August - Out and About

 August started with a busy weekend. It’s was my eldest granddaughter’s birthday, she’s 19 now! I won’t share photos here, but to suffice to say she had an enjoyable time as she volunteers on her local miniature railway.

I ventured with my friend to the Dorset Arts and Crafts at The Purbeck School in Wareham. Showcasing all sorts of arts and crafts and this year the upper floor gallery was taken up with some lovely quilts.

This was a group quilt celebrating the Paris Olympics

Sharon won a cup for her quilted jacket

This is a sampler quilt by Elizabeth, love the colour combos

This was also a prize winner, made by Jean.

I loved this group of crafters keeping busy. This was by Margaret

I had to buy some fabric and these pieces were from The Stitchery Dorset and some hand made paper.

Then on Monday this week I met up with ladies of the Dorset Creative Embroiderers for our annual trip out and went to Holme for Gardens near Wareham. We had afternoon tea then a walk around the large gardens.  There is a charge for the gardens so haven’t visited there for a long time. But they are fantastic and a lovely view around each corner. The photos don’t do it justice.

Then today I travelled in the opposite direction, just dipping my toe into Hampshire with a visit to Arnewood School in New Milton where the New Forest Quilters held an exhibition to celebrate their Sapphire (45th - had to look that up!) Anniversary. Again, amazing quilts by talented craftswomen and as with most exhibitions they want you to choose you favourite, which was difficult! So here’s a few photos.

As well as big quilts there are miniature and journal quilts so quite a variety. I supported the group with buying a raffle tickets and also the tombola, for which I won a couple of prizes. I bought some sew-in and fusible Vilene pieces which will come in useful from local Project Linus. I bought fabrics from Duck and Weave Fabrics (online trader) and The Little Patchwork Cottage (who now has a shop).  I’d also picked up a quilt kit from Quilts for Care Leavers, which I might start to make up next month. That Speckled fabric in the from of the pic below in the second piece I’ve bought. This is becoming a firm favourite fabric in my stash. The template from Today’s Quilter, along with the cotton reel and butterfly fabrics were the tombola prizes.

So that’s been my outings so far this month and we’re only halfway through! I have booked a ticket to go to the Southern Wool Show at Newbury Racecourse at the end of the month, but there may be other ventures during the course of this month.

See how we go…..