CHARM ABOUT YOU

settle down for a good long read because you're going to want to stay for the quilts...

I had a fabulous weekend away mid-March in Oxfordshire at the Sewcial Retreat organised by Purple Stitches. This wasn't my first time, I taught there last year - you can read about that experience here - and was very fortunate to be asked back to teach another class this year. I was thrilled because I know how good it is!

Same as last time I decided not to take my sewing machine and just concentrate on hand sewing projects. I took some epp and cross stitch to do, nice slow sewing! I taught a curved epp class and will post more about that at another date because I do have a new pattern in the works.

The number one priority was something a bit different for me, visible mending. My eldest daughter found there was somehow a rip in a new pair of jogging bottoms, she hadn't even worn them once!! She was upset because she really liked them but I told her it could be fixed. It was a strange shaped rip, though nothing really that unusual in our chaotic house - clothes get put in piles and moved around so it could have been anything that caused it. 

Real life wobbles, true friends and bunches of creativity! //

There is something so special about spending time with kindred spirits; especially those people that understand fabric love, why we cut up fabric and sew it back together, the procraftination brought about by a quilt needing to be basted, etc. Quilt retreats are the place where we can enjoy talking about sewing and actually doing it! Earlier this month I went to the Stitch Gathering, organised by lovely Jo Avery of mybearpaw. I taught in 2017 and was thrilled to be asked to teach again this year. 

Jo has this fun tradition of people making a 'ticket' when they attend, this year it was dog and cat blocks. They will be made into charity quilts, which is great! This is my resting cat block, using Jo's block pattern, made with appropriately themed fabric she sent me. I spent ages choosing the background fabric, digging through my stash looking for the perfect bright print. The red disco dot shouted at me and is a good mix of fun and cat sass.

I'm going to write a bit about the day, but before I do I feel the need to share that it wasn't so easy for me. I've been struggling with anxiety for a while now and it has this horrible way of either totally jumping out of nowhere, like a massive spider; or creeping stealthily, clawing it's way into my thoughts and building up slowly before it attacks. I notice that more now, aware of what is going to happen. For the few days leading up to the retreat I saw it coming - I doubted myself, I worried about plans, I checked the door was locked too many times, I cried for no reason, snapped, etc. 

And this wasn't scary; I know lots of the wonderful people that were going, I've done it before, everyone is supportive and I love teaching. I told my friend, she gave me a few loving and wise words for me to think about. It really helped and I used all the tools I know and have, to deal with those irrational thoughts and feelings. I am functioning with anxiety. I'm sharing this because if I don't, it will seem like another 'oh it was amazing' post and it WAS but it feels important to write how it felt before I went, as a reminder to myself that I CAN and DO do these sociable things and that during and after the event it is all GOOD!

Here is the gathering! 

The morning was my opportunity to be a student, always eager to learn and especially when my friend Karen Lewis is the tutor. I have wanted to take a class with her for a long time and it was super exciting to get to play with cutting lino, fabric paint and stamping. Here's a glipse at a couple of my attempts and I will be doing more of this. So much fun and possibility. Karen is an awesome teacher!

In the afternoon I taught an improvised English Paper Piecing / applique class 'Bloom in EPP', everyone came up with such brilliant ways of combining shapes and using epp in a slightly different way. This is one of my favourite classes to teach because it's so different and really allows people to explore their creativity and also learn some new ways and tricks for stitching! I was a bit wired on caffeine, excited seeing all the epp combinations and completely forgot to take any pictures but here is a shot of some of my original blooms:

Or course it was amazing to be able to see friends, meet new people and be around inspiring creatives. There was a brilliant show and tell (again failed with the photography) and it's so nice hearing about peoples process and stories of quilt making.

Another nice part of the retreat is the swapping! This year I took part in the pincushion swap and my partner was gorgeous Natalie. I know she likes flowers and purple, I was seemingly influenced by autumn too as I picked out these rich fabrics. 

Just a quick post to let you know that I will be teaching at The Stitch Gathering in Edinburgh, on Sunday 7th October this year! Alongside an incredible line up of teachers, including organiser Jo Avery herself, this year promises to be as good as the last. Hurry, the modern retreat has only a few tickets left! Get your ticket HERE!

Set in a beautiful location just outside Oxford, I spent the past weekend at the Sewcial Retreat organised by Purple Stitches. It was completely fabulous! I got to spend time with quilty friends, as well as meeting lots of inspiring new people and they were all sewing gorgeous projects! I really enjoy seeing works in progress and there were recommendations for various sewing patterns, so more projects have been added to my 'to sew' list.

Trudi Wood and I were teaching at the retreat. I taught my new English Paper Pieced pattern - the Cube Row Quilt, which will be available to buy soon. I had really nice feedback from the group and I'm looking forward to seeing people create it!

There was a fabulous trunk show by Trudi, with so many of her gorgeous quilts, interesting stories and tales of lessons learnt!  

On Sunday I was in Edinburgh for the Stitch Gathering retreat organised by Jo Avery of myBearpaw. I went to teach my hand pieced Whatever the Weather mini quilt pattern (which will be available to buy soon!). It was a brilliant day spent with wonderful people and it all went by in a flash, as these things tend to do. The loveliest part was getting to meet up with quilty friends, make new ones and spend time with people I have only ever known online. It's amazing how well you click with people on t'internet (pun intended) and when you meet they are even more fabulous than you expected. Events like this really cement that feeling of belonging for me and I only wish Stitch Gathering had lasted longer. Nevertheless we packed a lot in!

You never know what to expect when you haven't been somewhere before and I was nervously excited to meet everyone and see what happens at retreat. Well wouldn't you know... we quilt! And because we all love it so much there was a lot to talk about, a lot to learn from each other and lots of projects to work on.

September always feel like a new start for me, as an ex-academic and now mother, it is the beginning of the school year and a time for fresh starts, setting goals and opening up to insights and creativity.

My class 'Fussy Cutting Snapshots' on Saturday morning will focus on the fun of fussy cutting fabric. We will be making make some Polaroid blocks and also explore how you can incorporate fussy cutting into your quilts.