FQR - The Good Stuff

After a big trip, it takes me some time to decompress, reflect, and organize my thoughts, images, souvenirs and laundry.  The London week was so full and exciting it still fills my mind on a daily basis as I recall things I saw, people I met and places I visited. Not really knowing how to break it all down for sharing, I thought I would begin by showing you all of the incredible handmades that came home with me, and segue into the incredible people I met.

Here's an all-in-one shot of my loot:

Everything is so fab that each one deserves it's own picture, though. First I'll start off with items from the "Sample Swap". This was cleverly arranged by Trash via the retreat Flickr group. People signed up and said what they would like to make and Trash organized all of us into secret groups of 4 or 5 swappers, careful to make sure there were a variety of items being made amongst the members of each group.  We posted photos in the Flickr pool prior to retreat so that everyone could get excited and hope for their favorite items.  I think I may have squealed with joy when I heard Jo's name called in my group. I was in love with her beautiful Liberty Matryoshka dolls and was so happy that one would come home with me!

 

I know from Flickr that Di makes lovely things, so when her name was called for our group, I couldn't wait to see what she'd brought. This plastic window pouch/roll up will be super handy. I just can't decide if I will fill it with sewing notions, or perhaps use it as a travel case for toiletries.  Also appearing in the photo below is the gorgeous nametag I received in the separate nametag swap! This was made by Anna and features prints from the Liberty quilting cotton collection. Swoon.

One of the sweetest new friends I made at FQR was Sonia. Look at the adorable heart hanger she swapped with us! I haven't the foggiest idea how to crochet and didn't manage to make it into Laura Jane's class at the retreat to learn how, so I really appreciate this tiny perfect flower on the heart. I've got it hanging on the doorknob of my bedroom closet right beside my bed so I see it first thing when I wake up!

The happy swappers! Di, me, Sonia and Jo

Fellow Canadian and Best Roommate Ever (we had no choice but to get very personal in our tiny, sweltering 5th floor hotel room....one cannot wear a whole lot to bed when it's 30 degrees C in the room!) Susan gifted me with this welcome to London quilted zip pouch complete with her perfect embroidery. I brought her a thread catcher made of Munki Munki roller skates filled with Canadian candy that she's been missing while living in the UK for years.

Tiny hotel room with mostly ineffective fan!

For over a year, Hadley and I had been bantering back and forth about doing a swap together. This was the perfect opportunity to save on postage and get 'er done!  She asked me for a threadcatcher, which is easy peasy for me since I make about a hundred a year. Outdoing herself, Hadley made me the most exquisite clutch purse of Liberty tana lawn + linen. I am seriously considering having a plexiglass box made so I can permanently display it in the middle of our living room coffee table. I mean, look at this thing! It's perfection in tiny squares! I was rather speechless and feeling a tad guilty for emerging from this swap a clear winner. Methinks Hadley deserves a bit of a top up from my end.

side A, I die.

side B, I die a little more.

I'll continue on here with a few more pics from the actual retreat. I didn't take my DSLR out much as I was busy talking (shocker!), sewing and generally doing everything but thinking of taking pics.  The people were the draw for me. I went to meet longtime online friends in person and having so many in one place was perfect, but also a little challenging. I'm sure anyone who has attended Sewing Summit, Quilt Market or QuiltCon would agree: there truly wasn't enough time to sit down and really connect for very long. I think everyone tried to make the best of it, though.

I finally got to meet John. How cute is he coordinating with the FQ banner? Poor guy, basically got off an overnight flight and two hours later was greeting retreat guests at the welcome table. Despite very little sleep all weekend, John maintained his friendly, cheerful demeanor at all times. Total honey.

This is Delma from Siblings Together with the quilt I donated made by members of VMQG

The delightfully charming, hilarious AND talented Lucie Summers teaching her Portholes class. It was a real treat to meet her, learn her great technique, hear about The Turkey Shed and return home with an autographed copy of her book Quilt Improv. It's written entirely in her voice (now I can even hear her accent when I read it!) and is a visual treat for any quilter.


The results of my Portholes class

Need I say anything? Mr. Aurifil himself.

The delightful Mandy  (from whom I learned needle turn applique) and Kerry (who taught me how to make perfect PJ pants) sandwiching a very tired looking me on the final morning of retreat.


The results of my PJ's class = lovely voile capris. Just don't call them "pants", people. I love the comfy waistband that is 1/2 elastic, 1/2 ties.

Lovely Lynne taking her job as velvet rope doorwoman for Market Night very seriously indeed

On Saturday night after classes a Pub Quiz was held on the terrace for groups of 7. It was all very impromptu and sudden, but I found myself in a stellar group creatively named The Team and look at us! We emerged victorious and each walked away with 3 gorgeous Jen Kingwell patterns after successfully answering questions about fabric, designers, bloggers and quilts. Yay team!

Phew, I think that just about wraps it up for FQR 2013 people and makes. I've got lots of London photos to wade through and share as well. More coming soon, promise. Our summer travel is all done so I will attempt a return to more regular blogging. I hope everyone is enjoying their fine summer!!

London 2013 - a Primer

You know I've been to London. I attended the Fat Quarterly Retreat held at Baden Powell house in the Kensington district and returned home last Thursday.
I walked a lot.
I sweated more (it was in the mid 30's celcius & humid every day!).
I laughed.
I shopped.
I met amazing people.
I took a boat along the Thames.
I went to Liberty of London!!!!!
I saw a show (One Man, Two Guv'nors).
I ate sporadic meals (1 of them at a Jamie Oliver Restaurant).
....and I took lots of photos. I'm going to start you off with this little primer of a mosaic. These are the best of my Instagram shots, so if you follow Poppyprint on IG, you've likely seen these already.

Pounds in my lovely purse made by Berene, Victoria tube station, snacks on the Thames' South Bank, a terrace fountain at Lynne's house, the quaint town of Ashbourne (wasn't it nice of them to hang the bunting for me?), flower seller, letter box + phone box + Jack Russell in window = quintessential UK pic, Liberty tana lawns at Shaukat, Gloucester Road tube station, Kensington still life, pub sign, Gloucester Road station, Gloucester Road station, Chihuly glass sculpture in the lobby rotunda of the V&A Museum, Regent Street from Picadilly Circus, Liberty flagship (sigh).

I have sorted my 'good pictures' off the DSLR, but have yet to upload to Flickr. Jet lag, unpacking and reuniting with my family have taken up a lot of my energy. Plus, to be honest, it's been difficult coming to terms with the fact that I'm home and it's all over. I'm a little sad; definitely experiencing travel withdrawal.

Back soon with more tourist pics, some of my amazing purchases and new friends!

Just in time for London

The last VMQG meeting proved very lucky for me. I won half of the block lottery and came home with enough Modern Disappearing 9-Patch blocks to make a 52" square quilt. We often have monthly challenges that result in everyone making one or more blocks in order to practice something new. I always participate, but have never won the lotto since Felicity is busy winning them all (wink).

For the modern version, you make the 9-patches with more solids than prints, based on Kristy Daum's tutorial here. We chose black as our solid, to provide background or negative space. I must say, it was hard to sew all that black and I wasn't really in love with the quilt top after piecing it all together.  I wondered if I could lighten things up a bit with some fun thread and chose to do a loopy meander using a variegated Aurifil 40 wt cotton in bright colours of yellow, green, fuschia and blue.

I like it much more now! I'm much happier about donating this quilt to a child now that all that black has been jazzed up.  For the back, I built a log cabin around a colourful panel I've had stashed for several years. The panel was printed off kilter and it always bothered me as I wasn't sure how I'd deal with that in a baby quilt. I don't notice it as much now that the field of green is all around it.

The binding is pieced from several colourful leftovers. I like this dotty corner that happened quite by accident!

This quilt will accompany me to London next week and I'll happily hand it over to Lynne for her Siblings Together quilt drive.  Siblings Together is a wonderful British charity that brings siblings separated by the foster care system back together at a summer camp. It appears that there will be many other comfort quilts coming into the Fat Quarterly Retreat; the goal is to send every child home with a quilt to cuddle and remember their special time with brothers and sisters. I hope they give comfort to a lot of children living in less than ideal and complicated circumstances.

I have quite a bit of sewing to do before I depart in a week. Hopefully I'll get to show it all to you before I go!  Yesterday I spent a lovely few hours with even lovelier company at Berene's house. Mai was visiting from the OahuMQG so we were all invited to meet her and stitch together. She came bearing surprise gifts from my sweet friend Amber, look:

Gah! Cutest camera pouch and gorgeous FQs! This is totally coming on vacation with me. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness Amber, and Mai for the personal delivery.

Finally, for those of you who just can't get enough of me, the VMQG did a lovely "member spotlight" of me and my work that you can see here. Thanks friends!

Poppyprint 500 - A Celebratory Giveaway!

I've had a lot to say since the day I started talking. My parents, teachers, friends and very patient husband would all nod their heads in agreement. I just can't help myself. I am incredibly bothered by awkward silences and as a result, tend to blather on with abandon at all times. I'm admitting to you all now that there are times in social settings where I actually have to concentrate really hard on NOT talking all the time. What can I say, I've been blessed with the gift (or annoying habit, more like) of the gab.

Sharing is also high up on my 'what I like to do' list. Blogging, therefore, is the perfect vehicle for me. I started my engines three years ago, and here I find myself at the Poppyprint 500. I'm waving the checkered flag for you all on a sweet giveaway to say thank you so very much for hanging out here.  I appreciate your comments and support so much!

I love this "Yo-Yo, It's Winterkist!" pillow cover I made with Monica's delicious fabric and some super soft chambray for Fat Quarterly's Holiday 2012 edition. It's so bright and cheerful and it would please me very much to share it with one of you.

Awww. How adorable is that Gnomie on the back? I still have some Gnomes and Gnomas left to make something fun for myself, so where will this little guy end up?

WAIT! If you don't win the pillow, you still have a chance to win an Echino passport wallet chosen from this stack of 34 that I've made for the VMQG table at Got Craft? coming up soon in Vancouver.

still have to install the snaps....

Leave a comment for your chance to win. I'll send the pillow cover anywhere and it should arrive in time to add a little punch to your holiday decor - you'll just have to provide the pillow form!  

If you are a follower of Poppyprint, please leave a second comment to double your chances - after all you're the ones who put up with my blathering on. And on. And on!

I'll choose two winners on Saturday Dec.1st at noon PST. Good luck friends! 

Thank you so very much,

Krista

ETA: Comments are now closed. Thank you for visiting Poppyprint!

Yo, YO! It's Fat Quarterly Issue 11

The Fat Quarterly Holiday Edition is out! Have you got your copy of Issue 11? It's loaded with stocking patterns, a pretty tree skirt, several awesome Christmas quilts and fun holiday home dec featuring Monica's Winterkist fabric!

I designed a fun yo-yo pillow with Winterkist on a soft grey chambray background. My inspiration came straight from the round raindrops and snowflakes and rain bubbles in several of the prints. I had to sneak in a few prints from my stash to round out the yo-yo grid.

There's even a sweet little Gnoma hiding on the back.

Want to make your own fabulous Yo-Yo: Its Winterkist! pillow? You'll need to pick up Issue 11 here (for the crazy low price of 8 bucks, I might add!) and then check out the Winterkist selection here or here. Have fun!