I love my city. Manchester, England. I've visited lots of fabulous countries round the world and beautiful places here in the UK. Manchester is my home and even if I ever move it will always remain home in my heart.
Manchester has so many areas of interest, fabulous architecture and a wonderful history of industry, including the cotton and textile trade; hence it being called 'Cottonopolis'. It has also more recently been dubbed 'Madchester' (reference to the music scene) and 'Gunchester' (we'll totally ignore that one!!).
I decided to make an English Paper Pieced block inspired by my city but I failed to really get any pictures of the most amazing sights, so please Google it and trust me! I did manage to get some cool shots though, mostly taken on a journey down Oxford Road (the main road from the South into the city centre). So here's an idea of where I live:
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| we have lots of trains and tracks |
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| red brick |
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| The Academy venue and the Contact Theatre in the background |
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| bars, there's loads of them (loads of students too) |
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| A wall in my neighbourhood |
None of this really summed up my Manchester enough for me... so I scoured the internet and though I was tempted by lots of images of the beautiful mills and warehouses there's one building that means a lot to this Manc, Affleck's Palace. I spent WAY too much time in there as a teenager, it is an amazing building and such a fun place to explore. I also love the rain soaked street in this photo!
I ended up with this bundle of fabric:
I chose to make a rose star block, since I'm working on a quilt using those blocks already and it would be fun to include one that reminded me of Manchester. I love how it looks:
It is a little different from the others and a bit more toned down but it still works and since this is my 21st block I thought I'd show how they all look together! I'm working on some low volume blocks to connect them together and I still want to make a lot more to get it to the size I want (to cover our bed... yeah I still have a LOT more to do!). My centre hexies are 1 1/2" each side.
This post is part of the Travellin' Pic Stitch Blog Hop. From 1st October - 30th November we are hopping all over the world EPP-ing in some fantastic locations. Check out the full list here.
On 30th November it's over to you to link up for a chance to win these fabulous prizes! Sponsored by Paperpieces.com, FabricwormPink Castle Fabrics , Marmalade Fabrics, the Fat Quarter Shop, WantItNeedItQuilt, and Aurifil.
Make sure you check out all the brilliant Travellin' Pic posts, tomorrow it's the turn of the talented Claire at Sewing Over Pins!
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gorgeous! My sister went to Manchester Poly and we used to hang out in Afflecks when I would visit her. Fab!!!
I enjoy this blog hop a lot, because you get to see all this interesting places. Honestly I thought of the industrial revolution, The Verve, Morrissey, Oasis and soccer when I heard Manchester. :) Now you inspired me to google it to find out more. Your rose star quilt will be amazing!
Thanks for showing us around Manchester! I have never been there, but I have a real feel for it now! Your Rose Star block is great too! I love the colours you used! You have an amazing fabric stash, Lucy!
Terrific block, and Manchester is my favourite British city too, it reminds me of my first bit of freedom as I went to Manchester Uni in the late nineties. It's so more sophisticated than it was then. I LOVED Afflecks, had many a great afternoon ferreting through various shops there. What happy thoughts for a Monday Morning! Ange x
looks good x I trained as a nurse at North Manchester General ( Crumpsall) hospital ...MANY .. years ago and LOVED my time in Manchester xx
My son has put Manchester Uni down on his UCAS form and I wasn't too keen on his choice, so it is reassuring to hear that many of your readers had a great student experience in Manchester. Your rose block is great btw. Di x
I've never been to Manchester but I would love to one day - that palette is gorgeous as is your star. So cool that you'll have a little big of Manchester in your quilt. Great post Lucy.
Gorgeous block!
I love how you used the fabrics to make such a cool block. Cities are hard for this kind of thing! Have never been to Manchester - one day maybe.
You came up with a beautiful palette there! Love your rose blocks :-)
Wow, that is a LOT of paper piecing - what an amazing quilt it's going to be!
Your rose star quilt is going to be awesome when it's finished!
Thanks for the into to your city, Lucy! LOVE the palette and your rose star block!
Wow that's going to be one amazing quilt!
love your Manchester Rose and Star block! I love the colors as well and the fabrics you chose! Perfect :)
Thanks for sharing pictures of your city - hubby plans to visit UK in March next year and also catch a Man U match whilst we're there. Look forward to visiting your beautiful city.
Your EPP blocks are coming along beautifully - love the colours and prints you chose for the Manchester Rose Star block!
Nice to get a little peek into the place you call home. Beautiful block!
Your block is lovely, as is Manchester!
Gorgeous block and a lovely post!
I'm adding Manchester to my bucket list of places to visit. !! Your palette builder photo is super! I love how the persimmon color pops! Beautiful block.
Thanks for a little peek inside your world Lucy!
ok, NOW i'm homesick x
Wow! all of those EPP blocks are gorgeous.
Love Manchester and love your EPP!
Never been to Manchester. Might come an stalk you some day. Meanwhile, fabulous epp!!!
Great addition to your quilt - I do believe I have never been to Manchester (or maybe I did and don't remember!) xxx
Lovely block - it'll fit in fine with a few more low value blocks. I was in Manchester in August. My nephew lives the.
Hey Lucy, great photos and great tour! I think you succeeded pretty well with making your block look like home!
You've taken me on a trip down memory lane, Manchester is my home city (I've now crossed the pennines into Yorkshire) and I haven't been to the city centre for about 8 years - eekk.
Do you remember the smell of Affleck's Palace? I think it was a mix between cooking, smoke and cigarettes (?) I'd forgotten about the red brick everywhere, now I remember, years ago I'd get the bus into work every day (the 50 down Oxford Road) past the old Refuge building - I love that building - I think its still a hotel, when I was last in it they'd kept the most wonderful green tiles in the toilets.
Sarah x
That was a fun post - I liked seeing all the photos of where you are from. And I really like your block - that is going to be an amazing quilt!
Oh my! So many rose stars! Your quilt is going to be amazing. What a lot of work!
My stop is a couple days after yours, and I chose rose star as well. Hope folks enjoy another interpretation and don't think I'm being repetitive. Eep!
Loving your rose stars Ms Lucy! Gorgeous work. xx
I love love love the Mancunian block!!!
Thanks for sharing more about your home city. :) Your rose star blocks are beautiful together!
Looks gorgeous! Your title did make me laugh! Glad you love your town - it doesn't always get the best rap! that wet looking ivy covered wall did take me back to England, though I haven't been to Manchester. :) Thanks for playing along!
Oh yes, Manchester in the rain, that's my abiding memory of every time I visit it ;o) Cool palette though, and thanks for playing
It was great reading about your town, and the photos are beautiful! The low volume block you made is really lovely, and I think it works well with the others!
Thanks so much for trying out our palette builder!
Yay! Super fun :-D I loved seeing the photos you took around town, not to mention that lovely pile of Rose Star blocks. I love your Manchester block!
I love the red bricks. Just been to Manchester for the weekend and a wander around the Northern Quarter and craft market with a friend.
I'm totally coming to visit you one day Lu - fab pics! And I adore your rose stars x
Great pix, aazing what you see when you look about a place - love the way the block has turned out.
Thank you for quick tour of Manchester, I've only been there once, for just a few hours on a business trip 20 odd years ago! Must go back one day and have a good look around. I love the rose star pattern, it is next on my EPP to-do list. Your quilt is going to be amazing!
Manchester sounds way more fun than the city I am living in right now, but it is home. I know exactly what you mean when you say that no matter where you might go, if you move, Manchester will always be home.
Your fabrics look very similar to the colors from the palette builder. As always your rose stars are phenomenal!
I am off to check out the Travellin' Pic Stitch Hop!
You took pics when it is not raining! Every time I came it rained, but loved Manchester, great colours for the rose block!