Festival of Quilts Redux

Well, call me a glutton for punishment... I'm off to the Festival of quilts in birmingham again. This time I shall be going on my own so I shan't feel the need to tell people off when they are rude or push into me as I'll have no-one to embarrass... So if you hear a raised Scouse accent swearing or see a harrassed lookin' woman with bright purply-pink hair who looks in need of some gin or a cup of tea please feel free to say hi / or alternatively find a a place to hide!! I don't know if anyone out there has ever been, but the train from Birmingham New Street to Birmingham International (where the NEC is) is like Hogwarts Express for quilters... it's rather intimidating. I'm thinking of wearing my nose to ear chain to freak everyone out - you never know it might stop people bumping into me! (fingers crossed)

I've finished work until September and I'm looking forward to having a nice break including Dad's party. It feels like the planning of it has been going on FOREVER, and as it's only round the corner there is still soooo much to do. Will no doubt be back in a few days as have the time now for plenty of updates!

Well I'd better start sharpening my elbows...

Knutsford City Limits

For anyone who enjoyed Cranford as much as I did (or in Australia I gather just starting to enjoy Cranford), you should have a little trip and spend a few hours in Knutsford the real town upon which Cranford is based. We went to have a look at the market which we discovered is very small, but we got some nice bread so we were pleased! We also discovered "Miss Matty's" house, which still houses a tea rooms Mallard Tea merchant and patisserie, with this sign outside which begged to be photographed!

Of course we had to venture in and get some tea and cakes to bring home and sample... they were very nice, I even managed to get a photo before they were demolished!

How cute are they! There were ones with Strawberries and huge chocolate curls on them, but we were relatively restrained and got two choccy ones and two vanilla ones to share.

It has been lovely this week, I've had two days off work and it's like I've been given an extra sneaky weekend. Somewhere, someones said, "that's what that Sarah one needs, an extra weekend, lets give her that so she can go on day trips and eat cake and drink even more tea than usual. Lets let her have some extra time to go through her fabric stash and sew some more hexagons for her quilt" ... and I'm very glad that someone did, I find myself having done weekendy things with another two days for fun!

So speaking of quilts, it's coming along....

here's to two more weekendy days!!!!

Autumn...mmmmm.....

I'm surprised by how chilly the days are getting, there is a nip in the air and the leaves are changing, heralding in one of my favourite seasons... Autumn of course. I feel a trip to Speke Hall coming on, to walk around the grounds (is it Orchard and Apple day soon?... must check!) watch the Aeroplanes take off and blow away the cobwebs. I can't wait to dig out my wooly scarves and hats and leather gloves, I adore leather gloves, I'm on the lookout for a green pair to add to the grey, red and brown ones... I might even have to get another handbag to match.....It'd be rude not to, wouldn't it...That'd be a brilliant mission for Steve the Roman who is off to the states again not so far into the future.... mmmm....!

I also think it is time to start another quilty project. Having just finished a quilted playmat for a colleague's Granddaughter (I didn't want to start anything before I'd finished that otherwise she'd have been 10 by the time I'd done it!) oh and here it is!

I'm going to start on one for me, in greens. I've been collecting for a while but I'm going to have fun looking for some more! I'm going to go for hexagons too, so please think of me whilst I'm cutting out all the papers!

I'm also looking forward to going to Glasgow next month for the country living fair with my lovely friend Jo who is going to have to put up with me for a weekend. I don't think her and her lovely husband Gareth know what they have let themselves in for! Any other bloggers going?

Well I'm off to get a cup of tea. See you soon!

Quilt Show - Glutton for punishment! Invitation

As some of you may remember, Mum, Jenny and I went to the Quilt Show in Birmingham last year. I enjoyed looking at the fabric etc, however I was unsurprisingly non-plussed by the behaviour of a lot of the attendees, most of whom when confronted with a young person who behaved in the same way would have a great deal to say about it, and quite rightly so. I’ve decided to go on own this year, I don’t mind getting stroppy with middle aged and elderly harridans who annoy me, but I felt like I should at least show some decorum last year so as not to get Mum and Jenny thrown out. I still want to go ( I do realise I said I'd NEVER go again - womans perogative to change her mind!), and whilst I'm not adverse to attending on my own, I suspect there will be some other bloggers there and it is always nice to have a cup of tea with someone! So – I’m throwing this open, should there be any bloggers going this year – would anyone like to have a meet up? We can form an “I’ll watch your stuff whilst you do this” committee, assist in fending off any evil old biddies (I’ll practice my best scouse – that’ll frighten ‘em) caution against daft purchases and support and come up with plausible reasons for brilliant ones! Plus a few words of advice if you are going incognito and you haven't been before – take plenty to drink (queue’s are long) a packed lunch (food prices extortionate) a large bag for purchases (and beating the evil ones) and a mobile (for triangulation!) and don't forget to sharpen your elbows....

Really "Ladies", do you have to be so rude????

I had the misfortune to go to the Festival of Quilts on Thursday. Whilst I had a great time looking at the fabulous creations of very talented people, and got some fab material, I was appalled by the behaviour of women who frankly should know better. As a young woman, I've been taught manners by my parents, I stand to let people sit down who need a seat more than me, I hold doors open and I say please and thank you. It all began on the 11.06 to Birmingham International, the train was... well think Hogwarts express for quilters... I was stood on, ignored, pushed over on countless occasions (quite a feat as I'm built for comfort rather than speed) One lady even swore at me (I don't have eyes in the back of my head and she stood directly behind me) I had to have words with her unfortunately, and as my turn of phrase when riled is not pretty (benefits of being a scouser I guess) I think I scared her, but really come on, I'm not hard to miss, if there is a big bird in a corner looking at something and you are only 5 foot tall don't stand behind her or you is gonna get squished!!!! I would NEVER go to one again. Which is a shame, I love doing the whole quilting thing, but if that was a measure of people that do it - I'm not sure its actually for me, (they are obviously not as nice as bloggers). It upsets me to say it but there you go.

Rant over, I'm going to post some piccies of the fabulous quilts we saw, there are some talented people out there.

See just a small selection - but fabulous yes????!!!!

I had one moment of starstruckedness (new word ahoy) I saw him... yes... I saw Kaffe!!! I was so excited!!!

I'm going to post tomorrow about the fabulous things I got and a scone recipe for those that requested it!

and so Tuesday comes around again!!

I do suspect that it'll be wednesday by the time this appears its 8 mins past midnight and I'm shattered.

LSM has we really pleased with the feedback for her blog and has just posted again!! I'm so glad she decided to do it! She is becoming more and more concerned with environmental matters and I found this little book for her that she can keep in her handbag! The ISBN is 9781903998403 and it cost just £3.95!!! Bargain I say

A little update on my patchwork project. I've decided to make it into something else rather than a tablecloth, however I can't say what.. so I'll just have to post the pictures and keep schtum!!! I'm being good and using my scraps and offcuts, the squares are 5 cm by 5 cm and are a pain to tack but after the 2cm by 2cm square mini one I did its nothing!!!!

Anyhow, I'm off to bed now with my book and a cup of tea I'll post again very soon! Enjoy the rest of the nice weather before the rain hits! I'll leave you with this picture taken in the garden, I wonder who's flying this and where they are going....

LSM's Quilts - with a little help from her friends

LSM (now a nickname that seems to have stuck) is a quilter, not your usual type on the sewing machine, oh no, she does everything by hand (bar the edges.. which I do anywhay so she does do everything by hand)

Here is one she made for her friends daughter

And another as a wedding present for my cousin and her husband

See - she should get a blog of her own then she can post all about the process seeing as she is just about to start on her next. I say she is I get the job of cutting out templates, the fabric and helping tack!!!

Turned out nice again!

On Friday I seem to remember posting that there were no plans for the weekend.... well this changed. I ended up coming to work with my sister on a mercy mission on Sat (far too long and boring to go into) so that was that and then on sunday.... well I have to admit I slept in 'til 12 and then went to a book shop (yet again did not come out empty handed) but hey - its a book.... no harm ever came from buying books. Then I spent sunday evening cutting out squares for my mum who is making a patchwork for her friends daughter. It will be "our" third this year, after two massive wedding quilts it will be a pleasure just to do a single bed quilt! So still fairly quiet weekend, but good none the less! (despite no time for sculpture) never mind!....here starts the new working week!