So, the Festival of Quilts was not just about quilts.

Obviously, it was about quilting supplies too. Everywhere you looked there was a hugely brisk trade in fabrics, wadding, gadgets, novelties, buttons, sewing machines, and just about every other quilting-sewing-crafting-associated thing you could think of.

This, I think, was probably the real attraction of the show for many. But I went with no expectations and no intention of buying anything.

Don’t get me wrong, although my heart mainly skips a beat for vintage, I do like some modern quilting fabrics.

But I didn’t need any. And I didn’t want any of the ones I saw on sale at the show.

I didn’t expect there to be anything vintage there at all.

But I was wrong…

What first got my vintage radar bipping was this, spotted at the back of a stall…

“Hmmm…” I thought, “that’s not a display item I expected to see!”

The stall belonged to Tanja, who is better known as the woman behind Linladan embroidery threads.

I have seen Linladan’s wares before, on sale at Selvedge‘s fair. Tanja sells vintage 1960s Swedish flax (linen) embroidery threads, in their original boxes, in a wonderful range of colours.

I covet them hugely, but not being much of an embroiderer and being already in possession of a large boxful of vintage Anchor stranded cottons, I have resisted the urge.

Tanja admired my Liberty lawn frock. I explained how it was a charity shop find, originally part of a handmade salwar kameez that I adapted into a dress.

I found myself telling her about my love of vintage fabrics. It turned out Tanja was similarly afflicted.

I spotted this, hidden away at the back of her stall…

A beautiful vintage Swedish cotton tablecloth. For sale.

And then, it was mine. And, because Tanja understood immediately, she rummaged in a box, and she brought out some of the things that she thought nobody else would be interested in.

And I bought those too…

Two lovely vintage sheets.

And this Swedish tray cloth…

Tanja was just lovely. We chatted and… well, I was so glad to have found her in that room full of quilt mania.

I felt like I had met a kindred spirit. In an alien environment.

I had not just bought some vintage fabrics…

I had made a new friend. ♥