Joyful Jelly Roll Tree Skirt from Fat Quarter Shop

I’m supposed to be sharing my completed Joyful Jelly Roll Tree Skirt for Fat Quarter Shop today, but instead I’m sharing a tale of woe. When Fat Quarter Shop asked me to make my version of this pattern I knew the exact Christmas range I wanted to use; Kate Spain’s “Jingle”. Slight problem, it wasn’t released yet. No problem, my calendar was light on I could wait for it to be released and then make it as soon as it arrived here in Australia.

That’s the beauty of a jelly roll pattern, most of the cutting is done for you already. I ordered my jelly roll and the supporting fabric and then waited. And waited. And waited. For the first time in forever my parcel got lost in the black hole that is customs. It took my parcel nearly 10 days to get from Japan to Sydney. 10 days!

By the time it arrived my calendar had filled up and I was staring down the barrel of 4 weeks of traveling and an Exhibition entry deadline. But no problem, I’m a resourceful kind of girl I could make it all work. I’d just knock over my exhibition quilt top and then get on to making my Joyful Jelly Roll Tree Skirt, simple.I got home from Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair at 7pm on Friday. At 1am Saturday morning our 3 year old was up crying and coughing. We thought he had croup. Saturday he went to the Hospital Doctor’s surgery and they diagnosed him with a middle ear infection. By Sunday afternoon he was burning up and we were desperately trying to get him to cool down while we juggled our chores and I tried to get my workload under control.

Monday came and I took him into our GP. It was 4:30pm and she listened to his lungs and then immediately called the hospital X-ray service. She thought he had pneumonia. I could have cried. I was juggling all these balls in the air and had an impending 4 day trip to Bendigo. I was supposed to be at work on Monday and here I was at home with my amazing little man the sickest he’d ever been.

We went for the Xray and the kind technician gave us the results shortly after having the X-ray done; his lungs were clear. Massive relief. He just had to change his antibiotics to try and combat his sinus infection and cough. When it rains it pours…

To add insult to injury in the days leading up to going to Bendigo I spilt half a can of coke zero through both my external hard drives, we lost internet access for half a day and then I came down with the same cold that our Son has.

I tried, I really tried, to get my Joyful Jelly Roll Tree Skirt made in time for today’s post but half way through making the first sections of it after cutting everything I sliced a panel ½ inch too short. Normally I’d just re-cut everything, but I didn’t have enough, so I had to try and stitch the cut piece back on. That didn’t go so well. I guess they should put on the cold and flu medication box; “Do not operate a rotary cutter while under the influence of these drugs.”

On the second time of unpicking and trying to line it up, on the verge of tears I had to acknowledge and accept that I’m not super woman. I’ve tried to juggle everything. Work, parenting, partnering, commitments to sponsors and keeping the blog ticking over all while traveling but I couldn’t do it. Something had to give to keep the rest of the show on the road and unfortunately it’s my version of the Joyful Jelly Roll Tree Skirt.

I really hate that I’ve let the lovely ladies at Fat Quarter Shop down because they’ve been so generous and supportive of my goals and dreams. But this is the downside of being in business for yourself, when you get sick there’s no one there to pick up the slack. But never fear, it might not be done today, but it will be done by the end of July and I’ll blog about it the minute it’s done. In the meantime be sure to check out Fat Quarter Shop’s Joyful Jelly Roll Tree Skirt video, the quilt kit, the backing set and the full pattern.

I’m using Kona Cotton Bone for the background fabric. I’m using Frosty Forest Turquoise Jubilee Geo for the binding (and it’s so perfect a pairing for Jingle that it’s not funny!) and Priory Square Steeping Awakening for the backing. I’m so excited to get my hands on some Priory Square Steeping Awakening as I’ve been lusting after it since it was first released and it’s creamy perfection.

So, be sure to come back soon and check out my finished version of the Joyful Jelly Roll Tree Skirt. I’m very much looking forward to having to take out the Christmas tree to make sure it works!