Tuesday, 22 July 2014

Retreat run down part 2 - the classes

Here's the second installment of my trip to Fat Quarterly Retreat. In fairness it seems a bit daft to call it retreat as it was anything but relaxing! Don't get me wrong, it was fabulous, but totally exhausting. I could happily sleep for a week or two. Anyway, back to the run down.
Day one - First up - Hand quilting with Jen Kingwell. I was so excited about the prospect of meeting Jen as she is one of my biggest quilting idols! Unfortunately I missed over an hour of this class due to transport delays and was so hot and bothered by the time arrived that I didn't actually get to do much hand quilting. Fortunately for me I was lucky enough to have another class with Jen on the Saturday so a major tantrum was unnecessary ;) No photos to show for this class.
Second class - Embroidery with Jo Avery  - it was fantastic to finally meet Jo! We have known each other online for many years thanks to Flickr in the good old days when it was actually a thriving community. Jo was very patient and encouraging which was particularly helpful as our class was fairly high maintenance ;) This is as much as I managed to sew in class...
I predict this being finished some time in the next decade :)
Day 2 First class - Screen Printing with Karen Lewis - I was ridiculously excited about meeting Karen as we have been in constant email contact since a Flickr swap in 2010. Karen is even more fabulous in real life! Despite Karen's best efforts I am not a natural screen-printer, I'm blaming it on the early morning and vertigo. While the rest of my class mates churned out numerous perfect pieces I managed 2 semi-decent prints and gave it up as a bad job. Check out this post on Karen's blog to see what the other members of the group created :)
I do have Karen's awesome new book so I'm not saying never again...
Second class - Green Tea and Sweet Beans with Jen Kingwell - Jen is an amazing teacher! Her down-to-earth style is right up my street. It was an absolute privilege to witness a master at work. Jen was very generous with her expertise and we were all rapt.
I didn't get a great deal accomplished in class as I was too busy ogling Jen's quilts! Here's my sad effort...
...I do love it. I've promised myself I'll finish this quilt before I turn 60 ;) Here's Jen's original!
It's impossible to convey just how beautiful this is in real life but I did take a few close-ups to try and give you a better idea :)
Check out the tiny hand quilting stitches!
I was even lucky enough to see the Gypsy Wife quilt! Let me just tell you that it is so much more awesome in real life. The colours are far softer than they appear on the pattern cover. Kerry and I had a good fabric-porn session ogling all those yummy fabrics!
After all that excitement I was pretty much done in so I gave the Sunday classes a miss. The weekend was truly inspirational and I can't wait to have the energy to get creative again! I'm sure there are plenty of other things I should be telling you here but frankly I've run out steam. I am going to leave you with a giveaway! I've decided to share these lovely freebies with someone who didn't attend retreat.
For a chance to win these lovely goodies just leave the comment NOT AT RETREAT. I will draw a winner by random number generator if there are lots of you (or out of a hat if there a handful of you) on Saturday 26th July around 12 midday (BST). Catch you soon x
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70 comments:

  1. verykerryberry22 July 2014 at 22:08

    I found that retreat more relaxing to take part on than previous ones- mainly through not teaching- although I was only there Saturday! I could still do with some more sleep though. Lovely to meet you Reene xxx

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  2. Indianna22 July 2014 at 22:14

    Not at retreat .... Thanks for the photos of Jens quilt. I'm making slow progress on the Green Tea and Sweet Beans quilt, but it's a fabulous pattern and worth spending some quiet hand piecing time on it x

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  3. salamanda22 July 2014 at 22:18

    Not at retreat ... But looks like fun was had

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  4. Mary on Lake Pulaski22 July 2014 at 22:21

    NOT AT RETREAT! :( But if I won :)

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  5. Unknown22 July 2014 at 22:23

    Not at retreat but would LOVE to go next year.

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  6. Collette22 July 2014 at 22:46

    not at retreat - love the gtsb closeups! xx

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  7. Mrs Flying Blind...22 July 2014 at 22:49

    Team Butler!!!

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    Replies
    1. trash25 July 2014 at 09:02

      Next year you can ask the questions Hadders and I will sit with the famous people answering.

      Delete
  8. Helen Lay22 July 2014 at 22:49

    Not at retreat - looks like you had fun.

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  9. Pat V.22 July 2014 at 22:57

    Not at retreat. Looks like some wonderful classes. Would love to see Gypsy Wife IRL!

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  10. Tina Short22 July 2014 at 23:07

    Not at retreat either but it does sound like fun.

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  11. Tina Short22 July 2014 at 23:08

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. Jusmom123 July 2014 at 00:08

    NOT AT RETREAT. Thank you for the chance to win!

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  13. Yorkshire Quilter23 July 2014 at 00:50

    Not at retreat, but thanks for sharing your experiences!

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  14. margaret23 July 2014 at 06:23

    NOT AT RETREAT

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  15. margaret23 July 2014 at 06:24

    thanks for sharing what you did at the retreat, sounds exhausting but such fun to spend a weekend with lots of stitchers.

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  16. Lisa23 July 2014 at 06:40

    NOT AT RETREAT

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  17. Lisa23 July 2014 at 06:42

    You're very sweet to do the giveaway, I really wished I could have gone this year, definitely a couple of classes I would have loved and really missed meeting up with people. Glad you had a fun, if exhausting weekend!

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  18. Sarah23 July 2014 at 08:57

    NOT AT RETREAT.

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  19. Archie The Wonder Dog23 July 2014 at 09:32

    NOT AT RETREAT!!!

    I hope you bounce back quickly so you can get stitching on your GTSB's quilt!

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  20. SewLittleToSay23 July 2014 at 09:43

    NOT AT RETREAT (and thanks for being so generous and sharing the goodies)

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  21. Betsy23 July 2014 at 10:03

    NOT AT RETREAT.

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  22. pennydog23 July 2014 at 10:06

    NOT AT RETREAT!

    Feeling a bit sad you didn't get to do the Sunday class and missed most of the friday one- what were you scheduled to do?

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  23. Kay23 July 2014 at 13:06

    NOT AT RETREAT!!! One day I will get there. It all looks so fabulous, but I do think that you are right the word 'retreat' doesn't quite cover it. x

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  24. Wendy23 July 2014 at 13:21

    NOT AT RETREAT!

    though it's nice to see above that I wasn't the only person not there as I was beginning to think! Still undecided if I want to go next year... are you going again?

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  25. joanold23 July 2014 at 13:42

    NOT AT RETREAT but will try and get there next year as it looks so much fun.

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  26. Catrin Lewis23 July 2014 at 13:56

    NOT AT RETREAT :0( I'm really regretting it though. You going to foq this year? I remember seeing you from afar last year and being too shy to say hello!

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  27. Ella23 July 2014 at 13:58

    Not at retreat, (car ate my budget) but hopefully next year!

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  28. Jess Burns23 July 2014 at 16:03

    I have barely any idea of what retreat actually is, so, no, I wasn't there.

    Some of Jen's blocks really remind me of a book I have out of the library right now (Playful Patchwork)

    I think I'm not a no-reply, but just in case: jhunsberger (at) gmail (d0t) com

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  29. Gill23 July 2014 at 16:19

    NOT AT RETREAT

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  30. SIMPLESEW23 July 2014 at 16:52

    NOT AT RETREAT, your doing good about showing us the details, loved seeing Jen's quilt, for I want to design my own. I bought the pattern. and I love screen printed fabric, I buy it. so this book looks interesting to me.

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  31. mammafairy23 July 2014 at 17:08

    Not at retreat! but another time perhaps....

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  32. Anonymous23 July 2014 at 17:09

    NOT AT RETREAT.

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  33. Jen Barnard23 July 2014 at 18:07

    NOT AT RETREAT.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

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  34. Kathy Davis23 July 2014 at 18:10

    Thanks for sharing your experience and goodies. I would love to attend something like this. How do you find out about these? PS My granddaughter's name is Nellie. She will be 2 next month!
    kdavis1@centurytel.net

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  35. Joanne23 July 2014 at 18:17

    It was really lovely to meet you and you were a 'quiz answer star' writing down all our whispered responses!!!

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  36. Anonymous23 July 2014 at 18:18

    Not at retreat. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

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  37. mumasu23 July 2014 at 19:48

    Regretably not at retreat. But I know what you mean, last year by Sunday I could barely think let alone sew. Cream Crackered didn't come close, but soo happy :)

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  38. Bethany23 July 2014 at 19:59

    I wasn't at retreat, but I would love to go someday! Looks like you had a great time!

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  39. Kelly Wilson23 July 2014 at 20:22

    Sadly, NOT AT RETREAT. Thanks for sharing! notwendy gmail

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  40. Regina23 July 2014 at 22:04

    NOT AT RETREAT - Reene I would have to start that quilt at age 10 in order to finish by the time I turned 60!

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  41. Karen Lewis Textiles23 July 2014 at 22:08

    was so fab to meet you at last Reene and wonderful to have you in my class. I loved your print and hope it won't be your last! x

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  42. sandyandcosmo23 July 2014 at 23:04

    NOT AT RETREAT

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  43. Emily C24 July 2014 at 01:37

    I was NOT AT RETREAT.

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  44. OhioLori24 July 2014 at 03:39

    was NOT AT RETREAT

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  45. Natalie F24 July 2014 at 03:44

    NOT AT RETREAT

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  46. Lee24 July 2014 at 04:44

    NOT AT RETREAT!

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  47. Anonymous24 July 2014 at 05:11

    NOT AT RETREAT. Thanks for the giveaway chance.

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  48. Sew Surprising24 July 2014 at 07:41

    Not At Retreat, but gee seems everyone is doing the Green Tea And Sweet Beans quilt, Im afraid its way out of my skill level league :)

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  49. memmens24 July 2014 at 11:31

    Looks and sounds like you had a brilliant time, so sad that I couldn't make it this year, watched with sadness from the sidelines!

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  50. Hayley24 July 2014 at 12:10

    NOT AT RETREAT ... One day. Thanks for sharing

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  51. Jennie24 July 2014 at 12:52

    Not at retreat. Hopefully next year..

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  52. juliehallfeldhaus24 July 2014 at 16:08

    I've never been on a quilt retreat:( I guess I should go some day I have had chances to go but just never have. Thanks for the chance at a great give away:)

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  53. Paula Lemos24 July 2014 at 16:26

    NOT AT RETREAT
    Thank you for the chance!
    ap_lemos at yahoo dot com

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  54. Unknown24 July 2014 at 16:27

    NOT AT RETREAT

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  55. MamaLovesFabric24 July 2014 at 16:56

    Not at retreat, but would love to win!

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  56. Unknown24 July 2014 at 17:37

    NOT AT RETREAT (but wish I was)

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  57. Dita Bybee24 July 2014 at 18:43

    NOT AT RETREAT

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  58. Quilting Tangent24 July 2014 at 21:20

    NOT AT RETREAT 24Tangent@gmail.com

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  59. Helen24 July 2014 at 21:41

    NOT AT RETREAT.

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  60. Janie25 July 2014 at 01:15

    NOT AT RETREAT. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  61. Kim25 July 2014 at 02:13

    NOT AT RETREAT :-(

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  62. Vicki H25 July 2014 at 02:40

    NOT AT RETREAT.

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  63. Sarah25 July 2014 at 05:19

    NOT AT RETREAT. sarah@forrussia.org

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  64. Mokki25 July 2014 at 09:33

    Not at retreat. I wish I was though, it looks like fun!

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  65. Mara25 July 2014 at 22:28

    Not At Retreat :)

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  66. Unknown26 July 2014 at 00:50

    NOT AT RETREAT - poor me!

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  67. Lisa England26 July 2014 at 00:52

    NOT AT RETREAT (sad face)

    ReplyDelete
  68. Joan H.26 July 2014 at 03:56

    NOT AT RETREAT.

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  69. Unknown26 July 2014 at 04:40

    NOT AT RETREAT

    ReplyDelete

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