Happy New Year

A Happy New Year to everyone. May 2012 bring you peace, happiness and prosperity! I'm really looking forward to it. Lots of good resolutions like finishing all my UFO's and being more organised! :-) And I will try and keep the blog up to date!

Dyeing Silk Ribbon

I have had a lovely day dyeing 450 metres of silk ribbon. Varying sizes of ribbon from 2mm to 7mm and all done in 20 metre skeins. That was the worst part skeining up the ribbon and tying it so that it wouldn't come adrift during the dyeing process. I haven't dyeing ribbon for some time now so I had to remind myself how to do it but it was like riding a bike. One doesn't forget! I used acid dyes and the microwave; first soaking the ribbon in vinegar and water. It was great fun and I'm looking forward to the next ribbon dyeing session. What wasn't fun was the unwinding, ironing, cutting into lengths for sale and putting said lengths onto cards. It was very tedious and long winded! But it does look lovely!

Silk Ribbon

I've just had a delivery of 1350 metres of silk ribbon! So at least I will have plenty to keep me occupied over the Christmas break. Because I have been asked to do some classes on silk ribbon embroidery we have decided to add hand-dyed silk ribbon to the website. I love dyeing silk ribbon as it looks so gorgeous when it is done and it is wonderful for embroidering flowers. Go here to see some examples. I shall do plain  and multi-coloured ribbons. I am not sure whether to sell in 3 metre lenghts or 5 metre lengths. Which would be the most useful? I'm doing two widths - 4mm and 7mm, as these I think are the most often used. If you have any ideas on this do leave me a comment. It will be gratefully received!

One more day and I will officially be on holiday! I have eleven days off this year and don't go back to my part-time day job until the New Year. I have great plans for getting a lot done, including the silk ribbon dyeing, but often I find life gets in the way and not nearly as much is achieved as one wants! I really do need to have a blitz on the workroom as it is getting almost impossible to find a clear place to work on! I do this periodically though not as often as I should and I am always amazed at what I find! This makes the whole exercise more than worthwhile. However when everything is tidied and organised I then forget where things are so we are back to square one! Its a vicious circle! I think some serious New Year resolutions are called for here!

Blog Hop Winners!

 In reverse order!

Third name out of the hat is:

Linda at   firecracker@hfx.eastlink.ca

Linda please email me and let me know what colour of fabric you would like.
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Second name out of the hat is:

J Fortune at  j.fortune@open.ac.uk

Joyce please email me and let me know what colour of fabric you would like.
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First name out of the hat is:

Connie's Quilts at   connysquilts@live.nl


Connie please let me know which colour you would like for the crazy quilt pack......elegance or roses
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Can you all let me have an address to send to. Thank you! Can't guarantee things will arrive before Christmas!!
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My email is valeri@farnedesigns.co.uk    Congratulations to you all and thank you to everyone who came and had a look at the blog and took part!

The Blog Hop!

Wow! I'm amazed at how many folk have looked at the blog so far and so many good comments in answer to the questions. I think I'll make it a 1st, 2nd and 3rd draw!  Another couple of FQ's for the drawing!  

There are some amazing blogs out there! I've had so much fun looking myself! 

Keep the comments coming! 

 

This should be lots of fun!

The Blog Hop starts from December 10th until December 17th!




Well this is something different but I thought I'd try it out! I'm giving away one of our Crazy Patchwork packs(winner to choose from the two examples shown) and also 2FQ's of our hand-dyed fabric! The fabric pieces are examples and again the winner may choose the basic colour that she or he would like!

To enter the give-away:Leave a comment answering the following questions:   What’s the one thing you now know that you wish you knew when you first started quilting? What do you look for when buying kits for quilting?  Winner will be randomly chosen on December 17th. 

Click on the panel at the top to visit all the participating blogs. Have fun!  

The Give Away is now closed! Thank you for participating. I will announce the winners later tonight!