A Momentous June

Hello there

I hope your week has been going well..... Thanks so much to all of you who sent me such lovely blogiversary wishes - I really enjoyed hearing from each one, so many thanks again... If you haven't already entered for the June giveaway, please do by clicking here ....

As I sit here in front of the fire (YES, THE FIRE IS LIT....its the end of June & its so cold we have a lovely fire crackling in the hearth....) But anyway, I was thinking how momentous this June has been for our country with the Queen's Jubilee. But for me, it was also a momentous month for family & friendships.... 

Here are some of the highlights:

The FAT QUARTERLY RETREAT in London was wonderful - a fantastic weekend to meet & laugh with bloggy friends ...& maybe get a wee bit of stitching done too!

I managed (just at the very last minute) get this backpack finished with some wonderful Summersville fabrics

The Olympic Torch arrived in town & my two lovely boys (& the rowing coach) were there to help receive it!!

My wonderful daughter finished her school years....

It seems that only a wee while ago she had her first day in a tiny school house in Scotland

How the years have flown by!!

Fathers Day included some more stitching

McGinty became a model (at the request of a local photographer I might add!!)

And in between all this & the exam (GCSE & A level) trials & tribulations & trying to avoid the rain, I made this sunshine tote for someone in our do. Good Stitches Circle

So a few stitchy things done & some still to do... Here's (some of) my plans for July

You might notice a lot of hand sewing over the next couple of weeks!! I'm wondering what you all will be up to.... Well, no matter what your plans are for July I wish you all a great month, filled with lots of stitchy creativity & birdsong!

Take care

Karen

Fat Quarterly Community Retreat .... thank you

Hello there!

I hope you are having a great week! Here in the UK we have been enjoying some wonderful celebrations for the Queens Diamond Jubilee ..... but I feel as though I have been partying since Friday when I set off for the Fat Quarterly Retreat. 

At the very last minute I finished off my Summersville backpack which was stuffed with my wee sewing kit & swappy notebooks

The retreat was absolutely amazing & a really wonderful experience... I was so busy enjoying myself that I completely forgot to take pictures - but there are loads here from other less star-struck folk! I loved every moment of the retreat, but for me the highlight was meeting so many lovely, talented stitchers....some who I've "known" for a wee while (like Susan, Leanne, Katy & Hadley) & others who I'm looking forward to keeping in touch with (like Leila, Christine & Linda). On the tickets the full title of the retreat was "Community Retreat: London" & that really captures the essence of the weekend - being part of a wonderful community of incredibly creative people. Here are some of the lovely swap gifts I was lucky enough to receive:

So thank you to everyone who came from near & far, to the organisers, sponsors, teachers, stitchy neighbours & my husband who paid for me to give him peace for the weekend go. I also owe a big thanks to my wee Liberty friend who gave me a temporary job as a Liberty rep. Their new Art Fabrics are absolutely gorgeous!

She also gave me some wonderful fabric to make her a backpack... so I'll be back in a few days to show it to you (along with some of the retreat class bits & pieces). In the meantime I hope you have a great week

Karen

Last Minute Madness

Hello there!
I hope you have been having a great week! Here on the North Coast I've been trying to (frantically) get organised for the Fat Quarterly Retreat which takes place this weekend in London.

I'm really looking forward to meeting some folks who have become great bloggy friends, making some new friends & learning a thing or two about sewing at the same time! There's a wee linky party going on on the fat quarterly blog & so, for those of you who have just dropped in from the FQ link, you're very welcome! My name is Karen & probably one of the worst organised people you will meet this weekend!

I have nothing packed yet, about 4 loads of washing to iron, meals to organise for hungry teenagers while I'm away & a passport to find! But, at least I've got my priorities in the right place... I got these sample swap notebooks finished

Here's a wee peek inside the London bus ones...

I also managed to finish my name badge:

But that's about it as far as my preparation goes.....I told you I was disorganised! I'll probably be up most of the night doing things I probably should have done long before now (like finishing a backpack I've been working on with the wonderful Summersville fabrics!)

Sorry to keep this short & sweet, but I'll be back on Monday with more news & tales from London
Hope you have a great weekend (& FQR folks see you soon!)
Take care
Karen