Birmingham Blogger Bonanza

Guess what I did this weekend?! I went to Birmingham with a whole host of sewing bloggers and it was FABULOUS!

Marie and I were a little apprehensive about organising our first meet up, but this wonderful group of ladies made our job not only easy, but a pleasure. I am not going to go into too many details of the day, as there are already many many versions of the story around the blogosphere, for example at Marie's blog, or at any of the others who attended - a full list below - who were much quicker to post about the day in all it's glory!

Here are all the lovely ladies who attended, minus Marie, who too the picture, and Charlotte, who had already left by this point. Starting from the back left to right - (I had a few technical difficulties with the links, I think they are working now, apologies if not, I will keep checking!)

Roisin - Dolly Clackett

Alice - Moonbeam

Helen - Sew Stylish

Katie - The Little Red Squirrel

Helen - Helen Made

Rachel - House of Pinheiro

Catherine - Catherine's Daze Blog

Amy - Almond Rock

Suzy - Suzy Sewing

Steph - Little Miss Twitchy

Mellie - Mellie's Workroom

Karen - Did You Make That?

Winnie - Scruffy Badger Time

Claire - Sew, Incidentally...

Me!

Marie (who took the photo) - A Stitching Odyssey 

Charlotte (sadly not pictured as she'd left by this point) - Keeping track of things 

Here, in picture form, is the story of the day (starting from lunchtime as I was too busy purchasing before then to take any pictures!)...

 



So many bags the waiters had trouble getting around the table!
 

Smile Winnie!

 

Marie and Amy

 

 

Getting stuck in to the lovely food at Cafe Soya

 

 

I think I made Katie laugh here!

 

 

Fabric Heaven

 

Marie hidden behind all our bags on the way home

 

One of the most exciting parts of the day (there were many) was the now customary swap! And what a swap it was. There was so much stuff! Sewists really are a generous bunch. I did ridiculously well in the swap, coming away with a whole host of wonderful goodies...not really the stash busting exercise that I had planned but you see why I couldn't say no....(sorry about the sideways pictures, another technical hitch!)

 

Patterns from Claire, Winnie and Katie (I think!)

Top to bottom: Cotton print from Claire, double knit from
Catherine and cotton voile from Marie

 

Quilting cotton from Mellie, cotton print from Alice,
cotton something from Amy and yarn from Marie
 





Thank you so much everyone! I cannot wait to use the cotton print from Claire, there is absolutely stacks of this, I can't believe Claire is giving it away! I think it will have to be a dress. My original thought was circle skirt, but now I am gravitating towards a dress. We will see.

The more modest pile of fabrics below is what I bought on the day. I had a budget and I am very proud to say I stuck to it!

L-R: Tweed wool, double knit, cotton print and some kind of polyester!





The wool will be a skirt, the sparkly double knit/jersey will be either a top or a dress...possibly both...I think it would make a super Christmas party dress! The spotty fabric is destined to be a blouse, and who knows what I will make with the dinosaur print but I just couldn't resist!

 

So there we go, my haul. Didn't I do well! I am so excited to start sewing now, bring on the weekend!

 

Thanks again to everyone who came, I had an absolutely fantastic day and was genuinely sad to say goodbye to you all at the end of it. I've met some fantastic new people and discovered some brilliant new blogs. Bring on the next one!

 

K xx