Lorchen, I am so sorry I had the names written on a piece of paper, but was then trying to remember screen names and my brain was tired I am sorry that I didn't get a chance to chat with you, but I know we will catch up soon

Ladies...please e-mail your address to me and I will send each of you a "little" something as a momento of our meeting today
cannot promise it will be as good as Rosmary's!!
xx Diane

Pam, you are wonderful! I must look so slim on the picture that I simply vanished...... Giggle! I'm the one on the right of the back row.

Rosemary, the groom would disown me if I turn up at his wedding looking like I'm having fun. I'm aiming for 'understated elegance' (rolling eyes). Fortunately I have till May to sort myself out.

Teresita, have a safe journey back to Argentina. It was really special to meet you!

Thank you SO MUCH for the wonderful photo!! I actually recognized everyone!! A group of friends on an excellent adventure!!

It's been great meeting you all today!! We were quite a number. Rosemary, thank for the photo and for the ATC, I will send you one soon. And Lorchen, now I see the owl in your picture!

I had a great time. This is the first TQS meet and greet we have had at FOQ. Is was lovely to finally meet friends who I have emailed, talked to on the phone and Facebooked with. We all recongised each other straight away and chatted like old friends.

For anyone interested

back row left to right Pam7040, Lorna1021, saucrewe (Diane) Lorchen (sorry I left you off first time, Lorchen)
Front row left to right PosyP (Rosemary) Yjenn (Yvonne) and Teresita

Thank you, Rosemary! I've been looking forward to seeing this photo!! You all look like you've had a wonderful time!!

Lorchan, it is probably safer to suggest it from here, but how about that little purple number in the wearable art section as your 'Mother of the Groom' outfit?

TQS members at the Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, UK

following all the lovely e-mails I will be there...dragging mother and aunt behind me if necessary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also will have camera in hot hand!!

Shaking head........ My parents brought me up to always tell the truth, Teresita!

A couple of interesting facts about FoQ: What started some years ago as a predominantly British show has attracted more and more exhibitors, quilts, and visitors from all over the world, especially Europe and is truly international these days (I even spotted Luana Rubin yesterday).

The show this year has lost some of the well-known British quilters who entered quilts every year. The organisers of the show changed the rules. There are size restrictions and I know that some people felt that this stops them from doing what they really want. Personally I think this is a shame. It leaves a gap between miniatures and fairly large pieces.

The organisers also now keep the winning quilts for several months in order to display them at other events. This means that these pieces would not be available for Houston and other big shows. So some of the professional textile artists have had a tough decision to make.

Teresita and I had the pleasure to work on the new Bernina 550 in our workshop yesterday. Very, very nice and smooth machine.

Anyway...... it's a great show with an amazing variety. So you'll have to excuse me. I have to get dressed and get over there to get my senses stimulated a bit more and do a little more shopping.

Yes, it's been fun and an incredibly original approach to quilting! And Lorchen, thank you for the idealised image you generously portrayed of me, but I'm telling the rest, especially those I have to meet on Sunday at the Quilter's Guild stand, not to take it seriously or else you won't be able to recognize me when you see me standing there!

Thanks for letting us know you are safe from the ugliness going on.

It sounds like your classes are lots of fun and productive too!! Have a great time!

Margo, and everybody else: Yes there has been rioting over the last few days in several big cities in the UK. But the National Exhibition Centre where The Festival of Quilts takes place is outside of Birmingham, on a large site that's easy to keep secure. There have been no problems here.

The belly dancing took place tonight and I bet I'm going to be relly stiff in the morning. A sequence of movements that are part of belly dancing are the perfect preparation for a session of Free Motion Quilting because it makes both sides of your brain work together (according to the teacher). No photos (sorry), but imagine it: A very fit, slim and bendable Terasita looking like poetry in motion, and....... me. But I am now no longer a FMQ virgin. We were told to practice a minimum of 15 minutes every day from now on (after 10 minutes of belly dancing), in order to really get used to it.

I better get some sleep now. Two more busy days.......