Seams French

Having been back in Montpellier for 3 weeks now, spring cleaning is done, the pantry is more or less restocked with all of the local delicacies, and our balcony is slowly "greening up". We have also spent time with friends, savouring the delights of the countryside, both with our eyes and our taste buds. Spring fields are brilliant with poppies that grow wild. A local vineyard that makes a refreshing rose. The nearby fishing village of Grau du Rois. Aside from enjoying some of the delights of the area, my research of the local needlework tradition of boutis continues. I was fortunate to be able to attend the first "Salon National du Boutis", held in Caissargues (near Nimes), and organized by France Boutis. www.franceboutis.canalblog.com France Boutis supports both traditional and contemporary boutis, and the exhibition had the best of both types of work on display. Because of copyright concerns, I have no photos of the show, however, the following links...

Seams French has diversified and added some baby friendly items to its line of products. These hooded cotton terry "bunny" towels will keep baby snug and warm when wrapped in it after a bath. Matching puppet wash mitts are also available for mum and baby. Inspired by the look of French boutis, this white cotton bib with butterfly motifs, allows baby to dress for dinner. For further information contact info@seamsfrench.com.

Using fabric designed by Leah Janzen; Print and Pattern, I recently made a few sample designs of throw pillows. In this first cushion, I combined Leah's blue patterned fabric with a matching solid blue cotton that was pleated and accented with white semi circles. This second pillow shows her fabric next to a panel of free-motion quilting on a white cotton. To see more of her patterns and designs, see her website at: www.leahjanzen.com , and for her latest patterns, see her blog at leahjanzen.blogspot.ca Also new to the fabric stash, is the start of a collection of silks. Here silk is used only as an accent in the piping around a quilted white cotton pillow. A small assortment of blue dupioni silks that will co-ordinate with Leah's patterned blue fabric.

I'm fairly certain that it was Libby Lehman who first introduced me to the concept of "free-motion" quilting, sometime in the late 90's, most likely on "Simply Quilts". Sewing mostly garments at the time, where it was absolutely necessary for measurements and seams to be accurate, this "free" concept of sewing was somewhat intimidating. Even so, the idea intrigued me enough at the time to buy Libby's book entitled "Threadplay", published in 1997. Since then, I have been lured away from garment sewing and have been completely seduced by the lure of "quilting". In my current work, I use both very traditional patterns and techniques (either hand or machine quilting), as well as a lot of free-motion machine work. Although many books have been published since that first introduction, I still refer to Libby's book often, and in my mind, she is the "queen of free-motion". Therefore, when I saw that Libby was teachin...

or: "Fun with Bernina" Not only did I use up some of the vintage lace in my stash recently to make some lavander sachets, I also finally had time to "play" with my Bernina Embroidery Module. Fun though it was, what I am really looking forward to is learning to use the embroidery software. This will allow me to incorporate my own designs into my Bernina's stitching capabilities. Berninas preset designs and monograms are very easy to use and adjust easily to the appropriate size for the project. Perhaps the best part of the automated embroidery program is that while the machine stitches, I can be prepping the next project. I have a lot more to learn and need to do a lot more experimenting before I will be using this equipment to its fullest capabilities, but the process will be fun.

Whereas my mother was a dedicated quilter and embroiderer, my grandmother, her mother, was devoted to crochet. Thinking back to my early childhood, I remember lace gracing many surfaces of our home, from dresser tops, to armchair covers, to doilies under plants. Although lace does not sit on top of my own dressers and armchairs, I am drawn to it's fine, web-like intracacies, and find its delicacy beautiful. When travelling, I seek out antique markets and shops in the hope of finding lace that may be appropriate to incorporate into some of my work. Some of the lace doilies that my grandmother crocheted. When my mother was a young girl (circa 1927), my grandmother crocheted this top and hairband for her using silk spun by their own silk worms. A collection of laces from my travels. Included is Edwardian bobbin lace, found at the Nottinghill Antique Market in London, there are some Venetian laces, chantilly lace, and a delicate collar from a little girls dress. By far, my favourit...

As much as she loved doing her own needlework, my mother loved to share her skills with her daughters. Some of my earliest memories as a young child have me sliding around on a polished wooden deacons bench in a warm, sunny kitchen, with my mother's attentions divided between the stove, (and whatever happens to be simmering there), and the very enthusiastic, (if a somewhat restless), little needleworker absorbed on a scrap of fabric and a basket full of colourful embroidery threads. Her favourite time of the day was the evening, when her work was done, and she could relax with her own embroidery. Here are just a few of the embroidered tablecloths that she made during those evenings. She also embroidered many pillowcases and tea towels that were meant to be used and are still being used by grateful friends and family. Not only has she left her family with a legacy of lovingly embroidered linens, she has also left me with a love for all things textile, and that basket of colourf...