Sunday 9 August 2015

Festival of Quilts

Yesterday I took Wonderful Mum to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.  The day did not start off well.  Just as we were pulling into the NEC complex, my car broke down.  The power steering went and I had to drag that car round a roundabout and several turns to get to the disabled car park.  

Suffering from severe depression and anxiety as I do, wonderful mum understandably thought I was going to fall apart and turn into a sobbing mess.  To be honest, so did I.  But I didn't.  I calmly called the AA (breakdown service) and was told someone would be with us at 11.45 - the time of our workshop.  I still didn't crumble.  We went into the show and had a bit of a look round, then I went outside when the AA man arrived and called me.

My power steering fluid is leaking, but he couldn't see any on the ground or in my engine so we don't know where it's leaking to. There was some mention of crank shafts (possibly) but that's as much detail as I can give you!  He said he would take the car home for me and would my mum be OK in the van.  But I didn't want to leave!  I'd only just arrived and it was 11.50, I could still make the workshop (I'd sent mum to the workshop when I came outside).  I said we'd make our own way home and off I went.  Calm stayed with me the entire day.  I also had a bit of a sense of unreality and a slight numbness which I assume were my meds kicking in to keep my sane.  Despite these feelings, we had a brilliant day!  I didn't spend as much money as I'd budgeted for, knowing I have a car to repair.



Mum picked up some gorgeous half yard pieces to make table mats with (I might be bringing her over to the dark side!), I asked what line they were from and it was Block Party by Sandie Gervais.  As I loved them so much, I bought a jelly roll, on offer for £25.  I've never had a jelly roll before and have no idea what to do with it. Suggestions for jelly roll patterns (and not a jelly roll race) would be appreciated.



I bought these fat quarters of Colour Theory with the vague notion of making myself a bag.  When I got home I checked and I have a charm pack of this line.  It was fate.



Mum bought this piggy thread catcher pattern and a fat quarter of piggy fabric for me to make up for her.  She hasn't arrived at the dark side yet.



As I'm enjoying my Rowandean embroidery so much, I bought another one.  You have to turn your head to see it.  Blogger, photos, need I say more?



I also picked up these two photo mounts for the embroideries and a pair of scissors as mine are becoming blunt.  I suspect you can sharpen scissors.  I'm too lazy for that.



The workshop we took was Embellish a Bag with Rag Rugging techniques.  We learnt to do a circle of yarn loops using a kind of crochet hook with a thick shaft.  Then we did a circle of fabric scraps using a prodding tool.  Or maybe a prodging tool.  Not quite sure, at that point in the instructions I was having a quick panic that the man I'd given my car to might not really be from the AA as I hadn't asked for ID...



And here's a terrible shot of the bag.  It's nowhere near complete and I didn't buy the tools as they were quite expensive.  I'll have a look online or try using my ordinary crochet hooks.

I did look at lots of lovely quilts, including our EMMQG entry.  I forgot my camera so didn't manage to take any quilt photos at all.  Hopefully plenty of other bloggers did and will publish posts for us.  I did take a photo of our quilt on my phone, but can't figure out how to take it off Instagram.  I'll work on it and show you later.

I haven't told you the most exciting thing.  Wonderful mum (and wonderful dad) bought me my birthday/christmas-for-the-next-26-years-present.  I don't have it yet, it will be delivered in a couple of weeks but I won't be given it until November.  



It's this amazing sewing machine!!!  It's got 8.5" of harp space, a knee lift control, extension table, tons of different stitches and different settings, auto thread cut, comes with loads of feet and a 5 year warranty.  I think I also get a load of thread with it!  How cool is that??  Bear in mine my current machine doesn't even have a needle-down setting...



I enjoyed playing with it!  So excited!

15 comments:

Yvonne from Quilting Jetgirl said...

The color theory fabrics are lovely. I am so sorry to hear about your car troubles, and I applaud your ability to remain calm in a stressful situation; that sounds like a trying day.

Second Chance Tan said...

Wow fab looking machine - lucky lady xxx I've just got back from the festival this evening, really enjoyed seeing the EMMQG quilt, and all the others. How did you get home? And how is the car??? xxx

Christine B said...

Hello Wendy! Glad you had such a great time despite such an awful start to the day! Your new sewing machine looks fantastic! Have fun when it arrives!! :) x

Cath said...

Bad luck with the car - at least it didn't spoil your day. I was at FoQ yesterday too. I don't think I did it justice though. I went with my 12 year old daughter who would rather be doing than seeing - so I did the things I wanted to do while she did a YQ workshop. I was inspired by what I saw and was itching to get home to start doing myself. Have fun with your new machine :-)

Wendy @ Wendysquiltsandmore said...

Wow - what an eventful day. Well done on holding it together even when faced with car troubles. Your sewing machine looks fantastic - how exciting!! Jelly rolls - look at the library for books by Pam and Nicky Lintott. They have written about 5 books of Jelly roll patterns and you're sure to find something in one of those. Don't wash it - and when you come to sew, just check the width - is the 2.5" the V of the zig zag cut, or the tip? Have fun.

Ellie Foster said...

Dear Wendy
Despite your not brilliant start to the day, it obviously improved a lot! You have some lovely material and projects to keep you busy. The sewing machine looks amazing - you're going to have a lot of fun!
Best wishes
Ellie

Sew Surprising said...

Im hoping the car will be an easy fix, on the upside the jelly roll was a bargain, Im about to begin slicing one up with some solids and make a large 20" log cabin block and then slice it into quarters and make more and then shuffle the blocks around. Decided on this as Im not a fan of the jelly roll race quilt look :/ Congratulations on the new machine, that little house and tree pattern looks great in variegated thread :)

margaret said...

what a car disaster, do hope it is not going to cst too much to get back on the road and hope you made it home okay.
I was there too shame we could have said hi

Re the ragging, I have done it with a bamboo stick, cannot remember how , I think some of the ladies used a knitting needle.

Some good buys and you are so lucky with your new machine, I looked at the juki straight stitch one with a bigspace but it was £990 in my dreams.

Celtic Thistle said...

What a bad start to your day, but we'll done you for staying calm in the face of that adversity. Just goes to show nothing comes between you and a workshop :)
I saw your EMMQG quilt at the show but didn't take a photo :( It was lovely though.
Hope your car turns out to be cheaper to repair than you expect. Have fun playing with your wonderful new toy!

Rachel said...

All in all, the day turned out much better than you expected at first, didn't it!

pennydog said...

Why didn't you ring me you silly goose? I could have driven you home and/or waited with the car for you to do your workshop since I was there the days either side anyway! Love the look of your new machine, I am incredibly jealous.

Sarah in Stitches said...

I'm so sorry about your car! I completely understand, any time something happens to my car I freak out. It's just such a huge unbelievable inconvenience! Anyway, it sounds like you had a wonderful day. Love all your goodies, and congrats on the new sewing machine! :D

Sandra :) said...

I hope your car repairs don't break the bank - it's just SO annoying when they break down - and it really interferes with day to day living! Congratulations about the upcoming gifty - you're going to have a blast playing with it!

Fiona said...

what a pain about your car but well done on not letting it spoil your day.... how fun to go and what lovely purchases and really great on the new sewing machine.... extra brownie points to your mum!
Hugz

Jane said...

I'm so glad you managed to enjoy your day, despite the drama. Hope the car is sorted soon, and what a wonderful present, roll on November!