An update – and a secret glimpse

This is a quick update on my last post about Quilts and Roses.  I’ve been told that Saturday opening is actually 10.30am for the Quilt Show, so you can come early and beat the crowds.  The Rose Show doesn’t open until 12.30 as there is judging before that.  The food at Squires is usually lovely , so you can have a coffee or lunch while you wait for the second part to start.

We are all set up now, and looking forward to a busy couple of days.  There was still a lot to do when we left, however, and the organisers were rushing hither and thither.  Can you keep a secret?  Here’s a quick glimpse, taken just as we were leaving

Hope to see you there either tomorrow or Sunday, once again it starts at 10.30am.

Quilts and Roses

It’s summer, it’s June, and that means ‘ROSES’ here in the UK.  They are such a welcome sight, beautiful colours and sometimes a wonderful perfume too.  This weekend we will be attending a Rose Show, but one with a difference.  Squire’s Garden Centre at Badshot Lea near Farnham is the venue for a stunning display of roses, complemented by and exhibition of quilts.

The Rose Show is organised by the Royal National Rose Society with help from the Surrey, Sussex and Kent region of the Quilters’ Guild  quilts curated by Jules and Jan, this show promises to be a feast of colour and inspiration.  (see comment below)  I’ll be there on the Winifred Cottage stand, so come and say ‘hi’.  We’ll have some interesting bits and pieces for you to see too.  If I’m brave enough (and have enough space) I’ll be bringing my ‘FIRST QUILT’.  Nothing special, and made very badly during a recent attempt to relax!  It’s fine for it’s purpose, and I won’t accept any criticism from the Quilt Police……………..!

Saturday and Sunday 23rd/24th June 2012.  Opening times vary on each day, but the exhibition is open at the same time as the Garden Centre.  Follow the links above for more information.

Something fishy

So, what I have been doing?  Quite a lot of this and that, with some time for creativity thrown in!  I’ve been boiling up some cauldrons too, and more about that later.

Firstly, here’s part of a piece started on the embellisher.  It’s a combination of fabrics, some stitching, and some printing.

It’s due some machine embroidery shortly, but that won’t be this week.

On Saturday we are travelling to Missenden Abbey for their Open Day.  Anyone coming? Don’t forget to come and say ‘hi’.  If you want us to bring something specific you can give us a ring, contact details are here.   There is never enough room, so we have to be selective in our choice of supplies.

As for the cauldron, well, I’ve been preparing some interesting and exciting samples for a new course that is running next month.  It’s called ‘Let’s Play With Dyes’, and promises to be fun.  It will be the last time I am teaching at Urchfont Manor before it closes, and this course is not the same as any I’ve taught before.  You’ll have to wait for a while to see any samples, I want them to remain a secret until the course.  They are fun techniques – using some unlikely ingredients to obtains interesting results.  There are still a couple of places on the course, so if you haven’t been to Urchfont before this could be your last chance.  If you have been before you can enjoy the facilities and food for maybe the last time.

Sadly it has apparently been decided not to have the Open Day at Urchfont this year.  If you are disappointed you can still get your textile ‘fix’ this weekend at Missenden Abbey, and also at Eastleigh College at the beginning of next month.  I’ll let you have more details of that in a day or so, but in the meantime, I hope to see you on Saturday at Great Missenden.