Bit Of An Updated Needed

Wow, it is ages since I last posted. I've just been so busy I haven't had chance to post individually so here's some of the things that have been keeping me busy:

Edward And The White Bear Quilting Retreat
It's not often I get a weekend away without the kids so I jumped at the chance to do not just that but to spend the whole weekend playing with fabric! There were 3 projects on offer and I knew I wouldn't have time to do all three and I didn't want to add too much to the UFO list so I decided I wouldn't do the Zig Zag quilt.

I started on the Friday with the cutting out for the other two projects so that I could then spend Saturday and Sunday relaxing with the sewing. I decided to start with the table runner and really liked the block (good job Sarah was on hand or I'd have sewn the last sections in the wrong places as it is so tempting to sew them where you last cut!).

Having got the three blocks sewn together I decided to leave the quilting until I was home and get to work on the bag, since I knew I'd probably need help with it. I have been wanting to make a bag for my mat and rules for ages so this was my first choice of the 3 projects. I didn't get it finished so it too has joined the UFO pile, fingers crossed I finish it at some point. After making the incredibly fiddly ties I am sure I won't let this hang around as a UFO for too long.

We also had a Kantha demo from Gilli Theokritoff and were given a kit so we could have a go. I'm not great at hand sewing and wasn't sure it would be my sort of thing really but the design (a bird) was really lovely so I made a start in front of the tv one evening when I was home. Well, it is so relaxing. It's not as fussy as a lot of stitchery/embroidery kits so felt more relaxing.

Starting out

Finished and Framed

Graduation Ceremony
I had a bit of a surprise back in August when my degree certificate from the OU arrived as my ceremony was booked for November. So it felt a little odd when I went to graduate on Friday roughly 3 months after getting it. The ceremony was really nice and the kids were permitted a day off school to come and watch.

And congratulations to everyone else that graduated that day too!

Felting Workshop
I taught a felting workshop this weekend at RiversMEET. A lovely way to spend Saturday afternoon, covering wet felting and needle felting. I think everyone had fun. I even managed to remember to take a picture at my workshop, so here are some of the sample wet felted pieces:

Fingers crossed it doesn't take me so long to make my next post.