Inspiration from Valencia

Some images from around the cathedral area in Valencia lots of inspiration for future work

A visit to Valencia

we spent the last day of the Spanish Quilting Holiday in Valencia, a lovely relaxing day seeing the sights and enjoying the atmosphere of a Spanish Saturday, shopping, people watching and a leisurely lunch sat in the sun in a picturesque plaza.

 

 

 

 

Spanish Quilting Holidays

painting in the garden at La Drova

celebrating Dulce's birthday

Dulce with some of her work

Mel with her work in progress


Just got back from La Drova where the girls have had a  very productive week with their textile projects

fading roses

just thought I would share these lovely fading roses with you, the petals have gone papery and parchment-like , subjects for a project?

Matisse and all that

We had a lovely day in London yesterday, a visit to the Tate Modern to see the Matisse- Cut Outs exhibition - brilliant and so inspiring! His work is so tactile so much like textiles - I can see a Quilt coming on. Amazingly I did make a Matisse quilt in 1997, see pic, which featured the dancers and some of his cut out work, I really must think about doing something to follow up on this. Afterwards we had a good lunch, it has to be done, at a greek restaurant on the embankment and then a visit to the tower to se the Poppy installation - extremely moving and more inspiration for textiles

designer shoes

saw these shoes recently on a trip to London - just had to share them with you. Aren't they FAB!

Success at the Festival of Quilts



Well I am back from the Festival of Quilts and have to say that it was pretty amazing to get such good results with my entries. Brilliant to have some real recognition for my work and I was overwhelmed with the reaction from my fellow quilters, thank you all for your congratulations and your kind words, it is very much appreciated. I have to admit that before the show I was feeling a bit 'down' and wondered whether the world really needs any more quilts (or wall hangings for that matter) but now I am spurred on to be creative!

I had such a good time at the show and met so many lovely people-briefly caught up with Cecile Whatman from Oz (Unique Stitching) and amazing to see Robyn from one of the classes at AQC in Melbourne, some ladies from NZ that I hope to be able to see again next spring on my ANZEG tour and a lovely Russian lady, Galina, who very kindly gave me a gift of a book on Russian Lace which she indicated could be a source for designs.

Winning Quilt at the Festival of Quilts

This one got Highly Commended

More from AQC

on my stand

with my lovely machine technicians Lindsay and Patrick

some of the girls in my Marvellous marble class - amazing!

I'm really rubbish at keeping up my blog these were way back in April at AQC in Melbourne, had a fantastic time! I'll try to post some more but sooooooooooooooo busy got to get ready for Festival of Quilts and I'll have Christopher Ashleigh and baby Jake here for a few days this week, too many distractions.

New work

just a few images of work in progress, getting ready for the Festival of Quilts. They should all be finished now but as usual i'm way behind schedule, should be chained to the sewing machine until I've finished everything!

Jake's first wedding

with Nanny in church

with Mummy and Daddy

with The Bride and Groom, Anneka and Stuart

going for a walk with Grandpa Colin





 

Alveva Quilters Round Robin

Round Robin Quilts revealed at the garden party last week, mostly completed and looking good, they will make a great display at the exhibition next year. Well done Girls!

Baby Jake

proud Nanny enjoying a cuddle

Great Grandpa (GG) meets Jake

a little bit of 'tummy time'

a real little boy already-Jake at 4 weeks

Looking back at AQC

I don't know why I haven't got around to blogging since returning from Oz my time management is rubbish and I always seem to be chasing my tail! Anyway here goes, although it was back in April I am just so grateful to Cecile Whatman from Unique stitching for sponsoring my trip to Melbourne it was really fantastic to be part of the show. As you can see it was held in one of Melbourne's heritage buildings and here we are on set up day....................more to follow.............I promise!

Back again

very remiss of me not blogging, I have actually been back from Australia for ages but don't seem to have had much time to myself, or is it my time management is all up the creek? Anyway here I am again and I will put up all the Australia stuff shortly. i'm off the Spain again in September to la drova look at www.quiltingholidays.co.uk there are still a couple of places left so if you are interested in having a stitching holiday with me get booked up!


My BIG news is that I am now a grandmother, sounds extremely ancient, but its lovely to have this new little boy in our lives. Jake Alexander was born on 3rd June so you will understand my thoughts have been elsewhere just lately and I want to see him as much as I can for cuddles.

I'll be back again soon

leaving for melbourne

all packed and ready to go, not particularly looking forward to a 22 hour flight but its a means to an end! I'm sure I've packed far too much stuff but we don't really know what the weather is going to be like and I have quite a few different things to do with the show, teaching and holiday.

By Tuesday morning i'll be in Melbourne and getting ready for the AQC hope to see you there!

Just testing to see if I can upload images from photos on my iPad using picasa web albums

Boys working

Destroying Alex's garden