The National Crafts & Design Fair was held in the RDS this week starting on Wed and finishing today Sunday. My friend had taken a booth and I was delighted to be able to call in and see her on Thursday morning, she had had a good day on Wed and was looking forward to the next few days. This is a great place to go if you need to pick up some Christmas presents and would like to support Irish craft workers at the same time. I can't tell you how good it feels buying something from somebody you know has designed and made it themselves (I spent most of my time (and money!) in the Home Industries and Food section). As I was there early on Thursday morning and it was quiet I was able to chat to the craftspeople I was buying from, they were all so helpful and willing to tell me all about my purchase, I have to say it beats going to a chain store or department store hands down (sorry about the pun!)
The first photo below today shows a Christmas table runner inspired by the brilliant Jenny Doan at Missouri Star, I absolutely love watching Jenny, she is truly an inspiration and makes everything look so easy. Thanks a million Jenny for all the video tutorials you put up on You Tube, it's the sharing of tips, techniques and ideas that brings stitchers/craft workers everywhere together.
I quilted the table-runner in a small heart design alternating one up, one down. I haven't seen this design on any other quilt anywhere, (I picked it up from a pillow sham I had had for years before I even noticed the quilting design) yet it is a nice simple all over quilting pattern that I find easier to do than stipple quilting or meandering.
The other photos show some Christmas projects I have yet to finish using up scraps and left over fabrics after a big tidy up (which was hopeless as I didn't manage to get rid of anything, just moved everything around to a different spot, you know the way it is).
Anyhow I had better sign off now and get on with some other work. I have learned so much already about blogging on the computer and adding the photos etc. etc, but I am still very slow and it takes a while. The weeks come around so quickly but setting a goal of one blog a week up to Xmas is paying off, although I still have a lot to learn and am just about making it every Sunday evening!
No comments: