Yoko Saito

Although nothing to do with Yoko Saito, I have posted this picture first, because it just sums up the glorious spring weather outside. After a horrid week, Easter Sunday brought us sunshine and warmth at last.

And at last I have started a long journey of hand quilting Yoko Saito's Mystery Quilt, published originally as BOM by Quiltmania magazine.

As some of you probably know, it is not always easy to get Yoko's books in English translation.

So I am even more pleased about the 3 new additions to my bookshelves.

I can safely say that I have enjoyed making this quilt; I have had much fun in "building" my village.

So, "Houses, houses, houses" was something I just "must have". So many new ideas for "house building"!

The next book, although called "Scandinavian Quilts", was actually inspired by Yoko's visit to Swedish region of Dalarna, well known for their handicrafts, where they still use traditional designs and methods. 

I have visited this region myself several times, and like so many other tourists (including Swedes), 

I fell in love with Dalarna. 

Needless to say, that this book is very close to my heart.

And like myself, Yoko found 

an inspiration in the house of artists Carl and Karin Larsson in Sundborn and she devotes a chapter to her visit there. 

We loved our visit there so much, that we visited the house again;

 this picture is from our visit in 2010. 

And of course, the Dala horses.

The latest arrival is "Floral Bouquet Quilts".

Again, as in her previous books, lots of beautiful applique, embroidery and quilting.

The fabrics Yoko like to use for her projects are not necessarily my choice; I prefer to use brighter fabrics. But I love her designs and get very inspired by them.

I mentioned Quiltmania magazines.

Besides the bi- monthly Quiltmania magazine, they also publish 4 times a year "Quiltmania Special" and "Simply Vintage" (besides many books, including those by Yoko Saito, of course).

 You might be interested that from next autumn there no longer will be in existence the "Special" issue of Quiltmania; it will be replaced by more "modern" version, to mirror "Simply Vintage". 

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2015

Houser & Wirth at Durslade Farm

It is over 20 years since we decided to make "the big move", away from the hustle and bustle of South East England, heading South West, into the country. We found a new home in a small village in Brue Valley, somewhere between Stourhead and small town called Bruton.
Bruton was already well known for its independent schools, but not really on any large scale map.
On our way to Bruton, some 3 miles away, depending which route we took, we would pass an old dilapidated farm on the edge of the town, dating back to 1760s, now left abandoned and slowly falling apart.  This is not such an unusual sight in the country, but we thought it was a shame, as this was obviously once a beautiful set of buildings. But like everything, if you see it often enough, you don't notice it anymore.
But someone did notice it, the makers of the film Chocolat. Do you remember Judi Dench, in the role of the grandmother, and her birthday party? It was filmed here, the middle of Durslade Farm.
But after that the farm went to sleep again.....

Few years ago a new family moved into our small village, buying another old farm property, renovating it and making it their new home. There was a village "telegraph", of course, about who the newcomers are, and there was a talk of a wealthy Swiss art dealer.
But there were bigger things to come. Iwan Wirth and his wife Manuela (Hauser) as our new neighbors were called, are in fact  Houser & Wirth, with art galleries in Zurich, London and New York. They bought Durslade Farm, and 2 years ago got a planning permission to develop it into a gallery and art centre.
Houser & Wirth Somerset opened its doors in July this year, putting Bruton firmly on the art world map, with Zurich, London and New York, which the full car park yesterday, including some foreign number plates, confirms. The gallery (free admission) is and will be displaying works by famous artists, but hopefully will also be a showcase for local artists and wonderful opportunity for local schools.
There already is a restaurant on the site, and a farm shop being planned for next year.

These are some pictures from our first visit yesterday.

I can't show you any of the exhibits inside, of course, but I can take you into the new garden at the back of the gallery, opened only last week.

Designed by a Dutchman Piet Oudolf (who designed the landscape scheme for the whole site) and said to be one of the most significant and acclaimed landscape designers today, it is called Oudolf Field - a large perennial meadow, with young Kentucky Coffee Trees.

As any gardener knows, it takes time for a new garden to "knit" together, but it is already a beautiful sight of colour in the warm late summer sunshine. I look forward to seeing it next year.

You can read lots more about Durslade Farm here .

As those who read my blog know, I no longer live in that small village near Bruton. We moved last year into Shepton Mallet, but we are still only about 10 miles away and my job still takes me back to Bruton.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend! We have been having some beautiful late summer weather in our part of the world, and although raining today, it is supposed to continue for little longer.

In fact, last night DH and I set outside in our garden, with a glass of wine, late into evening, on what was probably one of the warmest evenings this summer.

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2014

second West Country Quilt Show

You came with me to the first ever West Country Quilt Show a year ago, doesn't a year fly by!

 It was relatively very quiet then, in a half empty exhibition hall at the Bath and West showground.

Last Thursday was a start of this year' show and so I was curious if it would be any different.

I went early on Thursday, so I could take clear pictures of quilts on show.

It was nice to see that there was more exhibitors taking part and the hall looked more full this time, but as you can see, still very quiet at that time of the day.

Too many stall holders have put up a sign "No Photographs", which is a shame of course, so I can't show you who was there.

The Tentmakers of Cairo did not mind.

Very early I came across Jan Tillett's small stall, with beautiful examples of her work.

As you know, I am very much a hand stitcher, very rarely I drop the feet of my sewing machine!

That morning I was lucky, I got the last place on Jan's first workshop "Shimmer and Wrinkle", using shrink polyester and machine embroidery. It involved wadding, net, angelina fibres and shrink polyester, of course.

Don't look at my stitching, concentrate on the result, LOL!

Thank you, Jan, it was fun!

You can see Jan's instruction video on youtube here .

Of course, there was some replenishing of my stash going on also:

And now my favourites from the quilt show:

Happy stitching!

©pleasureinstitching.blogspot.co.uk 2013