This time last week Mark and I were loading the car in readiness to travel to the NEC to set up for the Festival of Quilts. No matter how well I plan, it’s always a squash and a squeeze and twenty minutes in we wonder about hiring a van. It didn’t help that I took a Christmas tree with me this year - to be honest the wicker tree skirt was more trouble - but with a bit of rejigging I can get a lot in the back of a car. If you’re planning a trip to IKEA I’m your girl. Here are

Those of you who subscribe to my newsletter will know that I've planned something a bit different for this year's Festival of Quilts, which is taking place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on the 18th – 21st August. Inspired by the launch of my Twelve Days of Christmas pattern book I've decided to give the whole stand a Christmas theme this year. Although I promise not to dress as an elf! I also have a slightly different position on my aisle this year and have

Well, it was so good to be back at the NEC! Although I'd forgotten - as you do - quite how much work it is to up sticks and open my little shop at the Festival of Quilts. Packing up shop... The frantic to-ing and fro-ing and hurried 'hellos' of set up day never quite prepare you for the sheer beauty of the show. It always makes me catch my breath when I step into the hall the next morning. And this isn't any ordinary year. The organisers, Immediate Live, worked tirelessly to

I hand-delivered a new project to the Today's Quilter office in Bristol a couple of weeks ago and while I was there I met my lovely friend Sarah Ashford to record an episode of her Great British Quilter podcast at Immediate Media's rather fabulous recording suite (headphones, dangly microphone, the works...). Sarah has long been championing the work of British Quilters with her #greatbritishquilter hashtag on Instagram, corralling some of our best-known designers to create a

I’ve unpacked, caught up with my emails and restocked the website, so it’s time to look back at the whirlwind that was this year’s Festival of Quilts. I had a slightly bigger stand this year, which gave me a bit more wriggle room and the utter extravagance of a table (I know...) for my new quilt kits. Luckily my technical support had the presence of mind to take before and after photos. Taking centre stage this year was my newest pattern, Hazel, which was a big hit with Festi

If you’re a quilter, then the Festival of Quilts - four glorious, fabric-filled days - really does seem like the greatest show on earth. Those of us exhibiting are presently ‘limbering up’ for this August’s festival and possibly feeling some first-night nerves. I’m cramming a few new things in our full-to-bursting car this year: some ‘hot off the press’ editions of my Sailing By Sampler Pattern Book... New stand-alone patterns for my ‘Today’s Quilter’ projects, Auriculas, Spr

I'm busy planning for this year's Festival of Quilts so in my Spring Newsletter I asked my lovely subscribers for their thoughts on quilt kits. I wondered whether they ever bought them, and if so, whether they're drawn to large quilts, small projects, or block of the month programmes. And the results of the survey? Well… opinions were pretty evenly split *pause for laughter* I really should have known! However, I managed to twist my ankle quite badly last weekend, so I've ha

Has it really been two weeks since we packed up, reloaded the car and headed home from the Festival of Quilts? Having shared some really poorly lit photos on Instagram, it's been fun to take stock of all of the inspirational exhibits I managed to see. But first, my little corner of the Festival... To save my lovely customers rootling through baskets of patterns, like they had to last year, I invested in a rotating display stand. All the fun off the fair. Fiona Smith - my love

The next tutorial I want to share with you uses just one Petit Four block and is based on the cushions I made for my Festival of Quilts stand. It's a quick, fun project that makes a 14" x 24" cushion: perfect for cheering up a bed or sofa. I made mine using my Honeybee Hive block and a new-to-me fuseable batting product by Quilters Dream called Fusion - bought here - which is ideal for small projects like this. I've tried similar polyester-based fuseables, but I find them unc

I promised you a detailed post on preparing for and exhibiting at the Festival of Quilts and here it is. I'll apologise in advance if it's not the most riveting read and contains an impossible number of bullet points, but there will be pictures. Essentially, it's the post I wanted to read - and couldn't find - when I was preparing my stand. Now I'm not saying there isn't information out there: Folksy has some great blog posts on craft fairs, which cover what to expect and wha

I've been home for two days but my head is still spinning from everything I saw and experienced at my first Festival of Quilts as an exhibitor. And truth be told, I'm aching a bit. My stand was a snug two metres square, but I managed to cram in a sample of every CakeStand Quilts pattern, as well as my Moda Bakeshop and blog tutorial projects. My Honeybee cushion got lots of love. I'll be posting next week about the nuts and bolts - or should that be screws and bungee cords -

My most recent finish, Pennine Star, has an interesting history. The design was created a century ago by Northumberland quilter Elizabeth Sanderson (1861-1934). It was extremely popular and examples can be found in the Quilters' Guild Collection, the Victoria & Albert Museum and the collection of the Beamish Museum in County Durham. A 'Sanderson Star' quilt, in the most delicious shade of primrose yellow, was included in 'Quilts 1700-2010 Hidden Histories, Untold Stories',

It's just over two (short) months until the Festival of Quilts. I've been sewing like a mad thing and managed to leave piles of fabric in most rooms of the house. Quilts on loan to quilt shops have winged their way home and new samples have been made. Props have been auditioned and the printers are on standby. If you are thinking of getting a ticket to the Festival I have a discount code for £2.50 off the price of advance tickets - so that's £12.50 instead of £15.00 - just us

I've been chatting to my lovely friend, Jackie (you can chat with her too, on Instagram, she's @jacki_nash ) about her wonderful, customised Cornish version of To Skye. She has spent many happy holidays in Cornwall and wanted to add a Dinghy block from Make Sail - the blocks are the same size - and turn the Scottish Tystie into a Cornish Seagull. Easily achieved, just by changing the fabric placement. So when I came to make a sample quilt of To Skye for my Festival of Quilts

Are you going? Although I've attended the Festival as a visitor, this year will be my first as an exhibitor and I'm really looking forward to seeing you at the NEC, Birmingham on 10-13th August on Stand C7. I thought it would be fun to record the journey here (let's hope I'm still laughing in August...) and have already started making endless lists and planning stand layouts. Given that I'll be exhibiting in a snug 2 x 2 metre space my aim is to showcase as many of my designs