Back in the depths of winter and suffering from a bad case of FOMO (fear of missing out), I booked my ticket to the FQ London Retreat - a mad weekend of sewing with some of my favourite friends. Just one thing was different. I haven`t yet met any of them!
This is me. I`m 44 years old. I talk quite as lot and am more than capable of putting my big fat foot in it. For the last 10 years, I have lived in the crazy, mad and hot city of Marrakech, Morocco with my husband Youssef and our 4 year old son Zaki. I`m a SAHM but in previous lives I have been a teacher and a lawyer.
I learnt to sew while at high school and as you can see, I hardly excelled!
Despite `Warty Wardell`s` less than encouraging words, I went on to do a lot of dressmaking as a teenager and while not finished perfectly, I would whip a skirt up in an evening and wear it to college the next day.
I rediscovered sewing a couple of years ago in the form of quilting and have been seriously quilting for just under a year. At first, quilting frightened the bejeepers out of me as I had no ideas what I was doing, and as a self-taught quilter I still don`t half the time but I can make a passable quilt so long as the quilt police aren`t in town !
I shall be wearing this amazing name tag made for me by Elisabeth (lemon shark on flickr) - thank you Elizabeth! And...
...I have 2 amazing roomies - my very first bloggie friend lovely Susan and lovely Laura Jane, both of whom are hilarious and talented in equal measures. We`re staying at the Grange Strathmore.
What am I up to?
Portholes and Embroidery on Saturday and the Designer Challenge and Frame Purses on Sunday! I`m also in the Iron (Wo)man Challenge - Group 3 (I think).
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| Free Photo: Rosie The Riveter Flexing Her Arm Muscles, We Can Do It! |
I`m completely disorganised and can be a bit of a ditz. I still have to source my fabric for the classes and make my sample swap items but always work better with a bit of time pressure!
So I can`t wait to meet the Fat Quarterly team, the line-up of amazing teachers,
So I can`t wait to meet the Fat Quarterly team, the line-up of amazing teachers,
my wonderful bloggie friends from the UK and all over the world and make some new friends too. Please come up and say `hi` - I can`t wait to meet you!
WOOHOO!!!!!! I didn't know you were sharing with Laura and Susan - I haven't met Susan yet, can't wait to and can't wait to meet you too - that school report is hilarious - didn't know you were once a lawyer too!
ReplyDeleteI've followed u for ages, I love your piccies and it's nice to meet other expats. The UK piccies yesterday looked beautiful.
ReplyDeleteDid I miss the 'needs a law degree' part in the sign-ups ;-)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to meet you x
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!
ReplyDelete(all my comments on the linky are following the same theme!)
It's your roomie here! I cannot wait to meet you face to face as we have been chatting online for so long. See you soon!!!!
ReplyDeleteLucky you. If it wasn't so far away I'd be there too!
ReplyDeletedxx
Very pleased to see I am not the only one still to finish getting the class lists together.
ReplyDeleteSee you soon!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to meet you Annabella, see you next weekend!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time Annabella, would love to be a fly on the wall in your room.
ReplyDeleteYou are going to have a great time, of that I have no doubt. Hugs
ReplyDeleteAnother lawyer! me too :blush:
ReplyDeleteGreat photos.
The next Retreat is surely being held at yours then?!?!?!?!?
That report card is TOO funny! Happy for you that you get to go to retreat! Have fun!
ReplyDeleteYou do seem to be having a great time!
ReplyDeleteLoved the photos of Zaki at the farm and England with the sun shining.
I do think blogs are very good at getting us in touch with likeminded people.
I had to laugh at your English sewing report.
Weren't they miserably mean on purpose!
ox
Can't wait to meet you. Marrakech is on my list of places I want to gist.
ReplyDeletehave a fab time....didnt quite have the gumption to go, not knowing a soul but wish i had now.....let us know how you get on...have fun!
ReplyDeleteI completely failed at sewing at school too. I think I made a nightie where the front was shorter than the back by a good 30cm or so.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to meet you and I agree that the next retreat should be held at yours!
ok, you guys are killing me here...I wish I was able to share about me on the linky because that means I would be going to London this week. Please have a drinky drink for me and know that I will be thinking of you all.
ReplyDeleteOoooo brilliant post - I am going to the retreat and will look out for you and your wonderful badge. This is such a good idea for a post, I might do one similar if I get a spare minute. And like you I still have to sort out fabric etc - must get on with it, see you soon x
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to finally meet you & get some photo tips!!!
ReplyDeletea lawyer and a teacher....! Thats more than most of us will do in a lifetime! Can not wait till next weekend and so looking forward to meeting you for real
ReplyDeleteEee! I am so exited to meet you! Lovely post too - great introduction to yourself :)
ReplyDeleteI made a gonk in sewing at school. Most of the time the teacher taught is about the dangers of plugging the machine in. See you next week x
ReplyDeleteSoooooooooo excited xxxxx
ReplyDeleteHi I am looking forward to meeting you. Di x
ReplyDeleteHi *waves* Can't wait to meet you :o)
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time! I so wish I could go too, maybe some other time.
ReplyDeleteYou're sharing with Susan and Laura?! You mad thing! Great intro, and I love that report - frame it for your sewing space :) look forward to saying Hello properly :) xx
ReplyDeleteSoooooooo close now :) can't wait to meet you!
ReplyDeleteI am excited to see you in person. I think we should have a retreat at your house one day, but maybe in the cooler season.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if you are really looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful time and I can't wait to read all about it.
I must see if I can find my old school report and see what it says! See you soon xx
ReplyDeleteLoved learning these tidbits about you! My elementary art teacher said I had no talent, then my college professor said I couldn't be a lawyer because I was an Art Major. Idiots. Glad we ignored them and do what we want. Can't wait to hear how the party goes for my friends across the pond!
ReplyDeleteLove the report card! See you at the retreat! :)
ReplyDeleteYay! Can't wait to meet you! I'm staying at the same hotel and Laura is one of my sewing besties!!
ReplyDeleteReally looking forward to meeting you Annabella!
ReplyDeleteI'm staying at the Grange too, looking forward to meeting you!
ReplyDeleteI wish you that all your expectations will be met and that you will have a wonderful, wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteCannot wait to chitchat with you Annabella! Its so funny we both posted about rosie... what a coinkidink!
ReplyDeleteGetting a tad jel of all these hotel-ing it peeps, I have serious fomo now!
ReplyDeleteSeriously though, can't wait to meet you (even though I am also slightly intimidated by the high percentage of lawyers that seem to be coming, eeek!)
Looking forward to meeting you, see you soon.
ReplyDeleteLucky you for living abroad. I live abroad too - but here in the UK from Canada!! Looking forward to meeting you.
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember: you bought your ticket right before I did. I suffered from FOMO, too. But then someone living in Marrakech: who whould not remember!
ReplyDeleteSee you in London!!
ReplyDeleteLove your blogpost and your school report. Seems like your progress excelled a lot :o)
ReplyDeleteWe share two classes, so see you Saturday morning :o)
Christine