Tuesday 21 September 2010

Breakaways August 2010





We did miss a couple of weeks in August owing to various people being on holiday and again I seem to have mislaid some photographs - they must all be sitting somewhere I can't get at them....
      
Lesley's double sided string quilt-as-you-go-quilt
















and the other side                                                                                                                                  


how they are joined together                            


and the front joined

 
 
  
another of Jane's pictures    



















  
Sarah refurbishing a bag













Jane sewing hearts for a wedding quilt















Chris's I think















Definitely one of Chris's

























this is what the back of one of these looks like - any old firm paper is what she used.....

Festival of Quilts etc

Sorry for long gap - my friend Chris and I went to the Festival of Quilts for a few days; enjoyed ourselves (though not the weather as we got rather wet getting from car park to halls) and saw many quilts, spent far too much money etc, in common with many others.

  Highlights were talking to a lady who works at a school and was involved with the making of a quilt which was hanging in the schools section - she was so thrilled for the children who had made the quilt.

Seeing the results of Rosemary Yeoman's Young Quilters (Meon Valley Quilters) hanging there; the fabulous bonnet installation - each bonnet commemorating someone who was sent to Australia on transport ships, often for very little reason - originator's site here - http://www.christinahenri.com.au/; the amazing quilts by the Contemporary Quilt Group of the Quilter's Guild of the British Isles - this collection was titled 'Breakthrough' http://www.quiltersguild.org.uk/index.php?page=16; meeting and talking to a wonderful Welsh quilter -  DeAnne Hartwell-Jones - and her husband such a nice man and such gorgeous quilts made by DeAnne - all over papers http://www.westwalesquilter.org.uk/

Oh yes, Dorian Walton's miniatures - exquisite http://www.quiltfest.org.uk/p_2007Miniatures.ikml ; meeting Susan Shie who is such a nice lady and sold me a pack of her Kitchen Tarot cards.  It is probably the only way I will ever get to own anything of hers and I was touched that she drew me a little picture in the lid of a box.http://susanshie.blogspot.com/2010/08/festival-of-quilts-birmingham-uk-aug_28.html

Having lots of help from the Cotton Patch staff, especially Benjamin Wilson (KnitRowan) and Brandon Mabley (designer) in choosing fabric;  seeing Kaffe Fassett stop someone carrying a quilt made with his fabrics and getting her to show it to him - that was a very nice touch and one I'm sure she will not forget in a hurry.

A fabulous exhibition of Russian quilts - The Faces of Love: Art Craft Centre, Murmansk, Russia, gorgeous wedding carpets - Gardens of Eden of Mesopotamia Embroidered Wedding Blankets of Southern Iraq; the student exhibitions, the fashion exhibitions, oh gosh there was just so much to see.

I had wondered what effect the recession would have on quiltmaking.  I wondered if people would go back to recycling/reusing fabric (because of the sky rocketing cost of fabric) but it seems that perhaps they just make smaller quilts.  There were not many large quilts but a good variety all the same, though the traditional section was quite small.  on the other hand, large traditional quilts take a long time to make and can cost a lot, as well.

From Birmingham we went to York to The Museum of the Quilters Guild of Great Britain at St Anthony's Hall, Peaseholme Green.  http://www.quiltmuseum.org.uk/ Even if you don't belong to the Quilter's Guild, or want to make quilts, their exhibitions are always interesting, a reasonable cost and there is a garden for the summer and a restaurant next door for luncheon.  The museum also has a small shop downstairs and the restaurant has a food shop at the front.  Food and fabric.....  Anyhow, we were lucky that the library was open so had a good gander at some books we were thinking of buying, and some we had not heard of; there were some ladies spinning and weaving as part of a live exhibition; the quilts were wartime Quilts, mostly Red Cross quilts and items made from parachute silk, map fabric etc.  Also a small show of quilts made with African fabrics by Magie Relph.  Phone first; the museum is not open Mondays and when they change the exhibition it is closed.  The only downside for me is the stairs which scare me stiff (I do not like heights, open treads etc so I take the lesser of the 2 evils and go up in the disabled lift which I find nearly as scary(glass walls and the platform moves, rather than a metal or glass box).  So it is a miracle that I get there each year and put myself through this.  Of course most people don't worry so that's good.  It is an excellent visit and the Park and ride buses stop opposite with car parking not far away in the city.

From York we went home via the Bramble Patch where we spent money we weren't supposed to have had.  No exhibition to see as Catherine Nicholls was teaching printing so I watched for a bit over the railing while we were having coffee.  Always interesting to see how people teach.  Bought a bit of fabric, for a change.

Home in the pouring rain and very slow traffic.  Thank goodness for company in the car.....