Inverness, Scotland and Hungarian fabric

Another edition of my trip this August.
I have been using my blog as my online journal.
I was going to use this as an exploring on my own day.

We actually dock in Invergordon. This port is know for two things.  One, oil rigs are brought
here for refurbishing and repair.  It was interesting to see rigs in all sizes and stages of repair.
The other is lot of the buildings have beautiful murals painted on the,
telling about the history of the town.

I had signed up to take a bus trip into Inverness.  It gave us a 45 minute trip
to the town. The countryside was very interesting.

Cows and sheep grazed along the way.
When I was planning this trip I remembered that I had seen the reference to
Inverness in regard to Hungarian Blue fabric.
Did my research and found what I was looking for.
Gilly Thomson, of Kekfesto Cotton did in fact sell Hungarian fabric.
I contacted her and we agreed that I could walk to her house quite easily, from
where the bus would drop us off.

I did not need any more incentive to do just that.

She show me a couple of the quilts she had made using this beautiful fabric.
I had asked how she came about selling this from Scotland.
One of her sons had spent a year in Budapest in 2002 for fencing training.
Gilly and her husband went to visit their son.  While there she was introduced to
the Hungarian Patchwork Guild Exhibition.  She was then persuaded to take part in an
International Exhibit in May of 2003 using the Kekfesto blue and white fabric.
She made a beautiful "Nordic Star" quilt that she shows on the link, I have provided.

Well, let me tell you I had a hard time deciding which pieces to purchase.
I ended up buying, fat quarters, lengths, and even a charm pack.  It was so hard to not purchase
one of everything.  I knew I had some at home from when I visited Hungary in 2008.
Surprisingly, I did not duplicate anything.
What a wonderful selection she has.  Now I know where I can find more when I need it.
Update:  I had started a quilt after my trip in 2008, but had not put it all together.
Well, recently I got it out and put the blocks I had made together, and now working on the borders.
It will soon be ready for quilting.

Here is a picture of the Inverness Castle.  (Picture out of order, as I was using two different
cameras, and when you load then blogger will put them in their order, not mine.)

Here I am with Gilly.  We are staring in from of her quilt studio in their back yard.
She, just like a lot of us, would not let me take a peek, as she said it is a mess!
Sounds like a lot of quilters I know.
I enjoyed our visiting so much.

I still had time to do a bit of exploring after I left Gilly's house.
There was a neat shop next to this pub.
Don't you love the saying?

It is interesting to see men in kilts.  It would seem odd for us to see it
at home, but was right in line here.
I guess it is not any more odd then seeing people here still wearing
their pajamas when they are out shopping here at home.

I also visited a church on my way back to the bus.
How about this quilt pattern on the floor of the entry way.
You never know where you will find wonderful quilt patterns.
Maybe this is the way Bonnie Hunter gathers hers.

When we got back to Invergordon, we were met by these school age students,
ready to serenade us.  It was awesome.
Their precision was wonderful.

After Jan and I got back on the ship, I was up on the lido deck when I
heard the pipes and checked it out.
The students were marching their way out to the ship.

What a treat it was to listen and watch these amazing kids.
Nothing like being piped as we are leaving dock.

What another wonderful day.  We got to see more beautiful countryside, I was able to
purchase Hungarian fabric, meet a lovely lady, hear bagpipes and drums, and have another
wonderful weather day.
Loving this trip.
Mary