Christmas in July...?

Summer is here! The sun is shinning! Lots of time to sit in the garden and enjoy all those light warm summer evenings. Ummmm ...


Maybe we should take advantage of this weather and get ahead of ourselves. Christmas is only 173 making days away and if the sunshine does arrive in september/october again this year, we will want to be rushing out into the garden for a quick bbq not making stockings and lavender hearts for the school fair.

Shop display on Sunday 1 July for the Frome Artisan Market including christmas tree

So now is the time to be bold and brave. Buy that christmas stash and get those projects started. You will soon have a large collection of stock ready for all those last minute gifts, school fairs and house decorations. 


We have just received the first of the Christmas collections in from Riley Blake.


The first is 'Santa's workshop'

Beautiful bright fresh prints, small enough for those little projects or as a babes 1st christmas quilt 

by the metre, FQ, charm packs and layer cakes

Also 'Apline Wonderland'

A contemporary collection of greens, reds and blues. Birds and trees in winter scenes. Perfect for christmas tablecloths, napkins and quilted coasters.

by the metre, FQ, charm packs and layer cakes

Finally, Riley Blake Advent Calendar Panel 

A simple and effective way to create a family advent calendar which can be used year after year

  The panel includes the calendar, softies in christmas scenes and a holiday banner. 

This is just the start of the christmas collections, we have many more to come including Michael Miller and Moda

What will you make? 

Interview with Lu Summers by @scissorsandthread

At the recent Fat Quarterly Community Retreat in London I took a class 
with Lu Summers, designer of the new Summersville range for Moda which 
launched this April. I took the opportunity to ask her some questions . . .* 

Lu Summers
Photo by Scissorsandthread

*How did you get started? Do you have a design background?* 


In a previous life I studied at Norwich School of Art & Design specialising 
in print making, ran a patchwork and quilting shop with my Mum for 5 years, 
had 2 children, opened an Etsy store where I sold paper collages and later 
screen printed fabric before designing for Moda. 


*Do you have a favourite print from the line?* 


Fall in red and Scandi in red 


*What do you think your line Summersville looks great in or with?* 


Obviously it looks great in quilts but it has been brilliant at retreat 
seeing it in different things such as a rucksack and baby trousers. It 
looks great paired with solids but I think people should mix it up a bit 
and try it with different solids than the main prints such as bright 
orange, dark teal and charcoal grey. 

photo by Lu Summers

*What sort of things do you make?* 


I make quilts but for walls not beds but I would never describe them as art 
quilts 


*What is your favourite thing that you have made?* 


My big improv quilt. I have taught this style as a class a few times now 
and made some mini improv quilts too. 


*You are teaching your Portholes technique here at retreat which won Best 
Group Quilt at Festival of Quilts 2010. It's has a really unique look – how 
did you come up with the design?* 


My Mum told me about it over the phone, I said it would never work so I 
tried it and it did. I did circles and have also made quilts usually 
flowers and stars with the same technique. 

photo by Lu Summers

photo by Scissorsandthread

*Do you have a sewing or quilting tip?* 


Use your iron more! 


*Summersville features some great graphic prints – where do you get your 
inspiration from?* 


Living in the countryside but I also have a fascination with industrial 
estates and urban areas 



*Is that something we are going to see more of? When are we going to see 
more of you?* 


I have designed my second line for Moda which is at the Mill at the moment 
and I am waiting for samples. It launches in April 2013. 


*Now for some quick fire questions!* 


*Favourite colour? *Red 

*Fabourite food? *Sausages 

*Summer or winter? *Summer 

*Favourite tv show? *Mad Men 

*Marmite – love it or hate it? *I like it but I don't love it! 

*Favourite film? *The gangster one with Tom Hanks (we think she means Road 
to Perdition) 

*Favourite band: *Maroon 5 

*Chocolate or crisps? *Chocolate 

Photos by Lu Summers @flickr


Check out Lu's blog http://blu-shed.blogspot.co.uk/


A big thank you to @scissorsandthread for the interview and to Lu Summers for taking part. You can find out more about scissorsandthread on her blog http://scissorsandthread.blogspot.com


*Summersville is available in both Millie Moon shops in layer cakes, jelly rolls, charm 
packs and in yardage and on the website www.milliemoonshop.co.uk * 

Knicker making workshop with Flo Jo Fancy Pants

Sunday 5th February and the snow fell in Somerset, however nothing stopped 3 of our lovely ladies from making their way to the first Knicker making workshop at the Wells shop. Erica from  "Flo Jo Fancy Pants" travelled from Bristol to teach our group how to make their own beautiful knickers.

They all picked their fabric from Millie Moon, to match with the beautiful trims that Erica had brought with her. Elasticated lace trims in every colour were pulled from her bag. Girlie Tanya Whelan Rosie dot Pink, Retro blue stripes and Colourful Kaffe Fassett, all very different fabrics to match the ladies different personalities. Ruth, Sue and Patricia worked very hard only stopping to drink tea and eat Homemade carrot cake muffins. 

All ladies were very happy with their finished knickers, beautiful cottons, lace, ribbons and bows. A very girlie morning.  The next Knicker workshop is in the Frome shop on Saturday 24th March. The kits are available to buy in both shops.

A big thank you to Erica and Flo Jo Fancy Pants for a lovely morning.