Craft and Quiltfair - QuiltWest 2011

A day off work (flexi time - yay) to go to the annual Craft and Quilt fair - what more could you want? I should explain that we are very isolated in Perth and the number of quilt and craft shops are limited - and far between. Thank goodness for the internet - and the annual Craft Expo. There were workshops, plenty of buyables, and the eye-candy quilts of the QuiltWest exhibition. The exhibiton was definitely the highlight - partly because I had a fellow quilter to play quilt-critic with in the lovely Jodie. Unfortunately only having the i-phone 3GS, the photo quality is pretty bad, but the one on the left is one we both ooh-ed and ahh-ed over.

wavy quilting grid

 A couple of quilting trends we noted were little round stone pattern and a wavy grid. I really want to improve my free-motion quilting skills. Got to play with some professional long arm machines (sooo jealous) and trialled out three new premium home sewing machines. I'm not about to go out and buy one - I think. My trials showed it's more  my skills than the machine so I'll keep on with the Bernette for another year and do my homework before next year's quilt show as the discounts are excellent ($800 off one machine).

 I didn't buy MUCH fabric... Only $14 worth which is pretty good going. But that's if you don't count 3 kits... Two were from Be Bold Japanese textiles - a pencil case kit and a squirrel clip kit. I know I don't need them but they are so cute... The other was a kit called Balancing Hippos from Windflower Embroidery (there isn't a pic, I have too many on this post already!).

Sashiko

There are two other things that are 'planned projects'. Monica Poole's Quilt as you go workshop was inspiring. Very handy tips on using scraps of batting and joining them together. Very happy with that idea. The other was a quilt in the exhibit which has sold me on the idea of sashiko. I am not sure what the design in the middle is, but I love it and will be hunting it down. I wasn't sure how you get the design onto the fabric but have just discovered something called Chaco paper, which seems like a really easy and useful way of putting designs on fabric for sewing. This quilt could combine QAYG with sashiko which seems like a great idea to me. I like hand quilting but it is so slow compared to machine. Seems like QAYG is a great way to manage small projects. :)

Oh I have soo many works in progress I really need to finish some before I start new ones. And I MUST not buy any more fabric!!!