The Ultimate Guide to Art Quilting launched at the Festival of Quilts last week. I spent a fantastic two days alongside author Linda Seward in her gallery. And I also met the illustrator of the book, Tom Messenger, in person for the first time. The show was huge and very busy. We had lots of visitors to our gallery and I was very proud to have my piece from the book also hanging on display.

The Festival was an amazing culmination to a three-year project. The book was a very challenging piece of graphic design, but incredibly satisfying to see such a huge project through from beginning to end. 

It was a great pleasure to work with Linda, and she was very generous to take on board my ideas and suggestions as the content developed from the initial outline onwards. In particular, I was pleased to have persuaded her to include some pages on 'School & Community Projects'. This looked at ways in which artists have used art quilt techniques within the community. As collaborative projects, with different age groups, as inspirational teachers or as art therapy.

My other half tells me I need to have labels for all the work I show at Henley Arts Trail (4-6 May). I think he's right - I like a good label. Its got to be brief and its got to look good, but its worth it. 

I didn't think I wanted formal printed labels though, as its not going to be a slick 'gallery-esque' kind of event. So I had a brainwave of going back to my roots and typewriting them. And I remembered I have some lovely grainy papers that I have had stashed for a mere 18 years or so (left over from my home-made wedding invitations!) that I thought would be perfect. 

It took a few goes to get back into the swing of things (especially without a 'delete' key). But with a red and black ribbon in the typewriter, I think the end result is spot-on. And wielding the old scalpel and typescale ruler felt pretty good too.

The Trail leaflet for this year is now out. This is the third year I have designed the publicity, and this year I will be exhibiting as well at venue 17 in Shiplake.