Back from England with Inspiration and Stories

I’m back home after a fantastic trip to England and the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham. It was such an inspiring experience — full of color, creativity, and amazing textile work everywhere I looked. I was really excited about going to the Festival again, and it did not disappoint.

I arrived in Birmingham on a day that felt pretty special — it was the funeral procession for Ozzy Osbourne, one of the city’s most famous sons. The whole city seemed to be coming together to honor him, and it was a reminder of how connected people are to their culture and history.

Birmingham is England’s second-largest city, yet it’s often overlooked by tourists. Despite its industrial roots, the city has a rich history and a unique character — with more miles of canals than Venice, and a vibrant cultural scene that’s steadily gaining recognition. I was able to spend a few hours walking around town the day we arrived, and loved walking along the canals, seeing the narrowboats – in my bucket list to stay in one some day – and the art spread out in the city.

Birmingham was once known as the “City of a Thousand Trades,” and among its many industrial specialities was button making. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the city became a global hub for producing buttons—tiny works of craftsmanship made from metal, glass, and other materials. This intricate trade highlights Birmingham’s reputation for skilled artisanship and detailed manufacturing.

The festival itself was a treasure trove. I loved seeing everything from traditional quilts with beautiful hand stitching to bold, modern textile art pushing boundaries. One thing that surprised me this year was the amount of traditional work on display. I remember coming to the Festival of Quilts about 11 years ago, feeling in awe of the incredibly advanced, artistic quilts from Europe — bold, experimental, pushing boundaries in every direction. This time around, I found the show had a lot more traditional quilts, beautifully crafted and timeless, but not quite the same cutting-edge vibe I remembered. Maybe I’ve changed, or maybe the festival has shifted focus a bit. Either way, it was interesting to see, and it gave me a fresh appreciation for the roots and history behind all this creativity.

First thing in the morning on the first day of the show. Nice and quiet – I was able to take some photos before the crowds arrived!

Below are a few photos of some of my favourites pieces, starting with “One Hundred and Fifty by Ilaria Harris from the “Quilt Creations” Category. To commemorate the 150 years of Liberty of London. Beautifully done!

From “Haven” an exhibit by SAQA

Urban Sanctuary – Mary-Ellen Latino – USA

A few photos from Pat Pauly’s exhibit. I loved the vibrancy and colours of her pieces. All quite large and interesting to look at – mark making and layers of texture.

The one below was impressive in its design, complexity and history. Created by the Ukranian Quilters Association who chose the painting “Cossack Mamay” especially crafted for their project by the renowned Ukranian artist Orest Skop, to introduce the global quilting community to the splendor of Ukranian art, folklore, history, identity and the distinctive essence of Ukranian nation. “Cossack Mamay” represents a defending warrior upon whom the future of independent Ukraine rests.