The Big Textile Show

As Project Linus UK rep, I was thrilled to be invited back to The Big Textile Show to have a stand.  This year it was at a new venue, Leicester Grammar School which was much bigger and more spacious (as well as being very swish!  That's private education for you!). 

 

 

Maria and I went on Saturday, and had enough space for a display and a demonstration table.  Julie and Emily were able to help too.  Many thanks for that.  It looks pretty quiet here, but 100 people took Linus leaflets (50 people did last year) so we were actually very busy, which was lovely.

 

Here you can see how spacious it was.  We were right near the entrance, so there were occasional lulls when people were having lunch etc. and didn't pass by.

 

Here's a view in the hall where most of the traders were.  The man on the right had lots of gorgeous leathers.  The smell was fabulous! 

 

Second hand craft books and lots of activity round a stall selling fabric stamps.

 

A lot was going on upstairs, including Rosie with her Morsbag team.  And this is what I bought.

 

The stand next to us was for the charity Azafady which teaches women in Madagascar to embroider, and then sells their work.  This enables them to have a skill and income of their own, to better their families.  I fell in love with this embroidery, and intend to frame it - after all, it's a work of art.

I can't believe it!

I know I've got plenty of inspiration, but I couldn't resist treating myself to the latest copy of 'Patchwork and Quilting'.  Lots of interesting projects and articles in there, until I turned over a page, to be confronted by this!

 

I had no idea that this was in the offing, but I'd just like to say thank you very much!  I'm very honoured to be Blog of the Month, and rather gobsmacked! 

Fat quarters

I've continued my investigations into fat quarter quilts, and have made my design using actual fat quarters!  I went down to the Bramble Patch (my local quilt shop) and hoped to buy a fat quarter pack.  Unfortunately, while they had lots of fat eighth packs, and other goodies, no fat quarter bundles.  So, I had to make my own.  I chose the Moda Chantilly range and picked 8 fat quarters which I thought made a nice set.  Then I started cutting and sewing, and this is the result!

 

 

A little dark, but you get the idea.  And this is what was left over!

 

A few 1.5" squares and some 2" strips.  Good, eh? 

I have to confess that there was a little joining of fabric to make the last block, but that's patchwork!  Nine fat quarters would be an insurance policy, but to get a quilt finishing at 48" x 48" from 8 fat quarters, is pretty amazing.

Magic!

I love clever, quick quilty ideas, and this one is magic!  First, take two squares,  one light and one dark.  (Mine measured 7.5 inches.)

 

 

Then sew, cut (but no strips!!) and hey presto, two nine-patches of 6.5 inches!

 

As ever, this isn't my idea, and if you want the method, you'll have to look at Barb's blog for the full instructions.  Happy sewing.