Sunday 17 August 2008

Quilts and Klimt

What an exciting weekend. On Friday morning Jude and I headed up the M6 to the Festival of Quilts. So much wonderful work from such talented people I wouldn't know where to start to describe it all so instead a collage of just a small sample of the work that caught our eye.


We also met with some fellow bloggers - I've never yet met a blogger I didn't think was lovely and Friday was no exception. Mai-Britt and Jackie - it was great to meet you. Also had a chance to chat with Maggie Grey who as ever was wonderfully generous with her knowledge. I can't wait to try out some of the techniques she showed us - all of which are in her in her book. Of course I had to buy a copy - would have been rude not too!


I think I was quite restrained in my purchases (well... compared to last year) but I did buy another book which is full of great looking things to try. All I need now is some more time....


After FOQ we got back onto the M6 and head up to this city...

After not too much driving up and down the dockside we found we our hotel which was very luxurious and also happened to be where Melanie C was staying the night as she was playing at a concert at the Docks. We didn't get to see Mel C though because we were far too engrossed with our luxury bathroom and this amazing shower!

After several showers later we were ready to hit the town on Saturday morning... and straight outside our hotel was this... the Liver Building.



We both got rather excited and carried away remembering episodes of the Liverbirds... which for some reason prompted this...

Moving on very quickly from that last photo... we also spotted several of these strange creatures - superlambananas - which are situated all over Liverpool.

Eventually we got around to the reason for our trip - the Klimt exhibition at the Tate. We both enjoyed the exhibition but had some prior idea of what we were going to see which was not actually a show devoted to the work of Klimt. It was more about a group of artists known as the Viennese Secession, of whom Klimt was the leader. There were a lot of photographs, models of buildings, exhibition catologues, furniture and housewares as well as a substantial number of Klimt drawings and paintings. I could imagine it would have been a disappointing exhibition if you were expecting a blockbuster show of Klimt paintings. But the work that was on display was stunning and it was an interesting and informative exhibition. This was one of my favourites.


We managed a light lunch at the Tate Cafe before setting back home - but not before we saw these power boats racing on the Mersey. An exciting end to an exciting couple of days!

18 comments:

  1. That looks like a cracking time out there Missus. Viennese exhibition looks triffic. That portrait is glorious. I could lose myself for hours in that dress alone.

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  2. What a fab couple of days. I ummed and aahed about going to FOQ, but decided unless they were selling free time too, perhaps I'd better avoid it.

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  3. Looks like you had a great time all round! glad you didn't get washed away in that shower :o)

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  4. That's a beautiful Klimt - I really love the amazing detail in his work and the wistful looks on the women's faces.

    Glad you had a good time in the 'pool - I've not been up there in a while so it's good to see pics.

    Lovely-looking book treats!

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  5. sounds like a fabtastic trip. How lovely to meet up with bloggers :D I love klimt too and would have enjoyed the others I'm sure.

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  6. What a great time you had. I'm jealous though I thought about going to FOQ but for some reason decided not to,but having seen your pictures I am regretting my decision.

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  7. Ooooh, the "Stitching to Dye" book looks exciting! It sounds like you all had a wonderful time and thankyou so much for telling us all about it .......... it's great for those of us who don't have the opportunity to get out and about very much!

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  8. It was lovely to meet you. I'm glad the rest of the weekend was as good and I won't ask how you snook the photo of the Klimt!
    I liked the 'cattle' quilt too.

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  9. Dear Beryl

    Glad you didn't mention the lack of signposting in both Liverpool and outside the NEC, hooped jumpers, terriers of indeterminate origin, muzzles, quarter tanks of petrol, low seats in the restaurant and the Christmas Challenge - or are you saving that up for another day?

    Love Sandra

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  10. Great post Gina ~ Glad you had such a good weekend. Sorry we missed each other, may be next year ehh?

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  11. It sounds like you had a really lovely time! But far more importantly - thank you so much for all the gorgeous goodies you sent Daisy and the other little locket ladybirds! They are all delighted! Lucy xxx

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  12. wow it sounds like you had an amazing few days - what beautiful quilts - the work in some of them is unbelievable - i could never do that, am too impatient. i admire your restraint on the purchasing front!
    x

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  13. Oh, I wish I could have tagged along! What a wonderful time this must have been!

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  14. Oh I have the deepest envy. I keep reading about the Festival and so would have loved to have gone. Ah well, I can but dream xx

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  15. Looks like you had a fascinating trip to Liverpool, the superlambananas reminded me of the cows we saw last year in Copenhagen as they were decorated by local groups too and looked fantastic. Your holiday in Italy looks wonderful I'm thoroughly fed up of wet cold weather and wish i was there now, thank you for sharing your lovely pictures with us. Jane x

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  16. Oh - what a wonderful time you had! You always seem to embrace life Gina - it is one of the many things I like about you. I am mowst envious of you going to a Klimt exhibition as he is one of my all time favorite painters!

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  17. P.S And the books you bought look fabulous too. One can never have too many I think!

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  18. Looks like a truly perfect weekend :)

    I bet Mel C would have been really excited if she'd known she was in the same hotel as you!!

    xxx

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