Starting my own floral fancy

As I said in my This January post I impulsively booked onto a workshop, and then wondered if I had the enough of the right skills and the right sewing stuff to do the ‘floral fancy’ panel justice (spoiler: I did) The workshop was run by Region 10 of the Quilter’s Guild of the British Isles (QGBI), and was taking place in a village about 15 minutes away from me - even better, I knew where the village was!

I needn’t have worried though as while there was quite a long list of stuff needed - some of which I didn’t have and so Amazon was my friend - I was told not to worry about the long list of stuff, but of course I did. The workshop itself was a fabulously creative, inspiring and friendly day, and I was so glad I went. I couldn’t decide between the two panels offered at the workshop, and opted to buy a kit for the material, so that was one less thing to worry about, though to be fair, I probably I could have sourced that from my craft room relatively easily. In the end there was only a kit left for the floral wreath, so the choice was made for me.

I did laugh though as when my Amazon parcel arrived MOH couldn’t help but wonder how I had a whole room of stuff and how I needed more, but as I said to him it wasn’t the right kind of stuff. Well, mostly anyway.

A stitch and flip background

The morning session consisted of assembling the background of the panel using a stitch and flip method, but before any sewing could be done I needed to cut and layout the background in a radial design, with the darker fabrics in the centre. This challenged me more than it should trying to get the different length fabrics (there’s three different lengths) from the fabric I had. Thankfully there were also some spares so I dipped into those, as I think did everyone else.

Despite trying to keep to the same layout, it seems that as I stitched and flipped at one point I must have flipped, stitched and flipped so one of my rows turned around. Of course I only noticed when I was way past sewing that strip, and so it stays. And to be honest this is the background so it’s not the focal point of my piece. So if anyone asks, you didn’t notice it.

After lunch the real creativity started

Having completed my background piece before lunch I had the whole afternoon for the most interesting part of the workshop, and that was the floral fancy. My floral fancy was the wreath version, though others were also making a vase of tulips (which was also gorgeous).

As we know all good wreaths start with greenery, and so did mine. I had several greens in my kit of material and so chose a selection of those and headed over to the Sizzix machines, which I’d not heard of before. Though I soon realised they were a die cutting machine for fabric, and worked very similar to my paper cutting die machine.

I choose two leaf dies and cut the designs randomly from my selection of greens, working on the theory that leaves aren’t all the same shape or colour, and the contrast of both would enhance my wreath.

And then I arranged them on a pencil circle line I’d drawn on my background, and rearranged, and faffed about with them some more until I was happy. Without my own fabric die cutting machine it was important to me to get all the cutting out done on the day, and that became my mission.

I cut five simple five petalled flowers from the fabrics that most appealed to me, and then realised they’d look better layered with the same shape offset in a complementing/contrasting fabric.

So back to my kit and I finally settled on the combination above - remembering to take a snap so I didn’t forget my choices!

After I’d added the flowers I realised they needed a middle, so I was back cutting various circles I could use from the offcuts, and then working out where they worked best.

It was good, but I thought it needed more flowers - and probably fatter flowers. So back I went to the die cutting machines again, though this time just taking three fabrics with me, reusing the bright pink material of the flower that’s at about 10pm in the photo above and below.

The fatter flowers also needed middles - and all of the middles for these were also cut from offcuts. Needless to say I spent a fair amount of time using those die cutting machines - and got everything I wanted cut out on the day. Though since the workshop I’ve decided I definitely need a Sizzix in my craft room - so I’ve been sussing them out online, and I’m planning to order one from Hobbycraft this week taking advantage of an online offer, and vouchers I seem to have accrued.

Finishing it off

With my design finalised and home safely (phew), this has definitely gone on my craft to do list to get finished. It won’t be a small job though as first I’ll need to dismantle it - I’ve already printed out a picture - and peel the bondaweb backing off each piece before ironing and stitching it into place. And that probably needs to be done in layers so the stitching builds up as you’d expect.

But I can’t wait (sort of). I’m keen to get going, but also keen not to mess it up! Though given that I wasn’t sure if I had the skills to get this far, I’m pretty certain I’ll be fine I just need to get on with it.

It was a great workshop and I left feeling really pleased I’d gone along as well as feeling like I’d really achieved something. It was also a really friendly and welcoming space so that helped too.

I also brought all the offcuts home as my plan is to make this into something bigger - I know running before I can walk again, but I’m aiming high, though I’m not sure just how high yet. I don’t want this panel to be a cushion cover, or a bag and I want it to live outside my craft room, so I’m thinking it would work as the central panel in a quilt for our spare room with more panels that complement it, but aren’t the same - that’s the bit that’s mulling over in my mind, and I think will continue to percolate for a while yet.

And anyway, I’ve plenty of other projects in mind before that - but keep an eye out on the progress I make with this one. This isn’t a project that’s going to sit in the cupboard I’m pretty sure of that.

Creating more space in my craft room

A chance conversation with MOH started this. I partly joking said that I needed more space in my craft room as even with two desks I didn’t seem to have enough surface area - I know. He quickly surveyed the situation and the mess (or as I call them organised piles of projects) and pointed out that if I didn’t have the large storage chest then I could fit in another desk.

Clearly losing the large storage chest (which was our laundry basket in our previous house) wasn’t an option, and also clearly he had no idea of the amount of junk, or as I prefer to call them useful things and future projects, that it held.

No way was that happening José!

But it did start me thinking…

And measuring…

And I realised that I could do both, and relatively simply too. I worked out that I could still access the large storage chest, and have a desk above it.

A plan started to develop

When I bought my two sets of Bisley drawers I’d bought one with a plinth and one without. The plinth raises the drawers to a standard desk height, and my thinking was that if I needed another plinth in the future then I could buy one then. So I did.

At that time I also bought a set of four hairpin legs when to create a space to craft, and the plan was originally to sell the extra legs on - but thankfully that hadn’t happened and they were still in the box, still in their bubble wrap and in our spare bedroom. Phew - as they were about to be brought into action.

So by adding a plinth and using the legs I already had, all I needed was the desk top, and one that could be cut to size. I bought this from the same company as before but this time a larger length of marine ply was ordered. This wasn’t cheap - but all wood prices seem to have sky rocketed, just like everything else..

When it arrived MOH noticed it had taken a bit of a bash on one corner, and while the company offered to send a replacement I was keen to get my room sorted out and didn’t want to wait any longer. And what would I do with a spare desk top? Plus I’d worked out that I could put the bashed corner on the underside at the back and then it wouldn’t really show anyway. So I agreed a part-refund with the company, and MOH was in business.

I was hoping to get away without moving the large storage chest - but I wasn’t sure if I’d be lucky or not. Just in case though I decided to rearrange it, as don’t tell anyone but I’m not sure even I knew what exactly was in there. And as you do, I found some right treasures once I started sorting through it.

It’s now much better organised - the fabric is in storage baskets that I can lift in and out easily - and I mostly know where things are, which will make retrieving things much easier too. I also thought it prudent to do this before the desk top was in place as sorting through these things is never a quick job is it?!

I also took the opportunity to switch around my existing two desks to make better use of the space. So my sewing area is now closest to the window, and my overlocker machine is happy to sit in the far corner of the desk which keeps it out of the way, but close enough for it to be handy too.

I was lucky, as I hoped I would be, and the large storage chest didn’t need moving with the new desk slotting in around it. I’m putting that down to a lot of luck, as well as precise measuring! It wouldn’t have been a deal breaker if I needed to move it as I had some space at the far end of the run of desks, but if I didn’t have to move it then that would be a result.

This arrangement also gives me space on top of the large chest for my current projects, and the room looks so much larger - and I’ve even got all my junk, or tools as I prefer to call them, on the extended space too. And I checked with the desk top in place I can still get things into and out of the large storage chest - though I did knock my head the first time I tried it, but I’ll learn!

The final metre

I haven’t yet decided on the exact location for the brass 1 metre/1 yard rule as I’m working out if it will get in the way where it is or not. I think not, but I’m going to leave it unsecured for a little while to make sure it doesn’t.

I’ve also added my paper tray in the corner at the near end (which also covers the small dented end), which now acts as a handy place to stow my mini iron. One of the things I was really keen to add was a counter top extension lead - so there’s no more scrabbling under the desk for me to plug in my iron (though on the plus side at least I always knew I’d turned it off!).

As it worked out there’s also a gap between the first set of drawers and the large storage chest which is ideal for both my craft mats and the wool ironing pad - it’s almost like it was planned. And at the other end of the large storage chest, nestled between the hairpin legs (but not on show) is space for the shredder, which previously didn’t really have a useful home.

The only small issue I had by moving my sewing machine was that I kept backing into the small white round table - and that was almost looking for a new home, but in the end I moved my peacock easy chair enough of a smidgeon to stop that happening, so thankfully the table had a reprieve!

Needless to say I’m loving this small tweak and it’s getting plenty of use - and that means it isn’t always as neat as it once was - hence the black and white photo!

On my wavelength

* I was invited to the press preview of Gardeners’ World Live and provided with a pair of tickets to visit the show, therefore all my posts will be marked as 'Ad’ though as usual my views and opinions are very much my own.

This beautiful border designed by Kim O’Brien certainly lives up to its name, but there’s a lot more to it than you might think. The inland beach-inspired border is designed around a mathematical sine wave, representing waves of water and brainwaves.

The planting, with its predominantly blue theme, represents the water but also the abundant and varied life found within water. I’m a big fan of sea holly, and so I wasn’t surprised when looking through my photos of this border to see them dominated by this beautifully structural plant. I really must make sure I find a space for these in my ‘still in thought not yet in planning’ garden!

But it was also the wooden backdrop that caught my eye in this garden. It combines thought with mental health challenges - you can see the text on some of the colourful wooden slices, which are chained together to form a curtain - and this ‘links a vibrant community forming a network created by individual experiences’.

And it’s a stunning backdrop to this beautiful border, isn’t it?

I’d also have been more than happy to take a break in those deckchairs, but I didn’t. Mainly because there was still so much more to see, and I really didn’t think it would be appreciated! But also because I’d spotted some succulents growing on horizontal tree trunks…

That really is very clever, and that is something that is achievable in even the smallest of gardens. I always leave Gardeners’ World with so much inspiration, that my brain is overloaded and it’s only later on as I go through my photos that I remember, and then become inspired all over again!

* With thanks to Gardeners’ World for inviting me to Gardeners’ World Live, it was just as good as I expected! I’ll be sharing more from my visit to the show - I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.