We’re bringing more and more brand new suppliers to your screens each week! We really love to get to know the people behind the brands and we’d love for you to get to know them too!
This week, we welcome Pat and Mark from Totally Patched to Hochanda. An inspirational, family run business that aims to educate crafters from their premises based in Shropshire. We caught up with them to get a real insight in to their day-to-day lives, check it out and don’t forget to tune in this Friday to see their very first shows!
A. Hi we are Mark and Pat Palmer the owners of Totally Patched
A. Totally Patched started out life quite a long time ago with a friend Diane, time has passed and situations changed Diane moved away and I (Pat) started building Totally Patched from a small hobby type business into a large web based, retail shop and class based business. When Mark and I got together we found Mark was a natural with colour and became the person that all of our customers got to know for help with choosing fabrics, and Pat concentrated on classes and designing. Mark also now runs and does all of the sewing in the Long Arm Quilting branch of our business.
A.Creating and the business take most of our time but we do like to get away in our motor home whenever we can. I love to read and relax while Mark likes a game of Golf.
A. Our studio!!! Takes on various forms we have a long arm quilting room, cutting room and a stitching and designing room, all very busy most of the time.
Q. What does a typical week look like for you?
A. We teach classes two days each week, pre-cut bespoke designed kits for mail order, Long Arm quilt for customers, trade at many quilt shows around the country, and then try to get a little down time.
A. I designed and made a quilt made from Chambray fabric which I love and in contrast a quilt called “There’s No Place Like Home”, they are both current quilts so favourites at the moment.
A. The relaxation – the challenge – the way one design can look so different just by changing fabrics.
A. I usually get inspired by a fabric collection and then work with it to create a certain design. I love Country Style designs and working with traditional patchwork blocks.
1.Take a good basic beginners class, with a qualified teacher, it is always better than picking up bad habits from a well-meaning friend, especially at the beginning. Once you have the basic skills you can then use and develop them in the future.
2. Go with what you like, you will always get the best result.
3. Ask advice in a quilt shop about colour if you are not sure but don’t get talked into what the shop assistant thinks you should have,
4.Make things for people you love.
5. Relax and enjoy this vast craft.
A. Designing a block of the month quilt that people love and want to make as well.
A. Hard question. Hochanda has popped into our plans and that was something we never imagined, but in general continue designing and creating for people who love our products.
Tune in to see Pat and Mark’s first Totally Patched launch shows on Hochanda on Friday 29th July 10am, 2pm and 5pm!
You can watch Hochanda live online, Sky channel 663, Freeview 39 (6am – 9pm) or Freesat 817.