Would I rather stay home?

A festival is "an event celebrated by a community and centring on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures"

Here at Lizzy Curtis HQ, we publish new a blog post on the first Sunday of the month. Usually. There are no prizes for pointing out that this is Monday and I make no apologies for the fact that I am late. Yes, I could have written this on Saturday and published yesterday but then I wouldn't have been able to talk to you about the adventures we had yesterday at the annual Festival of Quilts, at the NEC in Birmingham.

On my journey home - that's right, I'm starting at the end of the day, just for a change - I had time to reflect on my day as well as concentrating on the road!

I began thinking about why we love a big show such as the FOQ. Well a lot of us do, some of you may prefer a smaller venue but even the small shows are often called festivals and I know you enjoy them. I also know that some of you may not be able to get to a show but we can inspire each other, even if we have to stay at home.

Here are a few of my reasons that may resonate with you and that indeed mirror the emboldened words in the definition of "festival" above. Or, perhaps they may coax you into attending a show like the FOQ, if you've never been. You'll see as I share my reflections, just why my day was so wonderful.

Friends (celebration)

When I've attended shows or festivals in the past I've only ever travelled and spent the day with friends. This time I travelled alone. I'm not adverse to a little (or long really) journey driving in my lovely little Fiat 500. She is called Vera. Vera loves a road trip with just me, she loves to keep up with the larger vehicles on the road and we have a good old chinwag about the state of the driving displayed by other road users, as well as the usual debatable topics - Vera and I always agree and we're right about everything! That though is a different story.

I arrived at the NEC and entered the hall, with arrangements to meet up with Lizzy, Abey and Lily already made before we travelled. I had a little wander round the quilts exhibition and familiarised myself with the layout of the massive area. Very shortly after I arrived, I was exchanging hugs and hellos with 3 wonderful people who have become firm friends. That was my day made already. Lizzy and I work very closely together but we live a long way apart so spending time in each others company is precious. Likewise with Abey and Lily with whom it's always a joy to spend time.

During the day we swapped ideas, laughed and chatted and caught up with the gossip. We talked sewing, cooking, designing, all sorts. It was truly fabulous.

However, it didn't stop there. We chatted with friends who were exhibiting and bumped into friends who were enjoying the show, perfect!

Community (characteristics)

You may think this is just another word for friends but it goes much further than that.

Every person attending was in our gang, our club, our community. Whatever craft they enjoy most or whether they were just partners or friends attending with a crafty pal, they are all affiliated with everyone there. The crafting community has the widest outstretched arms. I may be biased, but to me, it's the greatest community in the world. There were loads of people at that show yesterday and loads more who visited on the other days and everyone has been touched by the same passion as you and me. How phenomenal is that?

Quilts (aspects of our culture)

It never ceases to amaze me that some people, many people, are so talented. The quilts were just stunning and to be honest, every entry deserved to win.

From the colours to the artwork, from the techniques to the execution of them, from the ideas to the designs and from the patchwork to the quilting. They were totally extraordinary!

WOW!

This was after all, a celebration of quilts. For some, the real and only reason they were there. A source of inspiration and encouragement. Some of the quilts on display were quite simple. They reminded me of some of the quilts I've enjoyed making myself. Others were made by junior (age wise) quilters and they were stunning. Not every one was perfect but they were perfectly gorgeous! To begin with I wondered if I would ever make a quilt again - I could never come up to the standard I'd witnessed. But then, as I browsed, I knew I was on familiar territory and it spurred me on to just improve my quilt making skills. I don't need to compare myself and my skills to anyone - I can make art that I love, so others will love it too. In our quilting community, our culture is to encourage and motivate. That's what the exhibition did for me. And that is priceless!

Shopping (culture and community again)

Crafters are not greedy, they're not spendthrifts. They do however, have genuine need of fabric, notions, gadgets, and tools. We need workshops, we need supplies and choice. Festivals like this (as well as the tiny craft fairs) provide our needs. We want to be happy, to share, to learn and to experience, so our wants are provided for too.

If you don't want to spend money, or you don't need anything for your stash or arsenal, that's fine, just go and see the quilts, soak up the atmosphere and meet with friends. You may be best off at home as far as your bank balance is concerned but for fulfilment, joy and fun, save up all year, then go and experience it all in one day. To save money for the items you hadn't intended to buy, take a packed lunch and a bottle of water. Take an iced coffee in your drinking flask like I did. Choose the cheapest way to travel and stay in the basic of hotels if you need to, instead of your usual 5 star. (I wish!)

Many vendors were offering discounts and "show specials". Some of the items on sale at the show were not available anywhere else and were considered just "one offs". But, be warned. I needed (I really did need it - I was down to the wire) some fusible fleece and interfacings. I ended up buying 3 metres of each as that was much more affordable in the long run. There was no comment from Neil when I showed him what I'd bought so I was ok! Phew ;-)

Many of the vendors yesterday were small businesses. A show like this can cost huge amounts of money and take many, many hours to prepare for. Attending and perhaps buying a little something from them, will support the business and keep them going. Another opportunity to do what we can for our community.

Inspiration, which encompasses all the words in our definition

Do you ever look at fabric and think "ooh that would make a lovely...". I do! Some fabrics just shout at us. The amount of fabric available in the show this week was mind blowing. The colours, the types of fabric, the patterns and designs, and the size of the pieces on offer catered for every wish. It was an opportunity to "experience" the fabrics. We saw new collections too, often with samples of quilts and projects made up to show off the possibilities. It is incredible how different fabric can look once it's cut up, added to other fabrics and made into something stunning. I found some gorgeous extra wide fabric to use as the backing for my Flowers in the Sunshine quilt. Before the show, I had no idea what to use and indeed looked at plenty of options before this one shouted at me.

Now, you don't have to love it, you don't have to comment, but for me it is perfect. So much so that I'm even going to self bind my quilt with it (it's extra wide), i.e. bring the backing over to the front to create the binding.

Quilt backing

And more fabric...

...for another quilt.

The inspiration from other people's work is really valuable too. Items on sale, books, items on display, kits etc. all provided something to think about, to ponder upon. The inspiration could be just to have a go at a new technique or new craft altogether. It could be about designing something - not copying, but using an idea that sparked your imagination, from seeing so many beautiful things. Perhaps you need inspiration just getting back to crafting again after time off. I feel that there's nothing better than experiencing a show like this to get me going again, to fan the embers, to spur me on.

Joy (is where you find it)

Whatever reason we give ourselves to attend a big crafting event, as an individual who belongs to such a wonderful community, it will bring us joy. We have so many reasons not to be joyful at times. That's not being negative, it's just life. But, joy won't come looking for us, we need to go after it at times and my recommendations for finding joy are these:

• Find an event you can get to, large or small

• Find someone to go with or meet a friend or 3 there

• Soak up the atmosphere, buy yourself something lovely - it needs only to be small

• Take photos for inspiration, take note of which colours are put together, the ones you would never have used in the same project

• Chat with vendors, they are just like you in so many ways

• Find out the latest trends

• Meet fabulous people

• Have fun and take away with you the joy of being in a wonderful community of friends who understand, old, new and those you've not yet met in person

And lastly, grab every opportunity you can!

Until the next time

Happy Stitching (any crafting)

Kath x

PS: Yes, we both have shopping trolleys; no, we are not old; no, we didn't cause anyone any harm, and yes, we filled them both xx