Festival of Quilts - The Quilts

I went to the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham on the 20th August. My mum paid for my ticket and gave me some spending money as my birthday present (the big 30 is in three weeks). I had a fantastic day out. This post is about the quilts, I will write another post about my shopping.

There were so many quilts to look at I didn't really know where to start or what to look for, other than inspiration. I found it a little lonely looking at them by myself, it would have been more fun to look at them with someone else. I really liked the quilts that used a mixture of black and bright colours such as this one made up of tiny hexagons.

The amount of work that has gone into them all was amazing. I loved the miniature quilts, they were so detailed and really look like someone had srunk a normal sized quilt.

I was impressed by all the other items on display such as these flowers and there were some other amazing creations.

I loved these thin panels, there were lots of them, some in sets that all had a matching theme or colour scheme.

I especially liked this one with all these gorgeous flowers

This was my favourite of all the quilts I saw, I love the shape and the black outlines.

I came home feeling inspired to finish my purple patchwork quilt that I started eight years ago and to try to some new patchwork and embroidery techniques. I know I am capable of doing some more complicated projects, I just like doing easy things and finishing them quickly!

Real Flowers and Fabric Apples

I woke up really late, nearly 9am! I had a relaxing breakfast actually sitting at the dining table. My husband sent me some flowers that arrived during breakfast, he is working away four days a week at the moment and I am not very good at being on my own so he was trying to make me feel better. They are very pretty and from the florists I walk past every day looking longingly at all the lovely flowers.

I was looking through my Sew Hip magazines over breakfast, enjoying all the lovely fabric designs and wishing I could buy some, when I came across the pattern for felt apples (issue 2 p41). I decided to make one as a quick project to start the day, I ended up making four as they are so easy and effective.  I need a few more if I want to make a good fruit bowl full, however I don't think I will do that this time. I have added some ribbon to three of them so they can be hung up. I think a couple of them are going to be presents and I will hang some in the kitchen.

This afternoon I am going to watch the Tour de France as it is on all afternoon. I have a recycling project that I am working on and will carry on with that while I watch.