It's time to give away the contents of our fabulous Stitch Gathering Retreat Goody Bag!!
And look how amazing it is!
We were so lucky to have such generous and supportive sponsors.
Coats gave us wonderful threads and needles, Groves and Bank provided the useful embroidery scissors, DMC the lovely embroidery thread, Nairns came up trumps again with the snack packs of their yummy Oat Biscuits, likewise we were so grateful to Pilot for providing another Frixion pen for everyone (essential for the workshops!). Lovely Ali from Very Berry Fabric gave us a Liberty Tana Lawn scrap pack (so popular last year!), and Love Patchwork and Quilting provided a magazine for each bag! Also a big thank you to Aurifil for again providing everyone with some of their amazing thread.
And then there's the fabric...
Robert Kaufman's UK distributor very generously donated a bundle of 5 FQs! Blend Fabric sent over 2 FQ/panels of my favourite Xmas line, Merry Stitches by Cori Dantini, and there's another FQ from Dashwood Studio plus a piece of Liberty Tana Lawn AND the gorgeous needlecord tote bag from the very sweet people at Liberty!
A huge THANK YOU to all our wonderful sponsors! We really couldn't do this without you!
There is just one Goody Bag left and we are giving it away!!
But first let's take a look at some of the fabulous blocks made in my Freehand New York Beauty class at the Retreat...
Aren't they fabulous?? Apologies for not knowing who made them, it's all a but of a blur now!
I asked my husband (our official photographer) to take photos of the blocks and afterwards he told me that he thought I'd asked him to photograph these so I could explain how NOT to do it!!
I've since explained to him at length about 'improv', 'freehand' and how 'wonk' is a good thing. But it got me thinking...
Have any of your friends or families come out with similar faux pas or misunderstandings about quilting?
I'd love to hear about them!
So that's what you've got to do to enter the giveaway!
For a large number of entries do one or all of the following:
1. Leave me a comment telling me something related to the last paragraph (if you can't think of anything just say hi!).
2. Blog, FB, tweet or Instagram about the giveaway and tell me what you've done in a comment (with links if possible). Please #stitchgathering - up to 4 separate entries here!
Giveaway open to International entries and ends midnight on Friday 26th of September.
Good luck!!
If you've posted about the 2014 Stitch Gathering Retreat please add your link below. We'd love to gather all the blog posts in one place - thanks!
Can't think of anything, sorry! The blocks look fabulous.
ReplyDeleteI have shared your post on Facebook. My Fb name is Kay Solly Eyles.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say that my friends have come up with faux pas but they do think I could run them a little something rather cheaply. People do seem to have no idea how long things take to make or how much it costs.Thanks for a great giveaway, I am particularly in love with the Liberty bag. x
ReplyDeleteAh bless him! Not so much faux pas but I've had friends call them blankets which makes me cringe. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI had trouble posting my comment and then it came up twice so I've deleted one and so not to mess your numbering up I've just shared on facebook. Although really I don't want to share and decrease my chances of winning :-)
DeleteAfter looking at my hexie quilt and having consumed a glass or two of wine my sister in law asked if I'd sewn it together by hand. Then she followed it up with a smart comment about how she'd rather stick pins in her eyes that sew rag together because she had a life and what was the point. I smiled sweetly and said: Well never mind I'd rather stick pins in your eyes and I own a lot of pins. :-) I think she thought she was being really cool and clever but when you've sewn over 1000 1" hexies together by hand the last thing you need is a smart arse!
ReplyDeleteNot a faux pas as such but my lovely sweet husband really can't tolerate too much pattern or colour, so if he says 'I really appreciate the effort and time you put into that quilt ' I know he hates it but is too sweet to say so 😊
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely give-away - the comment I get is what are you going to do with all that fabric said in bewildered or slightly horrified tone
ReplyDeleteWhat great blocks, and a wonderful giveaway too. I don't think my friends of family have comitted any faux pas that I can think of, most show a lot of interest in what I do and tend to ask questions rather than comment
ReplyDeletei love it when people ask me to make a quilt a week before a special birthday and are puzzled as to why it can't be done since i sew all the time :)
ReplyDeleteAww bless!
ReplyDeleteI can't think of an example myself sorry, so hi! :-D
My mom doesn't particularly care for the wonk look either but she does appreciate the quilts themselves, she would just never make one.
ReplyDeleteDon't you have enough fabric! 24Tangent@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI've shared it on g+
ReplyDeleteMy hubs will say...uh huh. It's fabric. He can't quite get my level of enthusiasm....or when I ask him to look at what I've made. That said, he really liked a quilt I'm working on right now. Which totally surprised me because it's pinks.
ReplyDeleteMost really like my stuff and dont tend to comnent if stuff is bad, sone say oh awfully bright fabrics but someone recently said oh what is quilting, his wife said oh sewing stuff together to make blankets rather than clothes, can't see the point myself !
ReplyDeleteI've shared the giveaway on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Sue.Bone.jsy
ReplyDeleteA friend once gave a quilt that she had spent much time tying instead of quilting to be told that the recipient had cut off the bits sticking out of the quilt. :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quilts are wonky or improvised but my family does not like them so I display them in my sewing room for my own enjoyment. To them they look unplanned
ReplyDeleteMy husband is having trouble getting himself dressed, let alone photograph anything ;)
ReplyDeleteWonky is the organization of my sewing room. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
ReplyDeleteI shared on facebook. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/debra.neiman.1/posts/556859697748938
I shared on twitter. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/CrystalblueRT/status/513763403563667456
My partner always says 'it'll look great when it's finished' even though it is !!
ReplyDeleteNot so much a faux pas,but forever getting asked if I can run up a quick pair of curtains/outfit for school play for someone else.As they comment on the massive pile of half finished quilts that I don't have time to finish!
ReplyDeleteMy husband said "you cut up fabric and sew it back together?" Lol yes I do. Thanks for the chance to win. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThe blocks look great! I can't really think of a faux pas but my oldest son often comments, that I am a very wild person with all those colors in my quilts!Lol! I just love it scrappy.
ReplyDeleteLoving everyone's comments, though if this is what people say, it's terrifying to wonder what they think and don't say!! We all have so many examples of people not having a clue about the time, effort and money that goes into things.... However, I had the loveliest thank you from a friend this week, who listed all the things I've made her over the years and said where they were positioned in the house and how much pleasure they give her - so touching!
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway Jo: looks like everyone had a great day from the pics that I've seen
ReplyDeletewish i'd been there! my man is forever calling my quilts "blankies"....
ReplyDeletethese stars are great!
ReplyDeletei pinned!
ReplyDeleteHi the comment that makes me smile is when someone who doesn't quilt, asks you to just make them a quilt...............!
ReplyDeleteThe worst of had was a colleague thinking I'd.bought the quilt I gave.her. I'm not sure she believed I'd made it...
ReplyDeleteWonderful give away, I can't think of any odd comments.
ReplyDeleteHi, can't think of any faux thingies, but sure enjoyed reading about yours!
ReplyDeleteI shared the giveaway on facebook.
ReplyDeleteSomeone asked me too quilt a robot or spaceship for them. When i said that it would be tough, my husband asked if that was because straight lines are hard for me. I looked at him, confused, and he said he thought that was why I quilt everything in squiggles.
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway Jo and it looks like it was all a roaring success. My husband can't understand why ' I cut up perfectly good fabric and sew it all back together again'. He also doesn't see the point of quilts at all- after all we have duvets!
ReplyDeleteI myself have difficulty grasping improv piecing; so I would not (yet) be able to explain it to anyone. Wonky is OK though
ReplyDeleteHahahaa...too funny!
ReplyDeleteThe first quilt I made our boy was out of his favorite greens and purples. I didn't ask him about it...I just made it. He said he loved it. A couple years later he was visiting me at the quilt shop where I work and was admiring all the Civil War repro stuff and asked if I could make him something out of that....and not the bright stuff that I love!! Seems his sister likes all that kind too!!:)
my grandkids really love the quilts i make them.
ReplyDeleteI think they've all been very careful not to say anything!
ReplyDeleteI wish I could have come to Stitch Gathering - it sounds so much fun.
I used to quilt by hand. When I started to machine sew some quilts, my closest friend was surprised my quilts were still nice! That's the only misunderstanding I've encountered.
ReplyDeleteLovely goody bag and the improv New York Beauties are so cool.
ReplyDeleteWhen I tell people about my quilting, they most often either tell me I must be very patient to sew all these pieces together, or can't understand why I would want to cut the fabric up only to sew it back together again. My dad teases me with that second comment from time to time, but he likes his quilt.
Oh my goodness, your stitch gathering sounds delightful. I so hope to attend someday! Thanks for the vicarious fun and the great giveaway! Regarding your question about quilting humor, my husband refers to my rotary cutter as "that carpet cutter thing." :)
ReplyDeleteI shared this on Facebook. Thanks again!
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ReplyDeleteI shared on Twitter. Thanks again! https://twitter.com/aggiesmom1/status/513837364087517184
ReplyDeleteMany in my family just don't get the point of making things when I could just buy it!
ReplyDeleteposted on twitter
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/ImGarmA/status/513839348383752192
My entire family appreciates all my hand made quilts gifts... They know how much time goes into making everything😁 especially since I hand quilt!!
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing giveaway!!! I shared with the following tweet: https://twitter.com/mimistarquilter/status/513717200763764736
ReplyDeleteHi from the MO Ozarks. I really can't think of anything but I understand your husband's view. At first I thought that someone didn't follow directions too.
ReplyDeletekdavis1@centurytel.net
If my family has thought that, they have kept it to themselves. So far I haven't done any improve.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone has said anything like that, I have chosen not to remember it. Wonderful stack of goodies!
ReplyDeleteLove your wonky text blocks. I can't think of anything so I will say hi. Thanks for the chance at the wonderful giveaway.
ReplyDeleteNo funny stories but my dear Mother, on a trip to New Zealand several years ago, accosted several women - who she thought looked 'sewish' and demanded to know where she could buy fat quarters, she didnt really know what they were, only that I liked them (!) so she wanted to bring me some home. Conversely, my dear DIL has just asked me to make some shed curtains out of 'any old bits of fabric you have lying around, you've got plenty' !!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm really to new to Quilty World, to have any stories like yours.....but definitely sending a big HI! & Ohio Hugs your way! :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic modern blocks. I have no stories that come to mind, sorry.
ReplyDeleteMy husband always thinks it will only take a couple of hours to finish a quilt.
ReplyDeleteI thought everyone in the quilting world had heard of the term wonky, but I had to explain it to my Tuesday quilting group. They are obviously not blog readers!
ReplyDeleteI made a wonky star for a Bee and showed it to my daughter who said "erm it lovely mum but those points all different sizes, you might want to think about doing it again before you sent it of"f bless, Thanks for hosting this :)
ReplyDeleteGreat Giveaway! My husband and I are always mis-hearing what each other says. Like a game of Chinese Whispers at times!
ReplyDeleteMy Grandson said the stars are crooked Grandma you need new glasses. I loved it!
ReplyDeleteI'd like a pound for every time somebody asks me how I wash a quilt with paper in it about my EPP.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the draw! The comment I usually get is 'it's very nice, but what is it for?'!
ReplyDeleteI generally get asked by my friends if I could make one of the same (of something I made) for them... They have no idea how much effort and time it goes into making things... So a few very selected friends get such gifts.
ReplyDeleteI shared your giveaway on Facebook
ReplyDeleteAnd also shared on twitter
ReplyDeleteMy mum keeps saying, lovely but I do prefer something a bit more plain.
ReplyDeleteI shared in IG
ReplyDeleteYour blocks are great! Some of my non sewing friends do not understand the fun I have quilting but do not say anything negative. Happy for that!
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any faux pas! The event looks wonderful and it's fun seeing what everyone made. I would love to try and come to the next one :)
ReplyDeleteI received a beautiful wonky spider's web mini in a swap. My mum looked at it and said she could see that I hadn't made it as the pieces didn't match (I'm rather anal). I just laughed and said that it was like this on purpose. Thank you so much for this wonderful and generous giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI can't think of any faux pas. But I like the wonky look too. Thanks!
ReplyDeletePlease click on the delaineelliott above for my email link.
No experiences in my personal sewing to share...love your hubby thought you were sharing how "not to it." Love the idea of the linky for all to share.
ReplyDeleteTweeted about the giveaway here: https://twitter.com/SavingForLater/status/513995819708456962 .
ReplyDeleteNo, I never had a comment about the improv technique, but I didn't really use it for big things yet, only few trials block! But I love scrappy blocks!! Thanks for the chance to win
ReplyDeleteSo far my family has been fairly accurate in only pointing out things that have actually gone wrong :D Then again, I haven't done much wonky or improv quilting, so maybe once I do some of that they'll start making mistakes.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a faux pas, but I do have a comment. I was at a quilt show and one of the vendors was a gentleman filling in for his wife. I was talking with him and said I was picking out fabrics to make disappearing nine patches. He had no clue. I was able to point out a quilt hanging in the show with that pattern. Quilters really do have our own language.
ReplyDeleteI have had some misunderstanding, such as a woman who was obviously making a crocheted blanket told me that she was making a quilt just like I made! I gave up trying to explain the difference!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure OH has actually got confused about something but I forget what now, though he's a stickler for perfection and points out flows, I know he wouldn't get wonky!
ReplyDeleteI have not yet made any improv projects, but I am sure my husband would probably say something along those lines! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi !
ReplyDeleteMy husband will occasionally come in and rearrange my wonky designs so they look more uniform and symmetrical :( He can't help himself, he loves straight unbroken lines and even numbers. I tend to always work in a wonky fashion with uneven numbers.
ReplyDeleteI posted this on Facebook :)
ReplyDeleteI posted this on twitter :) but I can't figure out how to post it to Instagram without a link :( I'm sort of media impaired :P
ReplyDeleteMy husband's actually quite good! When I received a piece of work from a more recognised blogger and was really excited he just came out with "but the points don't even match" (it wasn't wonky or improv) I think it comes from all the complaining I make when I can't get my points to match!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing giveaway! I imagine that the Retreat was fabulous! The worst "misunderstanding" about quilting (and such bad timing) was when one of our grandchildren commented, after I had made bed-sized quilts for all 6 of them, "Why, Grandma! What a lot of knitting you did!" Sigh...
ReplyDeleteI made quilts for my friend's two little girls and got a card from her thanking me for the blankets!
ReplyDeleteThe sponsors may have been generous, but what a lot of work you must have put in! My husband tells people my hobby is cutting up fabric and sewing it back together
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've had any odd comments but I do (quite often) get 'You like to make things hard for yourself, don't you?' when explaining my plans for a quilt but there's more than a hint of truth in that!!
ReplyDeleteI tweeted https://twitter.com/Archiewonderdog/status/514148491073818624
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, those wonky nyb's are all fab!
ReplyDeleteWell... I had a misunderstanding about quilting of sorts many years ago. My hubby didn't "get" quilting since he grew up with duvets, that had covers. So, I sewed up my very first quilt as a duvet cover for him, using improv strips and squares and lots of blues and blacks. He loved it. He was a trucker at the time, and slept in his truck. Not more than a week after I sent it with him on the road, he stopped at the side of the road, after seeing a motorcycle accident occur. In his other life, he had been an EM. He told me on the phone he'd grabbed a "sheet" and wrapped it around the man, who was was very badly injured. His friends had been riding with him, so he wasn't alone. He actually died right there, with my husband talking to him and holding him. He covered him and told the poor man's friends that he was unconscious. I didn't pick up sewing again for 12 years. I thought my husband had lost the patchwork, but he had given it away to a biker who was on his last ride.
So far everyone has been very polite about my sewing... . I would love to be entered into the draw, the goodies look fantastic.
ReplyDeleteNo quilters left in my family that I know of. I would love to learn to quilt and will do so soon...I hope. Please enter me in the drawing.
ReplyDeletestorybookfelts at gmail dot com
Hahaha. Hi! No serious Faux Pas here. Have discovered hubby is excellent at things like sandwiching and measurements. Long arms are priceless.
ReplyDeleteI just make the dumb mistakes that require a seam ripper to fix:)
ReplyDeleteI'm rather new to sewing, but I already find that people have a really funny sense of how long things take and once people find out you sew they have many things for you to repair.
ReplyDeleteHi, the blocks look fab. I'd love to win the goody bag. clairestrachan@live.co.uk
ReplyDeleteI tweeted abut the giveaway user @harrysmum2!
ReplyDeleteI can't think of anything really, but those around me do try to give me 'helpful' tips on how to do things! Lovely giveaway, thank you:)
ReplyDeleteHi! Sorry I don't having any good stories to share. Thank you for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteIt's almost lunchtime and that's where my thought process is right now! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteighmeg at yahoo dot com
Hum a faux pas...nope not too many of them in my home! My hubby is a crafter too!!So HI!!! Love the chance to win! ruth.griffeth@att.net
ReplyDeleteWow! I don't think I managed to see any of those blocks. I think they're all wonkier than mine! I loved the retreat, can't wait to do it again!
ReplyDeleteFaux pas? Please. Some of my family members can't even tell quilting from knitting or cross stitching. lol! I loved seeing pics of the blocks!
ReplyDeleteHi! Just to say I've liked the posts about the Stitch Gathering, especially the post about the bags. I'll as hare this on Facebook as well
ReplyDeleteHi there! I find that most people outside of the quilting world have absolutely no idea how much time goes into choosing fabrics, measuring, cutting and putting a quilt together. My husband thinks if I spend 2 hours in my sewing room, we should have a new quilt on the bed that night. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI find myself coming up with new blocks and patterns that I use in bags, small lap quilts and tablerunners. My daughter saw my last table runner and now it's gone, lol
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance.
ncjeepster@aol.com
Shared on Facebook
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/ncjeepster/posts/10203510203569727
ncjeepster@aol.com
I tweeted
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/ncjeepster/status/515707523286855681
ncjeepster@aol.com
The goodie bag looks awesome, it would be marvellous to win it!
ReplyDelete