Indie!

So whilst at fat quarterly retreat, a lovely friend said to me, can you do something with these? 

well, it would have been rude not to! 

I didn't like to say Hell, Yes!

so during my 2 weeks off work, I took this pile of lovliness and started something for me!

as you do!

divided them into lights and dark's ...

and before long, there wasn't a lot left of that lovely stack of fat quarters...

and in no time at all there were a pile of blocks ready for the off!

of course this was happening in between customer quilting!

before I could load it up on the frame for a little bit of special treatment with this Aurifil Poly thread, just the perfect match!

as you know, I do love to piece with Aurifil Mako 50 wt cotton, and was pleasantly surprised at how well the polyester thread behaved too!

Don't get me wrong, I still love Superior Rainbows for the beautiful high sheen and the way the light catches it, but this thread caught me off guard a little :) 

because I know you want to see how it was quilted!

so the first week I pieced it, went to Festival of Quilts, 

and the second week I quilted and bound it!

nothing like a quick make to satisfying the need for a finish 

but only this week, did the sun go in so I could get a few shots in the garden

(no I'm not complaining about the wonderful summer we've had, I don't want it to end just yet)

and because this is made with Art Gallery Fabrics, it really feels fabulous!

I love this quilt, its definitely a grower, and its currently residing on my bed!

and those scraps?

I may have started something new!

I bought a new ruler at Festival, and I wanted to play!

so, Indie

62 x 82 (I think!)

Indie by Art Gallery Fabrics (top) 

backing - Belle by Amy Butler 

Binding - Oval Elements by Art Gallery Fabrics 

Thread - Aurifil

a bit more quilting ...

I've been busy over the summer quilting away for customers ...

This one was pretty big to say the least!

and this one was just so pretty!

there have been others, but I can't show you because they've come under the heading of 'secret stuff', and I know how frustrating that is when you're reading a blog and they say that ... 

but honestly ... they'll be worth the wait!  

I promise!

Tap tap tap ..... helooooooooo

gosh, I almost had to wipe the dust off the blog its been so long!

so lets catch up ... lots happened, missed the end of the month round up ... again!

I was really busy trying to get all my ducks in a row for the Fat Quarterly retreat ,

which I'm sure you've read plenty about it already.

But here's how it was for me 

I managed to get everything done in time, right to the wire as usual, 

including 2 big custom quilts... 

Katy's Retro Flowers Brit Bee Quilt ... Which also has now won a prize!

And Di's Leaf Quilt

Plus 2 more charity quilts for Pea Room Quilters

my sample swap pouches got made

and the secret thingy got quilted and bound ...

and I may have been stitching down the binding on the train!

speaking of which  ...

My Roomie and I had a ball from the minute we left ... heading out here 

because I wanted to see the quilt I'd quilted for Tiina at Tikki Patchwork hanging in the window ..

there may have been a little fabric slip into my bag!  Whoops!

the rest of the weekend turned into a blur once the retreat started, a combination of exhaustion and long days resulted in an early night after the quilt market on Saturday night, but only after I bagged a few bits ...

oh, and a new addition to the family!  Thrifty, skillfully handmade by Katy, has come to live in the wilds of Lincolnshire 

as you can see, he's only wee, but oh my what presence he has! 

He currently guards my thread stash!

I only managed a few photo's of my class's, but failed completely on the fmq class, so I can offer you a vision of doodling ... I think by Leanne of Littlest Housemartin, judging by the nails!

It was fabulous to meet up with old friends, meet new friends I only knew by their on line presence, and make new friends too ... and once again it was over so soon

Hope to see you next year!

And then it as a bit of a mad rush with more customer quilts, and I may have turned that Simply Style Layer Cake I got from Justine at Simply Solids into something new!

and you might just have seen it at Festival of Quilts too !

I had a blast at festival, 2 days of bumping into friends, bloggers ... and hanging out with some lovely, lovely ladies too!

I haven't managed to download my pictures from my camera yet, so I'll leave you with Sarah Fielke's quilt that was just jaw dropping!

so there you have it, I'm still here, tired, busy quilting away on customer quilts, as well as fitting in a little trip out, or two, and some sewing for me!  

I'll try not to leave it quite so long, til next time!