Henry Moore at Kew

As you may remember I have been trying to educate myself about art. Living in London has really helped with this, as I have access to several galleries with very different collections. Just occasionally though something really special comes up. I had no idea whether or not I would like Moore's sculptures but I knew enough to know that seeing 28 of them out in Kew gardens was something not to miss.

Fortunately I have a friend who is a fan of Moore and quite happy to join me in a walk around the gardens. Even more luckily we chose to go yesterday, which seems to have been the last day of summer, today we have had some significant storms but yesterday was a wonderful warm late summer day. Blogger being blogger has chosen it's own order for the pictures and I think I will just work with it rather than trying to shuffle them all around. It actually fits how it felt when we were walking around. We kept getting the feeling we weren't looking at things in the order the guide expected, which was rather nice. We would come to our own conclusions about the work we were looking at, only to have our thoughts confirmed by the write up on the next sculpture. I guess ti show how successful Moore is with what he does.

This first piece here is 'Knife Edge Two Piece', it was made in the 1960's. Like many of the pieces it has many different looks depending on the angle you view it from. I think this was my favourite, although we stopped for a break in the afternoon and the bench we chose was in a group of trees and I could see this sculpture through the trees, what was beautiful too. This was a very solid feeling piece and I loved the sharpness of the edge. It was interesting to be able to touch the sculpture. Touch is such and important sense and when viewing art we normally don't get to use it. Given that most of the works are cast in bronze, it is surprising how different they all feel.

The second picture is of possibly the busiest of the sculptures. 'Two Large Forms' was absolutely swarmed over by children. Although there were a lot of signs warning people not to climb on the sculpture most of them had soft bark chippings around them so I guess they expected a certain amount of climbing. I was torn between feeling people should have obeyed the signs and thinking it was great that children were getting so much out of the art. Maybe if they find art fun at an early age it will be easier for them to enjoy it later in life. This picture was taken standing inside the sculpture.

Next we have one of Henry Moores many reclining figures. This one is 'Reclining Figure' from 1982. I had expected to like the reclining women a lot, but actually I struggle with the distorted proportions they have. I love the hair, which looks like a bun to me and nearly all the ladies have it, but the faces with two holes as eyes and the nipple holes are almost disturbing. I guess it has to be said they are effective, I know what he is showing, but I don't think it is for me.

'Oval with Points' had a great position within the gardens, it was positioned in the middle of one of the long vistas. I think this was the piece that really made it clear to me what appeals about Henry Moore I like looking at landscaped through his sculptures. They work almost like frames, and in doing so they seem to change the landscape you are looking at. I think I could have spent hours looking at all the new shapes they make. This was possibly the best for revealing itself slowly, something they were intended to do. As we approached the sculpture looks fairly flat. It looks like it will be shaped like a washer with the hole through it, but as you walk around it you find the other side bulges and looking at it edge on there are even more shapes and patterns. I just wish I could have been there without all the people. I would have loved a photograph of the empty landscape through the hole. The guide book only have the view looking the other way back towards the palm house.

After finding I liked the landscapes framed by bits of sculpture I started taking a lot of pictures using the sculptures rather than just of the sculptures. This is one I particularly liked. It is the 'Double Oval' framing the Orangery restaurant. There are several places to eat at Kew in some lovely buildings. I would love to see an orangery in use, but they refreshments were good and they weren't even too busy, so I guess I can't complain.

This was one of the pieces where we commented on it similarity to bones, right before reading a piece about how Moore was inspired by bones. Yay, he conveyed his inspiration and we understood it. OK that may not seem like a big deal, but coming from an entirely science background I have found art to be something of a mystery so seeing what I am supposed to s a sign of progress (and a good artists work). This one is called 'Reclining Connected Forms' which doesn't say much to me, but then I see bones and joints and think far more literally when looking at names. I like the idea of castings, because there are multiple copies of each piece. I had thought this would devalue art in some way, but I'm not so sure now. Isn't it a good thing to have a few copies so more people can enjoy them?

This seemed to be the biggest of the sculptures at Kew, and I was wondering how they brought it in. The guide book for the exhibition has some great pictures of it being craned into place all wrapped up, I wish I could have seen it being done. It must be very difficult installing multi part sculptures as you want to get the pieces exactly as the artist saw them. I suppose there must be some sort of assembly instructions that map out where thing hit the ground relative to each other, can you imaging how annoying it would be to have your work assembled incorrectly when it is this big? 'Large Reclining Figure' is resting by the lake in front of the palm house. It fits in well with all the people sitting by the lake and having their picnic with the swans and geese. Unlike most of the sculptures this one is fiberglass and feels a lot more temporary and fragile, something like egg shell.


Walking around the lake (I think it is a lake anyway, when does a pond become a lake?) you get this wonderful view of the palm house and the fountain. I can't believe how grey my pictures look, because it was really very sunny with the light reflecting off the water. For some reason that just hasn't come out. You can still see the wonderful shape of the palm house. Unfortunately we ran out of time so only managed a very quick look around but we have decided that when we go back you need to do it with a larger group of people. That way you can strip down to minimal clothes before going in and leave your friends outside looking after your belongings. It is very hot and humid in there (I know clue is in the name) and jeans and t-shirt was really too much clothing.

This is 'Three Piece Reclining Figure: Draped' yes really. I've struggled to find out which one it was because they all show it from a very different angle, and it looks like and entirely different piece. I liked the draped effect from this position and I think the torso looks more elegant too. Just be warned that if you try to look it up in the guide book you do need to expect the other side. It's odd as most of the time I have taken very similar pictures to the official photographers, but here I seem to be very much in the minority.



Carrying on one of Henry Moore's favourite themes, we have 'Reclining Figure: Angles'. I liked the face on this one, I am more comfortable when there are more features, or perhaps when there is a definite nose. I'm not entirely sure which. I still find the distorted body shapes rather off putting though.

This is the Temperate House, given how much I like the building and how many pictures I took of it you my be surprised to hear that we didn't have time to visit it. Hopefully we will get to go back later in the year though and then spending time in the hot house will, I am sure, look very appealing. I would especially like to see the sculptures in the snow, I think they would look totally different in that setting. It might even be worth seeing them just with the winter trees, although there are a lot of conifers around so it won't be totally bleak. The guide book (for Kew itself) seems to say it contains a lake and plants from New Zealand and Australia. It certainly sounds good from the book. The interior architecture also looks stunning from the photographs. I can't wait to go back and have a good look around.

The Pagoda is another spectacular building within the gardens, apparently one of 25 special buildings designed for the gardens. Originally it was painted very brightly, with green and white roofs and the banisters in a mix of red, blue and green. It sounds a bit garish to me but I guess it was in style in the 18th century. It is not a 'proper' pagoda as really it should have an odd number of floors but it is so pretty I think I will let it off. I was really surprised by how solid it looks. I think of pagodas as being rather delicate things but this is a very solid brick structure with iron plates for the roofs.

I often buy guidebooks when I visit places but for some reason they always appeal more when I get home. I don't seem to want to read them when I am actually at the place. This is the first time I have felt the guide book would add to the visit. I bet I forget to take it with me when I go back. I've found out there are several follies I missed and a waterlily house. As I have plans to make a waterlily quilt I guess I have to go for research purposes. If I happen to see other things while I am there I can't really help it. I've been looking for inspiration for architectural quilts too, and the Temperate house may well be able to help with that.


Speaking of follies, we did find King William's Temple. Inside there are iron plaques commemorating British military victories from Minden to Waterloo. It was originally designed to complement the Temple of Victory, which is no longer standing. Something that did strike me at Kew was the number of columns. I wish people built more with columns now. I love them and there are so many different styles. I guess it is a matter of cost, but still they are great, someone must think they are worth the price.

When they were planning the Henry Moore exhibition at Kew they obviously put a lot of thought into where the pieces were going to fit best. There are many that frame wonderful views, there are ladies reclining in front of lovely buildings looking over gardens, and then there is the 'Goslar Warrior'. Where else would you put a soldier, but outside the Temple of Victory. When I look at this I see a soldier resting he is ready but at rest, the guide book however tells me that he is a falling warrior. It talks about him having a twisted thin body, which again is not at all what I see. I see an athletic body, I see the potential for power. It's interesting that this is the only piece where I am utterly at odds with the official description. It makes me want to see the other male forms, especially the warriors, as I feel I would like more data on how Moore represents these.

The last picture I am going to share here is of 'Large Upright Internal/External Form'. This was another piece placed in the middle of a wonderful long vista. It was particularly striking seeing it with the pagoda in the background but the path was so busy I couldn't get a good picture of it. As with many of the pieces it seems to require you to look at it from a lot of different angles, and I wish I could have got to see it as those setting it up did. There is a picture in the guide book of someone in a cherry picker inside it. That's not a view many people will get but I am sure it felt amazing. This has the potential to be one of the most enclosing of the pieces at Kew but being tall and thin (relatively) you can't really get into it.

If you are interested in the sculptures but can't get to Kew the guide book is full of good pictures and interesting text. Also they have a web site with a lot of information on about both this exhibition and Kew in general. If you are close enough to visit you really do need at least two days to see everything at Kew. We arrived fairly early and weren't quite thrown out, but I think we only saw slightly over half of what there was to see, and that involved a lot of rushing about in the late afternoon. Of course if you do fancy meeting up with me when you go do let me know I really want to go back sooner rather than later. Oh yes the exhibition is on until the 30th March 2008, I couldn't find that on their site.

Dreams can come true

As you do when you are preparing to do something new and somewhat unknown, I was dreaming about teaching at Patchwork Corner yesterday morning. OK perhaps a little sad but it was quite cool too. If we could just get rid of the roads and expand the shop to the one in my dream... but that isn't the bit that came true. I dreamed about thread (yes yes, really sad I know) and lo and behold one of my students asked exactly the right question for the answer I had rehearsed in my dream. Although I think I did it better in my dream. Of all the things to come true I don't think this would have been my highest priority, heck the huge shop with a whole room dedicated to threads would have been more exciting, but still quite fun. I guess the brain does know what it is doing with rehearsing things in your sleep.

I think the class went well. Th reason it was concerning me is that I had no idea what I would end up teaching. I had prepared several things but I had to go and ask what the class wanted. As it turned out they had all brought things along with them. That made things a lot easier even if it did mean teaching different things to each person. They seem like a nice bunch and I am very much looking forward to seeing them regularly. One bonus of a regular group is getting to see people actually finish things, and I benefited from this in the very first session. One of the ladies in this calls took my speed quilt workshop and brought that along to show me finished. It looked really good and people found it hard to believe how quickly she had made it. She thinks it took about 12 hours including all the cutting. Not bad.

We also concluded I should get shares in June Taylor for showing people the Shapecut tool. I love mine and wouldn't be without it so I am always surprised how many people have never tried it. It is a special 'ruler' for cutting strips. It's hard to explain without showing you but trust me if you do a lot of strip cutting for piecing, you want one.

I thought it was time to show you my challenge fabrics, well the camera was to hand and I needed a break from quilting.
The terms of the challenge are that I have to use all of these and the threads to make a quilt. I can add more to it but I have to use all of these. I was wondering if I can do some kind graduated change from brown to purple, but I think that is going to need to be a very big quilt given that a lot of these are quite similar shades. I also considered something pictorial, but there isn't enough variation in value for the ideas that came to mind. Still I have a year so I don't need to rush into it. It's going to be an interesting problem to solve.

Oh my!

Well I've really gone and done it now, I've finally got in touch with a gallery. I've been thinking for a while that I aught/want to have an exhibition of my work. The want comes and goes depending on confidence, but as I think it is generally a good idea I am going to go for it. Some time ago Margaret Cooter suggested I look at the Dissenters Gallery. I did but at the time I didn't feel I had anywhere near enough work to mount a show. Earlier this week Cherie kindly applied a boot to my rear and feeling too ill to stand and quilt I got on the phone. Well if all galleries are as easy to deal with, I think I can do this. I suspect they aren't and that the very nice people looking after the Dissenters Chapel are something unusual, and rather wonderful.

Given this is really a long way from the field I am trained in it was nice to be talking to people who are keen to make this work and have experience of putting on this kind of event. I had been very worried about my lack of knowledge, but have been and met the team today I am sure I can do it. The only tricky part will be choosing work to display, as it will need to fit the venue, both in size and content. I was unsurprised that they weren't keen on the idea of me displaying nudes, given the gallery is attached to the chapel, especially as it is regularly used for funerals, but I took along my triptych anyway as it is a good size to take as a sample of my work. Well after they saw those they were actually keen for me to display them, thrilled doesn't cover it.

Having had a chance to think and try to plan, I think I need to make three or four new pieces to fit the space. It's a lovely venue and it has a few spots which demand using and have quite strong ideas what shape pieces they want. There is one spot which needs something tall and thin, which I think I would like to make something from the cemetery itself. For a while I have been thinking about dong a piece based on a sculpture and the cemetery has some wonderful work in it. I think it would be really good to have something to link me to the venue and I don't have anything that will fit the bill at the moment.

This is so scary, but thrilling at the same time. It feels rather like public speaking in fact, which I suppose isn't terribly surprising. If anyone has any tips I'd be very pleased to learn from others experiences, and I really do mean it, this isn't a field I trained for.

Hever Castle Quilt Show

If you haven't been to the Hever show you are really missing out on a
treat. It isn't the biggest show in the country but it has to be one of
the friendliest. This year there were over 100 competition quilts and
six exhibitions of quilts. There is a good range of styles so most
people should find something that interests them.

Being in the grounds of an historic building there are a lot of people
around who wouldn't travel to a quilt show. I think this provides a
great opportunity to show what we do to a wider audience. Certainly some
of those who wandered in 'by accident' seemed very impressed and
surprised by what was on display. Having both the challenge quilts and
the bed quilts visible from the door is a great plan. I feel it
reassures people who are not familiar some of the new directions
quilting has gone that they are indeed looking at quilts, but at the
same time illustrates that quilt aren't just something to put on the
bed.

The challenge section is open to guild members from all regions, and seems to
attract a good number of entries each year. The theme this year was
'Oriental Expressions'. Unfortunately I didn't manage to catch the
winner of the category so I can't show you her quilt, but here are the
other award winners in this category. The top three quilts receive a
money award, a rosette and a certificate. The winner is also awarded the
Hever Challenge Cup.

The winner was Anne Moncrieff with a piece called Masks, machine pieced,
hand quilted. Inspired by Japanese and Chinese Opera, clothing and
flowers.

Second place, and my favourite, Heather Downie, Haiku. A spring haiku, a
painting by Jakuchu and a pack of Japanese fabrics from California
inspired the design. Machine pieced and quilted.

Third place went to Bento, by Laura Cochran. Bento Lunchboxes are
delightful examples to the artistic approach to daily life in Japan.
This crazy Bento showcases both types of Japanese fabrics; bright silks
and subdued cottons.



Three quilts in the category receive Judges Choice, one chosen by each
judge. The award is a bundle of fabrics and threads, a rosette and a
certificate.

Three Little Maids by Cherie Lumsden, I fell in love with the fabrics
but only had limited amounts, so it was an exercise in use of fabrics.

Lynne Pretty received the award for The Silk Route. Inspired by
merchants unrolling lengths of silk, it tells the story of the silk moth
to fabric and its journey from East to West. Commercial, hand painted
silks.

Finally Mariko, by Ferret. There are so many iconic oriental masks and
faces. To my eyes the geisha is the most beautiful. Thanks Mary, without
you this wouldn't be here.

You may be able to see in the photographs of us receiving our awards
that we were each given a different colour bundle of fabrics.
Unfortunately Cherie and I both liked the same bundle and I was lucky
enough to get it. We narrowly avoided a fight, well at least we made it
a civilised fight. Cherie has challenged me to make a quilt using all of
the fabrics and thread that are in the bundle, I can add to it but I
can't take anything away. It's going to be tricky as the fabrics are
blues, purples, greens and sort of yellow brown. Still I like a
challenge and will see what I can come up with. You will be able to see
the result of this challenge at the Hever show next year. They have
kindly agreed to display the finished quilts, so that will make sure we
get it done.


This is Robin's entry for the challenge, Shikami. Inspired by a kyogen
theatre mask. This demonic spirit represents the expression of masculine rage. This is a small quilt, about A4, so the mask is approximately life sized.

Something else I really like about this show, is that the overall winner is chosen by the visitors. Even better this year two quilts I wanted to get awards did. The Sentinels by Irene Dunlop is a very striking collection of beach landscapes. It is wonderful how much detail and realism she has managed to achieve with very few fabrics. I would love to own this, or better yet have the eye for making it that she obviously has. Her statement reads, there they stand, protecting our shores from the encroaching sea.

The winner, taking home a large glass rose bowl, is Jean Wilkinson, with
An African Safari. Images of Africa, made for my niece who lives outside
Durban. Some of the pictures taken from Pat Parker and Jenny
Williamson's book. It's a wonderful quilt, and I am afraid my photographs
don't come close to doing it justice, and I love the fact that Jean
takes a lot of care to credit where the designs come from, only
crediting herself after she has covered the others. Though just between
you and me, now I know which she drew herself I am quite sure she could
have done them all if she had chosen to. She really is very talented at
capturing the 'essence of thing' which is essential for this style of
applique.

Please do consider entering the theme category next year, it is a lovely
show and a good day out. The water maze is fun and doesn't require you
to get wet, I didn't get to try the yew maze, it is very narrow and the
people ahead of us were trying to get a pushchair in so we gave it a
miss. If you are in the area, they are on the look out for stewards and
helpers for putting the show up. It is work, but it is a lot of fun. You
even get free tea at the morning break. So do consider offering your
help to keep this great show alive and growing.

Finally, thank you very much to all the quilters who have kindly allowed me to use these images of them and their quilts. Without them there wouldn't have been a show at all, and without their permission I could not have illustrated this posting. I am very grateful that quilters are so generous.

Power of Positive Thought

It's odd but the world does seem to know what you have a positive outlook, and no I don't just think it is that you see the same events differently.

For some reason this morning I woke up ready to take on the world. This is pretty odd given I have a cold and still feel pretty rough. There was a quilting magazine in my post, so I got to lie in a bath and read it. I spotted an advertisement for Green Mountain quilts, they are my next closest quilt shop. I've been meaning to go there for a while and today seemed the time. They have a map on their web site which I printed out and off I went. On the way I had thought up with a new pattern which is proving to be a lot of fun, but more about that later. The traffic turned out to be much better than the warnings suggested and the map was great. I found the shop without any problems.

So far so good, and believe me the world was already looking a better place. Then I got to meet the owner of Green Mountain Quilts, Paula Doyle, what a great lady. She was able to tell me so much about Houston, and all manner of other interesting things. I love getting to talk to different quilters. She has an good range of fabrics too, lots of tone on tone which are ideal for my nudes. I think I misplaced about two hours happily chatting. I should point out I did also buy things while I was there. I didn't just take up her time. It was funny to find out I knew at least one of her quilts, yet had never met her, and embarrassingly I seem to remember people once I have seen their work. Now if I can just get everyone to walk around with the quilt I've seen I would be sorted.

When I got home I found a card telling me my fabric order will be here on Monday, which will be perfect timing, and save it cluttering up the house before I need it. There was also a call I had been hoping for. See what I mean things start coming together. The rest of the afternoon was spent drawing up new designs, including a new pattern for the 2 1/2 strips. I've been promising Robin a pattern for a couple of months now so I got straight down to making up the prototype. It's going pretty well so far and I am really enjoying doing something simple that grows quickly.

As you may remember I helped hang quilts at Hever yesterday, I was disappointed that 'Mariko' didn't hang as well as I had hoped, so I wasn't at all surprised that I didn't get a call yesterday. I was very surprised tonight, I got a call. Mariko got a judges choice, which I think is amazing. I am so thrilled. Of all the shows I have been to this is by far the nicest (yes I know I haven't been to them all yet). I liked the way they treated everyone who had entered last year. I like that you get a certificate and a ribbon and that the return process for quilts was friendly and easy. Having helped hang the quilts I think this is due to some clever planning, and the ability of the organizers to at least seem relaxed. So I am now looking forward to going back on Sunday to collect a prize as well as my quilt. It doesn't get better than that. Well that isn't entirely true, I am rather hoping to play with the mazes too, I didn't have time last year.

Now all I have to do is keep thinking positively right. Not convinced I will manage it but I will enjoy it while it lasts. Of course this could all be the delusions of an ill person, but I am a happy ill person so I don't care.

Hever Castle Quilt Show

Well the quilts are up and the moles are mostly down. I think we only scared one today. Imaging emerging into a marquee full of women, poor beast. Here is a picture I took last year of the castle. You can see one of the mazes here as well. It really is an amazing place to visit.

I wish I had taken my camera with me today. I went down quite early so the morning mist was still covering the countryside. I saw so many amazing landscapes on the way. I was told that the mist on the lake is well worth seeing as well so I might try and get there fairly early on Sunday when I go to collect our quilts.

Unfortunately Mariko didn't behave well when hung. I am going to have to figure out more ways to quilt faces without them looking aged. Although I am not sure that more quilting would have helped much in this case.

Busy and feeling crummy

Well I suppose I can't complain, I didn't get a cold while I was finishing off for the NEC so as timing goes it could have been worse. Still it isn't what I wanted, I will be off to Hever early tomorrow to help hang the quilts and deliver a couple at the same time, so I am really hoping I will feel better by then.

As you can imagine the cold has slowed me up a bit, but I have still been making good use of my time. I have been worried about keeping 'Nude with Rope' rolled up. She is too long for me to roll her from the top down and I am sure rolling side to side is doing no good at all. While I was quilting yesterday I realised the, I missed her being on the wall where I could see her when I worked (she lived there until she was quilted) and that I had a set of stick on brackets I wasn't using. I had tried to stick the brackets to the bedroom walls but they aren't flat enough. A couple of minutes work and she is back in place, and probably a lot better off for it.

I don't think I can claim it is the most elegant hanging system, but the rod to the left is usually hidden behind my blocking board so it isn't too bad. The really nice thing is the brackets are easy to take down again as they are just stuck to the wall with special strips. They aren't cheap but it beats filling the wall with holes. Hmm filling with holes doesn't sound quite right does it but I guess you will know what I mean.

Carrying on the decorative theme I also hung up 'Guide Me'. It is hiding the quilt pile for me. Always an improvement. Although it won't be there long, I have to send it to the Edinburgh show before the end of the week and I guess I will have to find another quilt to take it's place. Still I did take this picture of it which is the best I have managed so far. I guess the lighting in here is good for it, so before it goes I may try and get one of the whole thing. It won't be easy it goes floor to ceiling and I can't get more than four feet back to take the picture, but I have to try.

Lastly here is a picture of the quilt I am currently working on. This picture was taken a day or two ago so things have moved on a bit since then, but given the show is this weekend I think you can wait to see the finished version. The Hever show is a lovely one to take the family to, there are two mazes at the castle and lots of gardens. I haven't looked around the castle itself so I can't comment on that, but I know there was more than enough in the grounds to keep us busy for the day. If you take a camera there are lots of potential quilt inspirations. I have a pattern for a quilt I drew up after last years show but I haven't had time to make it yet. Maybe I should think about it for next year.

When I am working on pictorial quilts I take a lot of photographs of them. I find I can't see the picture after a while and taking a picture makes it clear to me again. This one was taken just after I put her nose in. It didn't look anything like a nose when I first stepped back but I was quite happy with it when I saw it in the photograph. As you can also see I don't work on finishing one are before going to the next. I find I get bored when I try to do that so I often jump around a bit. The only rule I do have is to work from the back forward. I can only do an area if everything behind it is done. Even so there is a lot you can get away with. As you can see the parasol handle is in but I haven't finished her clothes, which are behind it. This piece is called 'Mariko' it is loosely named after the very kind lady who emailed me the entry form so I could actually enter this show.

Not think about quilting - is that possible.

I did try at the weekend to do less quilt designing honest. I even left my camera in the car which normally helps. Still I kept finding wonderful design inspirations, so much so I was told off several times by those around me. One of the best was the disk breaks on a bicycle. They were so pretty with a spiral pattern and lots of circles. I am sure that will come up again in something. I was also reminded that I really want to look for more scientific images, there are so many interesting things we have images of now I would love to use them in art.

Looking at the parts of the cars, the engines, the clutches and even the tools is just so inspiring there is so much potential. The drag strip itself is in a great location and often has very pretty cloud formations. As Tet went out first round I got to be a spectator on Sunday so I had a look at the photographs the other people had been taking. Spectacular skys are common and popular in the prints for sale. I think that is something else I would like to try in a future project.

Still today is a work day and I am back at it so all is well, now I can think about it as much as I like.

Harrogate Show

If anyone is going to the show this weekend and could take pictures of any of my quilts hanging there I would really appreciate it. I love having pictures of them out and about. I have three in the show, 'Red and Blue Tulips', 'Blue Moon' and 'My Fat Quarter of Paradise'. Thanks

Go hug a writer

I can't believe how hard it is writing a show report. I have a new found respect for those writers who fill our magazines on a regular basis. I don't know how they do it. I certainly didn't expect it to take so much thought but with a show the size of the Festival of Quilts there is so much to try and say in a small space. My truly lousy memory isn't helping either. I have written stacks of notes and I am still having to constantly look things up in the show guides. If anyone from Twisted Threads is reading please please consider putting back the index. It would have made my job so much easier to be able to look up an artists work from their name rather than hunting though the sections listings. Fortunately I am better at remembering where a quilt was than the names of the quilt and quilters. I also feel very sorry for the editor. I think she will be needing to make good use of her delete key when dealing with my piece. I am sure it is far too long, but I figure she has a better idea than I do of what should be covered so giving her too much is better than too little right?

I hope this is something I will get to do again, as it has been fun and interesting, but I am glad I don't need to do it every month, it is hard work. Thank you to all those who have the stamina to do this on a regular basis, I will be reading your work with a lot more appreciation after this experience.

Poop, my spell checker isn't working, so please laugh quietly at my errors.

Exciting Qualifying.

So the latest update, Tet managed to run over Robin, or Robin managed to throw himself under the wheel of the car, depending on how you look at it. It was while the car was being backed up after the burn out, so low speed and no damage done to human or car. typical driver, Tet reported it felt odd and one wheel felt a bit high. Yes stuffing your crew under the wheel will do that. The run was a good one though at 8.91, and the medical center after telling Robin off agreed he was fine.

Next run they took things a bit slower and avoided a repeat, unfortunately they also avoided getting a time as Tet went before the tree ran. They are just heading down for the sixth round of qualifying today.

On a quilty note, I am working on an applique quilt which needs a lot of dense quilting to make it pop. I've done about between an eighth and a quarter in a bit over 4 hours. It's a big job this one, but it does seem to be starting so sing. Hopefully I can get it finished before I go to the track on Saturday.

News from the track.

I've just heard that the 'Ugly Stick' has run a 8.906 on a 8.900 dial in. That's really good and means that Tet should qualify well. There isn't much room on that for people to do better. It is the European Finals at Santa pod this weekend and as soon and my dragon of a boss lets me I will be off to join them there. I admit it I am a real slave driver when it comes to customer work. Now if the car can just hold together and the weather stay good....

What do quilters want?

As some of you will know I give out pencils with my contact details on. I think they are a lot more useful than a business card and I like them. From the feedback I get so do quilters. Today I got the catalogue from the company that made them for me and I've been trying to think of a different idea for next year. So far I can't think of anything better than a pencil I guess I should add I still have a reasonable number of pencils so I won't stop handing those out anytime soon, the debate is do I get more of them made or something new and hopefully exciting.

Out of the hundreds of options I have come to the following, pens, bags, post-it notes, sweets or torches. Now the problem is, I can think of good reasons against all of those too. The pens (to me at least) don't look as good as the pencils and I bet they will run out faster too, oh and they are made of plastic so less environmentally sound. Yup even though I love my cars I do consider environmental impact important. The bags are all, almost big enough to be useful for carrying quilting supplies, each one just needs a small change and it would be great, as is they aren't. The post-it notes would be a great seam guide, which is why they appeal to me, but do other quilters do that? Sweets are actually not the draw of the sweets :) They come in a little tin, which just looks too handy, they are tins that shut really well so I have used them for pins in the past. Of course I know a lot of quilters who can't eat sweets so maybe that isn't such a good idea. Mini torches are great for peering into your sewing machine. How people live without one (or indeed several) is beyond me, but will they be 'borrowed' by the men in a quilters life and never seen again?

So there you have my dilemma, and here is your chance to influence the decision. Of those which would most appeal to you? Which would you be most likely to hang onto and so have my contact details on hand? Should I just stick with pencils, or is there something else I haven't considered?

Insomnia strikes

I can't sleep so I have been working on some new designs. I don't like sewing at this time of night I figure I have too great a chance of messing up, so I use the time to work with photographs or drawings. Then I realised I haven't shared this quilt with you yet. This is a customers top with my quilting on it. I delivered it today (yesterday?) so I can now show you. It was a really fun quilt to work on, I love doing all the patterns used in the body of it. I have to admit I am not such a big fan of the border design, it's tricky to do and I find it a bit stressful, still a challenge is a good once in a while. One of this things I like most about working on other peoples quilts is the great variety of colours and designs I get to work on. I get to experience so many more designs options than I could possibly come up with on my own, which in turn inspires my quilts.

Oh yes, my portfolio is now working again (as far as we can see) it was indeed and issue related to my ISP moving my site to a new server. I am really looking forward to being able to take my web site hosting in house, it will mean we have total control over any upgrades and changes. It will also mean I can move my blog onto our servers, which will make me feel a lot happier. I like to know things aren't going to vanish or change without warning.

Oh dear it must be late, my cats are now trying to get me to go to bed. Guess I should try to humor them.

Portfolio Updated

I've finally got my portfolio on my web site updated, which is great, except we have a nagging suspicion I have forgotten some quilts. It's worrying that I could forget a quilt, but I guess when they are coming thick and fast it is a risk. So if you can think of one I have missed out please let me know.

Also is anyone going to the Harrogate show next weekend? If so would you be able to send me a picture of my quilts there. I have three pieces in the show, 'Blue Moon', 'Red and Blue Tulips' and 'my Fat Quarter of Paradise'. I just hope the last one is going to behave, it is rather large and I suspect it won't fit the frame very well. I wonder if the judges make an allowance for the frame being too small for the quilt.

Quilts are getting ahead of themselves

I am finding it very hard to concentrate at the moment. I have two quilts that are trying to get attention out of order. I have to plan when I am going to work on which piece to have them ready for the shows I think they best fit, so I always have a few stacked up in my head, but two of them are rebelling. They want to be done now and I really don't have the time. It's vary hard to concentrate on anything else though. I have tried all my usual tricks to deal with these disobedient ideas. I've drawn up the designs and in one case printed up test patterns but still they won't leave me alone. I may go mad before the end of the month.

To further help I spend a very inspiring couple of hours with some friends children yesterday. I now have a new and exciting design idea I want to work on. Unfortunately this one seems to go against a lot of advice I've been given, that I tend to trust, so it will need some thought before I start on it. It is so cool though I have to find a way to make it work.

Now about that quilt for the Hever show....

When show quilts retire...

Lying in bed last night I thought I should show you some pictures of my retired show quilts. I am often asked what I do with such big quilts, well the answer is I use them. Once they finished the tour of duty some of them go into service on our bed. Some obviously are only designed to be on the wall and others are waiting to be sold, but the rest get to work. As soon as 'Burning Chrome' Came back from the NEC it went on the bed. I can assure you it is a very good bed quilt, works a treat. It had been the quilt I was going to show you but the cats had other ideas. It is in the washing machine after someone failed to keep hold of their breakfast this morning, but that is really my point. The quilts are pampered and fussed over for a period of time, them they come back to Earth and are really loved and used. This is why I am quite happy for people to touch my quilts when I do talks, these are working quilts they take far worse on a daily basis.Here you can see 'Ginko Typography' undergoing some serious sleep testing. It is looking promising though as three experienced testers find they can sleep quite well on it.

As 'Burning Chrome' is indisposed (well actually in di spin right now) 'Ginko Typography has stepped into the fray. You might have seen this quilt at Sandown 2006, it was the only show it went to because it is so heavy I couldn't afford to ship it anywhere. Sandown I can deliver by hand. As you can see it is on the bed and being appreciated by my cats. Looking at it I think I actually prefer the lived in look. I think the quilting looks a lot more interesting after the quilt has been washed and dried a few times. This is because I don't pre-wash my waddings and this quilt has two layers in it so have very clear quilting now. Maybe we should have a show category for most successful bed quilt that can only be entered by well used and loved quilts. I think it would be great fun to see what is really out there working for a living. In fact if you put up a picture somewhere and let me know I will post a list of real working quilts here. I am sure I am not the only one who wonders what is on peoples beds and sofas.

Professional quilt judges at work

Here you can see my most critical judge taking a closer look at the quilt. Of course the fact that he is even on it shows this one has potential. For some reason my cats are pretty good at identifying my successful projects very early in the process. If the cats don't go near it then it has problems. It's odd and I don't claim to understand it but I take more notice of it that I used to. I do wonder if it is something about how I am interacting with the piece that attracts or deters the cats.

My quilts at the NEC

I've been trying to sort out my pictures from the NEC, and I have decided I really need to make quilts that are easier to photograph. Still here is what I managed to get, so far.

First is a close up of 'Guide me'. This is a wholecloth, all the colour and pattern is quilting, unfortunately none of the pictures of the whole quilt came out. Maybe with a lot of work on the computer we might be able to get one, but don't hold your breath. This is a perfect example of a difficult quilt. I guess this is one I need to get photographed professionally.


The nude ius also tricky. It always seems to come out a bit dark, but when I try to lighten it it never looks quite right. If the camera screens were accurate, a couple of people did manage to get great pictures, but I wasn't one of them. Oh well. Hopefully one of the people with a good picture will send me one and I will share that.

'Winter Star' has nearly the same problem as 'Guide Me', fortunately the slightly higher contrast does improve the chance of getting a reasonable picture. It doesn't help when I don't manage to hold the camera straight on. This is the best picture I will have of this one for a year unless someone spots it in a show and sends me that instead. Ho hum. I did take several with different setting but this was by far the best for colour which I find the hardest thing to correct.

Finally we have 'Lily'. This one looks far better in the photo than in real life so I guess I can't complain. I do wish it had been on a white background so that the holes showed up, but realistically that wasn't likely. For some reason I didn't think of that when I was making it. Given it has hanging issues I may add a white background behind the holes during the rebuild process. Given this is my best piece from the show I think it is probably worth the effort to fix the problems.

Onwards and upwards.

My bank has finally sent me a new bank card only 2 months late and I have been making good use of it today. The most positive feedback I got from the Festival of Quilts was for my 'Winter Star' so I am going to make something else in that line. So I've been buying up black fabric like it is going out of style. Hopefully it will arrive about the same time as the bulk order of black thread and I can start playing.

I looked at entering 'Nude with Rope' and 'Decadence' into the Pacific International Quilt festival, but I realised at the last minute there is a theme, "All the World's a quilt". I can't see that they fit that so I guess they will have to wait for Road 2 California. I would love to have another wholecloth done in time for that too, but it will depend on when my orders arrive.

My other show decision for today was how to ship my next round of quilts to Grosvenor Exhibitions. I have one I need to finish before it goes but the others are ready now. Should I post the ones that are ready or wait and send them all together. It's tricky. I would like them out of the house but I think I will have to courier all of them, at which point it will probably be a lot cheaper to ship them all together. I never thought I would be desperate to get quilts off to shows, but I would really like some space back. Funny how things change isn't it.

Ooooooooh

I got strange post this morning. I seemed to have a delivery of patterns from America, which isn't unusual, but I was sure I hadn't ordered any. On tearing my way into the package I found something far more exciting (to me at least). My copies of Unlimited Possibilities magazine. Yes copies, when you are featured they send you some extras! It's very odd two pages full of me and my work. I still love my globe, I will have to make more of them.

The front cover is amazing it shows the viewers choice from MQS, Turnabout by Claudia Pfeil. It is a beautiful quilt, and she is also featured in the magazine. This issues focus is European quilters. There is some amazing work being done in Europe, and I think I will have to ask these ladies where they are showing their work. I would love to see it in person.

I couldn't have hoped for a better start to the working week. This has really got me in the mood to get on and do things. So a big thank you to Unlimited Possibilities.

So Where now?

I've waited a week before posting to give myself time to think, but I feel I should comment on how I got on at the Festival of Quilts. I've just spent some time looking at my judging sheets from this year, last year, and where I can the US judging sheets for the same quilts.

No matter how I cut it, my quality has gone down, substantially from last year. Results I was very disappointed with last year now look positively glowing. Also it appears that the judging at the Festival is a lot stricter than the US judging, that was a big surprise. I assumed it would be the other way around, but we all know what assuming does for you.

So what do I do now? I thought that the quilts I entered this year were a much higher standard than last year. I thought I had got better at techniques and I thought I was a lot more picky about finish. The judges disagree, so do I try and go back to how I was doing things? I've been a lot more careful about squaring up, and burying thread tails, but that has made things worse. I've put a lot more time into design and planning but that has gone down too. I'm stumped I just don't know how I can improve.

The real shock for me was finding out which quilt the judges thought was the best. It wouldn't have been the one I would have expected, and from talking to friends neither did they. Lily was by far the highest scoring quilt. I can see a lot of faults with this quilt, far more than I can find with the others, so is it just that I don't understand how quilts are judged? Do I not understand what is good and what it bad? I would love to take the judging course and find out how it all works, but I can't afford to. I have read every book I can find on the subject, but it looks like there is a lot I've just plain not understood.

So does anyone have any idea how I can learn what is expected, what is good and what is bad?

Weeeee

On the surface I haven't been terribly productive today. I've been in and out like a yo yo all day but I think I am finally making progress and I feel ready to get back to sewing. I've been trying to tidy my sewing room which is where I blog, piece, cut, press and design. It was originally the front room of our terraced house and my desk is in the bay window. Well in fact it fills the bay using the window sill as part of it's support system. As I do a lot of different things in here and basically live out of this room it tends to get a little out of control. In particular I had developed an interesting mound next to my desk that was starting to look dangerous.

The mound has been excavated and produced some interesting archeology. It has been replaced with a cutting table with storage below. Sadly the drawers are primary colours and very bright but at least they are under a board so it isn't too bad. Given I didn't have a lot of choice in my budget I guess I can't complain. To reflect light onto the cutting table I have propped my white board behind it. I think I will help once I change the blown light bulb. I am sure the bulbs can detect where I am working as they always seem to blow just when I start doing something in their area.

I have a bit more I need to do before I get down to serious sewing. I have a whole load of quilts I need to put back into storage, and I want to find a way to hang my nude again, I don't think she will like being rolled long term, and then I can get on with some sewing. From past experience I work better if I wait a little after I decide I am ready to get back to it, and of course the tidying really does need doing.

The world still feels a little off center

It's really taking me a long time to recover from the Festival of Quilts. I have a stack of work I really should be getting on with, but I just can't focus. I have at least managed to put in some thread orders. Barnyarns have really impressed me, I ordered thread yesterday and it arrived today. Yes I have taken the advice, and yes the thread does look as good as promised. I don't know if I mentioned it but I was alarmed to notice I was almost out of black thread just before the festival, so I am now waiting on a large box of just black thread to arrive from America. Each time I order I get a larger quantity but I seem to be using it at an even faster increasing rate.

I suppose the other reason for not getting much done is following up on all the conversations I had and the show, and those I failed to have. I can't believe I talked to so many people and yet missed a lot I specifically wanted to see. It's scary how many people I now sort of know.

I've also been thinking about some new quilt designs. I was disappointed to not come back full of inspiration this year, but after a rest ideas have started to flow. I saw a lady with an amazing knotted necklace and I still fancy doing one of the beads in quilting. If I can get my head around it I think it would be really fun. I want to do something a bit different but photographic, I have one pretty much planned and a couple more ideas that need some more kicking. I am trying to work out how to get action shots of people and cats. Some of the poses I want to do with humans would be a lot easier with the aid of wires, but I don't have that kind of set up, or indeed the space for one so I will have to find another way. Yes I know one option would be to try and draw it from my imagination, but I can't do that to my satisfaction. I am also considering the life drawing classes again, but they are very scary, I don't really want to go anywhere with an art teacher, but I really want art lessons. Tricky.

I've also discovered that there is a shortage of cheap plastic drawer units. I've needed some for my sewing room for a while and this seemed as good a time as any to have a tidy up. Now everyone is out of stock. Does the world not what me to be tidy (well tidier at least).

Thank you

I'd just like to take a chance to thank all the people who support me in ways big and small. From those who I keep up half the night fretting or finishing work, to the very kind man who offered me a hand with my packages in the post office today. I am sure there are times when your efforts seem to be falling on deaf ears, but believe me they aren't. You are all making a huge difference to me, so thank you.

people people everywhere.

It has been a great day for meeting peeple today. I do love catching up with the far flung people i only see at shows. It's also great to see the people behind the web hits. I look forward to seeing you all again at the next event.
I have mostly packed now and it feels odd that this time tomorrow it will be all over. I have found my routine now. I am quite dreading the drive back tomorrow might as I am sure as soon as I leave the show I will be ready to sleep. If you are visiting tomorrow and would like to meet up I will be manning the SAQA stand about 2pm and collecting my quilts at 5pm.

Oh my

So it has been a very hectic couple of days here at the NEC. Sorry I didn't get to blog yesterday but I didn't pause between getting up and going to bed.
The show is as amazing as usual although I didn't really appreciate it yesterday. I was especially pleased to see the Russian display back on investigation it was even better than I could have hoped, the main part of the show is entirely from my favourite artist from last year. Www.Nversio.Com I hope will take you to her site. I haven't found out how to spell her name yet but I will. Last year she had a theater on a quilt, this year I love her shop quilt.
The layout of the galleries is amazingly good. If you stand in the Russian gallery which is mostly cool colours you can see into the Faces of Arabia gallery which is the got colours. It is a wonderful display and really shows the diversity of the exhibits beautifully.
Oh yes I suppose I should mention. Nude with rope got a judges choice. I hope I will get to keep the little board with that on that is by it. Tomorrow I will at least try and get a picture of it.

Hmm must be the festival of quilts.

I am soaked. Yes really everything i an wearing is soggy. I thought I was going over the top with my packing last night, but maybe not. I think I went for eight complete changes of clothes as this happened last year and I ran out of dry clothes. I also decided to bring four pairs of shoes for the same reason and it looks like I will need them too. So come prepared for rain.

Winter Star made it on time just. I bumped into the trolly load of quilts leaving as I arrived. At least this way I can be certain it is in the right place with the right people.

Now back to the serious business of checking out tonights dinner venue. I don't want to suggest somewhere that isn't good. The Little Owl was very nice last year so hopefully it will still be good.

See you at the NEC

So I should really be in bed but here I am posting the last pictures before I go. I have my longarm gallery quilt, Winter Star, packed and ready to go tomorrow morning. These are the pictures I took of it before I trimmed and bound it. The finish size was specified and I decided that I would rather have a gap to the sides of the geese than run the risk of them being clipped by the binding depending on how it shrank as I quilted. As it turned out I could have used a slightly wider binding, but I think it was the right way to go for me. I like to make my quilts oversize them trim them to where I want them. I like the quilting to appear to continue beyond the quilt and the feel of the binding when there is quilting in it. I even do this with borders, making them a couple of inches bigger than I want before quilting. There are four shades of grey thread in this quilt and a lot of black. The binding ended up with a thin piping of shaded purple as my one colour.

Pictures out and about.

I promised you pictures of Sweden, but having been rather busy I haven't got that far yet. However, Tet who was out there with me has. Here is his page of my pictures. I think he has made a pretty good job of selecting the pictures. If you have a look you will see a picture of 'Iron wool' some rather unusual sheep. This was outside the company with the oldest spinning jenny in Sweden still working. They are a very friendly bunch and produce fantastic yarns, Their web site is www.ullspinneriet.com if you like knitting or other yarn crafts do give them a look. It will help if you can read Swedish, but I think you can probably get the idea even if you don't. A lot of words are quite similar to English.

I also found a photograph of one of my commissions online today. It is quilted but not a quilt. It is Andy Carters engine cover. It is designed to keep the engine warm and clean (and in light rain dry). It was actually about the size of a kingsize quilt before it was shaped to fit the engine. Here you can see it in action as the car is being loaded into the trailer. I don't think this is the engine I made it to fit, hence it looks a bit baggy, but it will still do the same job.

Oh yes, I will be trying to blog from the NEC again this year, but as last time the intnet access at the hotel is very expensive so I will have to use my phone again. This means I may not be able to read comments until I get home. I will see if I can work out a way around that though.

Busy Busy

This time last year things were a lot calmer. I keep finding I have misplaced several days, and I haven't blogged or read my email. This is very unlike me. I just have so much to do. The good news is I am loving it. I can work very long days and enjoy it, which is well worth the lack of time.

Today I have been finishing the quilting on the black wholecloth I mentioned in my last post. I had thought it was quite small at 70" x 90", but when I put it on the bed tonight it doesn't look too bad. It is now trimmed and ready for it's binding. Just as well as it needs to be in a quilt show Wednesday. I quite fancy doing some more quilts in this style but it will have to wait until I have ordered more thread. I seem to have got through an awful lot of black thread recently. So much so I am almost out.

For this quilt I used masterpiece in the bobbin and signature on top. I thought the slightly heavier thread would help as I wanted the shades of grey to show up. I am fairly pleased with the result, but boy did it make a lot of lint. I had to thoroughly clean and oil my machine twice during this quilt. Normally I only need to do it once a quilt. It is surprising how different similar looking threads can be. I was also surprised to find I had to adjust the top tension for each different colour. I suppose the different amounts of dye is enough to change the diameter of the thread when it is a thicker one to start with. Certainly I haven't noticed the same effect with finer threads.

I have taken some pictures of the (nearly) finished quilt but my computer isn't playing ball. For some reason it seems to be having trouble seeing the card from the camera. I have asked someone else to upload it for me and hopefully I will be able to put the pictures up before I go.

This evening it has just started to sink in that the Festival Of Quilts is this week and I need to think about packing for it. Somehow it hasn't seemed urgent until now. I haven't even had time to think about an outfit for the gala dinner. I am sure something will work out. I am also trying to decide if I should take some quilting with me. Last year I did have time in the evenings when I was just sitting in my room, but I think I am less likely to do that this year. Maybe the time off would be good.

Please do stop me and say hello if you see me at the show, I do love meeting people, even though I am very bad at remembering names later. I do remember the people and what they make honest.

Where to begin?

I've just spent an amazing day out in London. Out of the blue a week or so back Esterita Austin (yes the Misty Fuse and Stone Portals Esterita) got in touch with me. We talked last year but not much since so it was a bit of a surprise. She was going to be in London so we planned a day out. Her only requirement was afternoon tea, and as one of the first places I found with an opening at short notice was opposite Buckingham Palace it made sense to go there too. As you may be aware the state rooms are open for a short time each year, which just so happens to b now. How lucky were we? If you get the chance I strongly recommend taking a look around them. Architecturally they are stunning, I have coma away with so much inspiration for quilts it is just silly. It is also wonderful to hear the tales of what has happened where and to see the rooms that appear so often on television. It was fun to watch old news real later in the day and be able to say we stood there.

One of the interesting facts I didn't know was about the roads around the palace. I had noticed they are red but I never really thought about it. Well apparently all royal roads are red and are and extension of the red carpet. Cool, I've driven on red carpet then.

It was a lot of fun spending the day with another quilter. It is always interesting to meet new people with the same interests, and I love how often quilters do just get along. I got to learn some more about art, which was wonderful and I got to share things about our country. What more could you ask for. Well maybe the chance to meet up again? Sorted, next week at the NEC. It doesn't get better than that.


Anyway back to what I have been working on recently.

I've been promising a picture of the completed chair, and here it is. Sorry about the cluttered background I only remembered to take the picture just as I was about to walk out the door to deliver it to the collection center. I am thrilled with how solid it has ended up. It gives me a lot of hope for making a larger version. This one is about child sized, and would probably support a cat or a small child. Not bad given it is all textiles and held together entirely with stitches. One of the things I saw in the palace today was a chair which was supported by sphinxes. The way it was built would have worked very well in fabric and as it was very chunky in the structural areas it gives me a lot of scope to add strength. It is something I may have pt have a play with.

On the longarm I have another wholecloth. This is my entry for the Longarm Gallery at the Festival of Quilts. The theme is black white and a colour, shades of grey are also allowed. It is hard to see but there are several shades of grey thread being used here. I am quite happy with how it is coming along and I am really enjoying doing it. This photo was taken yesterday morning so I could see how the shading was coming. I still can't see things when I look at them directly. I need a photograph to reduce them and let me see them from a distance.

Exciting Post

It's been a good post day today. Firstly I have my instructions for the Fractured Quilt Challenge. This is where a several quilters around the world are given a copy of the same image to make a quilt of. The image is cut into four parts before making the quilt so the top is in four parts. These parts are sent back tot he organizer who shuffles them and send each person four parts to be finished as they like. It makes for some very interesting quilts. I did try to join the last one but I was too slow, so I am extra excited about making it this time.

I also got the September issue of Quilters Newsletter Magazine this morning. This is always a good thing but I was especially pleased with the "bits and pieces" column. It has a short piece about the the Quilters Guild of the British Isles. It talks about our new home where the collection will actually be on display in a purpose built museum. It should be a very interesting project once it is up and running. Hopefully it will lead to some of the UK holiday companies putting it on the agenda for trips to York.

Now back to my latest wholecloth, which is for the Longarm Gallery at the NEC. At least I can deliver it by hand so I don't have to worry about posting it. I am really looking forward to seeing what the other longarm quilters in the UK can come up with. The theme this year is black and white with one colour. Shades of grey are also allowed. It sounds like I might get to see a whole room full of quilts in a colour scheme I love.

Whups where did the week go?

Wow it's been a whole week. I can't quite believe it. I got back from Sweden safely then got straight down to work. I didn't really surface again until Friday evening when the NEC quilts were safely sitting at the collection depot. I still haven't uploaded my photos, so I haven't got the finished chair picture yet, but believe me as soon as I have it it will be on here. Now I must get back to the very boring, but urgent paperwork mountain.