We had a cup of tea and something to eat before we looked around – we wanted to make sure that we had the stamina! And also the showground was filling up, so we thought that this was a good plan before the queues got too big. Then we had a good potter around the stalls, and it was really difficult to know where to start! There were so many gorgeous things there, but one of my favourite stalls was Colouricious. They have the most beautiful hand carved wooden stamps, and they were doing some demonstrations of how you can stamp with paint and decolourant and used mixed media for different projects. I bought a set of blocks for printing and some decolourant too – can’t wait to have a go! My favourite stamp is this one – as you know, I just love owls!

Another lovely stall that we found was Farne Designs – they print beautiful textiles in Cornwall. We both bought a little selection of fabrics, and I got an embroidery kit for Mum for Christmas. Their stall was just so inviting – look at these fabrics!

One of the things that I was most excited about was meeting Stuart Hillard from the Great British Sewing Bee! For those of you who don’t know this programme, it has got so many people into sewing and making clothes and Stuart appeared on the first series. He was at the quilt show to sign his new book, and Mum has very kindly bought me it for Christmas so it will be fab to have a signed copy! Stuart was so lovely – he chatted to us like he had known us for years and was so welcoming. It really was a pleasure to meet him!

After we had spent up, we looked around the exhibition quilts. I can’t begin to tell you how inspiring they were – all the quilters are so incredibly talented, and the attention to detail is amazing. I love that people had incorporated different techniques into their quilts (including felting – look out for the planets quilt in my gallery below) and there were so many different styles. I went away with so many ideas, although I’m nowhere near good enough to create anything like these! The first quilt here won the ‘Best in Show’ and was by Liz Villalobos from Newcastle (quilted by Kay Bell) – simply stunning! I tried my best to take photos of all the labels so that I could credit all the quilters here, but I did miss one or tow (sorry). Click on the photos to see the quilter’s details.[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” grayscale=”no” choose_frame=”default” interval=”3″ images=”5720,5721,5722,5724,5723,5728,5725,5726,5733,5729,5738,5730,5731,5737″ img_size=”large” column_number=”2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1412354012241{padding-top: 30px !important;}”]Very inspiring, I’m sure you’ll agree! We left talking about all of the lovely things we’d like to be able to do with quilting one day… On the way home we met a lovely lady called Jennie at Harrogate station – she had also been to the show and had picked up some supplies for Christmas! Jennie has a Facebook page, so do pop over and say hello! Making a new friend was certainly a great end to the day! :-)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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We were immediately greeted by some art work by Francisco De Pajaro, who has been working on various pieces around Darlington this week and was doing the same around the site today. They are so much fun, and it was great to spot them throughout the day![/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_slide” interval=”3″ images=”5581,5582,5583,5584″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”2″ grayscale=”no” choose_frame=”default” img_size=”large”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1411851233983{padding-top: 30px !important;}”]Right from the beginning of the day, there was such a lovely atmosphere and SO much going on. We started at the Arena and main stage and pottered around the stalls there. I loved the Charity Shop DJ where people could choose cheesy tunes from a box of LPs from local charity shops, and have a go at DJing.

 [/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_slide” interval=”3″ images=”5587,5588,5589″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”2″ grayscale=”no” choose_frame=”default” img_size=”large”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1411847878771{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”]Next, we headed into the Beehive – just look at that writing! I love the retro styling of Lingfield Point.

There were some fabulous stalls in there, and I was super organised and got a couple of Christmas presents. It was here where we bumped into curators of the Festival of Thrift, Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway! I explained that I’m a part of the School of Thrift, and they very kindly agreed to having their photo taken – thank you so much to you both!

After that we left them to rummage through some LPs and continued on our way. We came across a stall from The Beehive Brand, which had the most beautiful knitted garments in traditional patterns. I can’t really describe how beautiful they were, so you’ll have to take a look : [/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_slide” interval=”3″ images=”5596,5597,5598,5595″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”2″ grayscale=”no” choose_frame=”default” img_size=”large”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1411851507792{padding-top: 30px !important;}”]The Beehive Brand was established in 1785, but after a period of decline has recently been bought by Andrea Freeman, who’s passion for this exciting project really shines through. Not only is she recycling the old brand, but the old patterns too, and new garments using old patterns are being gradually released once more. I’m really excited to see how the brand develops! If you’d like to find out more, visit her website.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1411850503131{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”]Here are a few more photos from around the site! Look out for the tea ladies with the invisible dog (if, indeed, you can ‘look out’ for an invisible dog!) if you’re going tomorrow – they’re hilarious![/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_slide” interval=”3″ images=”5602,5603,5604,5605,5606″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”2″ grayscale=”no” choose_frame=”default” img_size=”large”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1411849392734{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”flexslider_slide” interval=”3″ images=”5607,5608,5609,5610,5611,5612,5613,5614,5615″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”2″ grayscale=”no” choose_frame=”default” img_size=”large”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1411849832037{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”]Mum had a go at weaving, and made this to add to the huge spider’s web – fab!

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]There were so many lovely stalls around the event, but I was really pleased to catch up with my friend Victoria, aka Dizzy Miss James! We met a few years ago at a craft fair and it has been wonderful to see her shop develop. She designed all of these little guys herself – aren’t they adorable!?

It was also brilliant to meet some new people at the event, including Angela from Maison Royale – her stall was fabulous and she was so lovely to chat to! You see that gorgeous arrow light? That will be hanging in our new kitchen in a few months! Yes!

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1411851452668{padding-top: 30px !important;}”]I took so many more photos, but I don’t want to give everything away! If you’re in the area tomorrow then you MUST go along. And don’t forget to tag your photos on social media – #FOT14

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Can you believe it was a year on Sunday since we got married?! I can’t believe we celebrated our first anniversary this weekend! Last year, my blog was full of wedding-related posts and the run up to the big day went so fast, but this year has actually flown by as well. It has been lovely to reflect on our special day and our first year of marriage Hooray! To celebrate we had a really lovely day out and a stay in a B&B which was fab – and a lovely surprise which Tom had organised! It felt like we were on holiday…but we did have to go to work on Monday!

The first place we went to was Tanfield Railway, which is just outside County Durham and it’s the oldest railway in Britain. I had never been on a steam train before, and the past few occasions when we’ve tried to go on one the steam train has been replaced by a diesel engine!

I’m pleased to say that it was a steam train – yay! We had a little potter around the train shed before we went on it too, and in keeping with tradition I bought a pencil and eraser! Here’s a little selection of some of my photos (I took quite a lot…):[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”nivo” interval=”3″ images=”5381,5382,5383,5384,5385,5386,5387,5388,5389,5390″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”2″ grayscale=”no” choose_frame=”default” img_size=”large”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1411070641466{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”]We had a yummy lunch at the Black Horse pub afterwards which set us up for the afternoon, and then walked along to Birkheads Secret Gardens, which is just the most wonderful place! The owners, Christine and Mike, created the gardens from a field (amazing!) and they also have a little nursery, shop and a cafe there. It’s the perfect place for a lovely day out, and we bought a season ticket so that we can go there at different times of year. I can’t wait to go when all the helibores are out – they have so many there and it must be wonderful to see! Here’s a little gallery of some photos I took:[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”nivo” interval=”3″ images=”5394,5395,5396,5397,5398,5399,5400,5401,5402,5403″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”2″ grayscale=”no” choose_frame=”default” img_size=”Large”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1411070678403{padding-top: 30px !important;}”]We stayed at Hedley Hall B&B, and I’d definitely go there again for a little weekend away – it was fab!

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[/vc_column_text][vc_gallery type=”image_grid” interval=”3″ images=”4902,4903,4904,4905,4907,4906,4908,4909,4910,4911,4912,4913,4914,4915″ onclick=”link_image” custom_links_target=”_self” column_number=”2″ grayscale=”no” choose_frame=”default” img_size=”medium”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1408390099490{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]If you’d like to go up to the top yourself, you can book tickets at the NewcastleGateshead visitor information centre (in Central Arcade – see my post about the arcade here). Tickets are £3 for adults and £1 for children, and the tours last for 30 minutes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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One of our friends suggested to us that we visit the Camera Obscura during our visit to Edinburgh last month, and it was an excellent suggestion. When she told us about it, she said that it is quite difficult to describe, but we would know what she meant when we visited. And she was right! But this is a good thing, and you have to see it to believe it!

I couldn’t take photos of the Camera Obscura itself – it is in a darkened room, but we were shown amazing views of the city by our guide. There are fantastic views from the rooftop terrace, which allowed for more photo opportunities! It was quite a dark day, so some are better than others.

There were some amazing chimney pots, and I’m wondering if I can take some inspiration from them for a crafty project…this will require more thinking!

After admiring the views, we went through the exhibitions in the World of Illusions. There are lots of magic eye prints (including an amazing one of wolves in a wood – my description isn’t doing it justice but it’s hard to describe!), holograms and other installations to trick the eyes and the mind. There is also a mirror maze and light exhibitions which are wonderful – I’m pleased with how these photos turned out!

This final photo is taken at the end of the Giant Vortex Tunnel – you walk across a stationary bridge whilst the light wall spins around you. It made me feel so queasy but Tom was fine! He obviously has a much stronger stomach than me!

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It was my birthday a few weekends ago and we decided that we would spend it in Edinburgh. I’ve never been before, despite it being quite close – except for the time when I changed trains in Edinburgh in order to travel to Perth! Over the few days running up to the weekend, the UK was hit with rather a lot of snow, and I was wondering if we would make it. Ironically, there wasn’t too much snow there so it seemed that by going to Scotland we actually escaped the worst of it!

We hadn’t really planned to do anything in particular while we were there, but I knew I wanted to go to the castle. I love castles and find them absolutely fascinating. What was a surprise to me was that there is so much to see at Edinburgh Castle, with lots of different museums inside, barracks, a chapel – all sorts of things! Definitely a must-see if you go to visit. We spent the whole of the Saturday there and it was a fantastic day out.

I really love stained glass windows, and there were some beautiful windows in chapel. And to think that at various points through history it was nearly demolished!

The castle provides excellent views over the city, and I took loads of photos throughout the day. The snow looks beautiful but it was absolutely freezing! The sun did come out briefly though, as you can see in the next two photos.

A fantastic day out – a must if you’re visiting the city!

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