Festival of Quilts 2026

 

It will be another busy Festival of Quilts this year which is on at the NEC Birmingham from 31st July until 2nd August 2026.www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/exhibitors/mary-mcintosh/

My stand is QIA15 in the 'Meet the Teacher' zone in the link between halls 8 and 9 - the usual spot.

On Friday afternoon I will be giving a brand new talk "Textile Art - how to tell a story" in the main theatre. There are tickets still available to book ahead of the show or on the day. £16

thefestivalofquilts.seetickets.com/content/workshop-options?day=&type=general

I will be demonstrating in the Creative Textiles Studio on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Using Lutradur to stitch, colour, and burn.

There is no charge for the Creative Textiles Studio - just turn up and watch textile artist demonstrating their skills for free. 

There is a great line up of demonstrators every day throughout the show.

www.thefestivalofquilts.co.uk/creative-textiles-studio/

And, finally, if you missed seeing my "Wearer Unknown" installation as part of the EAST exhibition it will be on show in the Quilt Creations category. Hopefully on a plinth the size requested (fingers crossed)

So if you are coming to the show please come along and say hello. 

Out of the Fold Collaborations

 

Out of the Fold were one of the alumni groups exhibiting as part of the Creative Stitch Graduate Show

We unveiled our 'Material Dialogues' collaborations work as a taster for the full exhibition later this year

Pairs were drawn at random and challenged to work together to produce a piece of work for the show

These images give a sense of the range of work  - each one completely different. 

You can see the collaborations as part of a much larger exhibition of work at St Margaret's Gallery, St. Benedict's Street, Norwich from 23rd Sept 2027

 

End of an era

The final Creative Stitch Graduate Show took place this   weekend. 

 I began my time with Creative Stitch in 2007 as a student signing on to do a City & Guilds in Patchwork and Quilting with tutor Annette Morgan. 

In 2011 when I completed the Diploma Annette invited me to teach alongside her. 

When Annette retired in 2018 I stepped up to become Principal Tutor and teach the Advanced Stitched Textiles course.

It was great to have Annette there to present the certificates at our Preview evening. Alongside her is the current chair of Suffolk Federation WI who have supported the courses for 20 years and made it all possible - a huge thanks to them.

Pandora's Box by Jen The Stitch

There has been some fantastic work produced by students in this time. A huge variety of themes, techniques and materials, have been used. 

The originality and creativity shown has been brilliant. 2026 has been no exception and Jen Scott's work could not be more up to date, today of all days. 

Ali Phillips

The Fantasy Costume assessment is a challenging brief for students and some amazing garments have been produced over the years.

Ali Phillip's moth inspired costume this year is a great example. 

The invented characters who might wear these costumes has been a great way to help the story telling of the work and bring them to life. 

Out of the Fold

That so many textile exibiting groups have been formed as a result of the Creative Stitch courses is a huge source of pride. Six Alumni groups exhibited this weekend as part of the Graduate Show.

My own group Out of the Fold had some work on show alongside Spotlight Textiles, Feed Dogs Down, Fibre Transformations, Textile Connections and the newest to emerge from Diane's students - The Gap.

Class of 2024

And the very best legacy of all are the friendships forged in the classroom, cemented by the mutual support to overcome the creative challenges, and the lasting relationships. 

The class of 2024 are no exception and plan to stay together and form a new group.