Friday 17 August 2012

Festival of Quilts 2012

As some of you may have seen from my tweets I spent yesterday at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham.  It was a brilliant day, as always there were hundreds of stunning quilts, unfortunetly I didn't get time to see them all but I've put pics of a few of my favourites below:


I managed to visit several stalls (and spend lots of money too!).  I got some beautiful fabric from the Oakshott stall (H25), their stall was looking so bright and colourful and eye catching that I had to take a few pics.

I went over to the Brother Stand (P42) where as well as having many of their machines on display for people to try out they have textile artist Anja Townrow making a whole quilt during the show.

They also had a cute display of mini quilts which were all made using a different sewing machine foot, which was attached to the quilt.  A great way to show you how you can use the different feet.


I also popped over to the Quilt Me Happy Stand (N22) where Tracey had some lovely quilt kits on sale, as well as loads of fabric.  Luckily she's in the side hall over by the big cafe area where there are loads of chairs so when you take a break do pop by and see her. 


I also popped over to the Backstitch stand (G6) and bought some lovely Cloud 9 organic fabrics.  You can get a discount voucher on their blog so make sure you take that with you if you go (I forgot!).  I visited Janome who had a big stand right by the entrance (A53) with many of their machines available for people to try out and buy at show prices.


I also fell in love with a new sewing machine, now I just need to get saving for it!  The Elna Lotus is amazing!  I had posted about it on the site here but trying it out in person I found it was even more amazing than I realised.  You can use it without a foot pedal, there's a really simple speed control, and a button for everything (to tie the sewing off, to cut the thread, to stop and start, stitch choice etc) and you don't even need to guide the fabric through the machine - it does everything for you.  The lazy girl's sewing machine :-)







One of the first people I saw was Ruth from Stone Creek Silks (stand G55) who had the lovely quilt below on display and as well as advertising her sewing classes was also selling some beautiful hand dyed fabrics which I just had to buy some of.


Plus Ruth is an expert at printing digital images onto fabric and kindly gave me the fabric below which she had printed a sunset onto.


She also gave me a copy of her book Digital Imagery onto Fabric (we reviewed it here) to giveaway so if you'd like to win a copy please just leave a comment below to tell me what image you would like to print onto fabric. I'll pick a winner next Friday so you have until 6pm Friday 24th August to enter (UK & Ireland only).
Win this book

Last but not least here's a few pics of my haul.  Fabric from Backstitch, Stone Creek Silks, Oakshott and Cookes Quilting, 3d cross stitch kit from Meg Evershed, embroidery thread from Oliver Twists and textile art from Yvonne Brown.

I'm a bit of a sucker for textile art so I ended up buying a notebook and picture from textile artist Yvonne Brown and the blue needlebook at the front I won in the Quilter's Guild's raffle.  There was a great selection of textile art and quilt art available to buy at the show.

I also managed to squeeze in a few meet ups with people I've met through the site and through Twitter  - Sewlittletosay, Undomsci, Madewithlovebym and Rainbow Disks.

All in all it was a brilliant, if somewhat exhausting day!  I think one year I'll have to go for 2 days and then I might have time to look around all of the show, it's spread over 3 halls of the NEC so is a lot to try and cover in a few hours.  


13 comments:

The undomesticated scientist said...

Was great to meet u yesterday, I'd probably go for a picture that the kids have drawn!

Bossymamma said...

I'd like to print an image of the mosaics at the Registan Square in Samarkand.

Gill said...

I would love to have gone to the FoQ!! thanks for sharing the quilts and your goodies!
I'd love to print a birdy image! probably guinea fowl!

Sew Scrumptious said...

I'd print some photos of my parents wedding day. I'm hoping to make them a quilt for their 50th Wedding anniversary next year and want to include some photos in it!!

Two Wednesdays said...

I have a scanned image of a fabulous portrait photograph of my Great Great Aunt from about 1895 (she was still alive when I was little, but looked somewhat different!) I think I would print that and embellish and embroider it.

The quilt pictures are lovely - sound like a wonderful day(or two!) out - I would love to go some day.

House of Pinheiro said...

I was watching the photos yesterday, so much creativity and talent...

I would to print the skyline of my home town.. Maybe I would feel less home sick

mammafairy said...

Wish I could have gone, too. Never mind, you gave us a lovely taster.
My daughter has already done some images onto fabric, and more information/ tips would be really useful to her.
I suspect I would print floral images to embellish and include in a quilt!

Indigo Blue said...

I think that I would like to print an image of the Cornish coastline using one of my own photos.
xx

Anonymous said...

Great giveaway. I'd probably use a photo from my trip to the grand canyon. It blew my mind!!

kirstymacholly said...

So wish I could have gone to FOQ, maybe next year ... I'd want to print photos of the lovely sunsets we've had in Scotland recently on to fabric

Anonymous said...

Its no good going to the FOQ for one day! My wife & I go for the entire period in order to see everything properly, take part in the various workshops, get to meet the various quilters, and to see their work! Linda & Laura Kemshall have a new digital printing service: check them out!
Paul and Pat, Launceston, Cornwall

Liz said...

I really want to print comic book images, so that I can make a comic book corset. I did make one using actual comic books that I used clear vinyl on, but unfortunately it ripped.

Mistress Pimperella said...

The image I would love to have printed on to Fabric would be the 'Milky Way' Such amazing colours and knowing we are such a tiny tiny part of the entire universe. xx

Blogging tips