The absolute highlight of the weekend was meeting friends. I met Sarah (of FairyFace Designs) before I even made it to the show! We had a good long chat over coffee like we have known each other for years. It was so fantastic to finally meet her in person! I just wish we had a little more time, but our paths will cross again eventually. I found my way (through a monsoon) to the show and there found Fi (of PatchworkDelights) and we had a shopping spree in fast forward. She's such a riot! We were off shopping for fabric, ribbon and glittery glue with a little break for tea and a muffin (the size of my head). I really had a fab time with her and (again) wished we had more time together before she had to head home.
Once I finished socializing....whew!...I found my way to the shops. There were beading stalls, paper stalls, knitting stalls, book shops and a few fabric stalls. Not as many as I would have hoped for, but enough to entertain me a while. Most were not really to my taste and sold darker, blander, more granny-ish fabric than what I was looking for. There were two great exceptions: Crafty Fox (where I found a few FQs) and Pippablue, which was its usual spectacular self. Ger and Eva are so fantastic to chat/shop with! With lots of picking to the bottom of display baskets, I found 4 FQs scattered around the show that made me smile.
Recently I have been interested in the idea of dyeing my own fabric. I have been reading a lot, but not much actual dyeing...and then I saw this! Colourcraft. They were great in helping me choose a dye and tools that would work for me. Now I can not wait to give it a try!
Looking at that last photo you would be forgiven for thinking I took up another illegal hobby while in Dublin.Just before I had to head for the train home, I met up with Linda (of Sew Nicely) and her adorable daughter for a snack and a chat. She had a great stash of fabric and yarn that will keep her busy for a while! I can not wait to see what she creates. Again, it was really to put a face with her bloggy personality.
Will I go back next year? Most likely yes - but really for the socializing and not for the shopping. Was a bit disappointed there, but seeing my friends totally made it a fantastic weekend. Thanks, girls!
16 comments:
How wonderful to meet some online friends! I will tell you that dyeing is a blast! I had a grand time dyeing with a friend when she was visiting in September. I look forward to seeing your creations!
LOL!! Ok... I have to do a double take on your last photo. What a hoot! Keep us posted on your progress with dying your own fabric. I haven't tried that yet.
Can't wait to see what creations you make with your dye - that's something I'd love to try but I think I'd get it everywhere!
What a shame you didn't find much of interest fabric-wise - but sounds like the socialising made up for it! Look forward to seeing your experiments with dying :)
Shopping you can do online! Meeting friends face to face is much better!
Look forward to your dyeing efforts!
I'm in the same camp as "Archie", I'd love to do more dying, but the mess I made the last time... not to mention getting it up my nose.. lol I'd need supervision!
Glad you had fun. Wish I could've been there too.
ps lookin at your last pic I have absolutely no idea what you could possibly be talking about. Honestly. :-P
Your comment about your dye `gear` made me laugh. How lovely to meet Sarah and co and shame the fabrics weren`t a great selection! The FQs found after a good rummage are very yummy!
Oh, you got a canting (pronounced chanting). Lovely. I taught kids batik at school using a flour water mix - you have to let it dry hard before you paint over the top of it (rather than immersing waxed fabric in dye) then when it's all dry the flour-water mix cracks off leaving you with white lines. I think we used piping bags as that would kill a canting.
Love the bluebird fabric.
just looked it up, this is how we did it: http://eyesaflame.blogspot.com/2008/06/demo-flour-paste-batik.html
Cindy, you absolutely crack me up! I can imagine you had quite the fun time in Dublin, even if you did keep it all legal. How great that you got to meet so many cool people while there! Can't wait to see what you do with the dyes!
Dyeing is something on my to-do list as well. I can't wait to see what you come up with!
Glad tou hear that you had a great social time even if you were a little disappinted in the rest!
Now that I have a bit more than a metre of 90cm wide calico quilted (to a backing of calico) I think we'll use it for some dyeing practice and eventually turn the fabric into a useful object!!
Isn't it great to meet bloggy friends! The biggest problem is explaining (in my case) to two daughters why *I* am allowed to meet strangers from the internet and they aren't! Jackie and Hadley have both accepted they are called pedophiles in my house! (jokingly I add!!!)
Wish I could have been there - Jackie was working there!
Some great purchases there! Sorry it was a bit disappointing! Maybe NEC/Birmingham next year instead? Jxo
I had a similar disappointing time at the Scottish quilt show regarding everything being suited for the, err, elder generation (in an 'I was at least 30 years younger than anyone else shopping there' sort of a way), but meeting up with online friends is always a blast! I have a couple of ideas brewing on how we may conquer this shopping experience in the future though...
You girls are hopeless - not a photo of your smiling faces from any of you!!!
Good luck with the dying x
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