I took myself off to the Malvern Quilt Festival yesterday. It's not so much fun on your own, but at least you can go round at your own pace, and linger where you want to. The weather wasn't very nice - a really heavy cloudburst-type shower on the way there and steady rain a lot of the way back, but fortunately whilst I was outside at the Fair, it was dry. I believe most of these mixed-media textile art pieces were by Nikki Parmenter, of Cheshire. Very skilful and imaginative.
Finally, all sorts on this stall. Kits for penguins, polar bears, dawgs, wabbits and brooches. I bought a little kit for making 3 different sized slinky kitty-kats and a birthday present for a friend too.
So, all in all, a good day out, though the traffic was bad coming back through Hereford, and I was glad to get in. My back has been sore the last couple of days, and Keith is still knocked sideways by whatever bug we have had the past few days. He is really struggling to get around and like me, has a sore back. We'll be glad to be over it. I shall be abandoning him late afternoon to go and see Mrs Harris Goes to Paris with some friends.
Have a lovely weekend. Kitten news soon . . . I have booked not one, but TWO . . .
Oh thank you so much for sharing these! Yes, it is nice to mooch round at your own pace, but also good to have a companion to share ideas. The first set were stunning - I was by intrigued by the way they "went over the edge" and not confined to a formal rectangle. The discipline of the redwork piece and the WOW quilt - exact, precise stitching and colourways. No, I don't have a favourite - but the machine quilted single blossom, and the one with scalloped edge and interesting border would both look good in my bedroom! I feel as if I was at the shoe in person. Lovely! Thank you again (enjoy your new projects)
ReplyDeleteWell, I think the first set are pretty unique. Not seen anything like that before. The quilts on display were certainly special, but I have to say I was a little disappointed as the last Quilt Festival I went to was at the NEC and on a totally different level! This building would have been about a quarter of one of the IMMENSE halls at the NEC!
DeleteIn my opinion, it's good to see them starting to categorise quilts. It gets so confusing, I'm almost at the point of asking when is the quilt not a quilt? It takes some getting used to seeing all the different sorts which are now taken to a completely different level. I love the mix media textile pictures. So glad you managed to have a good nose around. I know what you mean. It's nice to have company, but it's also nice to be able to do what you want to do.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, you and Keith are both still feeling under the weather? Have you been tested for Covid? I'm sure I've read of somebody else who had a sore back during it their Covid experience.
Patiently waiting for news on the Kitty front, then not one, but two ~ he he!
Some of the ones I saw at the NEC pre-Covid were pure art in fabric. Like the American ones sewn as portraits - amazing work. There were different categories, as always, for this competition.
DeleteKeith has been tired and got Cystitis. My sore back may be from helping him up from his chair! No other signs - just a sore back and in my case, chesty for 24 hrs. Could have come from the booster jab . . .
Well, hopefully I have got in in time a they belong to the brother of one of Gabby's close friends, so don't know what the situation is, but I've spoken for two anyway.
You would think that those quilts are so noisy that they would keep you awake at night on your bed.
ReplyDeleteWhilst I like colour, some of those shouted a bit didn't they?! Designed to be looked at, rather than used I think.
DeleteThanks for sharing this. I would have loved to come with you! Such variety.
ReplyDeleteKJ
It was a nice afternoon out, I have to say, and not too much temptation! My biggest spend was on my friend's present.
DeleteSome very talented people made those
ReplyDeleteYou're not kidding Billy. I make quilts, but nothing like that!
DeleteWhat gorgeous quilts! The patience to do them all. I agree most were probably designed not for use but to look at, especially the mixed media.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
There was a lot of talent there. I can remember a time when sewing was not considered in the least bit trendy - it was what old ladies did in their dotage!
DeleteA day out at a quilt festival by yourself sounds like heaven to me. I hope you treated yourself to lunch out too. The quilts are works of art and not something I could ever aspire too and perhaps I think I prefer my old hand quilted patchwork quilts made from leftover fabric. I see you are going for Double Trouble with the kittens. Hope you both feel a lot better very soon. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteNo eat-out lunch - just a "car picnic"! The quilts were beautiful - so much talent. That said, I get more pleasure looking at the beautiful old ones in the American Museum at Bath - such history tied up into those, and hidden meaning behind the patterns chosen sometimes - apart from the obvious Widow's Darts.
DeleteWith the kittens, in for a penny, in for a pound. Dear old Ghengis is 15 or so now and so the status quo will be kept.
Keith hit hard by whatever blip of a bug came our way and has really struggled to get around. Even getting in and out of bed a real challenge, requiring my help. Sadly, a taste of things to come but glad to report he is much better today.
Beautiful quilts, such skills involved in all of them. Ruth (daughter) and I used to meet my sister at the NEC Festival ofQuilts in Birmingham every year but haven’t been since before Lockdown. I’m not a serious quilter, bags and cushion covers are about my limit these days but was always stunned by the displays and spent far too much at the many craft stands.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy the film. We went yesterday but I won’t spoil it for you by chatting before you see it.
Lesley
However deep we delve into quilting, it is always refreshing and inspiring to see the work of the folk more dedicated. The NEC Festival of Quilts truly is something else. Only been the once, and not likely to go again, but it was amazing.
DeleteYes, I enjoyed the film. Nice to watch something light and cheerful.
What a fabulous show! I d have loved to go with you.
ReplyDeleteThe one you said has an interesting border is a Dear Jane/ Jane Sikhle quilt. The original was made during the US Civil war. https://benningtonmuseum.org/portfolio-items/1863-jane-stickle-quilt-2/
Patterns are available if you want a winter project ;-)
Did you test for Covid?
I didn't try testing for Covid as only one symptom that could have been a cold or anything (most likely reaction to mould outside). Thank you for the link (and well done for recognizing it!) I will go and check it out now. My winter project (WHEN I finally get started as it's been mothballed 3 years+ now) is a William Morris heritage quilt.
DeleteJane STickle quilt, I think I spelled her name wrong in my orig comment.
ReplyDeleteP.S. Checked it out - WOW to the original too. 250 different patterns. THAT was a lengthy project.
DeleteAs mentioned above--some of these pieces would belong in a category of textile art or collage [I think] not something that would keep one warm at night. I enjoy seeing 'quilts' such as these either in person at a show or shared online. My own quilt making stays at a traditional and not too demanding level.
ReplyDeleteKittens! Joy!
The top ones certainly. It's always good to see different skills at work. I fear I am more of a traditionalist and the more basic the better!
DeleteWow. I have a friend who quilts and her favorite quilts are the eyepopping colors. They are amazing. But I have never seen quilts like these. It is hard to believe that they are cloth.
ReplyDeleteWell, the first few are mixed-media textile hangings, done by a very very skilful lady with a great imagination! Some of the American portraits I have seen in magazines are mind-blowing!
DeleteNew kitten(s)?!! I cannot wait to see!
ReplyDeleteI will share photos when I have been to see them and chosen . . .
DeleteI am slightly confused as to what is and what isn't a quilt but your photos show beautiful works of art. Look forward to the kittens.
ReplyDeleteThe first few are mixed-media textile hangings. Most just made specifically as show quilts/pieces. The sizing is set by the regulations for the various competitions. There were some smaller ones still, but I didn't take photos of those.
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