A few hours at the machine, catching up.

 

One major disadvantage of my current living arrangement (there aren’t many!) is that I don’t have good sewing equipment/arrangement at the place where I work and spend more time. I was assuming I would be doing a lot of sewing at my husband’s accommodation and not have too much time for it anyway where I live for work. This summer, however, I spent a lot less time down south than had been the original. It felt like I hadn’t done any serious sewing in ages.

 Two weeks ago I picked up my son in Amsterdam, first spending a day in that beautiful tourist-ridden city (yes, I was one of them, I know).

Amsterdam at night.

City of bikes... this one looks like it hasn't been used in a while!

Not the typical tourist photo subject!

  I went to see the Banksy museum and the photography museum.

 

And picked up some batting at the quilt shop which is conveniently located a mere 5-minute walk from his nice (and outrageously expensive) apartment on one of the grachten. Students these days do live rather differently than I did when I was in that stage of my studies! Not that I needed a quilt shop back then.

The next day we drove south-east together and then spent almost a week at my husband’s place.

View from my sewing room - and when my son is home, 
I also sleep in this room on a small mattress on the floor.

 

There I finally got to sit down at my sewing machine again. I managed to proceed pretty far with my contribution to the next 20 Perspectives challenge which will be revealed in the group next week and then visible on the 20 Perspectives Blog a few days afterwards. Although mine won’t be entirely finished by reveal date because I decided to start adding hand-stitches (French Knots) in addition to the bit of machine quilting I used.

There used to be a time when I said 'I don't do appliqué'.
That seems to have changed.

 

I also managed to get ahead with the 3D-piece we were supposed to have finished a while ago – was it June? But I also decided that I will try to enter it in a call for entry so won’t publish a ‘finished photo’ until I receive notification of acceptance or rejection.

 

Made a decision about two quilts for Voyage, too, so right now I am only two quilts short for that group commitment, but those two are the ones that need to be finished earlier and I really need to get going about them. I do have an idea, but…

It definitely felt good to be back sewing, after all that time. Almost like going back after withdrawal symptoms. Certainly the urge to be 'making' with one's hands can be a kind of addiction. When I pack my bags for train travel I take enough knitting supplies to last me at least twice or three times the length of the journey. After all, the train could be delayed. Or we could be hijacked and I would be caught in there without having something to keep me occupied. Better be prepared.

Ste. Marie-aux-Mines at 30

 

In the middle of September I spent a few days at the Carrefour Européen Patchwork (former “EPM” from European Patchwork Meeting) in Val d’Argent, southeast of Strasbourg. I can’t recall exactly how many times I had been there before, nevertheless it was a ‘first’ for me this time: now that is the place where EQA-meetings take place and the EQA challenge premieres (which used to be in Birmingham at FoQ). The other EQA representatives had already made their first appearance there last year, but I had not been able to go.

It had been difficult for me to arrange for a few days off from work for the festival when talking to the superior in spring. When I had the confirmation that I would be able to go I booked train tickets right away, counting on those days as the maximum, because, well, I had been told I could not be spared at work and really I should be grateful that I was to go at all... That made for a rather tight schedule in terms of how much time I would have to see the exhibitions, which is always a part of my duty as a writer for the German Guild’s magazine – and when the ork wschedule for September was published, I was rather surprised that I had one additional day off before and after what I had asked for. But the tickets couldn’t be changed anymore, and it took me a while to get over being a bit pissed off about that. Had I known, I would of course have booked differently and given me a bit more time and leisure to look in detail, make time to meet and chat with more friends. As it was, I felt a bit rushed all the days I was there.

It also took me a bit of time to get used to the – for me – new situation with accomodation as well, not in the valley, as I had been used to when going there with friends from Patchwork Gilde, but in Sélestat, depending on the shuttle. In the end I adapted and although I may travel differently next year – car? Bring a bike? Stay on the campground? – I had a wonderful few days even though they were packed.

It won’t be possible to give justice to all the wonderful exhibitions on display at this anniversary edition, and I won’t even try. But I loved meeting the Australians.

Short chat with Lorena Uriarte, whose works I have been admiring for a long time.

And a chat with Tara Glastonbury, I love her bold colors and modern designs.

So much fun to re-meet with Helen Beaven from New Zealand, 
I had first met her in Wellington 10 years ago. 

 

Seeing SAQA’s “Color in Context: Blue”. 

A quilt about a child with autism and special needs. 

 

And being involved in EQA’s display of the annual challenge with this year’s topic of “Contrast”. Already hanging it was fun, but stewarding the show was even more satisfying because you could take time to look at the over 400 pieces in more detail. I kept discovering new elements of interest. 

 

We had the annual AGM for EQA and I am now the treasurer for EQA.

Secretary Mary Hunter from Ireland, chair Marleen Verhuisen from Belgium, and me

 

And we decided on the next topic for the 2026 EQA challenge, which gave me a host of ideas as to possibilities for contributing a quilt this time as well, besides doing all the organizational work that comes with my position of International Representative. I didn’t keep track, but I must have come up with at least ten different ideas while we were having our Saturday-evening dinner. However, each participant is allowed only one entry, I will have to make up my mind. And find the time for making it to begin with…

Spiders are not considered part of the group of insects,
but when a spider is wrapping up another insect, that would 
qualify as inspiration, don't you think?

 

 I loved Ulla Hoppe's exhibition of her embroideries, and especially her self-portrait:

 And I finally remembered to take some selfies with friends, but they are not my forte, alas.

 

 Looking forward to coming back next year, hopefully with a little bit more time at my hands.