Sunday 24 August 2014

Festival of Quilts 2014

Good afternoon, I think I'm back!  The horrendous side effects seem to have abated and, fingers crossed, the new tablets seem to be doing their job.  A small light has appeared in the distance and I'm hoping it's not another train...

I've been meaning to write this post for a while, so this will serve as my first post back.  A few weeks ago I went to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.  It was my first time.  I took my mum and met Kerry there.  Due to a torrential downpour, the road was flooded so it took us so long to get there that we didn't have much time.  I did, however manage to do some shopping!


I fell in love with this bunny and with her beautiful coat.  There are other clothes patterns available.  Before you say "another bunny you're never going to get round to sewing", buying this actually encouraged me to start the one I bought in Harrogate that is my ALOYF goal for the month!  More on that soon... and hopefully a finish by the end of the month.


The finished hare quilt above was hanging in this booth so I had to buy the pattern, though I will call them bunnies.  It's fusible bias tape so I need to get started on the Mackintosh one I bought at Harrogate first!  The kit on the right is a gorgeous embroidery.  Hopefully it will be gorgeous when I've finished!

Continuing the bunny theme...


Bunny fabrics!  The Eternal Maker turned out to be a great source of bunny fabrics, and the two middle ones that look like aliens at first were from a cheap stall.  All destined for my bunny quilt - which I now have an idea for!


I loved this map fabric, but when I tried to buy it on the first stall I found it on, they said I had to buy it in 60cm increments... which lead to the top of Russia being cut off! (the continents aren't lined up, they're "tossed" onto the fabric).  I refused as I wanted Russia - I'm intending to embroider the places I've been and considering I crossed the length of Siberia, I think that's an integral part.  I bought it from another stall who said I could have whatever measurement I wanted.  The little blob things to the left fell into my basket after I tried to convince myself they were bunnies.  I drive a blue Mini with a checkerboard roof and checkerboard stripes on the side.  This fabric ALMOST has my car on it, so it had to come home with me.

I think this is worthy of Sunday Stash, so I'll be linking up with Molli.

Molli Sparkles

Want to see the quilts that caught my eye?  I have no details of who made them (with one exception), so if anyone wants me to credit their quilt, leave me a comment and I will gladly do so.  Quilters featured here - your quilts are amazing (as were a lot of the others but we only saw about half the exhibition).

   

  

 
  




This one is by Kerry!


  






  


  




  




 



13 comments:

Sheila said...

Glad you're doing better and back. Very nice purchases. The embroidery piece looks very interesting, haven't heard of the name. Is it a UK company?.
Love the quilts, I think the bargello is my favorite.

Rachel said...

Rowandean do really fascinating kits - some of their larger ones have a huge range of wonderful textural threads in them.
And yes, Sheila, they are a UK company. They've been going for at least 20 years to my knowledge.

The fish quilt and the garden bench are my favourites of the quilts, I think...

gilly said...

Thanks for sharing all the lovely pics - I missed FOQ again this year as we were away in London at the time.
Have a happy BH tomorrow and new week ahead,
xx

Sarah in Stitches said...

Great stash! And those quilts are stunning - it must have been quite an exhibition.

Renee said...

Welcome back! I am so glad you are feeling better. The quilts are fabulous!

margaret said...

good to read the side effects have gone now and you were able to enjoy the FOQ, although there 3 days I can see from you photos I missed lots of the quilts. Are you coming to Harrogate next weekend for the quilt show there?

Anonymous said...

Glad you are started to feel better. I love the Enchanted Forest patterns think I picked up the hares too and the hedgies :)

That bunny constellation fabric is gorgeous- what is it? Lovely selection of goodies too and if you need the purple version of the bunny/alien fabric too.. just give me a shout I picked up half a yard of that.x

Sandra :) said...

I'm glad you're finally starting to feel better - it makes waking up a lot nicer, when you don't have to look "forward" to a crappy day.

Love the fabrics - the picture with the map/blobs and cars has my 3 favourite fabrics from your collection, lol! I have a piece of the blobs fabric line but in a different colourway - I cut it into squares to make a baby quilt (which is currently in my To Get To pile) ;)

Jane said...

Lovely to see you back and it looks like you made the most of your day out. Have fun using all your goodies

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Oh, the quilts at these events always blow my mind. They are fabulous! My favourites from this batch are the reflected houses and that AMAZING seat. I mean... AMAZING!!!!! I may be completely wrong, but the starburst tryptich looks a lot like the kind of thing the people at our local quilt shop do. I think they were exhibiting at the fair.

Janice / Dancing with Sunflowers said...

Oh, and I also love the saffron quilted wholecloth. Beautiful colour, and wonderful quilting.

pennydog said...

You mean right not left, yeah ;) Thanks for including a SMALL picture of me and not going any bigger on that! I really like that map fabric, must have missed that one because it wasn't on the preapproved buying list!

Jo Ferguson said...

You can't have enough bunnies. The patterns for the stuffed ones are beautiful. I think we have similar taste in quilts. I was looking at your photos of the Festival Quilts and I couldn't get my chin off the keyboard. Thanks for sharing them.