Category: Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat

Packing

eli

I’m ready to go to London!

I’ve packed the following items

Basic sewing supplies. Check.

Supplies for Frame Purses. Mostly check (didn’t manage to get a purse frame, will have to buy one there).

Supplies for Paper Pieced Pillows. Check.

Supplies for Designer Challenge. Check.

Supplies for Portholes. Check.

Sample Swap. Check.

Fat Quarters for swap. Check.

Ugly fabric. Check.

Camera. Check.

Fat Quarterly Book (would love to get some signatures). Check.

Pijamas, toothbrush and clothes. Check.

Sense of humour. Oh no, has anyone seen it? Can’t go without it. Phew, found it. Check.

Suitcase and shopping trolley. Will the good people in the Radisson send me away if I walk in with a shopping trolley? Especially as I had to wrap my sewing machine into a black bin bag…

Now all I need is a train ticket. Are we there yet?

 

Categories: Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat1 Comment

Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat

eli

This Friday I’m going to London for the Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat. I’m so excited I could scream. On Saturday a linky party was opened so that people who go can introduce themselves and meet each other online before doing it in person.

Fat Quarterly

Ok, my name is Elisabeth, I’m 42 and I live in a lovely village in Cambridgeshire. I’m half Swiss, half Norwegian and am married to a handsome Irishman. Bit of a mix, eh?! Add to this an almost four year old daughter, a Swiss dog and an English cat and you get a very lively international home.

This is a picture of me which was taken yesterday at Little Miss Bossy-Boots’ birthday picnic.

 

I realise it’s not easy to see my face in this shot, so here’s one without the rich bitch glasses:

 

I’ve been sewing, knitting, crocheting and crafting for as long as I can remember but I’ve only taken up quilting recently and have yet to make a big quilt. I’m hoping that my inability to decide on a pattern will finally come to an end after this weekend.

When I started reading blogs about two years ago I soon stumbled over Katy Jones’ blog I’m a Ginger Monkey. As soon as she announced that she was going to teach a quilting workshop at Patch Fabrics in Lowestoft I checked to see how far away that was. Realising I would have to drive for more than two hours I buried the idea until Master decided (he’s very manly in that respect) that I should go and he would be happy to drive all that way. So I’ve met two of the ladies organising/coming to the retreat, Katy and Claire and I can assure you that they are lovely.

I’m really looking forward to my classes which are Frame Purses with Katy and Paper Pieced Pillows with Lynne on Saturday and then The Fat Quarterly Designer Challenge and Portholes with Lucie on Sunday. I also joined the Jelly Roll Race (I’m crazy!!!) and the Iron Man Challenge (Group 5).

I would also like to apologise in advance for my ugly fabric. It is atrocious and I’m ashamed to admit that I had lots to choose from. So if anyone would like some really ugly fabric I’m your woman.

Although I’m still a bit nervous about meeting so many new people I’m really looking forward to it. As we all have the same hobby I can’t imagine that there will be even one quiet minute. See you soon!

Categories: Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat18 Comments

Finally

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The Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat in London is very soon, in fact it’s only ten days away. This has made me panic a bit (this happens to me quite a lot) as I still haven’t got all my supplies or my swap gifts. I signed up for almost everything you could sign up for thinking it would be fun and help me meet lots of people. For the swap we have been put into groups of five which means we bring four gifts (all the same) and get four gifts (all different). How cool is that? I’ve seen a few of the things people are bringing in the Flickr group pool and with every new picture popping up I hope that I will be in that person’s group. The stuff people have been making is fabulous!

For ages I couldn’t decide on what to make for the swap but on Monday it finally hit me: The sugar loaf pouch. The pattern is by the lovely Lisa Lam from U-handbag and I bought it ages ago. Then it just sat there and from time to time I looked at it and thought “I have to make one of these pouches, they’re s cute”. Now I can add “and so addictive”. I love them and they are so handy, just big enough for a phone and some other bits and bobs or sewing supplies or medicines and plasters or….

Will I be able to stop after four, the number of gifts I need to bring? Watch this spot!

PS Did you notice I didn’t put any metal hook snaps on my pouch? Well, I only had three at hand so I left them off completely. I just couldn’t wait….

Categories: Bags, Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat2 Comments

Hello Blog

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Elisabeth: “Hello, Blog, how are you?”

Blog: “Lonely.”

Elisabeth: “I know I haven’t been around much, but then I haven’t been crafting much either. My mum was here for her birthday last week which means I didn’t do much (except baking and eating cakes. Oh yes, cakes, as in baking three and eating two!). I’d like to show you a couple of things now, though.”

Blog: “Great! What would you like to show me then?”

Elisabeth: “First, I want to show you a gift I got from my sister Kristine. She crocheted this lovely bag and showed it to me on Skype. When I said how cute I thought it was she gave it to me. Fabulous, isn’t it? Sadly I don’t get to use it much as Little Miss Bossy-Boots has taken it and is using it all the time.”

Blog: “That bag is lovely! What else did you want to show me?”

Elisabeth: “I suddenly had the urge to do some embroidery. The bird was inspired by a drawing I did for Little Miss Bossy-Boots. I’m not sure what I’m going to make with these two embroideries but I’m sure I’ll think of something at some stage.”

Blog: “Cute. How about turning one of them into a Kindle cover?”

Elisabeth: “Good idea, Blog, I’ll see if I can find some fabrics to go with the bird. The last thing I want to show is a really fabulous book.

You know how much I like Fat Quarterly, don’t you? I mean, I’m going to their Retreat in London, I go on and on about Katy Jones (bit of crush there?!)….. When I heard that they were writing a book I knew I was going to buy it and yesterday it arrived. I love it. Last year I bought some fat quarters and yardage of Echo by Lotta Jansdotter and I’ve been looking for a pattern to turn it into a quilt ever since. Well, I’ve found it.

This is my all time favourite block. I’m sure nobody who knows me is surprised by the fact that I’ve fallen for a block that’s called Castle Wall (for those who don’t know me: I studied Medieval English Language and Literature) and it’s by John Q. Adams, aka Quilt Dad.

Blog: ” I can see why you like Castle Wall. I’m sure it’ll look lovely in Echo.”

Elisabeth: “I can’t wait to start but I have to finish some work stuff first. At least I have a project to take to the Sewing Retreat. Although how much sewing I will be doing I’m not sure but more about that later. See you very soon, my dear Blog!”

Categories: Crochet, Embroidery, Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat, MusingsLeave a comment

Name Tag

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Despite being in bed most of the week with fever, nausea and diarrhoea I managed to finish the name tag for the Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat! Funnily enough it looks nothing like I imagined when I first squiggled down some ideas. I’m happy with it and I just hope my partner will like it too.

I fussy cut a double decker bus, London cab and Union Jack from the “Cool Britannia” fabric that I bought especially for the retreat (I ordered mine from Claire at Patch Fabrics if you’re looking for it). Add to this a bit of linen and a crisp candy stripe and you have a combination that looks rather nice and very british. Are you wondering where the name is? Well, as it’s a secret swap I can’t show it yet but I can tell you that it’s embroidered in a dark blue stem stitch.

I couldn’t stop, though, as I really loved the combination of the three fabrics and made a pin cushion and zippered pouch as well. It’s a good thing I had to go and get Little Miss Bossy-Boots or there’s no telling what I would have sewn next.

Hope you have a lovelier weekend than us; it’s raining cats and dogs here.

Categories: Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat1 Comment

A Mixed Bag

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Hello! nice to see you here again. We’re back from our trip to Ireland which I have thoroughly enjoyed. It was incredibly relaxing with Grandma and Grandpa entertaining Little Miss Bossy-Boots most of the day. It gave me some time to do things on my own or with Master. We even managed to have a lovely anniversary lunch (7 years last Sunday) with some friends in Kelly’s Bar in Galway. We ambled through a tiny market in Galway where I bought some Echino and Far Far Away III fat quarters and just generally enjoyed some quiet time.

I also found the time to work on my hexagons in peace and quiet.

“Hexagons? I thought you said you were going to do octagons?” I hear you say. Yes, that was the plan but I changed it at the last minute. The week before Easter my friends Nicola and Vicki came over and we made five heart pillows. It made me realise that we have to somehow find the money to buy lovely fabrics to make them with. So far we have been using fabrics that we’ve had lying around and some stuffing that I bought for the first heart pillow I made. It’s ok for now but I really think that we need some cash to be able to buy materials such as bags to put the pillows in and cards to wish the women the strength to fight. I’ve decided to make a hexagon cushion in pinks and reds which I will donate for a raffle. I might find some more things to give away if I have a good look but I thought this might be a start.

Anyway, Ireland was lovely and we were even lucky with the weather. As an added bonus we were allowed to bring the dog and I very much enjoyed walking him along the river in Birr.

One day we even found a friend for him. Although all dogs are supposed to be on a lead there are quite a few dogs that roam freely. One day on our way down to the river we met a gorgeous white dog who followed us on most of our walk before going back home. It was lovely to watch the dogs running around and playing. They chased each other into the river and all around the field. Pure joy!

Sadly we had to return two days early as Master had to attend an important meeting at work.

Now that I’m back I want to make my partner’s name tag for the Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat. I’ve had a great idea for it but I’m not sure that I can pull it off. I will have a go and if it doesn’t work out I’ll have to put my thinking cap back on. Pressure is on as I’ve seen a few name tags in the Flickr pool and they are gorgeous. On top of that the shipping date is the beginning of May so I really have to get a move on.

Categories: English Paper Piecing, Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat, Heart Pillow Project1 Comment

Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat

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London here I come!

Well, not quite yet but soon. I bought a ticket for the Fat Quarterly Sewing Retreat which takes place in June. I’m so excited about it I could do a silly dance but that would just embarrass my family. Although I’ve known for ages that I’m going it sort of hasn’t sunk in properly until now. I’ve entered all sorts of fun swaps and the fabric you see above and below was bought with that in mind.

It’s “Cool Britannia” for Benartex and I love the little London cabs and double decker busses.

The sewing will have to wait till we get back from Ireland, though, as my neck still can’t take the position I’m in when I’m sewing.

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