We got home on Saturday evening after a long drive but the weather was kind to us.  Sunday we spent sorting things out and DH mowed the lawn that was not quite up to his knees! Monday I sat down to deal with 698 emails and accounts to sort!!!  Finally by today I am now up to date.  I just have a basket of ironing and then we are back to normal operating!!!!!  Tee hee!

We had a lovely holiday although DH did fit in four days of work with customers up there!!!  But the rest of the time it was very peaceful, although it did fly by!  I think we could have done with three weeks really!!!!

The Thursday before we left I went to the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in Birmingham.  It was the opening day and not too busy.  I took a lot of pictures so be warned this is a picture heavy post.  I also went to see Jenny Doan from the Missouri Star Quilt Company speak.  She was great and as engaging as her You Tube Tutorials are and also her Husband Ron was there too. 

However I will say that although there were lots of quilt entires as always they did not appeal to me at all.  Whether it was the colours used or the blocks I found a lot to be quite uninspiring.  However below are the ones I loved.

This was my favourite quilt of the whole show.  I just love the colours and the subject matter.  I did have all the names but have mislaid the book!!!!  Sorry.

The above quilt had a 3D effect and looked like fruit boxes. 

Below is a shirt quilt which looked great as a scrappy quilt.

I took the above picture as it is definitely a Boys Quilt.

I loved the above one with the colours and how intricate the pattern was.

The London Underground above! 

Another favourite, the colours drew me to this.

As you know applique is my nemesis!  So I really appreciate these two quilts and all the hard work that went into them.

I love the deep red of this quilt and the different blocks.

I also admire anyone who can make fabric look like a painting!

This was done in postage stamp blocks!!!!!

Again I loved this picture quilt.

The above would make a wonderful baby quilt.

I just loved this happy cow!!!!!

I loved the above quilt as it is a smaller version of Treacle!

A very pale but intricate quilt.

These two quilts are just so intricate with the applique.

DH bought me a VIP ticket so we got to sit and relax in this lounge area and also had lunch there.

Jenny’s talk was a two hour Trunk Show and she had brought lots of quilts and then explained how she made them and also how to change the shape of a block by just turning one side of it.  Ron helped, as do all husbands, with the holding up of the quilts!

I also bought some fabric whilst I was there with my money box savings and had a good look around at different products.  We also, as we seem to do each year, saw DH’s cousin!!!  Of all the days it is on and all the people that go we always seem to be there on the same day!  It was lovely to see Jackie.

We got home around 6.00pm and then started sorting out things for going away on the Friday.  I will tell you all about our adventures on the Friday tomorrow!!!  It includes Treacle!!!!!

I hope you are having a lovely summer.

Hugs, Susie xx