A festival to feast on
It’s almost starting to feel like things are getting back to how they were, well almost. But somehow I hope this time without the things we love will help us all appreciate what we had even more. If we’re allowed out of the house and able to mingle again it can only mean that The Festival Of Quilts is back too. It’s the thing I’ve been looking forward to the most since my series of The Great British Sewing Bee finished transmission last year and the event that’s been unable to run ever since. The organisers have somehow made it better and bigger and more relaxed than before.
I must admit I was rather anxious driving there with my husband Clive this weekend. We’d both been to these shows many times over the years, but this one was different. It would be the first one I’d been to post GBSB now that the sewing world knows who I am and the first one in nearly two years. The organisers had done a fantastic job of making sure everyone was safe, plenty more room, better ventilation and checking everyone was healthy to attend.
I was quickly put at my ease when I arrived seeing my new friends from Native Lighting who I’m a brand ambassador for. Then it struck me, although I've been working with loads of lovely new friends and colleagues from different corners of the sewing word, I haven’t actually met anyone face to face. I’d got so use to folks just being a contact in my address book and not a real person with body language and enthusiasm to see through their eyes. So seeing Clare as soon as I got in was amazing.
Usually my trips to the FOQ was a chance for inspiration, shopping and having a great day out. Although my day involved those things it was so much more this time. The opportunity to meet the very people who follow me on my social media , watch me on GBSB and Sewing Street and who are all jolly good eggs was fantastic. The shopping did have to take a back seat this year sadly, but there was time to indulge just a little.
One of my very favourite stands at nearly every single show is the one from M Rosenberg and Son. It’s always piled high in beautiful designer fabrics, unusual pieces and offers so much inspiration every year. Clive bought some Pucci fabric which he is sewing up this very evening! I picked up some stunning Paisley cotton lawn fabrics which I have plans for.
The unexpected bit were the interviews! Both Vlieseline (who I’m a brand ambassador for also) and the FOQ media team asked to interview myself and Clive. Those will be on their social media pages in the near future and on news letters so watch out for those. Clive was quite taken aback by being recognised himself. He was expecting to just be the camera holder and photographer whilst folks wanted their picture taken with me, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. They all wanted him in there too, having been a Guest Designer on Sewing Street also.
Sadly I couldn’t get round everyone, but I’ll catch up with my lovely friends at Sew Different, Lady McElroys and many others at the next show I promise. There was time to try out my next sewing machine on the Juki stand from Franklins of Colchester. The Juki UX8 looks like the 23rd Century has arrived already, it even has WiFi and YouTube on it I kid you not. I couldn’t quite picture what Laurence Franklin, the head of the Franklins Group, looked like having only spoken on the phone. But when I saw him, i knew he could only be the legend that is Laurence!
The sewing community has cemented itself in my heart after this weekends show, the love and enthusiasm of everyone who attended was brilliant to see. The show may have had slightly smaller numbers to make sure we all had room to spread out, but it was no less exciting and even more of a buzz to be in the thick of it once again.
