A Jolly Little Feathered Friend

What a delight to unwrap this little fellow on Christmas morning! A beautiful bird made of wire, feathers and funny found objects, lovely made by artist Cathy Miles. This happy dunnock now sits pretty on my shelf in my sitting room. The unique emporium Whippet Grey has a selection of Cathy's birds for sale online.

Antique and Vintage Textiles in Manchester

Click image above to enlarge.

The Textile Society’s

Manchester Antique Textile Fair

Sunday 6th March 2011

Antique and Vintage Costumes and Textiles, Accessories and Books. The Quilter’s Guild; The Society of Spinnrs , Weavers and Spinners; The Knitting & Crochet Guild and the Button and Braid Societies will all have stands. Lectures throughout the day.

Armitage Centre, Moseley Road, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6HE

10 am – 4.30 pm

£6 Adult

£4 full time students and senior citizens.

www.textilesociety.org.uk or Deborah Roberts atf@textilesociety.org.uk or 077193 47512

Textile Society's Antique and Vintage Textiles

The first London TS Antique Textile Fair when down a storm! We were delighted that we had such positive feedback about the event and that so many of you asked if we will be repeating the fair in London in the future. We think the answer must be, ‘watch this space’! A huge thank you to everyone involved, especially Kay, whos hard work made it all happen!

Melissa from YSH London took some great photos. You can read her coverage of the fair here.

Meg Andrews

Meg Andrews

Parna Textiles

Black Cat Books

Antique and Vintage Textiles in London

After the huge success of the Textile Society's fair in Manchester, which has been
running 18 years the society is holding it's first fair in London. I'll be there!

Sunday 26th September 2010, Kensington Town Hall

10.30 - 4.30 (Trade from 9.30)

Admission £7.50 Concession £5

Trade £10

Over 100 dealers from the UK and Europe will assemble during London Design

Week selling good quality antique and vintages textiles and costumes. Textiles

from the 17th Century to the 1970's! There will also be textile conservators and

dealers in secondhand and new books.

For more information visit www.textilesociety.org.uk or email Kay Bryant, Fair

Organiser on atf@textilesociety.org.uk

Quilt Aspirations

Hummmm...after a wonderful trip round the Quilts 1700 - 2010 exhibition (for the second time!) I feel further inspired but utterly inept! The skill and work involved in the quilts on display is truly breath taking!


I feel I must get on with my quilt, and attempt another. I am desperate to incorporate some of the techniques used in many of the Quilts quilts.

I was tempted by the limited edition quilting fabrics on offer at the V and A shop. Designed exclusively by Liberty's I had to buy a "fat quarter" (or two!) It will be so nice to include the fabrics in the quilt I am making, in memory of the Quilts 1700 - 2010 exhibition.

Quilting Secrets!

What a treat I had on Monday! As a member of the Textile Society, I was given the opportunity to join a private tour of the Quilts 1700 - 2010 exhibition, out of hours!

I entered a lottery for the limited tickets and was thrilled to discover I had won a place on the tour along with a friend.

Lizzie and I met at the station, an early train- 7.21 in the morning meant we were up in South Kensington by 8.50- on time to meet another 10 Textile Society members at the V and A staff entrance. We were all given passes and were escorted to the entrance of the exhibition. Here we met the curator Sue Prichard who was to guide us through, picking out and discussing star pieces of the show.

We were truly spoilt as the exhibition was deserted. In opening hours the show is very busy, it being so popular, so it was a real treat to be able to have free reign of the exhibition, getting up close, undisturbed by crowds.

The curator Sue, was very generous with sharing her knowledge of the quilts. She told of the acquisition, the myths and the truths behind many of the illusive quilts. The stories were amusing, emotive and most often enlightening. We learnt so much, not just about the quilts but more so about the lives of the makers.

It was very interesting to hear of the detective work that went into discovering the secrets behind each key piece in preparation for the exhibition. We were thrilled to hear that the research is on going.

Quilts 1700 -2010 offers such a invaluable source of knowledge about the culture of stitch and the show is well worth a visit. It is for many, a once in a life time opportunity to see the V and A's collection of quilts.

If you haven't had the chance to visit, I thoroughly recommend that you do! The exhibition runs until 4th July 2010. Read more...

Holly
x

"Suffolk Puffs!"

While on holiday last week, I was reminded of Suffolk Puffs- so I made some!

Margate Treasure Trove

Scott's of Margate is one of my favourite places in Britain! My friend Zoe introduced it to me and I have since found myself lost among its antique furniture, bric a brac, retro ornaments and paper ephemera, many times.

Here are some of the treasures I bought on my last visit- I adore the retro knitting and needle craft magazines! The illustrations and photographs are so nostalgic.

New Finds

I found these amazing felt beads in Marrakech, when I visited before Christmas. Not content with the hand-full I bought, I roped my friend into buying some more for me on her trip last month, I now have a large bowl full to the brim with them- they look like sweets, almost edible!

My First Patchwork

Well here it is so far and I'm totally addicted (can you be addicted to patch-working?)

This is my first attempt at patchwork, I am using the age old English paper piecing technique, all sewn by hand! I have been building "granny flowers" each made with 19 hexagons, once I'm done/bored/happy/gone mad, I will then sew them all together-pheww, I think it may take me a while but I love it!

The Textile Society's Manchester Textile Fair

What a treat to spend a whole day surrounded by such treasures- antique textiles, beautiful embroideries, 19th century Kashmir shawls, art deco prints, satin bows, buttons and braids.

I helped out on Meg Andrews' stand, she buys and sells unique antique textiles.

An early morning of setting up, gave way to an interesting day, it was very busy, which was great! I spent most of the day at Meg Andrews' stand but was able to venture out in search of something special for myself. I didn't know where to look! I could of bought everything I saw! Instead I pulled all my pennies together and bought a beautiful, emerald green 1930's dress, full length with deep pleated pockets on the front- gorgeous- I intend to wear it and prance about pretending I'm Keira Knightley in Atonement! x

Hickory Dickory Clock!

I am now the very proud owner of an Andrea Williamson knitted cuckoo clock!

I adored it! Here it is pride of place on my wall...

Winter Wonderland!

I love the snow! This is my garden just before christmas. We built the best snowman we've ever made!

The New Colouricious Website!

We haven't stopped! Exciting stuff is brewing at Colouricious for 2010. Check out the new website to explore all our new products and to see what we have planned for the New Year!