I'm going to the Fat Quarterly Retreat!

Next weekend I am off to the Fat Quarterly retreat in London (after we have been to DS's graduation in Aberystwyth!)
I booked this weekend months ago with money I was given for a special birthday - so you could say I'm still celebrating!
There's a linky party of the Fat Quarterly blog, so I thought I'd better introduce myself. I live in Wales with my husband, 2 kids and very fat cat and have been quilting since 2000. I can't really describe my style as I just love all quilts, traditional, modern, arty, utilitarian - all of 'em.

At the Irregular Choice shop in Carnaby Street earlier in the year, wearing favourite colour pink and carrying my lovely red satchel ( another special birthday present). And these are the fabulous shoes I bought that day! Those rosettes are made of tape measures.
Perfect quilter's shoes don't you agree?

I'm looking forward to the retreat, meeting the other attendees and joining in with the classes
Spring Carnival with Katy Jones
Portholes with Lu Summers

and tabletop sessions

Fantasy Fabric Shop with Kerry Green
Needleturn Appliqué with Mandy Noble

My name badge has been made by Katy at The Littlest Thistle. Thank you Katy, I love it!

Feeling sad and despondant

Oh dear! I am not a happy bunny. I realise that I was working away very slowly on this quilt, but I don't think I deserved this :-( We live in a three-storey house, with my little sewing haven and our bedroom on the top floor. Someone decided he was hot. So he opened all the windows. This was the result!

Half of the quilt has ended up on the floor. I am so fed up that I'm tempted to put it into a box for now. It took me ages to get the zig-zags how I wanted them. Fortunately I have a photo of the layout as it was - the rest is secured with pins now

Sunshine

Last weekend was beautifully sunny here in Wales ( now there's a change!), so I did find some time to sit in the garden stitching some over-sized hexagons.These are 2 inches on each side, so plenty big enough.

While I was sat I also enjoyed the view from my patio.

No time for sitting on the patio this weekend as I'm heading off to Manchester with a friend - the kids didn't want to come with me - too many exams etc. However, the weather is going to be good and I will take my stitching to keep me occupied on the train. I'm not sure yet what these are going to become, at the moment I'm just enjoying stitching the bright fabrics together.

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N

Not quilty, but ... it's one of my favourite times of the year, the start of the Hay Literature Festival. We'll be spending the day there on Monday seeing Roger McGough among others. But they also have music as well. Several years ago I saw Justin Hawkins with my son, but last night was a favourite, Noah & The Whale. We managed to get a couple of seats up on the sloped section, so I could actually see the band, which made a change. It was quite a small venue compared to some that we normally go to, but still had loads of atmosphere and I thouroughly enjoyed it!

Just a Bit Naughty!

I did have a lovely day yesterday at the Malvern quilt show with my Mum. The sun was shining and we were able to sit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings during our lunch break. There were some lovely quilts on display, although there seemed to be less entries this year. Perhaps I'll have to enter one next year, I have entered once before and do feel that even if your entry is comparatively simple it's still inspiring for someone. Saying that, the simple entry I submitted was hung next to a stunning appliqued/embroidered tiger that did make me feel just a teeny bit inadequate. I also managed to do some shopping too ( don't we all! ). Into my basket fell a new die for my Accuquilt Baby Go some thread for applique Sweet Tea and Green Beans pattern together with a couple of the block background fabrics
Liberty FQs for my retreat swap
a packet of Kaffe Fassett fat eighths for an on-going project
and this. I looked down when I was paying for my die and my hand was resting on it at the stall so I had to have it!
All in all a good day was had, now to get on with some stitching.

Zig zags

I have been stitching half square triangles together very slowly on this quilt. I did have a plan to finish this central section ready for the quilts how at Malvern. My plans were scuppered though as I wanted to get border and backing fabric from Oakshott and they weren't here. So I'll just have to carry on and get it at the Festival of Quilts in August I did a bit of re-arranging so that the quilt will look less 'blocky' and a bit more random. I did find some fabrics to bring home with me from Malvern though. Mainly some Liberty lawns to mix into some swap projects for the fat Quarterly retreat in London. Will post some pictures of that one when I've done a bit more of them.

Back Once Again

I can't believe how long it has been since I've posted on here. Life just got in the way. Now I have my mojo back, there's a quilt on the design wall in my new little quilting space, and I'm planning a trip to the Fat Quarterly retreat in London in the summer. So perhaps I will have more to say on this lttle blog once more. The quilt on my design wall uses a package of Oakshott cottons that I've had for some time now. I cut the pieces into half square triangles using a Baby Go die and started constructing zig-zag blocks I've admired the zig-zag quilts that I have appeared on various blogs, and fancied creating one myself. I wasn't completely satisfied with this layout, and have re-arranged things to give a less 'blocky' effect but I don't have a photo yet. I have started stiching the whole together now, so I'll post a picture of the top when it's done. The aim is to get the centre done in time to get some border/backing fabric at Malvern later this month.

New Year - Fresh Start!

Happy New Year to anyone who is still out there!I have sorely neglected this blog but am planning to get back on track once more for 2011

2010 was an eventful year for us. My DS went off to university ( University of Wales, Aberystwyth) to study Physical Geography. He seems to be looking after himself quite well, and is loving his course. DD has chosen her subjects to study for GCSEs too, and also seems to be doing well.

The biggest change for me has been this one. I took a horse on loan in the summer while her owner recovers from a car crash. Her name is Rosie, and she is very sweet. I have never had a horse before, but I am loving looking after her, although December was difficult with all of the snow that we had here.



Quilting is still going on here in Wales, and the UFOs are multiplying. I think I need some sort of resolution to get some of them at least finished - I will keep this blog updated. First off I need to finish a challenge quilt for an exhibition in April. The top is done, so tomorrow I will remove foundation papers and sandwich it. That will be this week's aim.

Update

How come it's Wednesday already again? I don't really want to just update this blog once a week, but time seems to be running away with me just now.

So, what have I been up to this week?

I haven't done much stitching at home, I'm busy trying to sort my little sewing room out, and it's such a mess in there that I have to do a small task each day. I would take before photos, but I'm just too ashamed!

I did take another class last weekend though, Hand Applique with Marianne McMorrow of Busy Bees. I made a fair amount to progress during the day. This photo is quite poor ( the colours aren't true) but I think you can see what my cushion will look like. I'm quite happy with my stitches now, and was thrilled to learn how to make bias tubing for the stems, and a shape other than circles or melons.
I'm sure I'll be on to more adventurous things one day.

Mid week catch-up

Something quilty to report this week. I have started a new project! I took a jelly roll class with Marion from Marion's Patchworks on Saturday. I used the Love You roll by Moda, simply because I loved the little owls. I do have a recipient in mind for this quilt, and I'd like to get it to her before she grows up, so I plan to get this one finished as quickly as I can. I have lots of units and bits cut, but only managed to finish 1 block on the day.
It's looking good though the orange is a bit brighter in reality.





It was the half term holiday at schools here last week. I had to work but managed a couple of days off with the kids. We finished off the week with a concert, 30 Seconds To Mars.Absolutely brilliant!
If you're wondering, Jared Leto was in the film 'How to Make an American Quilt'. I did threaten the kids that I was going to storm the stage to ask him about the quilts - but I behaved myself! Bron's friend did manage to get on stage, but she didn't ask about quilts!





And finally, just because he's so cute, DJ has learned how to beg!

Something new

For some time now I have had a yearning to make a lap blanket from crocheted granny squares. Only one problem, I didn't know how to crochet! Oops! I tried to learn from book, but this didn't really work out for me. So I shelved the idea. Then I found this blog, attic 24. I love Lucy's work, it's so bright and cheerful - just my sort of thing. So to cut a long story short, I was inspired to get out a crochet hook, some yarn and YouTube how-to videos on the laptop ( thank you Mikeysmail - great instructions!)

These are my initial granny squares, enough for a cushion top. While they aren't perfect ( my tension leaves much to be desired!) I'm pretty proud of them!



I need to sew my squares together, but first I wanted to carry on perfecting my technique. So here is another cushion top using multiple colours.This isn't quite finished yet, but it shouldn't be too long.



I think I might be ready for that technicoloured blanket soon!

A new project in mind

Yesterday we had a fabric sale at my quilting group when a trader visited with a van load of stock. I didn't really need to buy any fabric, but his prices are very very good and he had a lovely range of solids in really scrummy colours. I have been seeing some very inspiring liberated Amish projects around blogland lately, so I bought enough to make myself an Amish Bars quilt. I haven't worked out piece sizes or anything yet, but here are my fabrics laid out on the floor in a rough format.
I think it's going to be a good 'un!

First finish of 2010!

I did it! I have completed my first project of the year.
I may have started this little quilt some time ago, but at long last it is all done. I finished binding it earlier this week, but I had to wait until I came home from work in daylight before I could get a half decent photo of it.
The fabrics are all my own hand-dyes, although I did these several years ago. They had been sitting in the box all this time waiting for a 'special' project. Eventually I decided that I would grit my teeth and cut into them. After all, I can always have some fun and dye more if that special project ever materialises! LOL!



Now to finish another!

White Stuff

Here in Wales, Wednesday seems to be turning into snow-day! And I have to say that I am really fed up with slipping and sliding about. It's very pretty to look at, but trying to get to work and go about daily business etc is a drag.



My son was out early taking photos of his pride and joy with it's new covering. I do feel sorry for him, as the vehicle was off the road for 2 months getting a new engine, and he only got it back just before Christmas. He hasn't been able to drive it much in the last 3 weeks due to all the snow and ice. Hopefully we'll get a proper thaw soon.



And just to show, your kids are never too old to make a snowman!



I do have quilting stuff to report too, but I'll do that tomorrow when I have taken pictures in daylight.

Resolutions!

We often think about new starts and changes to our lives at this time of year, and after mooching around blogland looking at the New Year resolutions of others I am no different. I've deliberated and cogitated and come to a conclusion.
Stuff the diet and getting fit things - I'm just going to quilt more! It makes me happy! And, if I'm happy, then my family will be happy (mainly because I wont be nagging them quite so much!LOL!)
How to start though? I still haven't finished painting my little sewing room, so that's a teal mess just now, and as I had Quilters today, I've just done a bit of hand sewing (basting hexagons) - it's sewing though, so that's OK. I should probably set myself some goals though otherwise who knows how many more new quilts I'll start!

So, my plans for January are fairly realistic.

1. Bind the quilt below. This little quilt has been all but finished for ages and it's really about time that it was upon the wall.




2. Finish the bag I started in a Sally Ablett workshop last year.

I'll add more goals to these as the year goes on, for instance I know of at least 3 other things that just need binding, but I think 2 is a good start and not too over-whelming.

Happy New Year!

It's almost midnight here in Wales and the moon is looking beautiful

Here's wishing everyone a very Happy 2010!

Let's hope that we all get lots of quilting done in the New Year.

Look what I found in the new shopping centre

We have a new shopping centre in Cardiff, complete with John Lewis ( haberdashery! Woohoo!)
One of the shops in the new centre has this amazing window display - all antique sewing machines. My husband thought I was daft, I was so excited. I think he walked away when I got the phone out to take this picture!



I have No idea what the shop is called, but I think they sell men's wear.

What an excuse!

I took a quilting class on Saturday with Deborah O'Hare.
Although I wasn't really looking forward to it on the day (no real reason, just was not in the mood!) it was one of the best classes I have evr taken. I had a great time!
We used sweetie wrappers to make the applique shapes and then covered the wholelot with organza before quilting. I havent finished quilting the background yet, and we're away this weekend, so I hope I will be able to get to it next week.

The photo doesnt really show how bright this piece is!




It does make me happy!

Lace progress

My lace shawl is coming on quite nicely, although I must admit that in this photo there was 1 stitch too many on the needles! I've managed to sort that problem out though.



This scarf is nearly finished. I'm on the final round of the pattern. It wont be a big one, but I'm very happy with the way it's turning out. I should be finished soon and then I can get back to stitching again.

Lace

This week I have had a really yucky head cold, and so I've been home from work for a few days. I didn't feel well enough to do anything initially, but have just found the energy to pick up my knitting needles again after a very long time.

I've fancied trying my hand at a lace scarf for a while now, so I have started this. The yarn and pattern were bought some time ago at a craft fair in Cardiff, and the yarn is a Greek cotton. It's coming along quite nicely now, but initially I had a real nigtmare with it. I think I ripped the firt 20 or so rows out at least 10 times. Each time I had the wrong number of stitches on the needles at the end of the row. Hopefully I have now got the design fixed in my head. The pattern isnt difficult, but obviously it took a while for my 'knitting' brain to kick in.



Not bad progress for now.