Spiral Bound - Wedding Guest Book

Hi Everyone

Hope you enjoyed the fabulous weather for the bank holiday. I had a family wedding and my darling daughter was bridesmaid on Saturday so I am still up in the clouds ! I simply had to show you all this Spiral Bound altered art book I made for the Bride and Groom to pass round as a guest signing book at the reception. Not wishing to blow my own trumpet, but it's the first one I have made and am really rather chuffed with it. The Animal print theme derives from the fact that the couple have just returned from Kenya where they tied the knot and then celebrated their reception in Corby on Saturday at The Holiday Inn.

I love the giraffe print paper, it is from craft creations and I will be stocking it in my shop -it is soft and tactile to the touch - gorgeous.

Now I must thank Traci from TJC Designs who has taught me everything I know about making a spiral bound gift book. Hats off to her for inspiring me to make this. In case you are interested, I am lucky enough to have Traci booked to run a workshop on the very same theme at my shop on 17th November. We are still taking bookings for this via my website online shop if you are interested ! http://www.nimblefingers.biz/

Anyway - ta ta for now. Happy Crafting

Nat x

How to Make a Quillow

Hello Crafting Buddies !! back from holiday now. Have just spent a week in Yorkshire with my parents which luckily included a trip to the seaside for my 19 month old daughter ( latest pic below ) I simply HAVE to find time to work out a scrap booking page for this pic - its adorable !

One thing I did get chance to do whilst relaxing, was to spend a nice lot of time finishing a lap quilt I am making in co-hoots with my sister in law. We have thoroughly enjoyed making a "Rumble in the Jungle" lap quilt, quillow for our other sister-in-law who was married on Safari in Kenya last week. The design has been achieved with stip work into a version of rail fence blocks.

"What is a quillow?" I hear you shout - well a quillow is a quilt with a pocket on the reverse into which you can fold the whole quilt and make a pillow !!!

How to make a quillow

The general rule of thumb is to measure the length and width of your quilt; divide these measurements by 3 and that is the size of pocket you need. Add the pocket in the middle of one of the shorter sides, against the edge of the quilow. I always bind my pocket to match the rest of the quilt, but it important to remember not to bind the side that will run along the edge of the main quilt. You can tie this into the overall main binding to get a perfect fix.

The other tip when making a quillow, is to ensure that you afix the pocket initially on 2 sides only. You will always need to leave an opening for folding the rest of the quilt into !!!

This is the characteristic that makes a quillow pattern unique - you have to be able to fold the quilt in a triple way fold into the main quillow pocket.

If anyone wants to know any more, please leave me a message or email me via the main website : http://www.nimblefingers.biz/

How to make a quillow pattern and tutorial will be available on my website next month.

Have a good week !

Nat x

Kona Bay Fabrics !! yummy yummy

Hi Everyone !

For those of you who are following the progress of the new Nimble Fingers shop in Desborough - this week I can officially report selecting and ordering a rather large and expensive quantity of Kona Bay and Red Rooster fabrics.

Spending the afternoon walking through the warehouse and selecting bolt after bolt, was like letting me loose in a sweetie shop !!!! it was an amazing experience and I am so excited by some of the wonderful prints I am going to be able to bring to the shop.

I am obviously trying to come up with attractive and effective ways of showing off some of the designs, so if anyone has any ideas as to how I could use a metre or 2 to dress the window or hang on the wall - pre quilt ( I think some of the Kona Bay prints look stunning before being made into anything !) please let me know.

Hope you all have a productive week in your crafting !

Natalie x