quilt42 wrote:
N/C as in North Carolina? check this site: http://www.wrbqinc.com/nc.php

Birmingham, Alabama??? Goodness, you don't have to travel through 3 states to find a quilt shop!

Hi, I am from Newcastle but now live in U.S.A (I know this is not my forum)While visiting N/C last year I searched the area for a quilt shop but to no avail. Where are they? Someone said Birmingham was the closest place to find one.
Quilter42

I'm sure that many of you will have heard of the change of venue for the show but for anyone intending to visit who has not, here is a copy of the email I received from the organiser.

I am sorry to have to advise you that the Events Pavillion at Trentham collapsed recently after a heavy fall of snow. Trentham Estates are unable to be certain that they will be able to repair or replace the structure in time for our exhibition, but I have managed to relocate to Uttoxeter Racecourse and Conference Centre, Wood Lane, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 8BD for the same dates shown above. This venue is a short drive from Trentham. (please see directions below)

I have been fortunate in being able to secure the Conference Centre at such short notice, which boasts good facilities in a purpose built building, such as quality catering and ample car parking.

The racecourse can be reached following these directions:-

Situated just off the A50 between Burton on Trent and Stoke on Trent the racecourse is clearly signposted from the A50, A515, A518 and Uttoxeter Town Centre.
From the North West
M6 to Junction 15, then follow signs for A50 Uttoxeter/Derby
From the North East
M1 to Junction 24a, straight on to the A50 following signs for Uttoxeter/Derby.
From the South and South West
From M5(J4a) or M40 (J3a), join the M42 (J7).
Exit M42 at Junction 9 (Lichfield) follow signs for Lichfield and A38 (Burton/Derby).
Exit A38 at A50 (Uttoxeter/Stoke).
Alternatively; From M5 J8 or M42 J7, join M6 (North).
Exit at Junction 14 and take A513 to Stafford, then A518 (Uttoxeter).
From the South East
M1 To Junction 23a, the A50 (Uttoxeter/Stoke).
Once in Uttoxeter follow the brown signs to Wood Lane and take the second turning on the left signed to Main Entrance and Conference Centre.

Guild members can start booking from 1st March, non-members from 8th March, so we do have time to plan this year

Thanks, Della, I'll check that out later.

For anyone who doesn't know yet, details of FoQ workshops and social events are up:

http://www.twistedthread.com

I love Phillipa Naylor, I took a workshop with her a couple of years ago at FoQ and she really got me going on free machine quilting. I see she's the guest on a TQS show later this year. Can't wait!

PS - I agree her book is well worth buying, I think I've got 2 copies

Thanks a lot, Rosemary! Sounds like you had the sort of experience that you'll remember for a long time. I bet bits of PN's advice will wriggle it's way into your quilts for years to come.

As Rosemary knows, I have never met PN (have the book!) but she was one of the judges when I decided to have a quilt of mine at FoQ. Her comments were kind, constructive, positive, and absolutely right. I've been watching her success ever since.

Lorchen

Margaret, Is your judges's piece on your profile pictures? I'd love to see it. Pam

Philippa's book 'Quilting in the Limelight' is well worth buying if you can't get to her classes. I got a Judge's Choice award at last years' FOQ thanks to the advice she so willingly shares in her book.

Phillipa Naylor freehand machine quilting feedback - especially for Lorchan

Despite feeling grotty, due to lack of sleep for the last 10 days because I put my back out , I had a great time.

She is a good and pleasant teacher - our group kept being complained at for not asking enough questions! She showed us several different ways of holding our fabric for manovering and insisted that we keep trying out different methods to find the one that works for us and insisted that we should not be hard on ourselves over our sample pieces, to look at the good bits not the 1 wobble when we went wrong. Not to say 'I'll use this technique when I am good at it, but to use it now and enjoy getting better at it as we go along'.

She also told us a bit about how she works - She works on one quilt at a time, and just concentrates on that quilt, not thinking about what she might do next but what she is doing now! Her quilts go through phases that she doesn't like what they look like, but she perserveres with it and keeps going until she likes it again, but she doesn't abandon it for a new one until it is finished. She also likes to work in isolation, rather than associating with a group, because that way it is all her own ideas and interpretation of things rather than be led into a different direction by what other people are doing.

If you get a chance for a workshop with her, take it. Her style of freehand machine quilting is very fine close stitching and perfection, and they are all designed as decorative wall hangings for competitions, not bed quilts.

When I started making quilts to cover my gran's blankets I decided to only work on one at a time, but got seduced away last year with the BOM into having 2 on the go at once, and have now decided that I was making better progress thinking about one (bed quilt)at a time and getting it finished before starting a new one. So I am going to revert back to this practice, although it won't stop me from having lots of small things on the go at the same time

yours in the cause
Rosemary.

Finding your way around the TQS site will get easier and faster. And you'll sort out in your own mind which sections are important to you. There is a lot of really interesting stuff here, but I never look at it, except during school holidays.

Lorchen

Thanks for the welcome folks and you are right I am sacrificing sewing time by browsing around. Finding the balance is the thing. I haven't even filled in my profile yet - will do that later- I hope

I second this observation - It happened to me last year, when I first found this site. But I've nearly got the balance sorted out after 12 mths .......I think?.......maybe?........or maybe not! Who cares we're just here to have fun.

Rosemary