Pretty Prints

Martha of "Q is for Quilter" documents the scraps of vintage fabric she finds before she uses them in her quilts. Her blog is a fantastic source of inspiration for print design and graphics. The wonderful unique and retro feel of these fabrics makes me thoroughly jealous of Martha's fabric collection!

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...

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