Well, a visit to Festival of Quilts wouldn't be complete without a little shopping would it? Before I get to my confessions I should just mention a workshop I did with Janice Gunner. This was a 3 hour workshop and it centred on the embellisher machine (needle felting machine). I have owned an embellisher for two or three years but lately it has been languishing and lonely so I thought this workshop might get me going again.
Janice provided us all with a pack containing pre-felt which was gorgeously soft and a pleasure to work with and a selection of fibres and she demonstrated various ways of combining the fabrics to differing effects. The results above aren't wonderfully beautiful but they did remind me that this is a fun machine to work with and gave me lots of ideas to play with. I just need to get my embellisher out now!
My shopping form the Show is more utilitarian than exciting although I did allow myself a special treat.
As you can see I had to buy some pre-felt in the hope that that would get me working (not so far). The palette of paints is a wonderfully portable pack of Koh-I-Noor paints that I keep reading about.
The colours are beautifully vibrant and they will be easy to pop in my case to use on holiday.
My special treat was this beautiful book by Jan Messent which is sumptuously illustrated and that I know will bring all kinds of inspiration.
In addition to the shopping I won a couple of pennants on the Pennants for Patchworkers stand which was a fundraiser for the Quilters Guild.
Last but not least, she doesn't know it yet because she's on her way home from the States, but I've decided to join with Kate North's Stay at Home Round Robin. Each month Kate is issuing instructions for a section of a quilt so that, instead of the quilt moving on from person to person it stays in one place and we add to our own quilt each month. It has an element of mystery quilt to it.
This is my effort for July and August. July on the left is a 6 and a half inch (6" when finished) square which I chose to do in my version of crazy-ish log cabin and august is on the right, a 4" x 6" rectangle. It all started from the small square of practice applique with the flower. I'm looking forward to September's task :)
Today has been a lovely day for me, I spent a few hours in the company of my beautiful (step)daughter who I haven't seen for ages. She is as lovely as ever and the time passed all too quickly.
Yesterday I went to see my friend who is still in hospital but who is still moving in the right direction. Bless her, she's very frustrated by all this inactivity but hopefully she will soon have a change of scenery and either be home or in interim care. For a 99 year old I can only marvel at her fortitude!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend (a holiday weekend in the UK). I think the sun is going to shine!
19 comments:
Koh-I-Noor pencils are brilliant so I won't be surprised if their paints are too ;)
Love your choice of pennants, esp. the one with the houses.
I'm so glad your friend is doing well. I had no idea she was 99 bless her heart.
My needle felting machine is very lonely too. It hasn't been used in a year or so. Just so many fun things to do, right?
Love the flags, especially the house one.
:)bea
Lovely post Julie - your embellishing samples are lovely - I need that workshop too. I like the look of your 'shopping' - that book is stunning isn't it - I had a copy for my birthday. Love the pennants and your quilt block. Best wishes to your friend and I'm so glad she's doing well. She has so many of us thinking of her.
I love dry felting when I did a workshop but think I have too many crafts on the go to take it up again. I look forward to seeing what you do. I love the pennants too, lucky you!
love
Lyn
xxx
All gorgeous, I approve of your purchases. Hope you get going with your embellisher again. Mine is in a similar state. Love the pennant with the cottages and your new patchwork piece. So glad your friend is making progress in the right direction x
Embellishers are great to use, I love them!
So glad to hear your friend is getting better.
M x
I did enjoy looking at your purchases ,loved the pendants too ,especially the house one ,so pleased you friend is getting better ...love Jan xx
I am so glad that you decided to buy the book Julie, inspiring isn't it. Have fun playing with all your things. Good to hear that your friend is still doing well.
I have that book in my wish list on Amazon, you will have to bring it to our show and tell. I approve of everything else, you did a good shop :)
The penant with the houses is really nice, congrats on winning it.
I have some of those paints, I believe they are still in the wrapping, if I had known you wanted some........;)
those paints look great - I'll look forward to a review and some examples - glad you are having fun
Shame on you Julie, leaving that little Embellisher all by itself:)
Your samples look lovely.
I'd love to have those Koh-I-Noor paints too. They are so vibrant and I love using them. I'm glad your friend is getting better.
I'll get round to it sometime JP :) It was good to meet you at the Show.
Hi Julie
I have been trying to leave comments on your blog for days and pesky blogger has been playing up(grr).
I am so pleased your friend is doing so well - there is something so special about people in their 90's. They have so much wisdom to impart. I am sure she values your friendship very much.
The embellishing workshop sounds like fun and you have done a great job on your embellishing samples.
Your new patchwork piece is gorgeous. And the book looks like it is a excellent purchase!
Dot xx
Your purchases at FoQ looked really interesting and I am so pleased you were able to get there and enjoy the show. Time spent with family is always lovely, and I am pleased your friend is well on the road to recovery now.
The Janice G workshop looked like fun, just what I need! I liked your samples ;) Lovely bits & pieces you bought & those pennants are great.
I meant to say, snazzy hat!
I think my Koh-I-Noor dye/paints are my most used media, the colours are just so bright. Thank you for sharing your workshop with Janice Gunner, I'm already looking forwards to what you can do with your own machine.
Ai, this beautiful pictures of the Koh-I-Noor breaks my heart. I brought he same box with me from Birmingham last year and I drop it down on the floor tiles by accident. I only have tiny little pieces now:-( I also don't use my embellisher a lot, so I would have loved a course like that, to get inspiration again...
Julie, So happy that you got the lace, and glad that your Mum will soon be with you. You have been one busy traveler. I do hope that your friend is getting better, sounds like a real trooper. You have had your hands full. You are indeed in my prayers. Hugs to you and your mum. Love
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