I didn't go to FQR 2012 but...

...look what's just arrived in the post!

A party bag!!

Lucy@Charm About You very kindly had a word with Brioni from Fat Quarterly and somehow managed to get me a party bag!  Actually, it's probably called a goody bag but it's been a while since I've had a party bag (I used to get them all the time when I was teaching - I used to turn down the party invitation but would often still get a slice of cake and a balloon!) so I'm sticking with calling it a party bag!

Thank you so much Lucy and Brioni (and the rest of the amazing Fat Quarterly team) - I don't know how to thank you enough.  Following on Twitter and seeing photos over the weekend (as well as a few texts from Nicky and Sarah) enabled me to feel really included but this makes me feel like I was there!  Words can't express how much I appreciate this parcel (didn't I say that quilters are the kindest people imaginable?!) but please know that if you could see me now you'd know how grateful I am.  (Tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat!)

I have been working on some embroidery over the past few days though.  I recently won a give away at Lu Summers' blog - two pieces of oilcloth (laminate?  Same difference?!) from her Summersville collection and a (fabulous!) magazine featuring her wonderful Blooms quilt which accompanied a very well written tutorial on how to do reverse appliqué. 

From Lu Summers

I loved the Summersville so much and was so inspired by this post of Lu's that I treated myself to half a metre of 'Town' and 'Weave' so I could make myself a couple of cushions.  I decided to do a practise piece first (most unusual for me, I usually jump straight into a project with both feet!) and bravely cut into my 'Town' and opened the 'Pezzy Prints' charm pack I won from Lucy's first fugly fabric party and this is what I have so far...

I've finally used Pic Monkey - I love it!!  Photos also on Flickr.

It's going to be a while until it's ready to make into a pincushion but you know me: I love a bit of slow stitching!

Nicky is hosting a framed purse swap over on Flickr (it's full now, sorry if you missed out...).  She was so inspired by her class with Katy over the weekend that she's already made another purse (she's obsessed!) and has started a swap.  I've been drafted in for my organisational skills (I hope they're still there!) -  I'll be honest, I've only been in one Flickr swap before (and I'm not even joining in this one!) so I'm not the most experienced swapper in the world but I'm hoping everything will go well - cross your fingers!  If I can manage thirty-odd six year olds on 'large apparatus' surely I can help manage thirty or so quilters!  No?!

Laura has been wonderfully helpful with techie things like buttons (they're a mystery to me at the moment but I'm determined to learn one of these days!) and Katy is going to take lots of photos of the intricacies of framed purse making and create a tutorial.  Well, I think Katy is going to do the making and Lynne is taking the photos!  All we need to do now is wait for sign up forms, etc. to be submitted and we can start assigning partners!  (I hope we don't miss anyone out!)  Go on over to the Flickr group to see what's happening - if you spot anything wrong please shout!!  For us, so we can fix it, not at us!


Archie had a bath a few weeks ago - look how white he is!  He's known as the Daz dog by some of the bairns in the street!

Are you talking about me?  Did you say the B word?  Better not have done...

Yes, I'm exceptionally handsome but now I smell funny: like a baby.

 (He gets bathed with Johnson's baby shampoo!)

Enough of that; it's time you used that hand to give me a fuss...

This was supposed to be a short, simple post to say thank you to Lucy and Brioni...why can't I manage a simple post?!  I blame Archie...(he's not here - out on a walk with Alfie - he'll never know!).  Or I could blame Nicky for setting up a swap...or both of them...

If I'm not around for a few days it's because I'm looking for my teacher hat...and the organising skills that come with it!  Or I could be working on Stained.  I doubt it, but I could be!



P.S.  I don't think I've replied to any of the lovely comments left on my last post (I don't usually post again until I've done that but today's parcel was cause for an exception to be made!) but I will do it soon!