My favourite pics from UK

Our visit to England consisted mainly of visiting the Festival of Quilts. A day trip to Bath and Stonehenge was also arranged. Although we didn't have time to visit any quilt shops, a last minute plan was made to visit the American Folk Art Museum in Bath.

Bath was a beautiful Georgian city. It has escaped the wide-spread razing of Georgian buildings that Queen Victoria imposed in and around London. Interestingly, or rather amazingly, she is said to have despised the Georgian architecture... after visiting Bath I have no idea how she could have thought that.

This is Erica and I outside the Roman Baths, once inside we went our separate ways, its important to wander through such places at your own pace and stop and start where suits you alone.

Also in Bath are the Roman Baths. The temple was constructed in 60-70 AD and the bathing complex was gradually built up over the following 300 years. After the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the first decade of the fifth century, these fell into disrepair and were eventually lost due to silting up, and flooding. There were rediscovered in the 1800s and have been undergoing conservation steadily since. As with Stonehenge, standing in such ancient surroundings is a marvel.



Visiting Stonehenge is, or rather was, on my "must-see before I die" list, and I am so grateful I got there at last. Standing there before those monoliths was truly an awesome experience. It is humbling to stand before such an ancient monument and marvel at its past.

No visit to London could EVER be complete without a visit to ...


Liberty is long-established (1875) department store in Great Marlborough Street in Central London.

Erica and I were overcome by the sheer magnitude of this building and all the treasures it was about to reveal, that it took us almost half an hour to digest the outside of the building - its mock Tudor style, the amazing window displays, the gorgeous flowers being sold at one entrance ...

Liberty of London is known to most of us ('us' being quilters!) as a range of fine lawn fabrics. Most of the designs known as 'Liberty Prints' were developed by the Haward Textile Design Studio, and many display the Art Nouveau style, which became known as the 'Stile Liberty', after the London shop. Since 2005 it has also been a luxury accessories brand.

And, then ... we went inside.

Look at this amazing staircase!

We quickly learnt to not look at price tags, it only spoilt the fun to realise just HOW out of the league we were. Though we did search for small trinkets, I was determined to find some items to buy, as a memento at least. I settled on a few cute cards, with little dresses made out of Liberty Fabric and teeny knitted tops. Plus I purchased a funky skirt kit to make for Eloise and a gift for Mummy for her birthday - later this month!

This is one of the furniture displays, the background is a painted canvas. Look at those to-die-for cushions!

Erica and I spent a glorious couple of hours here, wandering upstairs and downstairs, being inspired by traditional and modern takes on design and interiors.

We also took a tour of the city, and captured some great shots, this is one of my favourites - the Tower Bridge.

That's about it from me today, its early Sunday, Fathers Day, and I must away to prepare for the annual reverence that is due to the dads of the world!

dls