From the Loire valley to the Quilt Show

The châteaux were absolutely fascinating!!!! Along the river or on top of a hill with the river down below or surrounded by a lake, they were all different and interesting. It was the best way to study once again French history.
There were sceneries you only see in paintings. Look at this!!!


I can hardly believe I took this picture!!! Don't you think it is beautiful and romantic!!

How you ready to embark ? You'd better grab a cup of tea because it's going to be my longest post!!!!! Let's go...

Valençay :


Chenonceau and its gardens :





Chambord :


Amboise and the chapel where Leonardo Da Vinci is buried :




Le clos Lucé where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last years of his life :


Azay Le Rideau :



The gardens of Villandry :


But, I guess you'd like to read about the quilt show, right ?

At the entrance we were welcomed by this "mise en scène" :

and by this huge hand-stitched quilt by Chuck Nohara :

Stunning!!! To say the least...

There were many booths where you could find everything a quilter or stitcher needs.... and much more ;-))


I met many people... some I knew and was happy to see again and some I met for the first time though I knew some of them through their blogs. It was not easy for me to be transparent as there were not many male quilters at the quilt show. While attending a class, I heard many ladies surprised to see a man quilting and stitching! Well, My wife watches football and drinks beer so... NO, JUST KIDDING... LOL

I attended three classes. One was to use the Square in a Square ruler and it has help me overcome my machine-piecing phobia. The second class was with Aurelia Ducrocq. She was extremely nice and charming and very helpful. Thank you very much Aurelia.



Finally, because Reiko Kato wasn't able to come (yes, the volcano!!), I did a rug hooking class with Beatrice Meillac. How fun!!! Thanks Béatrice, for your help! Rug hooking is great!




I was so concentrated that I forgot to take a picture during the class!

I do regret that I didn't take a class with Cécile Facile and with Léa Stansal. Indeed, Cécile's creations are so inspiring as are Léa's. There will be another time....

Now let's have a look at the exhibitions.

Reiko Kato's house :




Sue Spargo's house.
I had seen Sue's quilts before in Sisters (Oregon). One cannot be not charmed when you see them!


The country house :


Sarah Fielke's house :


Chuck Nohara's house :




Lea Stansal's corner :



Julie Arkell's corner :


Katherine Roumanoff's corner :



All these artists made me understand that what is important is to do things. So, my new motto is "Just Do It and Have Fun"!!

Thank you Quiltmania for organizing such a quilt show in France.

On Friday evening, before driving back to southern France, we decided to spend the night on the coast. There was only the sound of the surf of the ocean and the tweeting of the birds for my morning run.





I'm back home now and ready to go to work tomorrow morning. Hope you have enjoyed this part of France and Quiltmania quilt show ;-)

Until later,