Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts
We had a super day out at the show in Manchester and, if you fancy a trip, it's still on until Saturday.
We had a super day out at the show in Manchester and, if you fancy a trip, it's still on until Saturday.
There's a mixed bag of crafty treats to see and to buy, and I did quite a bit of both.
I really enjoyed the exhibition of creative work by the Quilters Guild
I'm entering this post into Annie's Friday smile as I really did have a great day, yesterday, and as I look at my bargain fat quarters and think of what I might make with them, I am still smiling.
To top it all, my neighbour has just brought me a parcel, which is from super generous Jo Twiglet, which came in yesterday's post whilst we were out. It contains the Katie Morag doll (which you can see in Jo's last post) and fabric for a Katie Morag skirt for our little fraulein, who adores the books and will be thrilled. Now I'm beaming and a huge thanks to Jo.
You can share more smiles over at Annie's blog here.
Displays of large quilts ....
and so many mini treasures of embroidered and quilted art exhibited by the Contemporary Quilt Group.
I met up with blogging buddies Chris (pearshapedcrafter) and Anne (Redanne) and we had fun showing all we had bought then we each rushed back to buy some of the things we'd missed that the others had bought! Couldn't find that cotton coated printable card, Anne, but I hope you tracked down the big butterfly beads!!!
Chris, Anne, Jo
Here's my gorgeous stash of fabrics (24 fat quarters!), lace, 12x12 storage boxes and those big butterfly beads.
The 6 wood mounted stamps were a bargain and a gift for a special friend.
I'd love to have a try knitting with these big needles on Rachel John's inspiring creative stand.
I wondered who was in this comfy chair......
and as I ,moved to the front I wondered again just who had knitted a whole mum and baby and book and mug and rug and tablecloth?
If you are wondering what to do with your knitted squares, here's a dragon of an idea....
It was lovely to catch up and have a chat to the lovely talented Tracey Spurgin, of Craftworx. I won a silver clay course with her a couple of years ago and she is fantastic. Check out her work and courses here I plan to take another as she
comes now and again to a local venue.
The costume exhibition for this show was from Les Miserables.
There was an exhibition of period handbags and millinery, mostly originals but with some excellent reproductions
So much work went into them and many were completely hand made.
This 1920s cloche was my favourite hat...
and I love this quirky handbag
There were very few exhibits in the Madeira competition but I think this Highly Comended embroidery by Annette Beattie, of Wales, stole the show. Part of it was beautifully hand painted with stunningly detailed free machine embroidery.
Here's my last laugh!
23 comments:
Coo! A really good exhibition by the look of it. But try as I might - I cannot find the enthusiasm for those large knitted creations - very clever but ...why? But then I guess you can say that about any large installation piece. I'm getting old and crabby!
Wow, looks like you ave been at a great show. Thanks for sharing all the pictures.
WOW looks like a fabulous show and great bargains with those wooden stamps xxx
Looks like you had a fabulous day - what treasures (love those butterflies!) The Quilts are always so fantastic, and as for that last piece, wow indeed!
Hi Jo, they should hire you to promote the show! I was a little disappointed by the lack of crafty stands but this was more than made up for by the wonderful exhibitions that you have shown. I did get the beads, sorry you did not get the cotton. Their website is:
www.cardcreationsplus.co.uk just in case you want to check it out. Lovely to meet up with you and Chris. Hugs, Anne xx
Thanks, Jo, I am going Saturday afternoon with my daughter.. Good to know it will be worthwhile.
Oh wow Jo...looks like a fab time was had by all. Thanks for sharing all you saw. So lovely to see yet more faces of the bloggers I follow :-)
Hugs,
Annie x
ps I really hope I have news to share with you soon x
A brilliant report - I shall direct folk here as you have covered everything so well. Wish I'd taken my camera - those displays were fantastic! It was really great to meet up with you and Anne. Hugs, Chrisx
Thank you for showing such great photos, they really give a flavour of what the show was like! (Love tha dragon!)
That's a lovely pile of goodies you got, hope to see those in action on WOYWW :-)
Hugs, LLJ xxxx
Truthfully, I'm not sure where to begin. Maybe I'll start with the last quilt that looks more like a photograph than a quilt. Stunning is the word I would use. Or maybe drop-dead-gorgeous.
I was impressed with the dragon, the vignette with the gal, baby, and table, and your stash. But my favorite was the photo of the art contemporary quilts. Those really caught my eye. These would have been worth the price of admission for me. Small, but mighty!!
And of course, the hats. Although I'm not one to wear hats, that one you singled out caught my eye before I ever saw the close-up photo of it. A really fun visit.
Totally brilliant post Jo - you had me smiling all the way - such wonderful crafty gorgeousness! Glad little KM arrived safely. x Jo
I love looking at quilts, then I feel a bit silly when I realise I've been staring at the same one for 15 minutes!! :)
Glad you had a good time
Laura
Thanks for adding a closer look at the small art quilts. They are beautiful, and of course, I picked out several I really like. More inspiration for my scrappy quiltlets.
I'll never be a seamstress, but I am a sewer and lover of art quilts. This truly made me SMILE. Thank you beyond belief.
Of course, I had to laugh at the Gibson girl and her wine. Have a great Friday.
looks like you had a fab time, I love that cloche hat too, so many gorgeous things to see.
Tilly
Glad you had a good time and thanks for sharing the stunning piccies. I had really wanted to go, especially as I'm into fabrics at the moment. However this wasn't the right week for me. Maybe next time, x
Wow, what a fabulous show - thanks for sharing a taste of all the fun, Jo x
Wow! What a wonderful time you had. The photos of the show are fantastic and I am glad to hear that the doll arrived safely. Thanks for the smiles. Caro x (#6)
Hi Jo, super post, loved all the photos taken at the show. Hope those quilts are on show in the Glasgow show next month. And that I'll be able to get my hands on lovely fat quarters like yours too - my daughter and I plan to treat ourselves :) The knitted mother and baby are amazing ... the tablecloth looks like a Shetland shawl and fine enough to slip through a wedding ring. Thanks for sharing. Elizabeth xx
That all looks wonderful. I love the dragon. people keep giving me squares so I think I've nearly got enough to make that. But I guess it's time I started sewing them up to make some blankets!
I think those fat needles are what is called broomstick knitting. They must be everso hard to hold. The knitted mum and baby is great too. As you can tell, the yarns grab me more than the fabric does, but some of those quilts are lovely. Kate x
those rubber stamps look fun and how nice to meet up with online buddies too.
Thanks for the visit
Gill x
Hi Jo late popping in from WOYWW but I'm glad I am otherwise I might have missed this post, so much loveliness I don't know what to comment on. You clearly had a fabulous day and it looks very inspirational. as an added bonus you had goodies to take home with you too, those butterfly beads are gorgeous, have fun with those. see you next Wednesday
janet
Ps thanks for your comments the other day, I think they were pleased with the invites, they are Sooo 'them'
Thanks for sharing these pics Jo, I didn't dare go as I always spend money!!
Was feeling disappointed I did not get to this show but now I am fine. Your lovely description and pictures transported me there.
Thanks Jo.
Hugs
Neet xx
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