Oakshot Blog
Just a quick catch-up with our friend Catherine at Knotted Cotton; she used Oakshott purples as a reflection of her love of flowers. Have look at her full story on:
I used shot cotton for the flowers, because it has a lovely sheen and catches the light beautifully although it is difficult to capture the full glory of it in a photograph. The different colours in the warp and weft make it far less ‘flat’ than a standard coloured fabric.
How many of us have admired the beautiful appliqué work of fantastic designer Deborah Kemball and lusted after emulating her?
We are delighted to say that Quilter’s Guild member Janice Lawson has done just that, and what a bouquet.
She has sent us a couple of photos of Floral Impressions cushions she has finished and said that she has also worked on a Floral Impressions quilt top, so we look forward to seeing that when it has been quilted.
The Kemball appliqué bug has obviously bitten since Janice contacted us about ordering specific Fat 8ths of 19 colours so that she can make a Midnight Garden quilt (quick peek of Deborah’s original if you click here!). We can’t wait to see the results.
PS As a Guild member Janice is taking advantage of the 10% discount Oakshott Fabrics offer as part of the Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles Retailer Scheme.
Stop seven on the Lipari bloghop belongs to Elisabeth Vaughan of Shark’s Dinner who created her own design using paper piecing and appliqué and has come up with a wallhanging rather than a quilt.
The Oakshotts look different in different lights, they are absolutely fascinating. I’ve hung my ‘Heaven and Earth’ wallhanging over my bed and I love how it goes from very dark to shimmering like a jewel depending on the time of day.
Elisabeth’s design is ideal for re-sizing to suit your needs and you can download the persimmon templates from her blog, which also gives you all the instructions you’ll need to create your own moment of heaven.
She chose Lipari Marina as her backing fabric:
but no batting and no quilting. I was worried that it would make the wallhanging too rigid and then it wouldn’t shimmer in the light as much.
Deborah Kemball (one of our favourite designers, based in Canada) has been beautifully inspired by the new Scandinavia collection and brought her fantastic contemporary appliqué skills to bear on a pair of perfect pillows.
I find that I have moved away from red backgrounds into greys these days. Soft warm dove greys and rich charcoals make such scrumptious backgrounds to highlight the colours of the design.… to say [Scandinavia] hit my chartreuse need bang on the head would be an understatement. Oh what lovely clean, pristine colours. The collection also includes the most perfect off white. I find white one of the problem colours in my work and rarely find the right white. Whites tend to be too blue, too white or too cream. This one is perfect. Gorgeous greys, soft pastels so clean and clear.
Sit back and relax:
… and last but not least for this bloghop:
“I asked them to chose the background colour for me and received purple so I decided to use a design that I have been toying with for a while based on a 6-patch trip around the world block. It reminds me of a tiled floor with a folk art feel about it.”
Quilt Jane from Brisbane, Australia, has drawn some really appreciative comments on her blog for this masterpiece of brilliant colour. Love the Electra fabric as background for the Colourshott 10 inch squares (and the use of a charm pack for the flower appliqué pieces).
Very clear tutorial with templates for the appliqué and block assembly, thanks Jane. We’ll leave her with the last word (applicable to all these gorgeous creations):
“label and give it to someone you love”
I had never sewn with Oakshott previously and I also wanted to try bias tape for appliqué so I incorporated both in this project. I learned Oakshott is wonderful!
Mary on Lake Pulaski has devised a clear tutorial on appliqué. She chose Amalfi as her background for the Colourshott 10 inch squares.
Those colourful Crazy Eights make us think of spinning maple seeds.
Just a catch-up in case you missed this on our Facebook page. The wonderful Deborah Kemball’s long arm quilted Autumn Wreath, for which we say thank you for using Oakshott (and hope your eye mends well and swiftly).
Deborah Kemball has kindly sent us some photos of her mouthwatering appliqué Chilli Pepper Wreath in two colour ways using Italy on the chair cushions and new Colourshotts for the other.
For more mouthwateringly beautiful appliqué flowers do go to Deborah’s site and see what you can resist!
