May 2018, France, Judy Newman

The second part of May brought yet another trip to France. Again to help out my friend Emma (click) who was hosting Judy Newman for a two-day workshop at her quilt shop Le Patchwork d'Emma (click) in Gauchy/St. Quentin.

I had met Judy briefly during the Nantes show and Emma and I met her again – a bit longer this time – at the Houston show last year and was really looking forward to seeing her and her quilts again.

Because both Judy and I arrived a few days before the workshop we had lots of time to chat, to sew and get to know each other, much to our surprise Judy and I found out we had quite a lot in common.

It was a delight to get to know Judy and her quilts. Judy, Emma and I spent hours talking and I can honestly say I fell in love with her quilts and her approach to making quilts.

During the days of the workshop the atmosphere in Emma’s light and airy shop/atelier was buzzing with ladies from Germany and the UK joining in as well, I think the pictures will speak for themselves:

On the Sunday morning a brocante was being held in the village and as neither Judy nor I had every visited one we just had to go. As it was a workshop day it meant getting up really early but it was worth it!

Not in the least to see that sunrise from ‘my’ bedroom window at Emma’s. That view (and the quiet) never ceases to amaze me, I always spend some time looking out the window every morning I wake up there and every evening before I go to bed.

 So we walked a few streets to the brocante and got there at 6.30 when a lot of people were still setting up.

We found some treasures for a few Euro’s. Just to give you an idea, Judy fell in love with a yellow milk jug, but they made her buy the whole set for…. E 3.- ! It turned out to be a Villeroy & Boch coffee set, Judy would have loved to have taken the whole set back home to Australia with her, but that was a bit unpractical so she decided to keep the milk jug and leave the rest of the set at Emma’s boutique, where it fitted so well with the retro kitchen.

Later that day in the kitchen of Le Patchwork d’Emma:

I guess the yellow brocante milk jug was maybe a birthday present to herself because later that day we celebrated her recent birthday with a cake from the local boulangerie and – of course – a glass of that nice sparkly stuff

Judy’s show & tell that day was held in the garden of Emma’s shop

And then it was back to work, Judy showing us some (for me) new techniques.

Well, this is why: during the workshop – with much help from Judy as I am not very handy in this respect – I made a Judy’s Dilly Bag!

After these wonderful days at Emma’s Judy and I traveled back to The Netherlands together where she went on to teach at Petra Prins’ (click to Juud’s blog to read al about it).

To my surprise Judy presented me with this beautiful pouch as a thank you for organising her travel (no problem) and travelling with her (it was a joy and I was headed in that direction anyway 😊  ) there really was no need, I was quite taken aback by this beautiful present. I love it and I will cherish it.

A tangible reminder of very special days,

Phyllis