Like a kid in a candy store..........

I know we all have things we adore and places we love to visit.  In my case I adore visiting fabric stores and I feel like a kid in a candy store looking at everything.

I have been busy taking sewing classes at a local store called Country Concessions Quilt Store.  I was there at the beginning of the week to purchases some fabric!!  I took some photos while in there.

The building looks so quaint doesn't it?  Where the large windows are on the second floor of the building to the left is where meetings and classes are held.

 Look at all those sewing machines.  They sell Pfaff machines.

 Look at all those colours of thread.

 This is what you see to the left of the door when you walk in.   It's where all the Tula Pink fabrics live!!

 Another section with lots of goodies.  I see they have got a number of felt heavy duty pressing boards.

 Here are some of the batiks, love the colours, but never been a fan at batiks. 

 They have just got new signage.

 The "Queen" seemed pretty happy watching the world go by in the car while I shopped.

They don't have an online store yet, but it is in the works. Country Concessions is located in the village of Cookstown, if you click on this link you can read more about Cookstown.

I nearly forgot, here is what I bought!!  I bought the coral fabric and the black and grey fabric on the left of the photo.  You will see what I am making next week.

Some quilts from the Great Northern Exhibition...

As always there were some beautiful quilts on display at the show.  I loved the movement in this quilt and the colours.

This reminded me of the scrap quilt that I have to finish off, my goal is to have it quilted before the end of year....we'll see!!

This is one of the major winners, can't say I love this one, but it is nice........

This is the English paper piecing that I do with all the tiny hexagons.  I was so impressed with this one and the amount of work that went into it.

These are quilt blocks done by various people that had to have the theme "Country Roots and Cowboy Boots."  You are given three pieces of material, that has to be included in the quilt bock and you then let your creativity go wild.  I must admit, I didn't think the first prize winner was that exciting; there were better squares in my opinion.

Must admit though I do enjoy looking at everyone's work.

Sunday was a gorgeous day weather wise.  I spent most of the day outside in the garden.  Dug up my potatoes and was surprised at how many were in the ground, considering I had not weeded all year.  I also trimmed the willow trees and some other trees and had a fire on the firepit.

As I am writing this on Sunday night I have to say I am pooped with all the work done in the garden and my back is paying the price. 

Just to let you know I am going to be crazy busy this week, so may not get around to visiting your blogs, but will be posting as normal.

Great Northern Exhibition..

So on Saturday afternoon we went to the Great Northern Exhibition which is a fall fair. We have never been before and we had a good time.



I particularly wanted to go as the ladies knitting group I joined had entered a few things and I wanted to see how well they did. They are had a few placings in the second place and one lady had a first with a needle pointed bell pull, it was lovely. The quilts were stunning and I took a few photos.


This first photo features on the left the best in show. This is the first time this woman has entered a quilt in the show and she was stunned to win; I was standing next to her as she was telling another woman this!! You may have to click on the photo to enlarge it to see more detail. She is a beautiful hand quilter, her stitches were so even. The one on the right won as well and the detail on that quilt was also stunning.

Here are some more of the quilts that I liked:

I was very inspired by this and many other classes, so I am hoping to enter some items for next year's show. The photography section was good, and I am sure I have a couple of photos I could have entered.

We stood and watched pairs of horses pulling concrete blocks as part of a competition. Would you believe this beautiful pair of horses pulled 8,000 lbs for fifteen feet and won the competition. Its the first time I have seen this.

(if you click on this photo to enlarge it, you will see more detail)

I have some more photos, that I will post another day. We watched the fiddlers and step dancers for a while, it seems to be a big thing in the country? It was an enjoyable afternoon out and I am so glad we went and the rain held off until we got home!!