Each year in August, the "Festival of Quilts in Birmingham, organized by the Guild of British patchwork, hosts over 10,000 visitors and nearly 300 exhibitors.
The exhibitions featured this year one thousand quilts in competition, to all countries and all categories - traditional, art quilts, miniatures, textile designs, contemporary-sponsored by big brands (Bernina, Rowan, Pfaff, Madeira ), as well as works of artists and designers: Kaffe Fassett, Amy Butler, Judy Hooworth, Susan Shie, and many others.
Birmingham is only an hour flight from Paris and many hotels near the airport only to cross a street - offer rooms at reasonable prices. It can also be reached by train, the station within the terminal.
links between the airport and Convention Center are performed by these smaller free shuttles.
Saturday morning, we find upon opening our friends from Belgium
... and we go off in the aisles -
Again, we must note that prevail in this festival as big shows in the U.S., quiet, politeness and respect, no jostling, the backpacks are also prohibited.
Everywhere seats for a rest, a great choice of places to pause for tea or coffee and eat ...
visit booths to find known designers:
Sue Hawkins and beautiful embroidery Crewel - above left, the tree of life located in Nantes,
Lynette Anderson and her delightful compositions
Veronica Dequenne of Born to Quilt, all smiles ...
"Enchanted" this year since the festival
Quiltmania well represented
The Cotton Patch, where one crosses Kaffe Fassett dedicating his latest works
Well, well, the complete series of cats purchased in Oregon and produced at The Contented Cat
Favourites for those funny caps of Janie Lashford School of Millinery ...
or the ambience and delicate English Miss Rose Sister Violet, who is looking forward to coming to Paris to Celebrate the Aiguille
Noticed in the exhibitions:
Warning "Do not touch", fun little quilts to signal in all languages the ban!
The Best of Show, "Mission Impossible 2," Miniature Kumiko Frydlant, Texas - the challenge : Make a mariner's compass points to 128 - paper piecing and reverse appliqué.
Ground Zero, a moving book by Lois Jarvis -
approaching one sees images of 621 people who perished at the World Trade Center: the composition "lone star" evokes an explosion and borders gray symbolize the city in mourning.
"Roses from the Heart" by Christina Henri, who is trying to collect over 25 000 caps embroidered in honor of British prisoners deported to Australia.
To date, 14 000 were made.
On each cap is embroidered with the name of the inmate, the name of the ship on which it was shipped and the date of his arrival in Australia. To participate, visit the website of Christina Henri .
two quilts a lovely French quilter, met at the entrance to the festival, Sophie Kirshoff, Issoire.
"1001 Pearls" and "All over the Trail from Queyras," an ABC made following the method of cut paper.
quilts for children whose ages range from 5 to 16 years
We have recognized the sumptuous colors and geometric shapes of quilts by Kaffe Fassett ....
here and poufs Amy Butler
few original creations such as this hat decorated with yo -yos, this whole patriotic, or boot-house, etc. ... 
See slideshow below cons.
