Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
It's a great shame that Dover has no Patchwork/Quilting group of its own, yet Deal and Folkestone both have three, and Lyminge one. I know of a few very talented quilters who live in the town and in the outlying villages, yet still we have no representative group of our own.
If you are thinking that perhaps you might like to take quilting up as a hobby, or know of someone who might be thinking of doing so, or even if you would like to just look and see some of the extraordinary local talent we have here in East Kent, then perhaps you might like to come along to the Oast Quilters' Showcase in Canterbury this coming weekend. Friday - Sunday, 10am - 4pm, at Simon Langton School For Boys, Nackington Road, Canterbury and open to all. Presented by Oast Quilters, our regional group consisting of affiliated groups and associated independents alike, this is the largest show of its kind in Kent and attracts hundreds of quilters from all over the region and from Europe too. It showcases the many different techniques used in quilting and how the applications can used for different projects.
There will be refreshments available, talks and workshops and lectures (one of which is being given daily by my wife Michelle) plus a selection of traders all of whom are local and associated with Oast Quilters through membership. One of these traders is my good self, whose company The Fabric Fairy has been sponsor of Young Oast (for children up to age 16) for the past three years.
I know this will be a strange topic to post here on Dover Forum, but it is a real pity that we have no quitling group here; perhaps a few ladies from Dover might be inspired by this showcase and take up this most rewarding of hobbies. Whoever you are, and whether you're into quilting or just curious, please do come along and see some wonderful work if you happen to be in the Canterbury area this weekend.
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Thanks for that information Andy. Dont know anything about quilting myself other than it seems to be quite an ancient craft/artform...so hope you enjoy the Canterbury Show. I like that name...Oast Quilters.
Sleeping with beer eh Paul?
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Always on the look out for a scoop, and a few pictures to match, and I knew this quilt event would have to be one of the most colourful you could wish for, and it was. Lots of ladies about, completely outnumbered me, and of course lots of colourful quilts of all sorts of designs. Got a nice shot of Andy Cooper and his wife Michelle, and all added to an interesting morning. Open till 16.00 today, plus Saturday and Sunday. Enjoyed the tea and bun. Anyway, enough said, I`ll just show a small portion of the quilts which are on show, and all that colour.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Andy`s layout again. Although this event may look sparsley populated from my picture`s, there were many people upstairs in the lecture room, another lot round a demonsration table and a number of other`s in the tea room. Glad I came Andy, and nice to meet your wife and see you again mate, (no thrush this time).
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
Hold on a minute... Andy you are married to THE FARIC FAIRY?! Ohh my gosh.. your wife is on my ebay favourite list...
I now feel very stupid... and wish i could find time to come see you.. never know.. may just come and collect something i bid on one day!!
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Well Done Colin,You had gone when Lesley and myself got there,it was our first one and it was a great show,just maybe We can get Andy and his wife to put a small one on in Dover next year My wife is doing a Quilt at this time ,if any of you can please go along and support Andy and his wife ,she was doing a demonsration when we got there all the chairs around table was full.Well done to you both.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Actually, Jenni, my wife is married to The Fabric Fairy! It's my company, one I set up in 2002 after a particularly horrible night shift down the docks.........it's something I had been running for two years as a hobby, so we decided there and then to jack in the crap job and give it a go. So far, so good, but we're still a million quid short of being millionaires!
You're welcome to come see us anytime - office hours were abandoned in 2003! Seriously, though - all you need to do is ring; our contact details are on the website
www.thefabricfairy.co.uk - and if you can't get to us, we'll come to you!
Thanks for your kind comments!
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
Aww well glad to meet thee ohh mighty fabric fairy.. you are quite regularly spoken of in hushed tones among stitchers.. fame at last!
And next time I need some Aida.. i am heading over.. just banned from buying any more XStitch bits til i finish the 5 UFO's i have lying around.. opppsie..
And thinking about it.. i did a quilt when i was at school.. wonder where that is?!
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Thanks Vic, Andy said you were looking in. An eye opener all this really, as I only imagined a quilt as a duvet inside a coloured sheet, but didn`t realise the variety about. I also went on my Ebay site, which I haven`t been on for a while, and found quite a collection on there. I noticed Andy had the best place on this very warm day, next to the door. The sister in law`s are going to try and get there tomorrow or Sunday.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Well, a massive thank you to Vic & Lesley and Colin for taking the trouble to come to Canterbury to see the show - I hope you were impressed with what you saw. For the record, in terms of takings it was by far and away the busiest show The Fabric Fairy has attended in the 8 years I've been doing this sort of thing, and the bank manager will be a happy bunny when I deposit the takings tomorrow!
The downside of this weekend is that we missed the Rolls Royce weekend which I understand to have been a great success, and congratulations to the organisers for a job well done.
A personal thank you also to Vic, Lesley and Colin; my car broke down on Friday
- the power steering failed, and the repair bill isn't small, but you guys taking the time and trouble to come and see the show fair lifted my spirits. Thank you again, it really was greatly appreciated.
The Oast Quilters' Showcase is held every two years, and this year was the first time the event has moved from its former home in the Westgate Hall in Canterbury City Centre to Simon Langton School for Boys on the periphery of the City. It's really gratifying to be able to report that record numbers visited this year, almost double the number that came in 2008, despite the move from the city centre. The visitor from farthest afar was a lady from Tromso in Northern Norway! With luck, 2012 will attract even more visitors, including some more from Dover!
True friends stab you in the front.
Andy, is it notr possible to try and get the event moved to Dover?
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Funnily enough, Sid, I spoke to the event organiser about this very subject this afternoon; the only feasible location would be the Town Hall/Stone Hall, and it will be looked at....the fly in the ointment is disabled access. Whilst there is disabled access to the building, it's not really up to the requirements of the large number of disabled visitors the show gets.
However, if that's the only hurdle to overcome, then it can be done - and I hope it will be overcome. Dover would benefit enormously from a show of this size, and hopefully attract a few more local quilters out of the woodwork!
True friends stab you in the front.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Thanks Andy, and as Sid suggest`s, maybe it could be held in Dover. Something different.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Thanks for the kind words Andy and both my wife and me lookward to the next one,if not before I will be over at about 1645hrs on Friday.
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
Andy, have you asked at A.C School? I know they have to have access because of the learners there... not ideal.. but maybe an option..
