"I didn't read that properly did I? No quilts on display - that must be the autumn one only". Well, apparently the quilts were on display but in a marquee . . . Signage can't have been that good as they've had some out in a marquee before and I have NEVER noticed any signs or a marquee!! I will next time. Anyway, I started the day well by dropping off the gigantic William Morris curtains, (Chrysanthemum pattern) that Tam had been given but which were too huge for her house, and a pair of well-used WM Golden Lily ones at a friend of Tam's near Hay. She is absolutely delighted (and I have room to put bedding away again as it's freed an entire coffer up! Then as she is at Clifford, I paid a pound and went across the Toll bridge at Whitney, which cut off a chunk of the A438.
Oh my goodness - temptation!! especially now I have a grand-daughter to sew for. I did buy the pattern for the cat at the back, just to the right of the brawny rabbit.
I also bought - though you can't see it clearly - the alphabet sampler in the middle back. It comes as a pre-printed fabric, with instructions. I think I have more than enough embroidery floss to make it a dozen times!
Lots of lovely things to sew.
I'd have liked another Kim Diehl book, but couldn't remember which ones I had. Picked up one - similar - book - and it was pennies away from £40 so that got swiftly returned!
 |
Again, a stall with so much hard work put into the kits and patterns they were selling. Think this may be the one I got the cat pattern from, and a robin pattern I'm giving to a friend.
The Kantha jackets stand was there which we had seen at Wonderwool.
Plus Kantha throws.
Oh those bunnies!! I might be able to draw templates for that myself . . .
The Luna Lapin stall (as at Wonderwool). I can't bring myself to pay mega-bucks for the kits though.
Meeces!
Some stands had packs of multiples of fat 1/4s but prices seemed a bit challenging for the average shopper, at £50 plus. I guess if you are planning a quilt and want complimentary fabrics, then this would work.
I bought a kit here. Will show what I bought later.
Ah, I see it - cottage on a cliff - 2nd from end, top right.
Right, off to water round at Ed's now. Cloudy out, and a cooler day. so may get away with watering round well this morning and not have to do it at teatime too.
I was baby-sitting Rosie yesterday, and poor little mite had a temperature. In between sleeps, and Calpol, she wanted to be outside in the sunshine and kept getting me her jacket and sun hat. Towards the time of Tam coming home, every time she heard a car, she went to the door and cried "mum-mum". We had lots of cuddles, and I will be next down with the cold as she was trying to force-feed me bits of soggy biscuit!! Tam and Rosie probably coming over to stay the night, as Jon is away at a music festival, but I said if Rosie is poorly, to stay put.
I've got a new hat!!
Anyway, have a lovely weekend all. Thinking of my dear friend Pam who is having a very invasive surgery today.
Oh, and I will share a bit of the somewhat challenging route home yesterday. It's one Tam uses regularly, but I was SO slow along it it makes more sense to come the less scenic route. I just wish I had been able to stop and take photos at the absolutely WOW bits - especially where the Elan Valley gap joins this valley. Truly mindblowing. Please DO visit this Youtube video as it shows the route from the Elan Valley to Cwmystwyth. From 30 minutes in, is the stretch where it links to the Cwmystwyth road. You will see my route yesterday (only in reverse).
Single track road for quite a bit.
Definitely the wild and woolley route - Tam uses it a lot - but I shall worry now as there is one stretch with a sheer drop and NO barrier, not even an old sagging fence . . . It comes out at Devil's Bridge.
Oh! Oh! OH! Every once in a while, a blog post comes across my path that stops me in my tracks. This is one of those rare and very, very welcomed posts that I enjoy more than any others. Aside from anything else, it brings back many happy memories of the similar shows that I used to attend on a regular basis when I lived in America. Nothing and I mean nothing can beat American quilting cottons. When I returned to this country, I found it very difficult to find the kind of fabrics I used. when I lived in Virginia. Eventually, I found a little shop in Oxford who imported all the American brands I was used to. You just can't beat the colours either. Seeing all the displays, not only of the fabrics, but the books. and everything else. All I can say is you have really made my day.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased that you enjoyed walking round with me. Having those happy memories of American quilt shows (Oh, how I would love to visit a few) brought to the surface made me pleased that this post gave you that pleasure over again. I will look this afternoon for links to my old visits to the quilting fairs.
DeleteI had a surprise with the 10th picture down. I think I've found my long lost twin!
ReplyDeleteHaha - now I know just what you look like :)
DeleteClose enough! I'm in Australia - how did she get to Malvern??!!
DeleteTimetravelled!!
DeleteI also was at the Quilt show on Thursday and like you was mightily tempted. For future reference, the quilts are in the Marque behind the hall. And I am sorry you missed them as I believe that the quality is excellent this year.
ReplyDeletePerhaps let the organisers know that their signage was inadequate for someone not familiar with their layout. The information about the quilts is in the catalogue, so definitely worth the £1.00 it cost. Jean
Well, when I've been in previous years the quilts were in the middle of the main hall. I saw NO signage at all for going through to the marquee - and I did look in the obvious places for them quilts. Rather peeved now. I have just sent them an email saying that the signage was not obvious, and being that it was a very busy start to the Fair, perhaps people were in the way. I have been to this Fair several times since moving here. Always in the Autumn and sometimes spring too. Quilts have always been on display centrally amongst the stallholders before. Thanks for letting me know Jean.
DeleteYes. They always used to have some in the hall and some in the Marquee and some traders in the Marquee. To be honest I like the current setup, as there is much more space to actually view the quilts. And with the good weather, much better lighting than in the hall. I do know all of the quilts were in the Marquee last year. Jean
DeleteWell, I have never known there was a marquee before! You live and learn!! Where is the entrance for it Jean?
DeleteIn the door, head to the back and slightly right. Between Cowslip (left) and Axholm (right). This is for Spring, they may not use it for Autumn as have never been. But have been to Spring since '98 and it has always been there. Even before the Linden Suite was built. There is a ramp down and then up into the Marquee. They used to have traders in the tunnel space, but there are less traders than there used to be. I could name a dozen who are no longer there either because of Brexit, or they have aged out and not been able/want to sell the business. Or just don't come any longer, just sell online.
DeleteThanks, I'll know for next time. I didn't go when we were in Carms - we just got up at 3.30 to go to the Fleamarket - 3 hr journey each way.
DeleteSo many beautiful things for people who love sewing and people who love looking at beautiful things who can't sew! (me)
ReplyDeleteIt's also good to see the wide open spaces - much lacking around here as villages grow and join onto towns.
AND I love the reminder of the toll bridge at Whitney, we used to camp near there sometimes when visiting Hay and going over it with it's old signs of how many pennies it was for different vehicles - felt like going back in time. Maybe the signs are long gone.
It's far cheaper just to look at them!! We have lots of wild wide open spaces round here. We are very fortunate to have it on our doorstep. It now costs £1 to get across and there's a pay machine rather than someone coming out to collect your money. Signs long gone, and a hideous new square black box "home" being built t'other side of the river. Totally out of keeping. I will try and get a photo of the bridge for you next time I'm that way.
DeleteWow, that looks as though it was a lovely show to go to. For many years I used to go with friends who were into crafting to the NEC shows for crafting and also some local quilt shows. It used to get a bit expensive but it was a once a year visit. Sadly those friends no longer live locally so I enjoyed seeing your pictures of the show and all the lovely things. Glad to see you found Jo Colwill and Cowslip Workshops. https://www.cowslipworkshops.co.uk/. Her work is absolutely fantastic. I am going there when we get to the van next as it is only about ten miles up the road from the caravan. There is also an Antiques Shop and very large Cafe. I also loved your Rabbit mat. Gorgeous. Would be lovely generally in the house but especially at Easter as a table centrepiece. Mandy Shaw of Dandelion Designs does patchwork and embroidery and Redwork kits link is here: https://dandeliondesigns.co.uk/shop. She has a book out with Rabbits on entitled Step into Spring that has a Rabbit Wreath on the front which you might like. There are several other Rabbit projects as well. A lot of new kits since I went on last. Lots of lovely bits and bobs on here including things with Bobbins there are little Bobbin Dolls on there that you might like or Rosie might. Lots of scope for imagination and a gifted needleworker like you to look at. The scenery looks lovely where you have travelled. Enjoy your time with Gabbi, Tam and Rosie xxx
ReplyDeleteIt was such a lovely day, so great drive there. My quilt group went to the big quilt show at the NEC before Covid, then we moved. Thanks for the links. I probably bought far too much to make this year, but I will do my best. I don't often go quite this mad as I am mindful that I will not live forever and may well run out of time to sew everything I want to sew!!
DeleteOh, what lovely kits and fabrics. I zoomed in on the alphabet sampler which looks gorgeous. The drive views are also fabulous. I love roads like that! You are so fortunate to live there.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, the views on that drive would not be so Wow in winter, but nowhere is then. I wondered why Cwmystwyth was in such a middle-of-nowhere area, but then reached the mining remains (for metals) and knew why. It is so beautiful around here. Carms had its highlights, but I prefer the hills and wilder country here.
DeleteWhat a fun post, thank you. I could spend hours looking at everything. Aren't the Luna Lapin & Friends dolls so darling. What is the adorable big toadstool about halfway down? Felt or wool? Pinkeep?
ReplyDeleteThat road is not for the faint of heart, all I could think was the sheer drop if one's attention lagged for even a moment. And so empty and desolate. Best to stay on the easier route.
Rosie is a beautiful girl, such a fun age. Does she talk a lot?
I still can't tell if there were displayed quilts or not ,or elsewhere--but shopping is always the most fun part anyway.
love
lizzy
The toadstool was quite big so decorative rather than pincushion sized.
DeleteThe sheer drop was one short stretch - perhaps a 100 yards . Long enough.
Rosie's vocabulary is growing fast - it's normally perhaps 4 or 5 words at 13 months - but she has perhaps a dozen. She comprehends a lot more - we were ringing the bells for her yesterday (the high ones) and I said, are you going to ring your bell? She toddled across to the long line of chickens which were probably in a shop doorway to announce customers. She rang those for me! She yells dada whenever she sees an animal (!) and was going to the door and saying mum-mum plaintively when Tam was due home on Friday and she heard a car outside. She says Pippi and Lalalalalalal for Lulu. She even said "there you go" when she gave another toddler his drink the other day - Tam says that to her all the time. She says yes and no. We have taught her (even so young) that she has to be gentle with stroking the cats :)
There were displayed quilts in a marquee leading off the main hall (and apparently an invisible entrance!!
That fifth picture from the bottom...I bet you could turn that into a nice quilt block. I love that. I know that I've said it before, but what a beautiful place you live in.
ReplyDeleteYes, it would look lovely. I have a kit with the fabrics to make a cottage on a cliff scene, so that will hopefully get me able to make that sort of picture in the future.
DeleteYou surely found the booth with my favorite 'primitive' colorways in fabric [although I avoid orange-y tints] I have a still large collection of Kansas Troubles lines which I've used sparingly with other coordinating fabrics. Why am I 'saving' them?
ReplyDeleteYour tour around the venders' stands reminds me of our first spring in Kentucky when we met up with our favorite niece and her husband for the huge quilt show in Paducah , KY. Fortunately the two men were happy to explore a railroad museum, a coffee shop and such while we looked our fill--the amount of quilts and the number of shops became mind-boggling after about 2 hours.
Again-'if we lived closer'--I'd happily share my Kim Diel books. Her patterns and colorways are inspiring, but her style of machine applique with invisible thread hasn't lured me to try that!
You will have such fun making things for Rosie.
It was lovely to just take my time to wander round (not to mention indulging myself!) The big quilt show at Paducah would have blown my mind. Always so much talent on display at such shows and it is very inspiring. Yes, many a time have I wished we were neighbours, and now your Kim Diehl books. Don't worry - I have a Christmas list!! I will pass on the machine applique though - I do prefer to sew by hand as I feel more in control.
DeleteWee Rosie reminds me of Keith more and more every day. She is quite biddable - when it suits her - but sometimes there is a wicked glint in her eye when you tell her not to do something and she goes and does it anyway!!!
I am a quilter in Canada and so pleased I found your blog. I am sure my purse would have been empty after visiting all those displays of patterns and fabric.
ReplyDeleteQuilting related items are getting to be very expensive here, so I have made a promise to myself to only use what is in my stash this year. So far so good, but then it is only May.
I will be following your blog again.
Hello and welcome. Friends I spoke too all confessed to being tempted to spend Too Much!!
DeleteIt's always lovely to hear from a fellow quiltmaker (and I see fellow Brit too, as you come from Sussex). I need to try and balance crafts with "life"!!