News and events
Scroll down to see what's happening in the world of InStitches . . . .
3rd February 2021
Our new venture
Here at InStitches, we have been working hard since the autumn developing InStitches: at Home - and we think it's needed more now than ever. We love having students in the studio, but we know not everyone can join us, so we've designed these workshops to bring the studio experience direct to you at home.
We have two types of workshop:
Online: these contain pre-recorded videos that you can watch as often as you like and work on at your own pace. They're yours to keep for a year so you have plenty of time to complete them.
Online Live: a chance to work all day with one of our guest tutors from the comfort of your own home via a live Zoom link.
In both, we'll take you step by step through each lesson, showing you what materials you'll need, demonstrating techniques and processes and showing you how to bring them all together, just as if you were here in the studio with us! OK, there won't be any home made biscuits or cake, but we are working on an alternative!
We are opening with one home-grown, Online workshop and two Online Live workshops with our lovely guest tutors, and will be adding more over time, including some free Studio Tips videos.
We are really excited to be introducing InStitches: at Home, and we hope you'll like it too. Read the newsletter for all the details...
Our new venture (mailchi.mp)
or check out our InStitches: at Home pages
We have two types of workshop:
Online: these contain pre-recorded videos that you can watch as often as you like and work on at your own pace. They're yours to keep for a year so you have plenty of time to complete them.
Online Live: a chance to work all day with one of our guest tutors from the comfort of your own home via a live Zoom link.
In both, we'll take you step by step through each lesson, showing you what materials you'll need, demonstrating techniques and processes and showing you how to bring them all together, just as if you were here in the studio with us! OK, there won't be any home made biscuits or cake, but we are working on an alternative!
We are opening with one home-grown, Online workshop and two Online Live workshops with our lovely guest tutors, and will be adding more over time, including some free Studio Tips videos.
We are really excited to be introducing InStitches: at Home, and we hope you'll like it too. Read the newsletter for all the details...
Our new venture (mailchi.mp)
or check out our InStitches: at Home pages
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14th December 2020
Guest tutor workshops for 2021We have loads of fabulous guest tutors coming to visit in 2021 (pandemic permitting!). You can read all the details in our newsletter: Guest tutors in 2021 (mailchi.mp)
or over on the Textile Adventures pages. |
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11th August 2020
We're re-opening in September with new workshops and courses!We're so pleased that we are finally able to re-open, and we've got lots of exciting workshops planned, plus some longer courses (ever-optimistic!)
Read all the details in our two latest newsletters: Reasons to be cheerful [part 1] (mailchi.mp) Reasons to be cheerful part 2 (mailchi.mp) |
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20th March 2020
Launch of #institchescreative2020As a small creative business in uncertain times we thank you all for your understanding and support. We are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our students and guest tutors, whilst ensuring that all of our businesses remain viable for the future. We will need this creative community when all this is over!
Keep your creativity flowing To that end, we have been busy hatching plans to keep you all gainfully employed and help you distract yourselves from the situation for a short time over the coming weeks and months. |
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We set up InStitches because we wanted to share our passion and to inspire as many people as possible to get stitching and creating. We know that for many of you it isn't just 'messing about' with paper, paint, cloth and thread. It's about friendship, community, inner peace, fulfilment, the joy of creating, developing a creative voice and so, so much more. We know, we get it; we are with you on that.
Our gift to you over these next days, weeks and even months to come is a spark of creative joy (but you'll have to supply the cake and the feline/ canine helpers!). Take this moment to stop, slow down and make time to appreciate the smaller pleasures in life.
Read the newsletter for all the details: Creativity can bring us together (mailchi.mp)
Our gift to you over these next days, weeks and even months to come is a spark of creative joy (but you'll have to supply the cake and the feline/ canine helpers!). Take this moment to stop, slow down and make time to appreciate the smaller pleasures in life.
Read the newsletter for all the details: Creativity can bring us together (mailchi.mp)
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10th November 2019
Guest tutor workshops for 2020Read our November newsletter for all the details
Guest tutor workshops for 2020 from InStitches (mailchi.mp) |
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7th November 2019
InStitches' Crafternoon in aid of MindWe will be holding our first Christmas Crafternoon in aid of the mental health charity Mind on Saturday 30th November from 2pm till 4 pm.
Come along to the studio for tea and cake and a fun afternoon with other crafters. For a small donation there'll be a choice of four crafts to have a go at, all of which would make excellent hand-crafted gifts for that personal touch. Find all the details here. If you are local to the studio come and join us ... you are all invited! |
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1st August 2019
Save the date: Wokingham Arts Trail 2019
We are very happy that the studio will be open again for Wokingham Arts Trail weekend in September this year. We will be available to talk about courses and workshops, with our usual hand-dyed goodies for sale, and we will be sharing the studio with ceramicist Ursula Waechter and artists Gemma Cumming , Calina Lefter and Elena Miroiu.
There is a wide variety of artists exhibiting throughout the weekend, some opening their individual studios, and others in group venues. like us, several will be offering refreshments, so why not make a day of it and follow the trail? All the details are on the website. Looking forward to meeting you ...
Wokingham Arts Trail takes place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September and all venues will be open from 10:30am to 5:30pm.
There is a wide variety of artists exhibiting throughout the weekend, some opening their individual studios, and others in group venues. like us, several will be offering refreshments, so why not make a day of it and follow the trail? All the details are on the website. Looking forward to meeting you ...
Wokingham Arts Trail takes place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September and all venues will be open from 10:30am to 5:30pm.
15th July 2019
West Country Quilt and Textile Show 2019
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This one's becoming a regular event! It's a small friendly show, with just the right mix of galleries, shopping and competition quilts (growing numbers each year) and lots of interesting things to see.
After the succes of our gallery at this show last year we'll be back this year with a slightly smaller space at G60. We'll have our pop-up shop with our hand dyed fabric and threads, information about our courses and workshops and demonstrations about finding colour and inspiration for your work throughout the weekend. If you're there, do come and say hello. |
The show runs from Thursday 29th to Saturday 31st August, and is open from 10:00am to 4:30pm daily.
Buy your tickets here.
Buy your tickets here.
14th June 2019
Festival of Quilts 2019
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Again this year we'll be part of Europe's biggest quilt show - The Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham. We'll be on stand QIA15 so if you're planning to visit do come and say 'hello'. We'll have details of our courses and lots of our fabric, threads, felt and handmade books and other lovely things for sale. We will also be teaching five Quick and Easy workshops over the four days, with two new ones one exploring quick ideas to get you started in design and a new hand-embroidered felt brooch. So if you always wanted to have a go at these techniques why not sign up?
The Festival of Quilts runs from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th August 2019, 10am - 5.30pm daily (5pm on Sunday)
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17th April 2019
thread... a festival of textiles 2019
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We are looking forward to being part of thread... a festival of textiles again, at Farnham Maltings in June this year.
With a marketplace of quality exhibitors selling supplies for your own textile projects, artists and makers selling handcrafted work, a programme of talks, participatory sessions, demonstrations and bookable workshops, thread is a packed day out. InStitches will be upstairs in the Barley Room - come and see us! thread runs for one day only on Saturday 8th June, from 9:00am to 5:00pm. More information and buy your tickets here. |
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21st August 2018
West Country Quilt and Textile Show 2018
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We so enjoyed WCQS last year that we've decided to do it again. It's a small friendly show, with just the right mix of galleries, shopping and competition quilts (growing numbers each year) and lots of interesting things to see.
This year we will be on stand G27 which gives us a space large enough for a gallery of our work and for teaching one-hour workshops. If you fancy having a go at easy foundation pincushions, making a silk flower brooch or seeing what you can do with just two stitches why not sign up over on their website, or on the day. We'll also have our pop-up shop with our hand dyed fabric and threads, information about our courses and workshops and printing demonstrations throughout the weekend. If you're there, do come and say hello. |
The show runs from Thursday 30th August to Saturday 1st September, and is open from 10:00am to 4:30pm daily.
Buy your tickets here.
Buy your tickets here.
30th June 2019
1st August 2018
Save the date: Wokingham Arts Trail 2018
We are very happy that the studio will be open again for Wokingham Arts Trail weekend in September this year. We will be available to talk about courses and workshops, with our usual hand-dyed goodies for sale, and we will be sharing the studio with jeweller Machi de Waard, batik artist and oil painter Nina O'Connell and painter David Cotton.
There is a wide variety of artists exhibiting throughout the weekend, some opening their individual studios, and others in group venues. like us, several will be offering refreshments, so why not make a day of it and follow the trail? All the details are on the website. Looking forward to meeting you ...
Wokingham Arts Trail takes place on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd September and all venues will be open from 10:30am to 5:30pm.
There is a wide variety of artists exhibiting throughout the weekend, some opening their individual studios, and others in group venues. like us, several will be offering refreshments, so why not make a day of it and follow the trail? All the details are on the website. Looking forward to meeting you ...
Wokingham Arts Trail takes place on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd September and all venues will be open from 10:30am to 5:30pm.
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9th July 2018
Festival of Quilts 2018Once again we'll be part of Europe's biggest quilt show - The Festival of Quilts at the NEC in BIrmingham. We'll be on stand QIA15 so if you're planning to visit do come and say 'hello'. We'll have details of our courses and lots of our fabric, threads, bookwraps and handmade books and other lovely things for sale. We will also be teaching five Quick and Easy workshops over the four days, with two new ones for the lovely people at Husqvarna - an introduction to FMQ and a beginners stitch'n'flip pincushion, so if you always wanted to have a go at these techniques why not sign up?
The Festival of Quilts runs from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th August 2018, 10am - 5.30pm daily (5pm on Sunday)
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25th May 2018
SAQA Europe and Middle East - Wide Horizons VI
Well the quilts were made (in Terry's case a couple of years ago), the forms and photos submitted, the nails bitten while we waited, and now the jury have selected the entries for SAQA's biennial Wide Horizons VI exhibition, which will start at the European Patchwork Meeting in Ste Marie-aux-Mines in September and travel throughout Europe for two years. 83 quilts from 46 artists were entered, and the jury selected 27 pieces to make up the exhibition. Only eight came from the UK, and we're delighted to announce that two of those came from InStitches' studio. Yes, BOTH of our quilts were selected!
We are telling you more about each of the quilts, their inspiration and how we made them over on the blog today and next week, so do go and read all about them.
We are telling you more about each of the quilts, their inspiration and how we made them over on the blog today and next week, so do go and read all about them.
4th May 2018
thread.... a festival of textiles moves to a new timeslot
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Once again this year InStitches will be part of thread... a festival of textiles at Farnham Maltings, which is moving to its new permanent timeslot in June each year.
With a marketplace of quality exhibitors selling supplies for your own textile projects, artists and makers selling handcrafted work, a programme of talks, participatory sessions, demonstrations and bookable workshops, thread is a packed day out. InStitches will be upstairs in the Barley Room - come and see us! thread runs for one day only on Saturday 30th June, from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Buy your tickets here. |
18th September 2017
thread: a festival of textiles
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Held at Farnham Maltings, thread is an opportunity to join with other textile enthusiasts for a sociable & inspiring day out. Learn from the experts, try new techniques & enjoy a programme of workshops for all & a series of talks, exhibitions and demonstrations from professionals.
InStitches will be part of the marketplace for artisan fabrics and haberdashery and unique handcrafted work from artists and makers. We'll be upstairs in the Barley Room - come and see us! thread runs for one day only on Saturday 30th September, from 9:00am to 6:00pm. |
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27th August 2017
Wokingham Arts Trail
We are very pleased to be able to tell you that the studio will be open for Wokingham Arts Trail weekend this year. We will both be exhibiting our individual work, and we will be sharing the studio with jeweller Dana Kidson and ceramicist Suzanne Needham.
There is a wide variety of artists exhibiting throughout the weekend, some opening their individual studios, and others in group venues. like us, several will be offering refreshments, so why not make a day of it and follow the trail? All the details are on the 2017 leaflet and here, and the map will show you where we all are. Looking forward to meeting you ...
Wokingham Arts Trail takes place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th September and all venues will be open from 10:30am to 5:30pm.
There is a wide variety of artists exhibiting throughout the weekend, some opening their individual studios, and others in group venues. like us, several will be offering refreshments, so why not make a day of it and follow the trail? All the details are on the 2017 leaflet and here, and the map will show you where we all are. Looking forward to meeting you ...
Wokingham Arts Trail takes place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th September and all venues will be open from 10:30am to 5:30pm.
26th August 2017
InStitches at The West Country Quilt and Textile Show
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With less than a week to go, preparations are in full swing for the West Country Quilt and Textile Show in Bristol. A new event for us, the show promises fabulous galleries and competition quilts, and of course, plenty of retail therapy. It is held at the West of England Exhibition Centre, at UWE, north of Bristol with free parking at the venue and a free shuttle bus to and from Parkway station.
We will be on stand G81 with our hand dyed fabric and threads, information about our courses and workshops and printing demonstrations throughout the weekend. If you're there, do come and say hello. |
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The show is on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 1st, 2nd & 3rd September, and is open from 10:00am to 4:30pm daily.
Buy your tickets here.
Buy your tickets here.
22nd June 2017
Festival of Quilts ticket winners announced!
We've drawn the winners for our Festival of Quilts tickets.
Congratulations to Linda, Tess, Sandra, Sarah, Paula, Diana and Liz - hope you all have a great time!
Congratulations to Linda, Tess, Sandra, Sarah, Paula, Diana and Liz - hope you all have a great time!
1st June 2017
InStitches at the Festival of Quilts 2017
The Festival of Quilts is the biggest celebration of patchwork and quilting in Europe. See over 700 competition quilts on display, shop from more than 300 exhibitors selling essential supplies or choose from over 180 workshops or talks. There will also be extraordinary galleries from some of the best known international artists and groups and Quilting in Action stands where you can meet well known quilters and textile artists. Whether you’re a traditional quilter or you prefer art quilts, you’ll find all the inspiration, products and experts you’re looking for at The Festival of Quilts.
This year we will be on stand QIA15 (in 'the tunnel' between the halls), with details of our courses and lots of our fabric, threads, bookwraps and handmade books and other lovely things for sale. Again we will be teaching eight Quick and Easy workshops over the four days. If you're there be sure to come and say 'hello'.
Buy your tickets ...
This year we have been given a special discount code by the Festival of Quilts organisers, Upper Street Events. With this code you will get a special discount on tickets bought in advance of the show. Instead of paying £15 for an advance adult ticket, you will pay just £12.50*.
To book tickets simply follow the link to the website www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk and enter code WS27 or call 0844 581 1289 and quote code WS27 when prompted.
*Please note there is a £1.50 fulfilment fee per transaction.
To book tickets simply follow the link to the website www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk and enter code WS27 or call 0844 581 1289 and quote code WS27 when prompted.
*Please note there is a £1.50 fulfilment fee per transaction.
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The Festival of Quilts runs from Thursday 10th to Sunday 13th August 2017, 10am - 5.30pm daily (5pm on Sunday)
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2nd January 2017
Quilters' Fair at Farnham Maltings
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This event runs for one day only - this year on Sunday 15th January 2017 - and is a great opportunity to stock up on fabric, thread and other essential supplies at bargain prices. There is the added bonus of exhibitions and demos from several local quilt groups and other textile artists.
InStitches will be upstairs in the Tindle Studio, so do drop by for a chat about the courses and workshops we have planned for the year. Get your tickets here. |
September 2016
Knitting and Stitching Show at Ally Pally
Hazel will be demonstrating Modern Miniature quiltmaking in the Crafters in Action area at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace this year. She'll be there on Thursday morning (6th October) representing the Quilters' Guild on stand number 5.
The shows’ professional-curated Textile Galleries offer first-class exhibitions by some of the world’s leading contemporary textile artists, graduates and groups including Alice Kettle and Manchester School of Art, Alice Fox, Anthea Walsh, Hillu Liebelt, Cos Ahmet, Debbie Lyddon, Dionne Swift, Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn, Hilary Beattie, Anne Kelly, Sue Stone, Gail Baxter and Carol Quarini, Bethany Walker and Ruth Singer and Alysn Midgelow-Marsden. There are group exhibitions by un.FOLD, the Royal School of Needlework and Embroiderers' Guild, and a gallery of winning quilts from The Festival of Quilts
The show runs from Wednesday 5th to Sunday 9th October, and there is still time to book tickets on this link.
The shows’ professional-curated Textile Galleries offer first-class exhibitions by some of the world’s leading contemporary textile artists, graduates and groups including Alice Kettle and Manchester School of Art, Alice Fox, Anthea Walsh, Hillu Liebelt, Cos Ahmet, Debbie Lyddon, Dionne Swift, Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn, Hilary Beattie, Anne Kelly, Sue Stone, Gail Baxter and Carol Quarini, Bethany Walker and Ruth Singer and Alysn Midgelow-Marsden. There are group exhibitions by un.FOLD, the Royal School of Needlework and Embroiderers' Guild, and a gallery of winning quilts from The Festival of Quilts
The show runs from Wednesday 5th to Sunday 9th October, and there is still time to book tickets on this link.
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Festival of Quilts ticket winners announced!
The draw has been made, and tickets will soon be winging their way to Sue, Sarah, Gill and Gilly. Thank you to everyone who entered - a record number this year!
InStitches at the Festival of Quilts 2016
The Festival of Quilts is the biggest celebration of patchwork and quilting in Europe. See over 800 quilts on display, shop from more than 300 exhibitors selling essential supplies or choose from over 180 workshops or talks. There will also be extraordinary galleries from some of the best known international artists and groups and Quilting in Action stands where you can meet well known quilters and textile artists. Whether you’re a traditional quilter or you prefer art quilts, you’ll find all the inspiration, products and experts you’re looking for at The Festival of Quilts.
This year we will be back on Quilting in Action stand QIA14. Again we will have details of our courses and lots of our fabric, threads, bookwraps and handmade books and other lovely things for sale.
And we will also be running workshops there too: the brooches and pincushions will feature in the Quick and Easy workshops - just click on the link to book online.
We look forward to seeing you at the NEC!
And we will also be running workshops there too: the brooches and pincushions will feature in the Quick and Easy workshops - just click on the link to book online.
We look forward to seeing you at the NEC!
Keep on Sewing residential weekend retreat
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InStitches will be running not one, but two Free Motion Quilting workshops at Pam Neave's Keep on Sewing retreat in the Lickey Hills near Birmingham from Friday 14th to Sunday 17th April. With freshly cooked local produce and the opportunity for therapy treatments this sounds like the perfect 'me' time.
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Beginners and those wishing to have a relaxing weekend just sewing can choose our Basics FMQ workshop.
Those with some previous experience of FMQ can opt for our Beyond the Basics workshop, and work through a series of exercises to see the different effects FMQ can create (as a series of journal type quilts) before starting on a larger piece of work such as a wall hanging (which can be finished after the course).
If you are tempted you can download all the details and Pam's contact number for bookings here_ (pdf file 82KB).
Those with some previous experience of FMQ can opt for our Beyond the Basics workshop, and work through a series of exercises to see the different effects FMQ can create (as a series of journal type quilts) before starting on a larger piece of work such as a wall hanging (which can be finished after the course).
If you are tempted you can download all the details and Pam's contact number for bookings here_ (pdf file 82KB).
Quilters' January Sale at Farnham Maltings
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This event runs for one day only - this year on Sunday 17th January 2016 - and is a great opportunity to stock up on fabric, thread and other essential supplies at bargain prices. There is the added bonus of exhibitions and demos from several local quilt groups and other textile artists.
InStitches will be upstairs in the Tindle Studio, so do drop by for a chat about the courses and workshops we have planned for the year. Get your tickets here. |
InStitches at Thread, a festival of textiles
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For the third year we will be at Farnham Maltings for their annual Thread... And we have tickets to give away.
This year it is on Friday 25th (12noon to 6pm) and Saturday 26th September (10am to 5pm) so why not come and join us? Our stand will be in the main hall and we will have a range of hand-dyed fabric, threads and kits for sale. |
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InStitches at The Festival of Quilts
The Festival of Quilts is the biggest celebration of patchwork and quilting in Europe. See over 1000 quilts on display, shop from more than 250 exhibitors or take a workshop or lecture. Whether you’re a traditional quilter or you prefer art quilts, you’ll find all the inspiration, products and experts you’re looking for at The Festival of Quilts.
For the first time this year we will be there on Quilting in Action stand QIA14! Again we will have details of our courses and lots of our fabric, threads, bookwraps and handmade books and other lovely things for sale.
And we will also be running workshops there too: the brooches and pincushions will feature in the Quick and Easy workshops - just click on the link to book online. And Hazel has developed a half-day Quilt Academy workshop to make a silk scarf using The Silk Route's fabulous sari-silk bundles - if you fancy giving this a try look here for details (scroll to code 304).
We look forward to seeing you at the NEC!
And we will also be running workshops there too: the brooches and pincushions will feature in the Quick and Easy workshops - just click on the link to book online. And Hazel has developed a half-day Quilt Academy workshop to make a silk scarf using The Silk Route's fabulous sari-silk bundles - if you fancy giving this a try look here for details (scroll to code 304).
We look forward to seeing you at the NEC!
Get your tickets . . .
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The Festival of Quilts runs from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th August 2015, 10am - 5.30pm daily (5pm on Sunday)
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National Quilt Championships
InStitches will be running two workshops every day at The National Quilt Championships at Sandown Park in Esher this June, so do come and visit us. We will have details of our courses and also some of our fabric, threads and other nice things for sale.
Sandown is our local show so we're looking forward to meeting lots of lovely people: there will be spectacular displays of hundreds of competitive quilts from all over the world, patchwork and quilting suppliers stands and quilting experts and personalities on hand to “show you how”. Excellent facilities, restaurants, disabled facilities, free parking - there's no excuse not to be there!
And there will be workshops ...
we are teaching two workshops every day - funky little foundation-pieced log cabin pincushions - the very ones featured in our new logo! - and pretty sari silk brooches. All the workshops can be booked on a first come first served basis on the day of the show.
Sandown is our local show so we're looking forward to meeting lots of lovely people: there will be spectacular displays of hundreds of competitive quilts from all over the world, patchwork and quilting suppliers stands and quilting experts and personalities on hand to “show you how”. Excellent facilities, restaurants, disabled facilities, free parking - there's no excuse not to be there!
And there will be workshops ...
we are teaching two workshops every day - funky little foundation-pieced log cabin pincushions - the very ones featured in our new logo! - and pretty sari silk brooches. All the workshops can be booked on a first come first served basis on the day of the show.
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The show runs from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st June 2015 10am - 4 .30pm (4pm on Sunday).
