Quilt Show...

I went to the Quilt Show in Melbourne yesterday... I came home from it in two minds about what I thought... I really enjoyed it last year and raved about it - but this year it just 'didn't do it' for me... Largely though I think it was me - I loved last years's venue which was at the Convention Centre - this year it was at Jeff's Shed and while it is a lovely venue in itself I just don't think they planned the floor arrangement very well. I went to a couple of those free workshops and while it was only in a small space they backed onto the eating areas which made it noisy and because they hadn't supplied the presenters with mike's none of us could hear... Very frustrating for audience and presenter alike... But they might iron out those problems today - yesterday being the first day...

Of course the quilt exhibition itself was both large and extensive... Such an array and diversity of talent... Anything from a 3D quilt that changed colourways when you looked at it from different angles to beautifully executed and hand stitched quilts... Did I have a favorite??? Too many to single out... There was also an exhibition of very old quilts and the beautiful work that has stood the test of time was remarkable... I wondered if anything that I made will still be around in 100 years...

I was also disapponted that some of the trading stalls which were present last year weren't there this year... I understand though - from what I heard as I walked around that the fact that it is earlier this year also had something to do with it... Because of the Commonwealth Games the Quilt Show had to be moved forward - which of course interplayed with schedules for other interstate shows which apparently must be on soon... Vendors I guess have to weigh up the better option re travel, stock etc..

Not all was lost though - I did finally meet up with some 'faceless names' from the craft forum I belong to. It was lovely to catch up with those who I have only seen as names on the forum. S waving to ted-scout, sewronnieb, lynnebrumby and TrishJ...

We too, stopped traffic, as as luck would have it sewronnieb and myself both had M's CQ blocks so we had a 'show and tell' - a few people stopped and admired them and we explained the history behind the blocks... So there you go M & J your blocks not only are both in Melbourne having travelled seperately around the world but they 'had a day out' together at the quilt show!!!!!

Did I buy anything? Well, as the photo is suggests I did... I bought a little kit featuring poppies, a couple of FQ's, a button, some hand dyed ribbon, and a craft magazine (had a free diary) to read on the way home on the tram (fell asleep!!!)...

If I had to sum the day up I guess it wasn't too bad - even though I don't think it was as good as last years ( I am sure most people thought it was better!!!) - perhaps I am just a little jaded... What I did learn from it though was that I wanted to come home and create... Yeah, sure I have other years too but this year was I think more than anything I gathered lots of ideas and perhaps having spent that time with G a couple of days it compounded a different way of viewing and considering what was possible.. I can't adequately explain how I feel - just that I know it is different... Perhaps if I were to know - I want to 'play' and create from scratch and explore, have a posible outcome or an unexpected one ... It is becoming more about 'the jorney' rather than the destination... That still doesn't explain it - but it is 'a splinter' of what I am feeling...