Pour L'Amour du Fil, Nantes 2013 - Congratulations Di!

If you haven't guessed by the long break between posts, I have been on holiday (in France).  Home now for just over a day, it is time to gather my thoughts and write about the main reason I was swanning around overseas - Di's official book release at Quiltmania's Pour L'Amour du Fil in Nantes.  

Pour L'Amour is a combination of an exposition and an outstanding market place where you can buy all things relating to thread - fabric, wool, embroidery etc etc.  The exposition is by invitation, and this year more than 20 artists and designers were there.

Along with Di, there was Kaffe Fasset and Brandon Mably, Petra Prins, Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson to name some of the more recognisable. Each had their own 'salon' where their quilts were displayed as if in room(s) of a house.

The entrance to Di's salon

From the moment the Expo opened, Di's salon was crowded, and apart from some quiet moments late in the afternoon, this is how it was each and every day.

Standing room only!

I lost count of the number of times I heard c'est magnifique, superbe, douee artiste!  My french is terrible but even I got the gist of these comments!

Rotherfield Greys (on the bed), Jane Austen and Oak Alley(left)

Drayton Hall and just a glimpse of Miss Porter's Quilt

Antique Wedding Sampler (left), and Sarah Morrell

Di is very humble about her creative ability and her quilts.  She is also one of the most warm and generous people you will ever meet. Over the 4 days at Nantes, Di spent every moment, apart from 3 hours on two days when she was teaching, signing books.  Each signature was accompanied by smiles, lots of chats and personal messages in each book.

A happy group of quilters from Spain!

And there was even time for an impromptu lesson on needleturn applique to this lucky group of quilters from the UK.

Concentrating hard!

And of course, there is Di's dear husband Brian.  Brian is now officially an 'honorary Sister', even if he can't thread a needle.  When Di was busy teaching, Brian held the fort in her Salon selling books and trying to explain the intricacies of Di's quilts to all and sundry.

Brian, with Maggie Grace's Garden (left) and Ann's Legacy (right)

It was the most wonderful time. I was so fortunate to be there. It was a privilege to share the time with Di and to witness the reaction of folk seeing Di's quilts for the first time.

I count my blessings every day that I wandered into Primarily Patchwork one Saturday morning, enrolled in a class with Di, and now some 9 years later have had my life enriched by friendships that will last forever.

Until next time,

Meghan

A special Sisterhood Day at Hepburn

 Last Saturday was Secret Sewing Day at Sue's gorgeous Victorian cottage in Hepburn.What a special place to reveal....... THE BOOK !!!
I managed to procure a copy on Friday afternoon.
I surprised the girls on arrival at Sue's.......no-one could believe I had kept it a secret on the hour and a half drive to Hepburn ! Unfortunately Ann was unable to join us but here's the crew celebrating!Fromleft to right..Deb, Meghan,
Kerry, Di, the book!,Sue,Barb,Merri and Clare.It was very special celebrating with the best group of friends in the whole world !

 Meghan has been so busy putting her Mrs. Miller's Journey, a design by Liz Willing,
together. It looks stunning. Just a little applique to finish over the joined seams then ready for quilting.Beautifully done Meghan.

 I'm madly working on some samples for a fussy cut applique class I'm teaching in Nantes in April....... so I really need to get a wriggle on !
To all our readers outside Australia ,it has been the hottest Summer ever not great for sewing with sticky fingers from all the perspiration....put that together with hot flushes and it's not a pretty situation !! I'll show some close ups in a future blog.

 And now just a little sneak preview of the inside front cover of the book..
        "PRIMARILY QUILTS......
          19th Century Inspirations "
Carol Veillon and all her team at Quiltmania have done the most amazing work putting everything together.THANK YOU!
The styling is just beautiful and I can't quite believe it has all happened !!

I will firstly apologise to the Sisters for this totally unrelated to the Sisterhood photo.
But they know I'm animal crazy!
This is our boy "Fletch" putting on his sad face because he had to wait for me to finish sewing before we could go for our walk !

Phew!..... this is my first post in well over 12 months so wasn't sure that I could remember what to do but once I started it all came back. Happy stitching to all.

A sneak preview........

It is just 8 weeks to Pour l'Amour du Fils and the 'official' launch of Di's book. And just this week Di received.........

...a photo of the cover design.

Many of us took our first tentative steps to becoming a quilter under Di's kind and caring tutelage at her shop (Primarily Patchwork) in Canterbury and will instantly recognise the reference to that wonderful, but now sadly closed, haven in the title.  It was there that many of us met and where many lifetime friendships have been formed.

If the cover photo is any indication, then I think this is going to be a most beautiful addition to my collection of quilting books.

Congratulations Di,

Meghan

PS.  Threadbear are taking pre-orders if you are interested.

With apologies to my "Sisters"

This post is meant to be all about our 3rd Saturday of the month sewing day.  The gathering for this month was at Deb's. Everyone was very industrious but....sorry no photos.  I forgot to take my camera! (I am blaming the hot weather for my frazzled state of mind).  

So, forgive me SSS for being a little self indulgent.  Instead of show and tell pictures from Saturday, I am filling the gap with the project I have been working on for the past few months, well years actually.  I have regained enthusiasm for this project again and began working steadily towards completing it last August.  I have posted some bits in the past but thought you might like to see what has been completed to date.

The design is by Liz Willing, it is called Mrs Miller's Journey and I have finished....

...the centre block

...all 4 of these

..two of these

...with the other two underway

...two of the borders and

...all 4 of the border cornerstone blocks.

I promise to take the camera sewing next month

Until next time

Meghan

A little secret sewing and a UFO dusted off

It was the 3rd Saturday of the month yesterday, so yippee, it was sewing day.  And there has been a little bit of secret sewing (literally) going on.   

How so? Barb arrived with a completed quilt top - a beautifully pieced 'storm at sea' for her nephew - which none of us had any idea she was making. Love the colours, just perfect for a young man.

Di is really enjoying playing with the antique chintz bird fabric.  The broderie perse is almost done and a first border is being stitched down.

The way Di has fussy cut and used this beautiful green stripe from Barbara Brackman's Metropolitan Fair is stunning.

And the UFO dusted off is from Clare.  This is an oldy but a goody started a long time ago at a class at Primarily Patchwork. (I am having a senior moment and cannot remember the name, sorry)

Ann, Sue, Merri and I are all making progress on our projects.  However sometimes there is not a lot to show, so no photos from us this month.

Until next time,

Meghan