Great Northern Quilt Show, Harrogate

Super day at the show. I went with Jenny and Rachelle and the first workshop we went to was Maggie Davies Exploring Machine Quilting - there was no charge for this workshop but a decent sleeve of handouts, photos and pattern were supplied and we had a go at designing a border, followed by a demonstration by Maggie. Unfortunately her Bernina was playing up and there were large nests of thread forming behind her work, but we got the general idea. By the time she demoed to the second group all was working well. I loved the piece she was working on - a needlefelted picture of poppies. It was a project she had featured in this month's Fabrications magazine - more on that later.

The second workshop we did was Sashiko with Susan Briscoe I've always like the look of this but never got round to trying it. Susan talked us through what Sashiko was, transferring the design to fabric, the thread, needle etc and that only left a little time to start stitching, however I managed a couple of inches and I'll enjoy finishing it off at home. It will look well as a cushion centre or a central panel on a bag.



That was it for workshops for us, so admiring the exhibited quilts and shopping was next. As usual, beautiful quilts and wall hangings with fabulous designs and colouways. Instant inspiration everywhere!

Super day - I've lots of new ideas to try out now - what a shame it's back to work next week after seven weeks summer holidays.

What I bought - no, not a new sewing machine - that's my sewing desk behind

• Gutermann Sulky machine embroidery threads for £1 each!
• This month's Fabrications magazine and a couple of back issues
• From Dream to Reality by Janet Cook - How I convert ideas to quilts
• Packet of soya crayons for colouring fabric
• A Clover YoYo maker
• Packet of Hobbs Thermore wadding
• 5 absolutely gorgeous red/black/gold theme fat quarters
• some gold cord

Towards the end of the day when everything had quietened down I called at the Direct Knit and Sew stand and had a test drive of the new Inspira Imperial Quilting Frame What a great piece of kit - I would love one of these, it would open a whole new world for the finishing of my quilts. I could go on and on about how easy it was to use, how smoothly it moved and how even my stitches were - but I won't. It's something else added to the list of what we will buy when we win the Lotto!!!