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

70 comments:

  1. 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

    ReplyDelete
  2. 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

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

    ReplyDelete
  4. Not at retreat but would LOVE to go next year.

    ReplyDelete
  5. not at retreat - love the gtsb closeups! xx

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

      Delete
  7. Not at retreat - looks like you had fun.

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

    ReplyDelete
  9. Not at retreat either but it does sound like fun.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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

    ReplyDelete
  12. Not at retreat, but thanks for sharing your experiences!

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

    ReplyDelete
  14. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  15. NOT AT RETREAT!!!

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  17. 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?

    ReplyDelete
  18. 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

    ReplyDelete
  19. 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?

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

    ReplyDelete
  21. 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!

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

    ReplyDelete
  23. 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

    ReplyDelete
  24. 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.

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

    ReplyDelete
  26. NOT AT RETREAT.

    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. NOT AT RETREAT.
    jen dot barnard at btinternet dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. 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

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

    ReplyDelete
  30. Not at retreat. Thanks!

    Please click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.

    ReplyDelete
  31. 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 :)

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  35. 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

    ReplyDelete
  36. NOT AT RETREAT. Thanks for the giveaway chance.

    ReplyDelete
  37. 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 :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. 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!

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

    ReplyDelete
  40. Not at retreat. Hopefully next year..

    ReplyDelete
  41. 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:)

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

    ReplyDelete
  43. Not at retreat, but would love to win!

    ReplyDelete
  44. NOT AT RETREAT (but wish I was)

    ReplyDelete
  45. NOT AT RETREAT 24Tangent@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. NOT AT RETREAT. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  47. NOT AT RETREAT. sarah@forrussia.org

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

    ReplyDelete