Another Textile Jaunt

Some very enjoyable textile stuff has been happening recently here at Textile Treasury. We've had the Kentucky Quilt Collection at Fakenham the other week. Then during my time in Wales came the visit to Lampeter to see Jen Jone's Welsh Quilt Collection with the Kaffe Fassett Exhibition. On my return I went to Swaffham to see Liz Nally's North of England and Welsh Antique Quilt Collection - coincidentally meeting up again with Jane Clarke, whose Open Studios I visited last year. More of Jane's exploits in an upcoming post! And to cap the month off I spent a brilliant day yesterday with Stitch and Bitch friend Yvonne at a very special studio over the other side of the county.

First, though, I'd like to tell you about a Blog Swap I made with lovely Els from the Netherlands. Els liked my wool pincushions and asked about doing a swap for one of her mandalas. I thought this was a Good Thing so the swap was a done deal. I think  the pincushion I sent to Els is the one in my header photograph.

 This is my mandala which Els drew and coloured - can you see the fiddle, and the singing bird - the Firebird, and some folky flowers, and journal flowers. And also a little image of - yes! Me!! So a very personalised mandala which I love - thank you so much Els.

So, back to Saturday's Textile Jaunt. Yvonne belongs to a group of Rug Hookers who meet monthly in a little village over the more easterly side of the county, called Swanton Novers. Meetings are hosted by Jane-Ann at her beautiful home and studio on the edge of the village. I had met her and one or two of the group at Yvonne's Open Studio earlier this year, and had been invited along to a meeting. Now I love rag rugs. You know I do. You've seen my attempts and my two purchased items. I fully intended to spend the day getting to grips with my 'bird' seat cover. I'm so embarrassed to admit - I can't find it anywhere! The bird has flown! However, I was allowed in and permitted to stay, and got on with some other stitching, but oh! I must find that bag before next month's meeting!

I know. Aren't you jealous? I'm so green I could run for parliament on the ecology ticket! Here you see, l-r  Jane-Ann, Yvonne, Red, kettle in hand, and Nadine.

Everywhere I looked there was evidence of Jane-Ann's prolific talent in many crafts, particularly textile-based, but with special emphasis on rug-hooking.

Sorry, this photo does not want to right itself; it is the seat cushion partnered to the next photograph.

This wonderful old hexagon quilt top was purchased by Jane-Ann at a textiles fair recently. Isn't it fascinating? There was much discussion on how/whether to launder it. The brochure reading  "FRAYED" above relates to an exhibition showing in Great Yarmouth between now and March, I'm hoping to get along to see that.

And look what I spied hanging on the wall near the door ...... a genuine Janet Bolton! Yes. and no, I didn't walk out with it!

All in all it was a very productive day for everyone. Much of the talk centred around the forthcoming craft fair "Made in Norfolk" at Swanton Novers Village Hall on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th November 10-4 and 11-4. The post code is NR24 2RB and this is its third year. The work of the group will be much in evidence, and I think Red in particular was instrumental in getting the fair up and running in the first place. (Correct me if I'm wrong!) I'm under the impression that the craftspeople will be displaying and hopefully selling quite high-end items, so if you are within driving distance, do pop along, you won't be disappointed.

                                        Jane-Ann completed her hooky bird in the day.

                                                            The group hard at work.

                                 Yvonne dashing away at her sunflower - isn't it gorgeous?

And I completed three pincushions to 'stuffing level' and worked on my up cycled cardigan. I've become quite excited by 'altered clothing' at the moment - probably started off by my Boro-style Molly Coat - and I have been embellishing this 6-7 year old cotton cardigan. I think I might change the elbow patches a little, but I'm quite pleased with the felted diamonds. The cardigan is a lovely soft green, which unfortunately hasn't photographed in true colour.

Here it is at home, you can see the shade a little better perhaps. I think it is my habit of mending moth holes in woollens with velvet patches which has led me down this 'altered' path. I've seen some very exciting examples on pinterest. Watch this space!

So thank you Jane-Ann and everyone who made me so welcome, and big thanks to Yvonne for taking me. I promise to be hooking next time!

Welsh Quilt Collection

Last week saw Jim and I off to Wales for a couple of days at the caravan. We had a few chores to complete and we struck lucky with the weather as we left Norfolk to high winds and rains and overcast skies. We had about an hour of rain on our first afternoon - Jim was fishing I was at the time sitting indoors reading and stitching, so we weren't bothered; it soon bucked up.

First job was to arrive in Welshpool on the Tuesday to take my new melodeon to have some reeds changed and the layout customised. Rees said it would take him less than two days which made it very convenient. On Thursday we drove up from Crickhowell to Lampeter, lovely little market town north west of us, and over the hills. Lots of hills. Some beautiful scenery on the way.

AT Lampeter we found the Town Hall where the Jen Jones Welsh Quilt Collection is housed. I've wanted to see these quilts for years, and was so pleased Jim was happy to make the fairly long drive to see them. We were fortunate to find that the Kaffe Fassett Exhibition was still running, so we  were treated to a double visual feast - the brightly coloured, modern quilts design by Kaffe were exhibited 'flying' throughout the body of the hall, with the beautiful old, faded Welsh quilts hung on the walls of the room. They complemented each other wonderfully.

The ladies in the shop through which you go to view the quilts were lovely,  very gracious and helpful and so proud of the collection. Jen Jones herself was there and I was able to have a chat. I also bought some pieces of antique quilt pieces, cut from quilts which were beyond reasonable repair; I shall make some more textile collages with them.

                                            The three quilts above are by Kaffe Fassett.

The quilting is exquisite, not all the stitching is tiny, but it is even, which is more important.

                             Jim admiring one particular quilt, the description of which is below.

These wholecloth quilts, which are only part of Jen's entire collection, the rest of which is kept at her home, show the similarity with the later Amish quilts, thought to have been taught by Welsh settlers in North America.

         More of Kaffe's glorious modern quilts, many based on traditional patterns or settings.

    In another room were housed some vintage quilts which were for sale. OH! The temptation!

This was my favourite. Draped casually over a chair, it was the cheapest, at £275. I loved it.

Common sense prevailed! So much to appreciate and enjoy. We spent about an hour in there. Then we popped into a local pub for lunch, rang Rees to get a progress report, and set off across the mountains to Welshpool. It was a long, twisty-turny drive as the road wound round and round the hills and mountains. Eventually we reached Rees's home and my melodeon was ready for me. Rees demonstrated its loveliness by playing me some fantastic blues music - yep, on melodeon! Who'da thunk it! So we made the long journey back down country . That night was extremely windy though we didn't get much rain. The following morning was the most overcast we have experienced at the caravan, though a defiant bit of blue sky was peeping through the cloud. After some general housekeeping we packed up and set off home, running into some really unpleasant weather - we certainly felt the Indian Summer was over and Autumn had well and truly arrived by the time we hit East Anglia.

Now two things, I have some information for anyone who might like to attend the illustrated talk (with quilts) about Vintage Quilts at the Assembly Rooms in Swaffham, on Tuesday 22nd October, 12-2 pm. Tickets £4 from Ceres bookshop in Swaffham. Many thanks to Liz for this information, I'm looking forward to being there.

Secondly apologies for the lateness of this post, and for my absence from blog-reading, I had a very busy week since our return and it isn't getting any quieter! Next post I will show you what the lovely Els - read her blog atfiberrainbow - sent me in exchange for one of my wool pincushions. One day I am sure Els and I will meet up - how good would that be!!

So hope you have enjoyed your virtual trip to the Welsh Quilt Collection, I am going to take my migraine to lie down in a darkened room! Catch you later!