Postmodern

Tomorrow we're starting our summer break and just before that I had to start my Double Wedding Ring quilt (probably I'll submit it to DWR Challenge:). I didn't finish any block, just had to check if my idea of using Suzuko Koseki fabrics will work. I used some of my latest precious fabrics (Bohemian by Anna Maria Horner), SK fabrics and some other favourites. Just take a look:

/ Jutro rozpoczynamy urlop i jeszcze przed wyjazdem musiałam rozpocząć nowy quilt wykorzystujący wzór Double Wedding Ring (pewnie zgłoszę go do Wyzwania DWR:). Nie skończyłam żadnego bloku, chciałam jedynie sprawdzić, czy mój pomysł na wykorzystanie tkanin Suzuko Koseki się sprawdzi. Użyłam trochę moich ostatnich zdobyczy (tkaniny Anny Marii Horner z kolekcji Bohemian), tkaniny SK i parę innych ulubionych. Rzućcie okiem:

See you soon:)
/ Do zobaczenia wkrótce:)

edit: Thank you for all your lovely comments! I got back and add more - choosing fabrics for this project is so fun!
/ Dziękuję za Wasze przemiłe komentarze! Wróciłam i dodałam trochę - wybieranie tkanin do tego projektu to sama radość!

FQ retreat 2013 is over

Polska wersja za 2 tygodnie:)

I can't believe that it is only a few days after FQ retreat was over. It's really hard to write everything about retreat - so many things happend! If I had to write a short summary about it, I should mention that it was:

1. hot - what was really suprising since London seems to be rainy most of the time. In our hotel there was no air condition, so you can imagine how we felt, especially in the morning...,
2. the most stressful event in my life - seriously! I had in my life a lot of stressful moments, but never felt so useless... Usually, stress is motivating me to act, but there were some moments when I felt helpless and I was afraid to... talk (people who already know me, would not be able to believe this:). I can't judge by my own if I was too quiet, but I've got a feeling that I was, at least a bit. The funny thing is that Brioni was convinced that Joanna was very stressed and I was calm, but it was quite opposite!
3. full of wonderful quilters from all over the world - there were people from many European countries, but also from Canada and US!

I had camera with me, but I didn't make any photos during retreat (I made only some during our Sunday sightseeing trip by bus).
So to prove that we (Joanna and me) were there, here are 2 photos - one made by Miriam, Berlin quilter (with me during Show and Tell - I'm reading script of our PP book, which Tacha showed us) and Lynne, Lily's quilts (with Joanna during our FPP workshop):

We're both on THIS photo (in the right bottom corner chatting with Agnieszka).

Joanna was main speaker at our classes (thank you Joanna!) and I was talking more and more with every minute of our classes, but still I wasn't really so talkative as I usually am. We had the greatest class participants, so patient, kind and supportive! (thank you sooo much for being with us!)

Our classes were at intermediate level, blocks were complicated, but anyway our girls learned so fast new techniques and their blocks were all perfect and lovely! 

I was totally surprised how fast Sara @ Sew Little To Say finished her absolutely gorgeous EPP block (not at home! During retreat!). Just look at all wonderful fussy cuts (the circle in the middle consists of 5 pieces):

And here's wonderful FPP block made by Mary (she finished it right after retreat, glasses were made during classes, there's no mistake in her block - everything is perfect, especially colors:):

There are more amazing works made during our classes or finished soon after retreat - I hope that I will be able to link them here soon:) I've seen more typewriters, including one made by paper piecing beginner (which, by the way, looks fantastic!).

edit: I've added more photos of works made during or right after our EPP classes. To see detailed photos just click on the link under the photo. You can also visit Joanna's blog to download free Read Between Lines pp patern and to see more works made during clasess (HERE).

1. Block made by Kerry during classes (Penny Dog); 

2. Block made by Hadley during classes (Flying Blind On A Rocket Cycle); 

3. Block made by Hadley after classes (Flying Blind On A Rocket Cycle); 

4. Block made by Aylin during classes (ayliN-Nilya); 

5. Block made by Agnieszka during classes (a quilt, maybe); 

6. Block made by Agnieszka after classes (a quilt, maybe); 

7. Block made by Elisabeth during classes (Shark's Dinner).

At retreat you can meet a lot of wonderful quilters not only during classes, but also during other events (like Show&Tell and other events which took place at the terrace or main hall). One evening we spent with great quilters from Germany: Aylin, Miriam, Floh and Tacha. At Saturday evening we went out with Agnieszka and her husband (and laugh all the time:D). We met also Leila, Kerry, Lynne, Brioni, Jo and many many other wonderful quilters. After my summer break I will google all people I met there, to stay in touch and simply admire their works:)

But there were also people, who I wanted to meet (because I knew their blogs and love their works), but I wasn't able to spy them in the crowd:( If I regret something, this is it.

I must also admit (like Aylin) that some people could feel a bit lost, especially if they were late... When we entered main hall people were already chatting and if someone is shy, it's hard to just come and say hi.

OK - that wasn't short summary:) a bit long, but I've got still impression that I missed a lot of things that I wanted to write about... (I'll edit this post after my summer break, right now I'm in the middle of packing and it's not easy to have clear mind... I will add also some photos of retreat goodies and a few pieces that I bought during market)

Last, but not least, a few snapshots from our trip around London:

Out of comfort zone

My plans for 2013 include sewing at least one thing using someone other's pattern without alternating it. So far I made a bag (HERE), but I was thinking rather about making a quilt. So when I've seen (thanks to Lynne's post) that Amitie is starting new BOM, I immediately signed in! I am Amitie BOM's and fabric selection huge fan since I first saw it on Lynne's blog. I also am a big fan of Allison quilts, which fabric selection is to some extend in such style (you can read how she chooses fabrics HERE!).
So far I just admired such sewing style, now I hope that I'll be able to sew something in this style by myself. This is the effect of my first attempts (blocks from first and second month of Bring Me Flowers BOM):

/ Moje plany na 2013 rok obejmują uszycie czegoś według wzorów przygotowanych przez innych, bez wprowadzania zmian. Do tej pory uszyłam torbę (TUTAJ), ale myślałam raczej o uszyciu narzuty. Więc gdy zobaczyłam (dzięki Lynne), że Amitie rozpoczyna nowy BOM (Block of the month = blok miesiąca), od razu się zapisałam! Jestem fanką połączeń kolorów i tkanin, które stosują właścicielki Amitie. Jestem również wielką fajnką quiltów Allison, która również w taki przepiękny sposób dobiera kolory i tkaniny (o jej sposobie dobierania tkanin możecie przeczytać TUTAJ!). 
Do tej pory jedynie podziwiałam taki bezkompromisowy styl, teraz mam nadzieję, że przełamię się i spróbuję nie podążać za moimi kolorystycznymi przyzwyczajeniami. Oto efekt pierwszych zmagań (bloki z pierwszego i drugiego miesiąca Bring Me Flowers QAL):

As you can see below, my initial plan for piecing first block was totally different, but finally I decided to add some greens to the first block (to forget about my color habits):

/ Na początku pierwszy blok miał wyglądać inaczej, ale zdecydowałam użyć trochę zieleni (by wyjść poza moje przyzwyczajenia):

I must admit that I cheat a bit: I don't sew blocks by hand, I machine piece it (mainly paper piece). Some parts will be hand appliqued, but only these that are too hard (or impossible) to piece by machine. Oh, and I made serious mistake in one block (with stems, I'll correct it later).

/ Muszę przyznać się do czegoś: trochę oszukuję: nie szyję bloków ręcznie (taki jest zamysł tego BOM-u) tylko szyję je maszynowo (głównie używając metody pp). Niektóre z części będą ręcznie aplikowane, ale tylko te, które ciężko uszyć na maszynie (albo jest to niemożliwe). Aaa i popełniłam jeden błąd przy wszywaniu łodyg (poprawię go później).