Amy Butler at the Festival of Quilts

It was great to meet Amy Butler on The Cotton Patch stand at the Festival of Quilts the week before last (it only seems like yesterday...!) She was able to chat to customers, sign books and inspired a few people who don't sew yet to do so (excuse the pun).

Her relaxed approach in her book "Midwest Modern" is quite inspiring with beautiful photography illustrating examples of how she and her husband David have used fabrics to great effect in their own home. As part of the post-Festival de-stress I spent part of an evening reading the books and can hardly wait to work out which projects I'm going to do from one of her other books "In Stitches".

Plans have been formulated for a few evenings with the sewing machine at my house with my niece Elllie who, together with her sister Anna, suddenly want to make pillows, throws and bags. If Amy can inspire teenagers to sew then this has to be good for the future.

We hope that Amy is able to make a return visit next year and if you didn't manage to see her at the Festival this year we suggest you make a date in your diary for mid-August next year when the Festival of Quilts returns.