Journal Quilt - November

Where did the last week go? I have been busy but I can't show you everything that I've been doing yet (not that all of it's wonderfully exciting!). I have finished my Journal Quilt for November. In the finish I decided to edge the quilt with satin stitch rather than apply a binding. I did, however, apply a backing and stitch through from the quilt top to secure it. My inspirational (!) title for this JQ is Across St Ives Bay II. My friend Sandra has suggested that I make this again as a miniature quilt for next years Festival of Quilts. Hmmm! Maybe. I think I would be very tempted to add beads if I do this again. It was very hard for me not to add some beads to this JQ. ;o)

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Earlier this week I received the last two pages in the flower book page swap that I have been engaged in at MixedMediaATCs_UK Yahoo group.

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This page is for the inside of the front cover and was made by Wendy Kirk. I very conceitedly thought the writing said 'Julies' and wondered how she could have known that I would get that page! However, when I looked again I saw it said 'Tulips'! Duh! :O)

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This page is for the front cover and was made by Jean who organised the book pages swap. It bears a passing similarity to the front page I made and I am delighted with it. Now I just have to make two pages of my own and bring the whole thing together into a proper book. That is going to be the hard part and may take a little time.

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I'm still not sure where this week went but part of it went in a very enjoyable day out in Bradford with the lovely Sandra Wyman . We had said that we would have a day out round the textile outlets in Bradford when we met up last year at the Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show and it has taken me all this time to arrange it. The absolutely gorgeous velvets and threads above were Sandra's very generous gift to me. She felt that the colours would work well in one of my seascapes and all the fabrics are her own hand dyes. I am such a lucky girl! Thank you Sandra, I will have a wonderful time using these fabrics and threads.

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So what did we do in Bradford? We started off with coffee at the National Media Museum which does what it says on the tin and focuses on all methods of communication from photography through radio and film to the internet. The Museum was extremely hectic vibrant with hoards groups of students visiting so it was nice to get into one of the exhibition spaces and find a little peace and quiet, not that we don't enjoy the company of excited young people! (You can tell I don't have any young people at home, can't you?) We had a look round the history of photography section and then had a look at an exhibition by the animator Joanna Quinn. I didn't think I had heard of Joanna but I very soon recognised her work and it was wonderful to be able to see the progression of her work and her sketchbooks. Aren't other artists' sketchbooks fascinating? Also, did you know (Bob T Bear, you might wish to look away for a minute!) Joanna Quinn is the artist who drew the bears for the Charmin adverts? Her drawings showed her progression of drawings of real bears with quite angular features to the rounded figures of the Charmin toilet paper bears. Sorry Bob, I didn't mean to remind you about the awful things people do with the bears on Charmin toilet paper! If you click on the link to Joanna you will be able to view the excellent resource that the Media Museum have put on their site including Joanna's sketchbooks and video clips of her animations.

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What did you say? Textile shops? Oh yes, I nearly forgot! We did eventually tear ourselves away from the museum and went to Bombay Stores which is a mind boggling source of everything shiny and glittery! We spent a lovely hour caressing all the beautiful fabrics and ogling at all the threads, beads, trims, silks and satins but believe it or not, our purses stayed in our bags! I for one was overcome by so much choice. I will just have to go back another time! lol

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So what happened in the rest of the week? I've lost a few days with recovering from my day out and a tum that decided to have a bit of a shout but I have been working on some hand sewing. Unfortunately I can't show you yet as it's got to go to Carole Brungar in New Zealand for her blogger friends quilt so until she has received it, it will have to stay a secret. Ooh, that reminds me, I haven't photographed it yet! Don't forget!

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This week I am planning to work on my next Journal Quilt and work on the topstitched curves thing so if you hear some bad language coming from this neck of the woods you'll know who it is! Have a good week everyone and if you're going to the Knitting & Stitching Show in Harrogate have fun! I''m going on Saturday, can't wait!