Author Archives: Judy Goodlet

Crisis make over needed! Not for cushions, for me!

I dashed over to the Isle of Wight on Wednesday with six cushions. Having been drenched strutting up and down Winchester High Street, frantically finishing off a cushion which left no time to change or redo make up which had been done at 5.00am, I caught the 3.00 pm ferry with son, Adam, who had offered to help.

Wonderful moments at Carisbrooke Priory meeting all the great folk who are really making a difference one island, but when I saw the pictures I thought who IS that tall, old, scruffy, overweight creature on the end. Oh goodness, it was me!

Time to change Jude!

By Friday, new hairstyle (shorter, deliberately messy, getting used to it), threaded eyebrows ( ooer, bit savage!) and I went for one of those ” perfect foundation” moments advertised on telly. That WAS good! I’ve hopped about to Strictly dancercise and started thinking about what I’m wearing again ( funny how it stops seeming important).

I promise to put the pictures up, wasn’t going to, but they are an important cushion making moment!

Crazy patchwork’s back, for the Carisbrooke Priory

The patient, caring folk at Carisbrooke Priory will receive this cushion on Wednesday.

I’ve come to love crazy patchwork, although you need five or six toning/blending fabrics and I’m making a terrible mess trying to work out what might look good together!

The very sparkly fabric (which doesn’t dominate quite as much as the picture suggests) was bought for grown up daughter, Sam, when she worked as Children’s Librarian at Hayle Library in Cornwall. She created a really special puppet show for the evening the Christmas Tree was lit, and created cuttlefish puppets in this fabric, and with Peter’s help they even had LEDs. They have to be seen to be believed!

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Feathers for First Act, Shanklin

Like so many groups on the Island, First Act (a theatre group for people with disabilities) have had more than their fair share of cuts. Here is their cushion!

It’s my last full piece of the jade silk dupion, which I shall miss (although little bits are bound to keep turning up!).

Unlike the other cushions made of this fabric, I used a paper like backing (a sew and tear). I don’t like it usually, but it is better for this, the others were a little wrinkly (sorry guys!), but not this one!

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The cushion for Parkinson’s UK (Isle of Wight)

As I’m making a cushion run to the Island on Wednesday, I knew I had to make something for the Parkinson’s UK Group there.

As it’s about people who care for others, the heart had to appear again! It’s interesting how different it looks though, on dusty pink with a silver thread, which looks a bit lost until the light picks it out. It’s a very beautiful velvet (remnants from my Mum and Dads curtains!).

I’m quite fond of this, it’s almost ghostly and more subtle than the other cushions (so far). Although I hope they are all beautiful in their own way!

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Getting organised!

Phew! Overnight slight anxiety attack! Having had a week off, bumbling around in our camper van, woke in a panic about who needs what when, so devised my “war office” table! Hope no-one wants to eat for a while!

Taking 4 cushions to the Isle of Wight on Wednesday, then need 3 more for the weekend…and then thing ease (slightly!)

Now, crazy patchwork or embroidery next? ……

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A crazy patchwork cushion for the East Hampshire Disability Forum

The East Hampshire Disability Forum do a huge amount of work to help people with all sorts of disabilities live a life full of opportunities. http://www.ehdf.org.uk/

Here’s the finished patchwork cushion. It’s not perfect. Paranoid, me, yes! I know there will be some wonderfully skilful crafters peering at it! I’m quite pleased with it for a first attempt at this type of work, though!

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Time for some crazy patchwork!

I realise that, quite a few cushions in, I’ve got some glorious, toning scraps and have been plotting a racy patchwork cushion! It’s crazy because, unlike normal patchwork, it’s random shapes and sizes. It lacks the beautiful precision of traditional patchwork, but you can create some wonderful effects.

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Select your fabrics carefully, put your first scrap, raw edges and all on your backing fabric.

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You sew the second piece to the first, back of the new piece to the top of the first, creating a seam at one of the edges.

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Flip the second piece of fabric so it's right side up, finger press it and sew a line of top stitching down the seam.

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Carry on building the fabrics up by sewing, flipping and top stitching. I had intended to add lots of fancy machine embroidery to the seams, but the fabrics are so rich that I think it would spoil it

For some inspirational ideas for crazy patchwork search for “crazy patchwork” images.

Feathers! This one is for the Countess Mountbatten Hospice

I love feathers! This pattern is from Secrets of Embroidery. The jade silk dupion is a wonderful colour and a lovely fabric to work with. I might need to find some silver in future, I realise I keep using my favourite threads, some-one might prefer something else!

This is for Countess Mountbatten Hospice, one of our local hospices, all of which do astonishing work. I know everyone that uses their caring, compassionate services is so grateful that they are there.

http://www.cmhcharity.org.uk/

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