Bramble Patch
Visit to the Bramble Patch
13 April 2017
Hilary Beattie runs a workshop called Sanctuary, and I was reminded of this on a recent Saturday when I popped up to The Bramble Patch, at Weedon in Northamptonshire.
Oh, but it's also a fabulous fabric shop. Possibly the best quilting fabric shop I have been to.
This is because the Bramble Patch was, for a few years, my sanctuary - my happy place. But I really don't do much quilting now and I'm as likely to be found sourcing my materials in a Charity shop, so my visits to quilting shops are few and far between. On top of that they tend not to host the workshops I want to do.
So, for all those reasons it had been a few months since my last visit. And in those few months there had been a few changes.
First of all they've built a beautiful new conservatory on the front and made a tea room.
And look, you know you're in a quilt shop. Quilts hanging over the back of all the chairs.
And they sell cake ( I had delicious walnut cake on my visit).
Oh, but it's also a fabulous fabric shop. Possibly the best quilting fabric shop I have been to.
Now I could have gone a bit mad on the fabric front. But I was very self restrained and simply bought a few spools of thread, some more pins and some plain black cotton that I want to use to edge a quilt. ( Which I will tell you about when it's done.)
But if you're in the area do pop in.
The Bramble Patch is in a village called Weedon, about 15 miles north of Milton Keynes and west of Northampton. It's not too far off the M1 so if your on a journey you can easily slip in a little detour.
Do go! Great for fabric addicts - and did I mention the cake?
( By the way, I forgot my camera so these photos are from their website. But it really did look just like this!)
Hilary Beattie
24 July 2015
Just had to share this one with you. My mate Hilary Beattie, she with the mucky hands, sharing her enthusiasm with a group of very happy looking ladies at the Bramble Patch.
The Bramble Patch is just up the road from me here in Milton Keynes. For me, and on so many occasions, it is a little bit of heaven. I have been lucky enough to do a number of courses there. It was day courses at the bramble patch that really set me off on my personal journey.
Because of the day job, I have not been able to sign up to Hilary's ongoing course.but I I must admit I'm a little bit envious of the enormous fun these ladies were having.
If you are not familiar with Hilary's work, then she is a force of nature and it's worth having a look at her own blog and website.
The Bramble Patch is just up the road from me here in Milton Keynes. For me, and on so many occasions, it is a little bit of heaven. I have been lucky enough to do a number of courses there. It was day courses at the bramble patch that really set me off on my personal journey.
Because of the day job, I have not been able to sign up to Hilary's ongoing course.but I I must admit I'm a little bit envious of the enormous fun these ladies were having.
If you are not familiar with Hilary's work, then she is a force of nature and it's worth having a look at her own blog and website.
Inspiration at the Bramble Patch
30 August 2013
Inspiration is often to be found at the Bramble Patch - that Mecca for all things textile in the heart of Northamptonshire.
And today did not disappoint.
I schlepped up there to see the fragrant Hilary Beattie and Stephanie Redfern who have decamped their studios there for a few days.
As usual, Hilary was working in overdrive (if there is such a thing as a textile dervish -rather than a whirling one - then our Hilary is its embodiment!)
Somewhat foolishly, although I took my camera I forgot the memory card so the photos were taken with my phone which is not ideal ( call me old fashioned, but I think phones are for phoning on and cameras are for taking photographs). Anyway you get the flavour.
As always both ladies were generous with their techniques.
Stephanie isn't really pointing at anything - as I said taking pictures on my phone is far from ideal.
Hilary was, as usual, prolifically creating mountains of fabric and paper. No doubt much of this will pop up in future work.
There was also an exhibition of their work in the gallery space there.
There was also work by another artist, more traditional patchwork but stunning.
I was particularly taken with this vivid quilt called Strata Dreams.
Bramble Patch Exhibition - Part II
1 April 2013
The reason, I am sure, for the limited amount of time is that the BP is using it's workshop space for the hanging space, and I am sure both Tutors and students are itching to get back to their classes.
If you are not sure about going, then a bit more to tempt you. In the adjacent room there is work being exhibited by some of the tutors and their students. Here is a taster for you.
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| Work by Angie Huges - Mixed Media and Embroidery |
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| By Sabi Westoby - Seed heads embroidered on tea bags |
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| A sample by Sabi - so generous of her to invite us to handle the sample. |
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| Bren Boardman - Across the Meadow II (Lutrador painted with acrylics and oils and thread) |
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| Sarah Showers - Ammonites Revealed |
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| Tracy Allen - Sketchbook page |
There was lots more, but my photos did not do it all justice.
So, if you do get the chance, then I urge you to pop along. (Which is a bit tricky I know for my readers across the pond).
Six & Friends at the Bramble Patch
28 March 2013
You only have until the 6th April (and they are not open on Good Friday or Easter Monday) but if you are anywhere near the Bramble Patch then you should pop along to the 'Orientation' exhibition by Six and Friends.
Like me, you might have seen this work at Redditch, but there is new and additional work on display, plus some work by other artists who also visit the Bramble Patch, so it is really worth a visit.
And Hilary also had left a sample of delicious fabrics and papers - she is running some classes next year, but they have not been posted on the BP site yet.
And afterwards, I treated myself to tea!
Like me, you might have seen this work at Redditch, but there is new and additional work on display, plus some work by other artists who also visit the Bramble Patch, so it is really worth a visit.
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| Floating Gardens (Stephanie Redfern) |
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| Irises (Linda Kemshall) |
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| Gallery space at the Bramble Patch |
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| Still Life - Shall I be Mother (Annabel Rainbow) |
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| The Messenger (Linda Kemshall) |
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| Work by Marie Roper |
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| Li Carpet (Stepahnie Redfern) |
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| Autumn Moon (Stephanie Redfern) |
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| Pieces by Hilary Beatie |
And Hilary also had left a sample of delicious fabrics and papers - she is running some classes next year, but they have not been posted on the BP site yet.
And afterwards, I treated myself to tea!
Unblocking with inks
14 September 2012
Golly - but I am feeling blocked!
Maybe it's because I am having a grim time at work trying to get to grips with the joys and delights of Kitemarking (don't ask), or maybe it's because I am behind on my book keeping duties for Son No 1.
What ever it is, the creative juices just are not flowing at the moment.
However, all is not lost as I have, I think, managed to finish one of the velvet based garden pieces. (i started this little journey back in July with the wonderful Angie Hughes at the Bramble Patch)
I had stitched the organza onto the printed and painted velvet and blasted some of the organza away with a heat gun, but it still looked a bit, well, flat and drab.
So, I got out my inks! (not the brusho inks, but some acrylic inks I already had - honestly some of the girls in the office have a shoe addiction - I think I have an arts materials addiction. This has to stop, but that is probably another story entirely!)
And I did a bit of touching up. Very light and subtle - I don't want it to look painted.
I hope you can tell from this photo, but the arch way in the middle of the image and some of the leaves are brighter.
Better I think. Now I just have to finish it's partner (started at the same time, but the stitching isn't finished yet).
Ok, so maybe not quite so blocked!
Maybe it's because I am having a grim time at work trying to get to grips with the joys and delights of Kitemarking (don't ask), or maybe it's because I am behind on my book keeping duties for Son No 1.
What ever it is, the creative juices just are not flowing at the moment.
However, all is not lost as I have, I think, managed to finish one of the velvet based garden pieces. (i started this little journey back in July with the wonderful Angie Hughes at the Bramble Patch)
I had stitched the organza onto the printed and painted velvet and blasted some of the organza away with a heat gun, but it still looked a bit, well, flat and drab.
So, I got out my inks! (not the brusho inks, but some acrylic inks I already had - honestly some of the girls in the office have a shoe addiction - I think I have an arts materials addiction. This has to stop, but that is probably another story entirely!)
And I did a bit of touching up. Very light and subtle - I don't want it to look painted.
I hope you can tell from this photo, but the arch way in the middle of the image and some of the leaves are brighter.
Better I think. Now I just have to finish it's partner (started at the same time, but the stitching isn't finished yet).
Ok, so maybe not quite so blocked!
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