A day off!... drooling over quilts at Birmingham!

Where to start?

i cannot even begin to tell you the joy in this day. A day off from all my stresses and a day ON quilt viewing and fabric shopping. This Fish was in heaven...

The above quilt is by my pal Lucie Summers - the work in it just hurts my eyes! She is such a huge talent... so i was chuffed to bits that this gorgeous Porthole quilt was on display...

And truly *proud by proxy* that this stunning quilt WON! Whooop - and so deserved. It was hard to get close to it as there were crowds of adoring ladies around it. And Kaffe Fasset too! but i couldn't hear what he said. Still, nice to see the man himself.

There were many quilts working on the theme of 'upcycle' and using clothing remnants and labels. This was just heart stopping however. An entire quilt made of name tapes / sew-in name labels and it looked so amazing. It should have won something as everyone stopped to talk about it.

Again, labels... so fun and interesting to look at it.

You know these few quilts are just the tiny tip of a huge array of quilts, right? i had to stop to snapping and just 'enjoy' after a while....

I just loved this hexagony quilt - It worked so well. It was traditional but contemporary... the colours worked beautifully....

I am no critic, i should just let the quilts doing the talking.

Ughhh... pretty pretty quilts.... everywhere!!!

More honeycombs and muted shades...

My friend with her camera - she was the perfect companion for the day. Equally obsessed with fabrics and quilts and sewing AND very much in need of a day to herself, like me :)

*sooo want to own this quilt*

....... i mean......... wow! just wow!

Our favourite stand in the shopping area. And it turns out she lives up the road from me! She was great: "Washed and Worn"? i cannot remember. The lady has no website so i cannot link her but her stall was inspiring and she was selling JellyRolls cut from loads of mens old shirts. Just cool!

It may surprise you to know i did not spend a fortune. I bought a few choice bits, an apron, an old spool, a few fabric offcuts... but you know what? my friend was lovely and the day out was just like a home-cooked meal and a few chilled glasses of good wine... it left me with the feeling:

Replete. Happy. Relaxed. Inspired.

Craft Exhibition - Boddington, South Northants

As promised, i took a few photos of my display at the Art & Craft exhibition over the weekend.

It was a really long weekend - 10am till 4pm on both days, which is exhausting but it means i can put up a really nice display... which i enjoy!

The above 2 are quilts that i have made recently. The floral extravaganza is made from 14 different Cath Kidston fabrics. It is available in PaperFish.etsy.com and will be in my *new* shop http://www.lovepaperfish.com/

The animal baby boy Cot Quilt was a real success.

On the wall at the back here - i displayed the quilt i am currently making for my daughter. I had alot of nice comments and chats with craft and fabric fans - about colour choices and getting projects 'finished'!

I used lots of my vintage homewares and a pot of yellow Gerberas to help make my display stand ZING!

These are also new... The above are 12 scallop pennants i call "Artisan Bunting" with each scallop a different mix of linens with hand embroidered and machine stitched embellishments. These were really popular and i have plans to make many more. They are designed for the grown-up bunting and craft lover, to hang on shelves or on a mantlepiece. I am so proud of these and can't wait to develop this idea.

I hung mixed bunting all across the ehibition room too. It was a real 'country fair' english shabby feel and the reactions from the public was so much fun. Sometimes when i sit and 'make' in isolation i worry that people won't enjoy the same things that i do. It is a great feeling to get positive reactions and sales. Also to chat with people who always supply me with new ideas (Thanks Juliet for the Pockets Thing!) 

Vintage suitcases to add height and interest and because i love them and because i can carry my products easily in suitcases. I sold many lavender cushions which was such a compliment.

I also put out books and magazines and freebies on the stall to help engage people in conversation aswell as set 'the scene'..... i even sold some Christmas Decorations this weekend! i apologised for my prematurity but customers were easy to forgive me and liked to see what new Christmas 2010 stock is on it's way.....

Mini Lavender and Clove cushions with off-cuts of Cath Kidston fabrics... the smell!

And i had a small area to sell some supplies were i put a portfolio of me and my work and also displayed my sketch book and all the craft artciles i have written.
All in all it was fun. I took some money and people loved their 'finds'. I chatted much about sewing and crafts and patchwork and .... ahhh, so much other stuff.
Thanks for looking - hope it inspires you a bit xxx