In the frame

For those of you not already in the swap, I signed up for the 'In the Frame Purse Swap' on Flickr

and this is my inspirational mosaic for my partner ...

following the success and whirlwind (not quite right word for this location right now - tornado in Lincolnshire) of the Purse classes run by the talented and inspirational Katy at the FQR, this swap is just the tonic to feed those desires for something pretty ...

don't ya think? 

So, using all my experience of making one whole purse, Di of Willowbeck Designs came over earlier this week to get a few clues on how to make one....

and some lunch, cake and whole lot a laughing too!

so the practice went well, apart from not following instructions, doing it all wrong - ish, it actually turned out pretty well ...

in fact, I really DO like this one, I might just have to use it myself, esepcially as the Diva definitely hasn't bagged it!

There are one or two other swaps I signed up to, but more on those another day.

Happy Weekend!

Fluffy Fun!

I'm just dropping in for a little fun with Cindy of Fluffy Sheep Quilting.  You know Cindy right?  go say hi - I'll wait ...

well we all love a little Kona solid in our stash, it's not just me, really it's not ...

so not being one to be left out of an opportunity for free fabric  ....

I give you my bundle selection of Kona Solids for Fluffy Sheep Quilting

if you haven't entered, that's ok :)  but head over and check it out anyway,

you never know!

I'll be back, once I get back to being me, with mojo and motivation :) 

I'm back!

I went away with an open mind and an open heart

meeting online friends, old friends, new friends, shopping, eating and learning ...

and lucky enough to find myself in town by 10 am on Friday!

a taxi ride and quick pit stop at the hotel I took myself off to browse the V and A

where I partook of a little light luncheon here ...

the smell of the lillies was fabulous

there was a lot of this

and a little of this

and I finally got myself to Fortnum and Masons

the window was fantastic as were the displays in the food hall ...

a little trip on the tube and I was planning a sneaky little nap, (it's my age you know!)

however I bumped almost literally into Susan and from that point on, my feet didnt' touch the ground ...

there was a little of this



dinner with Brit Bee ladies and other guest at the amazing expanding table setting ...

more tube action for a little shopping at Tikki Patchwork ...

retired to the bar and bed for precious sleep in preparation for 'the big weekend'

more to follow ...

Trudi x

I'll be back soon ...

not wanting to dwell on the point, but my bags are packed and just the necessaries to bung in in the morning! 

So a quick round up of the week so far ..

Monday, sewed on binding ...

Tuesday ...  Brit Bee Blocks for Miss May  ...

I also delivered my sewing machine with Laura ready for the weekend

Wednesday  ... work

today ...

well, everyone else was producing bags like it was an easy thing ...

hmmm, I'm no bag lady ... but it is reversible ...

and just how long does it have to take to iron on the interfacing!

so I then thought I should do just few other little things, after all it was only mid/late afternoon ...

so a little playing ...

and now I have these to finish off on the train in the morning ...

and because it's the end of the month ... and there is no way I am going to be up in time to do another post let alone get it linked in to the Sew Fresh linky dinky ....

a finish .... ta daaaaah

Holiday Hoops is finally done

and I'm pretty darn pleased with it :)

so I'll be back sometime next week to see what June brings and to maybe do a post on the Fat Quarterly Retreat ... we'll see ...

Happy Quilting!

Phew ... a finish!

I finished the quilting for this lovely lady ...

and it is going to be bundles as best I can in the suitcase along with this....

I loaded it straight up and got on with the quilting

and soon had the binding on too

I did machine this one down rather than hand finishing for speed

and I just love this postcard fabric and thought it would be perfect for the back !

Whenever I have been away from my family, mail has been the most important moral boost ever!

I hope this boosts  the moral of a teenager for Siblings Together this summer!

Right ... back to the list!

Happy Quilting!

Sunday Morning Sitrep

I need to confess my sins ... it is Sunday morning after all!

Yesterday I had a very productive day... Doughtys came to town! 

Need I say more ...

White on white, cream, osnaburg ...

some really lovely lovelies ...

including Valorie Wells Karavan, Amy Butler Lark and a few new Kaffe's ...

But I came home, and continued with the quilting ....

but it was just too hot ... so I got busy with the sewing machine and some Siblings Together blocks I've had pieced for a couple of weeks ....

and got this top pieced! 

It's large to be fair at 80" x 80" but a teenage boy is going to love it I hope!

I'm hoping to get the current quilting job off the frame this morning so this one can go straight on after... and if it can fit in the suitcase it will travel to London with me! 

Right, it's way too early on a Sunday morning but I'm off to get busy! 

Happy Quilting!

FQ London 2012 Linky Party

FQ London 2012 Linky Party, a photo by Lynne @ Lilys Quilts on Flickr.

It's almost time ! 

Only 6 more sleeps and I'll be on my way to London for the Fat Quarterly Retreat!  It seems such a long time ago I threw caution to the wind and blew some savings on a weekend ticket, hotel and train fare.  And now it's almost time  ...

If you are new here, welcome, I'm Trudi, 47 year old, mother of teenagers, the very tall one and the Teenage Diva!  I work part time as an administrator for a Rights charity, where I turn a pile of 'IN' into a pile of 'OUT', and I'm very happy with that, after a long career in the Royal Air Force.  On my official non working days, I can be found in my studio in the garden quilting ... 

I learned to sew way back when my mum made my clothes, did sewing at school, made my own clothes and even made ball gowns.   Until one day, an American colleague handed me a Keepsake Quilting catalogue and opened my eyes to a whole new world of fabric love!  That was more than 20 years ago now!

As I am one of those people that don't like to have their photo taken, that one up there is pretty close, or on more creative days I look a bit like this ..

speccy, (seems to be a prerequisite) short and rounded in a middle aged way ...

...  but if that doesn' work, then I'll be the one wearing this wonderful name badge from Shevvy ...

I'm getting a little anxious now about meeting up with so many people who I know only online, including members of the Brit Bee.  I already met Lynne and Katy of the Fat Quarterly team.  And Laura, Susan, Terri and Judith of the Brit Bee... and also Di who I met last week!  So at least I won't be walking into a room full of strangers (my worst nightmare)  I'll be the quiet one, yeah I know, maybe not!  But really, I am sort of shy!

I can't remember what I'm doing, other than the full works!  I HAVE got my sample swap items made, though they do need a little tweak.  But that's about it!  Nothing more sorted.  So, as the queen of last minute, as Judith knows! I better dust off the crown and get busy ... it's almost done Cindy!  :) 

So, I'll see you all in London, trains permitting :)  Now, pen ... paper... better get me a big list!

1.  Linky Party - please go say hi to everyone else!

2.  Miss May Bee Blocks

3.  Sort out Bee Block supplies/Instructions for June

4. find class list/match up supplies

... better stop there  for now!  :)