Out and About

 Since the end of July I’ve taken trips locally as there have been events going on this summer.  David is a volunteer at Swanage Railway I took the opportunity to take the train from Corfe Castle station, where he was working in the signal box, to Swanage and return.  Already busy with tourists the town was bustling, and it was nice to mooch around the shops there.  After lunch I went to the beach and had ice cream and a paddle in the sea.  I was prepared I carried a small towel in my bag.

In one shop, that sold candles there was a small section with Christmas decorations and I bought a small dog with a Christmas jumper, which called to me to take him home!  Later on my way back to the station I stopped at a teddy bear shop and bought a lucky dip bear, which was a little brown bear and they accompanied me on my trip back to Corfe Castle.

I stayed with David at the signal box until he’d finished but I enjoyed my time in Swanage.  Since my trip, which was steam hauled, because of the very dry weather the railway have to use diesel trains, as the sparks from steam engines could cause fires,

My next trip the following Saturday was to the Dorset Arts and Crafts exhibition, which was held at Purbeck School, just outside Wareham. All sorts of crafts and makers are represented here, with a showcase for sellers and a judged exhibition upstairs.  There are also craft businesses with stalls for sales too and specialist displays.  One of which was a Dorset Button display.

I saw some amazing knitted lace shawls, which were mounted in hoops for display, which were made by

Sarah Bramwell and were so sheer.  The picture below are just two of shawls on display.

There were also some quilts too and I took a few pics

So some of the lovely quilts.

Then this weekend was Quarterjack Quilters exhibition closer to home at Canford Magna near Wimborne.  They are a well established group and hold exhibitions every few years and this one was really brilliant. The quilts displayed around the perimeter of the hall were from workshops and challenges held by the group.  The middle area was divided into ‘rooms’ of themed displays, like Christmas, nursery or seaside,

Here are a few of my pics.

 

A nursery room

Marvellous Machines workshop 

A temperature quilt

A Christmas display

A seaside display 

I liked this little hexagon quilt

It was good to get out and about and see lovely work and visit nice places.  This coming week will see David and I head north to Bromsgrove and venture toward the end of the week to the NEC and the Festival of Quilters after a gap of 3 years, so there will be more lovely things to see.

PS.  To Anonymous.  Thank you for your lovely comments on my last two posts and it’s much appreciated.  I can’t reply personally to you, but just to thank you.  Sue x