Big day out.

Today I had the pleasure of visiting one of my blogging friends from Norfolk in the UK. Cathy Daniel is a ceramic artist who among other things makes pottery with a "quilty" theme. She's just been invited by the Quilt Museum in York to make some pieces depicting the 1718 Silk Patchwork Coverlet which is the upcoming exhibit at the museum. The coverlet is the oldest dated quilt in the UK and the exhibit will be on from September to December. I'm sure it will be one of the major events at the museum for some time. Pity I'm leaving the country on 30th august!

These are some pics of the bowls Cathy has made as her interpretation of the coverlet. They are so beautiful and will go like hot cakes at the museum. She has taken a few blocks from the original quilt and added her own elements - the border, the threaded ties and a button on each one. 

We had a lovely afternoon with yummy cake and Cathy has given me the most amazing present. That will wait for a post of its own!

Cathy is about to be featured in two UK patchwork magazines - keep an eye out for them to,learn more about her work. She has a blog here http://cathydanielsblog.blogspot.co.uk and you can find her website here http://www.cathydaniel.co.uk. What a shame it's so far to post these beauties to Australia. Thanks Cathy for a great visit and get that kiln fired up soon!!

Exciting times

This was the mid point of our holiday to sweden and the UK. Dubai airport is massive. 

Stockholm is a beautiful city with lots of art and history at every turn. This was an interesting statement about gun violence. 

We are staying with friends who live in Stockholm and have a summer house on an island in the Swedish archipelago. Surrounded by forest with blueberries and lingonberries growing wild. The weather has been so warm we even went swimming. 

Everything is so neat, even the wood heaps!

These,are our hosts, Marianne and Janne on the jetty at sunset while their twin granddaughters are fishing. 

I've found a few fabrics  but no quilt shops. The Swedish textiles and home wares are to die for. Might have to post some things home! Off to the UK,on Wednesday.