Bye Bye Baby,

The Little Fella turned three over half term. 

 
We had a smallish “Royal” themed fancy-dress party in the local Church Hall.  We played pass the parcel, iced homemade crown shape biscuits, decorated crowns to wear, and coloured/painted some Royal themed pictures. 

I made both boys very, very quick “Mike the Knight” costumes from charity shop tees and some felt.  They already had helmets, swords and shields.

I created this masterpiece, which actually took less time than the (insert rude word of your choice here) crown biscuits. (too much rolling & putting in/out the fridge)



The Dummy fairy made a visit to our home a week or so after, swapping all the dummies that he put into her bag for some much desired Mike the Knight toys (which our little local toy shop had managed to stock before any of the big giants) So far so good! I am very proud of him.

So now my baby is officially a little boy and no longer a baby. (He tells me his brother is the Big Boy and he is the Little Boy)

Where has the time gone?

Fat Quarterly Retreat – The classes

Some time before the Retreat, we were sent a list of 10 different classes to rank in order of preference. It was a really difficult task to do, especially because I had no idea how many classes we would be doing over the weekend.  In the end I did,
Freezer Paper Piecing with Kerry from verykerryberry

Kerry was a really good teacher but I am afraid to say this really wasn't for me.  I have been following Kerry’s blog and seen the amazingly detailed freezer-paper pieced quilts/art that she does and really wanted to give it go. However, my freezer paper refused to stay stuck to the orange fabric, I found it far too fiddly for my chunky digits and I just didn’t have the concentration required on the day. So I only made one of the four blocks that Kerry had provided.
Embroidery with Aneela Hoey from Comfortstitching
 

I was looking forward to this class the most, as Comfortstitching was one of the very first blogs that I followed. Aneela was just as lovely as I had imagined. She taught us a variety of stitches and I managed to complete  this cute Robin. We were also given a free pack of Cosmo embroidery thread!
Foundation Pieced Union Jack Pillow with Lynne Goldworthy from Lily’s Quilts

I woke up on Sunday morning with a really sore-throat, probably from all the chatting on Saturday lol.  Which was probably for the best as Lynne's class like Kerry’s the day before required quite a bit of brain power. Lynne herself described the technique as Marmite (you either love it or hate it) I found it took me a while to get going, as you are having to work back-to-front, but the results are so good it is worth it. I went for a London theme but swapped one of my pre-bought fabrics for a freebie from my goodie bag. I only managed to finish one quarter of the flag in the class but I have been working on it this week, so should have a finish to share with you soon (who just laughed?)
Wonky Log Cabin With John Adams from Quiltdad

This was the perfect class to follow Lynne's and to end the weekend on.  The class and technique were both a lot of fun to do.  No matching up seams or points just sewing and trimming. Just my thing!
I was really pleased with all of my classes (even if the Freezer paper piecing wasn't for me, I am glad that I gave it a go), however after seeing all the samples produced, I really wish that I had also signed up for Lucie Summers Portholes class and either of the Purse classes (zipper or frame) Although given the chance I think I would have loved to have done every single class on the list – there is always next year.
The Fat Quarterly Special Retreat Issue is now available to buy (although I was gutted to see no Portholes tutorial ) It contains tutorials and patterns to make many of the projects taught in the workshops over the course of the weekend as well as some extra projects.  It is well worth the $5!

Fat Quarterly Retreat – My Reflections

 Apologies for posting this twice, It is my first time using livewriter & I needed to change a couple of things that I wasn't happy with.

Time flies!  Almost 3 weekends ago, (Jubilee weekend) I was at the Fat Quarterly Retreat and it is only now that I have had the time to write about my experience.
  
In the time since,
We have had half term, I have spent a couple of lovely days with the family by the River Thames at Hurley, redecorated the hallway (I spent weeks deciding on the colour to find once the paint had dried it was very almost the same colour as before sigh) Did lots of baking for my baby boys 3rd Birthday Party (just when did he grew up?), Went To Paultons Park aka Peppa Pig World (I absolutely LOVE that place and will have to do a review one day)as well as all the usual day to day running around/chores and going to work. I have been working a lot more days than I usually do, as I won’t have any work over the school holidays.

So the retreat (this is going to be quite a long post)
 
I went wearing this

a lovely name badge that had been made for by Kathleen. 
I had entered a surprise name-tag swap. My allocated person was Jo from A life in lists.
She sells Liberty fabric bundles so I used a piece of fabric that I had bought from the remnant box in John Lewis.  I thought it might have been Liberty fabric.  I wanted to have a London theme, so I used double sided tape to put the fabric thought the printer to print a London Skyline onto it. I then appliqued a little aeroplane and hand-embroidered Jo's name. I am not really into hand sewing so that took me a while to do.  When finished, I decided to give it a quick press with my new iron but....  scorched it! 
The lovely bluey-green fabric completely changed colour and I melted the ribbon loop.  I showed it to the husband, and he agreed with me that I couldn't send it.

So I made another one.  This time I had no more little aeroplanes so made the nametag to look like a London street sign.

On arrival we were given an amazing goodie bag of lovely things from the Retreat Sponsors. 

We were also given a "bingo" card of names and had to go and find all the people on our lists, a great ice breaker. The room was full of very excited women (and two guys) and so many conversations started like this "Oh hello...(reads name badge) Tammy, who are you?" meaning what is your blog name/flickr ID.  In the end it was easier to say that I don't blog as my blog is so tiny I very much doubt any of my readers where there (where you????) 

I also signed up for a sample swap, the rules were to simply make 4 useful items to swap, we would be told who to swap with on the day in a random draw. I wasn’t going to sign up for the swap as I knew I was going to be quite busy, but I was tempted by all the lovely things appearing in the Flickr group.
Unfortunately, I ended up finishing my samples late on Friday evening and forgot to take photos.  I made little pouches/purses from a  Keyka Lou pattern. 
These are the lovely swap items that I came home with

A London Pouch containing a Retreat Survival Pack from Amy A Prism Pencil Case from Christine Flower corsage from Mary and Boris the Bear Embroidery from Jo 

I also received the little blue pouch in the photo (with a tape measure inside) from one of the lovely ladies on my Iron Man team, who was only there on the Saturday (and whose name I have shamefully forgotten! Sorry & Thanks)I think that I did very well in the swap! Thank you ladies. 

Here are a couple of more swap photos that I “borrowed” from Amy and Christine. (can you guess which one is me?)

Somehow I signed up to participate in an Iron Man competition.In groups, we had to make a quilt between us over the weekend.  We didn’t win, but it added to the fun of the weekend and the quilt will be going to charity. Ours is the large Orange/Yellow one, 4th from right. (can you spot me again?)  

Photos once again borrowed from Amy & also Muriel

On the Saturday evening, I wanted to eat before heading home. I ended up tagging along with a group heading out to a restaurant nearby.  We were quite a big group but I ended up sat with just three other ladies and had lots of very grown-up and sensible conversations.  (covering all sorts of taboo subjects, such as mental health & politics) Such a nice change from the usual yummy-mummy conversations I seem to have these days. (I seriously don’t get out enough lol) Thank you, Shevvy, Judith and Jennie for a lovely evening.

After the retreat, I was reading all the blog posts here, and I was a bit embarrassed to find out that I had gate-crashed a pre-planned booking (oops) and most of the ladies “knew” each other through belonging to the same online groups and quilt guilds.  Very typically Me!
 
Still, the meal reflected the whole spirit of the weekend which was Community. Despite not “knowing” anyone, I never once felt excluded or lonely and spent the weekend in the company of some lovely people and had an amazing weekend!
You can read more reviews/reflections about the Retreat here. 
 
Next up, the actual classes….

FQ Retreat - Last minute rush

I would rather be an hour early than 10 minutes late.  For someone who absolutely hates being late, it may come as a surprise to you that I always leave everything to the last minute.

It is not always my intention, but other things always manage to get in the way.   This week, has been a bit of nightmare for that!!!

I have had job applications to do and then an interview to prepare for and attend, as well as  three days work on top of the say spent at the interview (which I didn't get) and the usual chores that come with having a home and two under 5's.  One of whom has been total  nightmare this week,  I started to write done some of the things that he has got up to this week, but it is enough for several posts! So for once, I was actually rather pleased to see the pair drive off in the back of Nanny's car.  (Nanny as in Grandma not the Mary Poppins type) They have gone to Hurley for the weekend.

So I have just about managed to finish my samples for the sample swap tomorrow, sorry I can't be bothered to take  photos, will do that tomorrow, and I am now (ha ha) in the middle of packing.

Except - I cant blimming find anything!

However, I am now really excited and cannot wait till the morning!

whoop whoop!

(and completely random, but I really enjoyed the Prince Charles documentary that was on BBC1 this evening. God Save The Queen.)

FQ London 2012 Linky Party

Next weekend I will be off to the Fat Quarterly London Retreat, so I am joining the linky party (better late than never) to introduce myself to some of the other lucky people who will be going.

So welcome to all my newbie visitors.  Not much goes on around here as I am very good at starting projects but not so good at getting things finished.  As I started this blog to record my makes, it means that I often have long silent periods.

couldn't find a nice photo where I am either childless or not showing all my awful teeth

I am a 30ish (36 I think) Mum to two boys almost 3 and 4 1/2. I work part time as a Supply Teacher. I was born and raised in West London, and love going back into "town",   I still live in a London Borough, and consider myself a Londoner, even if the people at the post office say I live in Surrey. Although given the choice, I would much rather stay put thanks.

I have always done some sort of making/crafting/doing ever since I was a child.  My Nan knitted and croched, my Mum knitted but also made me some beautiful smocked dresses when I was little, as well as my First Holy Communion dress. 

When my Grandmother died, my Mum was very keen for me to inherit a sewing machine that she (my Mum) had bought second hand in the 80's.  She had lent it to my Nan and never got it back lol, so had bought a new one.  After several homes around the house, the hubby decided it needed to be gone out the house as it was never used.  So I decided to start using it.  The Football World Cup/Euro Cup?? was on at the time, so it kept me entertained during a Summer of constant Football matches on the TV. I have sewn all my projects on that machine, an old 1950/60's Bernina. My projects have mostly been clothing for my boys and quilts.

I will be attending both days of the retreat but I shall be staying at Hotel Happyis and travelling in by public transport.

I will be wearing this name tag made for me by Kathleen (I don't know anything else other than that)

I am really exited about the classes I will be doing (with some amazing teachers)

Union Jack Pillow with Lynne Goldsworthy aka Lily's Quilts
wonky log cabin with John Q Adams aka Quilt Dad
Freezer paper pieceing with Kerry Green Verykerryberry (I hope that is the right link, I follow 2 blogs with very similar names, with similar style)
Embroidery with Aneela Hoey aka Comfortstitching

I am also participated in an Iron Man challenge?????? I have no idea how I signed up to that one but I am in Group 5.  I think it is a race to produce a quilt in the quickest time - who knows!

I still have my swap samples to make eek, and haven't even started sorting out what I am taking with me!

I have always been bit of a last minute rush girl, although you will find that I am never, ever, late - it is my biggest fear.

So I will be at the front of the queue on Saturday, having arrived at silly o'clock, so I am not late ha ha!

ta da!!!!

 The finished quilt.

I really struggled to get good photos due to the quilt's size and the recent wet weather.  The sun has been out today but of course, it clouded over as soon as I attempted to take any photos outside!  Also the fence and most of the garden are still very damp and it was a real task finding somewhere to hang it where it wouldn't get dirty.

 I sent it away to Chris at Fathers Heart quilting - she did an amazing job, quilting an all over daisy pattern to match the daisies in the centre panel.  Then she free-motion quilted around the figures in the panel.  If you look closely, you will see little daisies there too. Her usual turn-around is 6 weeks, however she squeezed me in so that I had time to bind the quilt.  The quilt was there and back within a week! Amazing service and beautiful work!  I only wish I had taken better photos.

 I wasn't sure of the backing when I sent it off with the quilt.  (A 100% cotton duvet cover from TK Max) The shabby-chic style roses didn't seem to go too well with the other prints.  But I didn't have the time or money to go looking for an alternative. However I am really pleased with it.  The blue looks great and makes a nice contrast with all the yellow. And because the colours in the backing are slightly muted, it makes the top really "pop".

I finished with a stripy pink binding.  I also used the same print in blue and green in the quilt.

All ready to wrap and present on her birthday at the weekend.

You can read my earlier posts about the quilt here and here

Happy Birthday Mum!

The colours are much brighter in real life.

 I have finished the quilt top :)

The pattern is from Blue is Bleu (quilt along 2010).  I only changed the centre panel.  The original pattern uses scraps.  I used 20 fat quarters and had little left over.  The yellow solid is Klona Young Yellow from Backstitch.

The instructions were really easy to follow and the quilt came together quite quickly.  However, I found pressing the seams open a real chore (I usually press seams to one side) but it does make a real difference and hasn't put me off doing the seams that way again.  Also trimming the dog ears off all those HSTs was another task that I didn't enjoy all that much.  The worst task however, was removing all the loose threads from both sides of the quilt.  It took the best part of an afternoon.  I think in future, I must remember to do it as i go along and not leave it until the quilt is finished.

I had the perfect backing - a vintage green striped sheet, but sadly it wasn't big enough.  So I dug out this 100% cotton duvet cover that I bought from TK Max for my upcycled linen quilt (longterm UFO).  The colours go but I don't think the pattern is the perfect match.  However it has to do because I need to get the quilt posted off to the professional quilter today, to have any chance of it being ready before Mum's May Birthday.  I hope that I don't regret my backing choice later on!

The pattern said that the quilt is a generous lapsize but it is far bigger than I imagined.  More a single bed size.  it measures 70X83, four inches bigger than the size given with the pattern (66X78)  I have no idea how I managed that!  All my blocks measured the appropriate size.  Just to give you an idea of the size, the fence panels that I have pegged the quilt onto are 6 foot.

So now it is on it's way to Chris at Father's Heart to be quilted.