BACK NOW

Hi, so sorry to disappear.  Far too much going on & I decided that my blog was not going to be a moan blog  (well not too much anyway)
During this time there was a highlight in that we went to Bedford AC awards night where we met
Robbie Gabarz, Olympic bronze medallist in the high jump

A very personable young man, who presented the awards with much aplomb.  It was a great evening, there were many gamesmakers there in their uniforms, wonderful videos of the astonishing summer of sport, a straw poll of who will get the BBC sports personality (we voted Greg Rutherford) but the winner was Bradley Wiggins, which was suprising given the audience of over 200 were all athletes from athletics, closely followed by Jess Ennis & Mo Farrah.
Stitching has been a bit sparse, but I did manage to finish a comfort quilt for my friend who is recovering from an operation (that ended up as two operations), it is called sunshine and is very bright, when I gave it to her she had a brown blanket over her, that was consigned to the floor.  It is lovely to make something for someone who really appreciates it, I hope it cheers her up.
Today we have put up a bouncy castle for our son who was enjoying a falconery day out
www.bouncywouncy.co.uk
Tomorrow is the end of this seasons Formula One in Brazil, which I have been following & the send of Lewis Hamiltons career with McClaren, which is a huge shame as their headquarters are not far from here & I know some people who work there.
Next year I shall be running a series of Saturday machine stitching classes, MODERN QUILTING, using simple design & easy methods to create a range of items that I will design.  I amhopeful of bringing younger quilters into the qonderful world of stitching.  My patchwork organiser course is going well with some beautiful pieces being constructed.  I promise to take pictures when it is finished.  I shall endeavor to write up a newsletter soon, followed by some workshops
I missed the Affinity meeting this month where the group was making felt, I am looking forward to seeing what they made & I also missed my BOAT meeting & the Embroiderers Guild, so a lean month with creativity.  I have started a Christmas pressie & ordered some special fabric, cant show it until after Christmas,
Hope you have been okay, especially with the dreadful weather worldwide.  Back soon, thanks for reading  x

ABSENCE

The last few weeks have been quite difficult. Family, friends & personal health issues which are ongoing.  Last night my mother in law of 41 years passed away peacefully in her sleep.  x God Bless x
Rachel has kindly sent me this poem, so very beautiful, I want to share it with you

The rose beyond the wall

 A rose once grew where all could see,

shelterd beside a garden wall,

And as the days passed swiftly by,

it spread its branches, straight and tall...

One day, a beam of light shone through

a crevice that had opened wide -

The rose bent gently towards its warmth

then passed beyoud to the other side..

 

Now,you who deeply feel its loss,

be comforted - the rose blooms there -

its beauty even greater now,

nurtured by God's own loving care

DUXFORD

On a beautiful English Autumn day, my two friends and I had a lovely trip to the Autumn quilt fair at Duxford air museum.  This is the new venue as Chilford has tragically burnt down this year.
Wow what a fabulous venue I think, so easy to get to just off junction 10 on the M11, lots of parking, a bit of an aerial display sometimes (on our exit), not too large a queue and the outstanding thing was that to get to the quilt show and the traders access was through the hanger with all the planes in. WOW is not quite the word, I was overawed at the sheer size of the hanger and the beautiful aeroplanes.  This one above at the entrance, look at the blue sky!

This one outside the main building where we queued
There were lots of men and lots of children
What a great day out for all the family, Costs were £7 or £6 for the quilt exhbiition and I think about £8 for the planes, but you only paid for whatever one you went in, so quilters had a huge bonus at seeing the planes for free (well not inside them or the whole building, but quite a few around the edge)

Look at the size of the hanger, the harrier looks like it is suspended.  It all reminded me of my brothers (5 years older) bedroom with all his airfix models mounted on the ceiling throughout my childhood

Inside the exhibition, there was a small display of quilts, in a few categories, this is not really a fair to go to to see quilts, its more a shopping bonanza

Dorothy Sharman & her friend made this one.  I used to attend college when she did so am always interested in her work

Very simple but effective

Dilys Fronks bird, such a lovely face

Reminded me of Lindisfarne, dont know why
The outcome for me.....
1.  Venue was not too hot
2.  Stupid tea queue as usual, they never get it right
3.  Lotd of tables, not so many chairs
4.  Good concrete floor
5.  Long queue for the loos (as usual)
6.  Lighting at the back was not good
7.  Rows  for the traders were too close together (as usual)
All in all I really liked it, far better than Chilford.  I had given up on that show years ago.  I shall go again especially to the Spring fair if it is there again
As I have had not such a good time lately I decided to treat myself to A book, a pattern and some Taupe fabrics
Today we become Bouncy Wouncy old man & woman.  We set up and removed a small castle for a very nice couple and 12 little children, it is completly knackering, but inbetween I made a little block by machine which I have now drawn up for hand templates.
I highly recommend Duxford, one more day to go