Quilty Eye Candy from Exeter

Some Friday eye candy before we all settle down for Friday Night Sew In.  Not signed up?  Click on the shiny new button to the right and add your name to Heidi's list now!
These are all quilts that were entered in the challenge category at the Quilters' Guild Conference, as the weekend was in Exeter, in the West Country of England the theme was "Wild West".  I imagine giving that theme to my readers in USA would result in a rather different set of quilts.

Finally for today, this lovely quilt by Jenny Hutchinson, isn't it evocative of summers by the sea?

Right, time to get the dressing gown on, cosy slippers and a stash of yummy things to eat.  I'm working on the piece I started with Lynne Edwards last weekend, more about that to come.  Don't forget to enter my blogiversary giveaway, click here!

Cowslip Workshops and a Giveaway

Warning:  my posts are going to be photo-heavy for the next few days and full of gushing superlatives.

I'm just back from the Quilters' Guild Conference which was held in Exeter this year.  I've never attended this annual event before and didn't know what to expect.  I have to report that it was a fabulous weekend, helped in no small part by the most excellent weather, wall to wall sunshine.  The venue (Exeter University Streatham campus) was very good although a little steep.  It's all very well being perched gloriously on top of a hill and enjoying marvellous views but when you go down you have to come back up!  The workshop I did was great (more on that in another post) and the lectures I attended were very stimulating.

 These pictures were taken at the Gala Dinner, the dress code was black and white

There was an optional visit to the Cowslip Workshops near Launceston and that's mainly what this post is about.  I had to do a little shopping as it's rude not to and also it's nearly my second blogiversary. 

 Here I am outside the quilt shop at Cowslip Workshops

It seems amazing that I've been writing this for two years, it's been fantastic and I've loved making lots of new friends, sharing their quilting and non-quilting lives and getting loads of inspiration and help.  I saw two bits of loveliness at Cowslip that I thought would make good giveaway gifts and you can have the choice if you're the lucky winner. 
Choose from this lovely rotary cutter holder:

 or this cute egg cosy:

Not many hoops to jump through this time just leave an answer to the following question on this post (one chance), all my lovely followers get an extra chance as a thank you from me.  Good luck.

The dress code at the QGBI Gala Dinner was black and white.  
What is your favourite combination of colours and why?

Cowslip Workshops is a great venue for quilters with a shop full of yumminess,

in a beautiful setting in rural Cornwall.

Owner, Jo Colwill, had arranged a special day for us with a guest trader, Liz Drake, who had a wonderful stall full of thoughtfully presented antique textiles and brocante.

Jo, pictured here,

also allowed us to wander in her beautiful house and had prepared a very delicious cream tea for us.  For visitors there is a cafe/restaurant on the site which is visited regularly by local people and non-quilters such is the quality of the food.  It was a privilege to see inside the house which was full of the evidence of Jo's creativity:

There was also a very special exhibition on over the weekend which I will share with you in a separate post (with photos of course).  There is a good programme of exhibitions and special events plus a full range of great workshops at Cowslip.  If you're in England, or visiting, sign up for the newsletter to be kept up to date, I might see you there!
Finally, here's a photo of yours truly and friends at the Gala Dinner and a reminder of the giveaway question:

The dress code at the QGBI Gala Dinner was black and white.  
What is your favourite combination of colours and why?

Thank you Susan

I had a great package from Susan, the Quixotic Crafter this afternoon as I was lucky enough to win her IQD giveaway.  This is what she sent me:

lots and lots and lots (over 100) 6" squares of gorgeousness, all beautiful floral fabrics.  Thank you Susan, my thinking cap is on and I'm thinking show off those flowers and go for a fairly simple scrappy quilt, maybe for summer picnics, wouldn't that be a delight?  I wonder if I can arrange those squares to create a graduated rainbow effect?  Watch this space.

Mothering Sunday Early

I just thought I'd share these two photos with you.  The first was at Doughty's fabric roadshow in Lincoln this morning:

We arrived soon after opening and there was already a queue the length of the hall so we decided to go for the coffee and cake option first.  Unfortunately while we were feasting even more ladies (mainly) arrived and the queue got longer and the hall more crowded.  Those in the queue had their arms full of bolts of fabric and some had got chairs - for the fabric!  As the average price per metre was £6 it was no wonder.  DD and I both got what we wanted, purples for her (I'll be doing something creative for her new bedroom with those) and turquoise, cream and a touch of brown for me to use with Lynne Edwards on Friday (I'll share afterwards).  I didn't find anything for our panel Michelle but will have several more opportunities at the weekend.  I did manage an impulse buy that then needed two extra fabrics to go with it!  I'll be using those for a Global Piecers mug rug swap so I can't share those either! 
So, what's the other photo?  Well, after DD had bought me lunch it was back to her place for some gentle (ha ha) curtain hanging (as it was rather damp outside and the gardening was postponed).  I was really impressed to see how she is enjoying homemaking and sneakily took her photograph (she'll probably kill me when she sees it).

And I can report that she was pleased with her shopping list holder and immediately hung it on her kitchen wall, bless her.  A successful but tiring day, so Chinese takeaway for dinner!  Happy Mothering Sunday to you all for tomorrow.

Retreat Photos

As promised here are some photos of what I've been working on.  Please excuse the quality, I have a new computer with a different photo editing programme and haven't got to grips with it yet.

This is the quilt using Nara Gardens fabric.  I've pieced the quilt top and now it needs a good press and a large clear space so that I can layer it and pin it and then get on with the quilting.

I am pleased with how this design went together but think I should have chosen fabrics with a better contrast for the framed square.  The eau de nil fabric is fine but the other one has too much black for the design to be obvious.  I like it though so I won't be changing it!

The pattern and kits to make these cute shopping list/notepad holders were. given to Dayspring Quilters in Norfolk for IQD 2011.  The pattern is copyright of Village Fabrics Ltd in Oxfordshire.  Please reward their generosity by taking a look at their website:  www.villagefabrics.co.uk  I made the pink and green one for my DD and the blue and cream one below for myself.

I'm not very happy with these butterflies but they are done and dusted and I've learned from them.  I made them for a fabric postcard swap and thought cutting them out would be interesting.  That's one word for it.  The theme was "my favourite film" and I chose "The Butterfly Effect" - a great film, much, much better than my postcards!

This next project is coming along nicely.  As you can see it is a New Zealand themed wall hanging and I've got it quilted and ready for squaring up and binding.  A wet afternoon should see it finished and hanging on the wall in our bach in Norfolk.

Still on the New Zealand theme, this piece is completely finished.  It's a small wall hanging after Gail Lawther's "Seascape" in her wonderful "Glimpses of New Zealand" book.   I was unable to get a place in her workshop at FoQ last year but bought a little selection of fabrics from her to make this quilt.  The one she made is smoother, she put it together in a foundation piecing style whereas I have gone for keeping all the fabric edges exposed - I suppose my sea is a rougher one than Gail's, maybe a West Coast sea, but then the sand should be black

So it's onward and upwards.  Tomorrow I'm going to the Doughty's fabric roadshow to get fabric for Exeter next week, for whatever DD has planned in purple and also, big drum roll here and a shouted 

 Michelle!!!!

I'm also planning to get fabric to go with "our" panel Michelle,  can you believe it?  While I was having my little retreat I worked out the design for the Essence of Clair table runner so I hope that will work out well and I think (!!) I know what I'm doing with our lovely Spring panel so watch this space closely!  I'm really enjoying working on all these NZ projects, they remind me of a great holiday and all the lovely people I met.

Retreat Report 1

I had quite a productive time on my little retreat and will share some photos in the next post.  Today I'm up to my eyes in catching up (washing etc, groan) but I did have a wander around the estate and found a very brave asparagus spear poking about 2" through the soil, just the one but such promise of delicious things to come (I wonder if there'll be enough for a starter when you get here Teresa?)  The tulips are looking lovely and the blossom on all the trees around is just stunning this year, I think that chilly winter did everything good.  A delivery of seeds arrived a couple of days ago so I'm hoping for a warm few days to get things going.
Tomorrow I've also got to get things together for my next jolly.  I'm going to the Quilters' Guild AGM/Conference in Exeter next weekend and will be doing a class with Lynne Edwards among other delights.  This means I need to go to the LQS to get the class requirements!  Fortunately Doughty's are having a roadshow nearby on Saturday so I'm going there with DD (who I believe has another project for me, in purple!)
Okay, back to the river to get on with the washing, more tomorrow and photos, I promise.

Quilt Retreat

As the quilting retreat I was involved in planning for later this year is not now happening I thought I'd have a little retreat of my own.  I've gathered a bag of quilting and a box of quilting, my sewing machine and a pile of books and magazines.  Hopefully there'll be a lot of progress and even a finish or two to report when I get back online.  Wonder if DH will cope?!  Last weekend we had a lazy eating two days as he was helping to fit SiL's kitchen and I was celebrating IQD.  We bought ready made food (we don't usually), bags of salad, a tiramisu in a plastic container, Thai fishcakes in a plastic container, pizza in a box etc etc.  I was staggered at how much I spent on food for just two days and by how much rubbish it produced.  Roll on the veggies growing!

Friday Night Sew-In: Saturday Morning Report, March 2011 and a Giveaway

Happy International Quilt Day

Last night it was FNSI time again and also Comic Relief night here in the UK.  If some of my stitching is wobbly I can blame it on laughing at the acts, sketches, songs etc that were on BBC all evening; but if some of my work is soggy I can blame it on weeping at the desperate situation of people going blind in Africa for the sake of a simple operation that takes twenty minutes and costs £17.  It was amazing to see the reactions of people as their bandages were removed and they realised they could see, a real miracle.

I didn't do all these blocks last night, I started a couple of days ago, but this is all I can do for the moment as I've run out of the main fabric, Nara Gardens from Hoffman.  Very, very fortunately when I phoned my LQS yesterday there was 3.5m left on the bolt and Barbara is saving it for me.  It's more than I need but I'm not risking running out again and it won't be difficult to find a use for this wonderful fabric.  The quilt is the same design as the Round and Round le Jardin (scroll down on the right) but is to be a quilt for my guest bed.
Thank you to Heidi and Bobbi for hosting FNSI again, it was sew lovely to be stitching away with people all over the world, especially with today being InterNational Quilt Day (click on that link for more information

and a great free Log Cabin quilt pattern).
DH is spending his day helping SiL install a new kitchen, sounds as if I've got the whole of today to sew, hooray :)
Susan is having a great NQD giveaway on her blog, the Quixotic Crafter, so pop over there and please tell her Lis at Online Quilting sent you, thank you.
And while you're blog-hopping, please go over to two posts on my sashiko blog, one about help for Japan and one an amazing letter from a lady in Sendai that will change your day.

A Letter from Sendai

This is another forwarded message that I read on Facebook and just had to share with you.  I found it utterly inspiring and such a reflection of the different ways it is possible to view events and what it is possible to take from them.  

 

 Hello My Lovely Friends,  

First I want to thank you so very much for your concern for me. I am very touched. I also wish to apologize for a generic message to you all. But it seems the best way at the moment to get my message to you.   Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend's home. We share supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful.  During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their home, they put out sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets. Utterly amazingly where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes. People keep saying, "Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone helped one another."  Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are constant and helicopters pass overhead often.   We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on. But all of this is by area. Some people have these things, others do not. No one has washed for several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully on the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.  There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places, yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun. People lining up for water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening at the same time. Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No one out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled. The mountains are Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see them silhouetted against the sky magnificently.  And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check on it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from whom, but it is there. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone is OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no.   They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking, rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off than others.  Last night my friend's husband came in from the country, bringing food and water. Blessed again.  Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at this moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small because of all that is happening. I don't. Rather, I feel as part of something happening that much larger than myself. This wave of birthing (worldwide) is hard, and yet magnificent. Thank you again for your care and Love of me,   

With Love in return, to you all, Anne.                 

Quilt Appeal for Japan

I received this forwarded appeal this morning and am copying it here for anyone who can help:

It means a considerable investment in postage if you want to help - but it is a lovely idea and we all know how well it works.

"This morning I received an email from Naomi Ichikawa, Editor of Patchwork Quilt Tsushin Magazine. Naomi lives in Tokyo and her mother and brother survived the tsunami in Sendai.

Naomi asked me to please spread the word about the plea for comfort quilts.

Here is Naomi's request:

Dear Valerie
It is still bad situation now in Japan.
We are still nervous about shaking and radiation,but no way to escape.

I start to announce to the quilters to send us comfort quilts for the
people who are suffered.I would like to do it to the world quilters.
We will deliver the comfort quilts to the people who are very difficult
situation.
Could you please help to announce it to the quilters?

We accept any size of quilts(baby to adult).new or unused.
The deadline would be the end of May or later.

Send the quilts to:
(until the middle of April)
Naomi Ichikawa,Editor of Patchwork Quilt tsushin
Patchwork Tsushin Co.,Ltd
5-28-3,Hongo,Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo,

Japan zip:113-0033

(after the middle of April)
Naomi Ichikawa
Patchwork Tsushin Co.,Ltd
2-21-2,Yushima,Bunkyo-ku,Tokyo,

Japan zip:113-0034

I will appreciate if you help me.

Naomi