A quick trip to visit my Mum and Dad this weekend - an excuse to catch up with my parents but in addition - a quilt exhibition AND a classic car show all thrown in for good measure! I don't think we have ever been luckily enough to view quilts and cars on the same day.
Dad had informed me of the quilt exhibition some time ago - and with one thing and another only one day was available to visit. Held at the Museum of Life in Stowmarket - I was in two minds what to expect....
Their write up gave me great hope that it would be worth the journey....
Recognisingcthe harsh existence for farmers, miners and seafarers in mid Wales during the 19th and early 20th centuries, handmade quilts provided comfort and warmth amidst sparsely furnished dwellings. The exhibition follows the winding path of economics through the use of scraps of old cloth, tailors samples and much repaired or patched quilts, compared to specially purchased colourful satins and silks. Each of these fabrics was used to produce visually stunning patchwork covers.
Most of the quilts have personal stories attached to their making. Not only are they technically interesting but they are also historically fascinating. Quilt making is usually a social activity bringing people together and giving the makers a chance to share time together.
Well...... two very small rooms - not much bigger than my living room - containing seven welsh quilts. Disappointed.
As we looked, and looked again to check we had not missed a floor/room/building - we discovered a poster containing information about Quilts in the Garden - when we asked where these could be found we were directed to the lower floor to discover three miniature quilts....... um ......
I would have to give their Marketing team full mark, and perhaps even a pay rise for advertising the 'exhibtion' so well. However, whoever suggested seven quilts made an exhibition should really be moved on......
Leaving Mum behind with her knitting - we headed off for the afternoon session of classic cars....
A short walk along side the river.....
The River Gipping runs in between both ICI and the new Bosch factory. The Bosch factory was the old Qualcast/Atco factory many years ago, and during the last few years Stowmarket has seen many changes - especially a range of new access roads ...... one bridge used to carry one of the new roads highlights the story of the lawn mower factory....
The other side displays the Suffolk Punches.......
We did have a little bet on the walk into Stowmarket, as to whether the car count would be more than the mornings quilt count - and as it happens - more - we stopped counting at 70!!
And what a selection - I never knew so many people lived in Stowmarket and I never knew there was so many old cars!!!!
Perfect weekend away for everyone!! love it!
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