The Force Was With Me

I was due to set off for the Festival of Quilts last Thursday afternoon. To while away some time in the morning I read a few blogs and when I read Kristy's, knew I had to make use of her wonderful Star Wars pattern. My young nephew starts school on Friday so I pondered awhile, or for 5 minutes, and got started.
I like foundation piecing, am comfortable with it but hesitated momentarily after printing off the pattern.......could I be bothered with all those wee pieces...........well I did and they were small but that's all, no more difficult, just little. We have the perfect word up here - footery.
I got a few bits done before having to fly..................literally, to Birmingham.

It must be three or four years since me and the Sewing Bee girls visited the Festival of Quilts. I think it has become even bigger, now taking up 3 halls of the NEC.

Most of the first day was spent trailing around the huge amount of traders. Mindful of my recent US haul I tried to be sensible - some of my purchases were made with plans in mind, some inspired by the Festival itself.
On the first day I went to a lecture by Maggie Grey called Cupboard Love. I sort of expected a talk on how to use up our stashes but it was so much more, covering lots of textile art topics. I came away from that thinking about all the bits and bobs in my UFO drawer, all the experimental textile stuff I have tried and also thinking of all the travel pics I took last year "for inspiration" but in reality just got filed. So that led me (& Janet) to buy a Thermofax kit to try our hands at screen printing, something I have always wanted to try.

One thing that was really different for me this time was the chance to meet fellow bloggers, girls that I have only known online until now.
On Friday I met up with Di & Trudi 

I also met Catrin, Siobhan & Emily. Funnily enough there was a whole coachload of ladies who travelled from my local area - I only encountered two of them but came across my fellow bloggers several times. It was just great meeting you all.

Quilts - there were of course, quilts a plenty, think I'll keep these for another post. We were well quilted out by Sunday night when we got back, and after a day of babysitting yesterday I was happy to sew today -

I got stuck in to my Stormtrooper, so to speak.............

I am hoping it might do as a gym bag but if not maybe he can keep some Lego in it.

Lastly, I finished off the name tag for The Stitch Gathering, now less than two weeks away. 

August is living up to its expectations of being a really busy month for me.....I hope the Force stays with me!