas period. These images are from my recent workshop at the Crafts Council for their Christmas 'craftanoon'.
I told the story of Odette's patchwork that I responded to for the Hothouse exhibition - the found papers inside the patchwork and the tale they told of the maker. I invited the Crafts Council to leave their own message inside their patchwork decoration. There were thoughts left from the day and memories of learning patchwork at school and Auntie making a patchwork from old clothes to make a quilt for to keep cosy at University.
The textile tokens are hanging in the Crafts Council Library for the festive period and the workshop has inspired some to begin their own patchwork quilt projects.
A lovely end to the year....
Warm wishes and Merry Christmas to all.

And the winner is...

Yvonne made this patchwork quilt sample at Vintage Goodwood - we enjoyed some conversation on historical quilts and community making. Thanks Yvonne

Stephanie also came recently to the Fashion and Textile Museum workshop... It is lovely to be see how from the same guidelines people end up with very individual samples. (See in a previous post Eve's very geometric patterns, whereas Stephanie has layered a mix of prints with sewn patterns.) Stephanie is learning upholstery and soft furnishings as well at the moment and consequently is building a lovely catalog of all her learnt hand stitches. I reminded her how to do one of my favourite embroidery stitches - french knots - which look great over the floral print.

Here is Malika's quilt, she has been slowly piecing the hexagons together for her Sister, since January this year. I met Malika during my workshop in Brixton Market, for bricolage's pop up project. During that workshop she swapped fabrics with Sarah, sitting next to her. (See Sarah's lovely horse print fabric in the patchwork flower. Image above.)
Malika also came to another session at my studio in Dalston where she brought fabrics from the local market. She found fabrics that reflected the characters of the lucky receivers, with a tiny aeroplane print, and a football print.
What a beautiful family heirloom this quilt is destined to become...

The Patchwork Prize images are coming in - please do keep sending in your photos during this last week - I shall post the randomly selected winner on Saturday.
Eve sent in her patchwork quilt sample made during the Sue Timney workshop. Her patchwork uses bold geometric fabrics, inspired by the Timney and Fowler strong aesthetic for black and white, graphic prints. I love the blue quilting stitches - thank you Eve!

A Little festive fun - For those of you who have attended one of my workshops and have continued a project in your own time - please send me photos of your patchwork quilt projects (finished or work in progress) for the chance to win a set of patchwork lavender pillows, made by my own fair hands.

If any of you have suffered from the moths as much as I have this year - this gift will save you a lot of heart ache - and darning wool!

Images and the stories of the projects will be posted on my blog and facebook page, so please follow these pages for updates. The winner will be selected at random, and will be announced on the 17th December.

Your gift will be packaged and sent to you straight away, in time for Christmas, so please send me your address when you submit your images. Please only send up to 3 images at 72 dpi so I can open them easily in an email. Please title email subject, Patchwork Prize!

Send images with accompanying stories to info@katherinemay.com

I look forward to seeing the projects!

These are some images from my personal experiments, made in response to the Sue Timnely exhibition. I gave two popular workshops on Saturday at the Fashion and Textile Museum, with the theme of 'graphic geometrics in patchwork'. The workshops were inspired by Sue Timney's collection of fabrics currently displayed at the FTM.

I have also drawn on my reflections since visiting Louise Bourgeois: Fabric Works, exhibition. This personal collection textile thoughts, have made me consider my own relationship with joining fabric fragments and hand sewing.
I shall be posting some of these reflections over the next few weeks.

A day of patchwork quilting in the garden. Although a chilly Autumn day the workshop was full and working outside in the the barn had a unique charm. Once the patches and the paper pieces were weighted down from the breeze, it was a pleasure to enjoy some hand sewing with hot tea, in the fresh air.

As the project and building is evolving, there are plans to do continuing patchwork sessions to make curtains that will hang between the structures as insulation. A set template for the patches will be circulated and drop in sessions in the garden will be hosted for people to contribute their patch.

Whilst absorbing the sounds of Dalston, I just felt so inspired to be in a community built space, that has created a beautiful and engaging environment. It is a great example of how active collaboration can be successful and creative.

The patchwork 'For Odette' was exhibited at the end of maker development programme I was selected for.
The exhibition displayed 10 of the best emerging makers in the South East.

I think like Odette's patchwork, this piece is not yet finished and I plan for it continue growing.