What a fantastic day, thanks to everyone who came to see us at the Hobbycrafts show in Glasgow.

I struggled first thing this morning - it is our first UK show this year and I had forgotten all the sterling prices for the buttons, on top of that I had to keep looking at the notes trying to work out if they were 10's or  20's. I am sure some customers thought I was a bit "bonkers", especially when I said Merci to them!!!!!

Do you remember the feeling you had on the last day of summer term.  You were really looking forward to be out of school but a little sad that you would not be seeing your friends for a while.

Well that's how Tony and I felt last night night leaving the Malvern Quilt Fair.  It was the last show of our spring season, and we have no more until the end of September.  We are pleased to say we ended the season on a cracker, one of the best Malverns we have ever had!  We would like to thank all our regular customers for stopping by to say hello.  A big thank you "Dolly Dumpsters" Mummy for the Lemon Drizzle Cake - it did not last long!!!!  It was great to finally meet Julie, whose  parcels aways go astray.

What are we going to do without any shows - well Tony and I are off to Barbados for the summer..... No not really.  We have lots planned, new challenges, lots of new ribbons, we make a promise to keep you in touch with the ribbon world.

For those of you who saw the start of my new embroidery project, I will post it on the blog early next week.  It has to be finished for Sunday, so I think I will be burning the midnight oil!!!

Hope you all had a great weekend, I will be back later with Muddy Paws!

I am having a lovely time in Malvern, the quilts are just amazing and so inspirational.  The hours of time and quality of work that has gone into every quilt is staggering.  I had a wander around the show this afternoon and some of the quilts took my breath away.  One of my favourites was this little quilt below.

This quilt is just fantastic, such fine detail.

This was one of the entrys in the miniature quilt section and had been choosen the winner by the judges!!  So this was the quilt that has won the Crafty Ribbons cup.  I am so pleased it is such a fun and  enchanting little quilt, I would love to take it home.

For those of you that have be asking, the cards from our ribbon challenge # 5 will be posted on the blog on Monday. 

Yes, its that time of year again - Quilts UK at Malvern.

The Quilts UK fair is held at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern and is a heaven for quilters.  This is the only Quilt fair we attend in the year, Tony and Ali always look forward to it, although it all depends on the weather.  Our stand is right by the main entrance and the door is permently open!!!!  Ali packs everything from shorts to thermals - just in case!

Ali made this quilt (her one and only) 10 years ago for the first quilt fair they attended.  Yep, you've guessed it - it's made of ribbon.  The design is traditional log cabin.  If you are in the Malvern area, and want to spend a day seeing the pleasures of quilts and quilt making then come and visit us.  The fair is open from Thursday to Sunday 10am till 5pm every day.  The winning quilts will be awarded their trophies on Sunday - wonder who will win the Crafty Ribbons Cup for the Minature Quilt category?

This week we are attending a show that is close to home - no motorways, no ferries maybe just a tractor or two!!

We are at The Stitch and Creative Craft Show at Shepton Mallet Showground which is in Somerset.

The show is open Thursday to Sunday 10am till 5pm.  If you are in the area then why not pop in, we have some wicked special offers for our local customers!!!  All the "Spring Time" cards are on display, we have a new supply of  "Muddy Paw" ribbons (if we sell out we can also pop back to the office for more!), as well as lots of other goodies.

Thank you for your wonderful comments about the Sunday Sketch & Stamp Challenge - I have one small problem about joining in....... I do not own a rubber stamp!!! And I do not know how to use them!!!  I know, I go to a craft show almost every week BUT it's just something I have never tried.  All your cards have inspired me, I just do not know where to start.

I do hope you are enjoying the sunshine.

Although Ali had designed some new and inspirational new scrapbook layouts, using ribbon and buttons for this weekends show.  It was still Alfie that was the star.  He was by far the most photographed layout on the stand.  One of the top scrapbooking teachers in France asked if she could use the layout in one of her summer classes. I spoke to Ali late last night, rather tired but excited!!

Ali and Tony are now on their way to have a few days off in Brittany, have a good rest and a great time.

Bev

If you are in need of some serious retail therapy then I suggest you pop over to Paris tomorrow.  I went off  for my normal stroll around the show this evening, and well.....  My dilemma was how to get my shopping bags back onto our stand, without Tony seeing them!!  I tried putting everything in one bag!!!!  He spotted the "Pizza Box" thinking I had treated him, only to discover that it was filled with scrapbook papers.

I have tried uploading some photos for you all, but the internet connection is not being kind to me - sorry.

One section of our stand has been turned into spring - we have all your wonderful cards on display, hanging from a washing line, with wooden dollie pegs - looks wicked.  Thank you for all your hard work.  Tina made us a delightful little tag album, with photos from the blog and using all "Spring Time" ribbons, we have this on our demo table. I have never made one of these, so explaining it in english would be a problem, but in French!!! We had to take it off display today, it was causing too much of a stir! 

As I have no photos to show you, it would be wrong to tell you about the little court yard Brasserie we went to this evening..... Tony had this wickedly naughty Chocolate fondant, drizzled with warm chocolate sauce, surrounded by creme anglaise!!

Time for bed, alarm set for another 6am start, yehhh.

We are all loaded and about to leave for our last show of the season in France - Version Scrap, Paris.

The show is open From Friday till Sunday.  Although I am looking forward to the show, I am dreading the hours - the show opens at 9am and shuts at 7pm!!!!

Thank you all, for the wonderful "Spring Time" cards, albums and horse shoes (you will have to wait to see!!) for our Ribbon Challenge # 4.  Sorry I ran out of time to email you all but, we have received goodies from Marjorie, Beryl, Wilma, Carol, Jan, Tina, Leigh, Sue and Bev.  Photos have been taken, but due to "French" working hours not sure when they will be posted!!

Got to go, have a boat to catch.

Wow what a great day at the Olympia show.  My workshop was again sold out with a group of ladies hoping to be able to get in as "extras', how could I say no to them!  But, by the time I got back to the stand, poor Tony had a queue that stretched the length of the stand.  I think he was really, really pleased to see me!!!

On my tour of the show I came across a quilt by the "Springfield Quilters" that rather took my fancy, so decided to share it with you.

Springfield Quilters were given the challenge (talking about challenges, keep your eye on the blog tomorrow!) "Dark to Light" one of the members said "Winter to Spring!" - the name of the group being called Springfield they seemed to think this a very apt theme to employ.

Appliqued by hand and machine embroidered, embelisher utilised, patchworked and painted, with input by all members it was difficult to know when to stop!

The duck pond looks amazing, closer detail below.

The violets look as if they have been made with sheer ribbon.

These daffodils reminded me that you can make some wonderful daffodils with ribbon.  Maybe Sydney and I will make some for Easter.

The star of the quilt for me, are the lambs. They are so cute.

I hope you have enjoyed this quilt as much as I did.  It has made me feel as if spring is on it's way.

I wish everyone a Happy Mothers Day for tomorrow, have a great day.

Hobbycrafts Show in Glasgow at the SECC

Tony and Ali left earlier today for their long trip to Glasgow.  They only left an hour later than planned!! The show is open from Thursday to Sunday. You can not miss our stand, it's B1 right in front of the entrance.  It will be the first time I have missed the show in 4 years and was rather sad waving Ali and Tony goodbye, although I will not miss the drive! 

We have received lots of cards for our Ribbon Challenge # 3 Cupcakes Galore, and they are whizzing their way to Glasgow, If you visit the show, say "Hi" to Ali and Tony and have a look at the wicked new collection of cards from, Marjorie, Wilma, Dorothy, Natalie, Jan, Leigh, Carol and Beryl.  Thanks for getting the cards to us so quickly they are awsome, good enough to eat!!!

Sam (Cookie Monster) took his first steps today, he will be running round the warehouse by Monday!!!!

Rachie