F.O.Q. Report

I had a wonderful, if exhausting day on Thursday at the Festival of Quilts, the first time I have visited this show.  I took a few photographs of exhibits, but I thought I would share my experience for those of you who couldn't make it.  The day started well when I picked up my friend who found out at the last minute she could join me,  and we arrived in Milton Keynes in good time for the train - that was until Sally realised she had left her mobile phone on the kitchen table and it had the pin number on it for her to obtain her pre-booked train tickets from the machine. We had to use my phone to ring her husband, who couldn't operate her mobile, who then had to wake her daughter to retrieve the number, and a sleepy fourteen year old is not always on the ball even when the train is due in five minutes and there is a long queue for the machines.  I left Sally in the queue as she had an open ticket and rushed to the platform, luckily the train was a few minutes late and we were fine - happy to sink into our seats.

If you have never been to the NEC Birmingham, it is a huge site, and after waiting over ten minutes for a shuttle bus we decided to walk.  This must take at least ten minutes including several long moving walkways.  I decided that £6 for the programme was essential and my friend and I split up and made a rendezvous for an hour and a half later for lunch.  I decided to have a walk round the space first to get my bearings.  I knew a couple of stands I wanted to visit and artists I wanted to look out for.  However although I knew one blog contact, Maggi Birchenough was on the SAQA stand until 11.30, I could not located it anywhere and it was not until reading the programme on the train home that I found out which stand this was - it was listed under something different.  So disappointingly I missed her.  I did locate the Kemshalls and it was lovely to be able to say hello.  Lunch was rather disappointing.  When I went to the Stitch show in March, they had one of the restaurants open and my friends and I were able to get a pleasant enough meal, this time there were only the smaller kiosks open or food trailers like they have at outdoor craft fairs etc - so, alright if you want fish and chips, a baguette or jacket potatoes - no nice salad or pasta so we ended up with a portion of chips. After lunch I took my time looking at the displays of quilts in the competitions and at the different artists who had stands. I was delighted to see this one by Alicia Merrett, which featured in the April/May Quilting Arts magazine.  I certainly lived up to my expectations.

Canal Country -Alicia Merrett

It was also easy to spot Stephanie Redfern's work - (close-ups only I'm afraid) whose blog I follow.

It was difficult to get decent pictures as there were a lot of people looking at the exhibits.

The Moth Pages - Stephanie Redfern

Beyond Dark Spaces - Stephanie Redfern

Stephanie was there on a stand and I had recommended her work to my friend.  When we met up to leave Sally said she had enjoyed Stephanie's stand and she had been there very busy talking to people  - I had missed it completely. I knew she was on stand Demo H but I could not find it on the plan anywhere!  Sally had come upon it completely by accident.

Here are some other quilts from the competition display.

A Tapestry of Canary Wharf - Mari-Theresa Fernandes

Fragments of Time - Hazel Ryder

Don't Go - Laura Kemshall

I had followed Laura making this quilt on her blog, so it was wonderful to see it.  the stitching was fantastic - all the whirls in the fingertips were stitched.

I was also fascinated by Kate Dowty's recent work, there was a big stand of her works

It was definitely worth visiting.  I can now see why two shorter visits would be preferable, but I will go again next year.  I think it would be worth buying a show guide in advance so you can locate what you want to see.  I found it difficult to concentrate on deciphering the guide when I was there, especially as I was unfamiliar with the show. I did buy a couple of gadgets and some supplies - well you have to, but the work on display was the real star of the day.

Hope you are enjoying some sunshine.

Jill

Time marches on.

I cannot believe it has been two weeks since my last post but there it is - I am another two weeks older.  I had a really great time at the Contemporary Textile Fair at Teddington - it was great to see such a variety of work of astounding quality - I did not buy much, a couple of multi-ribbon necklaces which will be great with scoop necked jumpers as I feel the cold round my neck, and a fat quarter of hand dyed and discharged cotton.
However on Thursday I went to the NEC to the Sewing for Pleasure/Fashion, Embroidery & Stitch/Hobby Crafts show.  Joanne, Jan and I decided we would go by train from Milton Keynes, and by buying bargain train tickets on-line it only cost us £10 return straight to Birmingham International Train Station.  It was quite an adventure for us, as none of us had been there by train before.  I did have to get up at 6.30 which is unheard of for me. I had to practice going to bed early for a few days as we are usually night owls here. But it did mean  I was ready for the clocks going back last night.  The show was terrific with lots of familiar names about.  I did take my little point and shoot camera, but I completely forgot about it until I was too tired to walk round again.  However this Victorian quilt was on display near the restaurant where we were about to have our umpteenth cuppa.  It reminded me of one that had been on Antiques Road Show very recently (it wasn't the same one). I just love the details.

It was interesting to compare it with this piece of contemporary work by Susan Chapman.  All of this endeared me further to working with textiles myself.

I also took the opportunity to spend a bit  on supplies.  So I bought some silk thread from Oliver Twists for dyeing and a few reels of coloured thread from their bargain basket.  I also got some bundles of sari ribbon and thread plus a lovely mixture of fancy threads from Stef Francis. I also got a bundle of pieces of Egyptian cotton, which I washed ready for dyeing - it is hanging on the line behind the threads. (Which are just there for show)

I also bought some 'Hot Spots' and foil from Kim Thittichai and loved Jenny Langley's work - thank goodness for the internet and the show guide to help remind me what I saw.

My feet held out well, but this weekend my back is giving me a great deal of trouble, so this is being written in short bursts, interrupted with walks round the garden and 10 minutes or so of ironing, which is fine

The garden is crying out for some maintenance and the lawn needs cutting, but it will just have to wait. However the containers of bulbs I planted up in the autumn were well worth it. These little botanic tulips are a beautiful intense pink.

Lastly, at the show they had a display of costumes from Downton Abbey.

These looked as wonderful in real life as they do on the screen and in no way looked like 'props', but authentic period outfits.  The costume designers used altered antique garments and vintage textiles and trimmings where possible.

My favourite had to be Lady Sybil's harem pants in beautiful shades of georgette over turquoise silk.

Hopefully I will get around to posting some more of my work before too long.

Do have a good week and I shall aim to visit your blog too.

Jill