Retreat Recap

I greatly needed my weekend with friends.  It was great to have some sewing therapy.  I started by sewing this new quilt on Friday.  I worked on sewing the last 4 border pieces on this UFO.  It is ready to quilt - Yeah!  These 4 lonely sampler blocks are no longer in a box.  

I also worked on completing the sampler quilt that seems to have been living on my design wall for way too long.  It didn't take me long to pick the border fabrics for this one.  I am pleased with how the border fabric brings out all the colors in the sampler blocks.

I moved on to something new after finishing....(not really finished, but they are ready to be quilted), two items from the UFO parade.  I was a few days late in completing this for candy club, so I wanted to post it on my blog.  I used Moda Linen Mochi Dot for the background.  I have been seeing so many quilters playing with linen that I wanted to give it a try.  I love the earthy texture and elegant feeling it gives the table runner.  The candy pack is from French General, and I added some 2 1/2" square from my stash to make it larger.

I am halfway done with my goals for April.  It is a really good start at checking some more things off the list.  My pile of projects to get quilted is starting to add up.

Thanks for visiting, and stop back at Judy's to see what others are working on this week.

Retreat progress

Nancy is working hard on her triangle quilt.   I am working hard on some host family gifts.

It has been a glorious retreat filled with much laughter

Retreat preparation.

It is always the very last minute that I pick my projects for a retreat weekend.  I am getting much better at guessing the amount of projects I need to bring to keep my occupied and productive.

This time I looked at my goals for the month.  I have one quilt left on my goal list that I have not touched this month.

• I will be bring my  Kansas Troubles wall quilt.  There are 2 blocks that I don't really care for, so I will be remaking those.  Can you spot the blocks that bother me?  One is on the lower right of the center pinwheel.  It has a pattern on the fabric and it is about one shade too dark.  The other block is on the right second block down.  Maybe if I move both of them to the edge they won't be so noticeable.  
• I will also be bring another log cabin quilt that I started several years ago.  I have the blocks all completed, so I should be able to get that one together also.
• I will also be bring lodge quilt (UFO #81 from the parade).  I am not sure if this quilt has applique, so I may have to substitute another quilt.
• As a reward, I will be bringing a new project (more on that tomorrow).  I hope to get some of the pieces cut out and kitted up.

I am sure I can find more unfinished projects if I run out.
 

Retreat Fun

The retreat was great fun. I realized when I went to write this post that I didn't take very many photos.

Char put together this beautiful bright quilt.  The pattern is in the current issue of McCall's Quick Quilts.

Ellen was working on her Scrappy Swoon as was I.  I love the look of her muted colors.  She used 3 1/2" squares, and I used 2 1/2".









Tina was doing the original swoon blocks with her DS fabrics.  It seriously made me want to drop everything and start another new project.  I kept chanting "focus" in my head so I didn't get off track.

I didn't make much progress on my March goals at the retreat, but I did have fun.

More on my projects later this week.

February ISE Retreat

It was another fun retreat.  Warning:  This is a picture heavy post.  

I think everyone (except Ellen) was pleased with all that was accomplished.  I know finished every item I intended to work on.

1.  I was able to sew the binding on 4 quilts and get them ready to hand sew (or should I say ready for someone to hand sew)
2. Make a backing for a quilt on the UFO list (February Goal)
3. Make the setting triangles for a quilt 
4. Sew the blocks together for a UFO quilt
5. Work on the outside sashing on a UFO quilt
6. Spend time with friends and enjoy their company.

 Tina was one of the first ones to earn the ripper frog award.

 Sue was working hard on her projects.  She finished a jelly roll race quilt out of the neutrals.

 All the Hunter Star quilts turned out great!  I love everyone's color choices.  Char lead the workshop using this ruler.  Everyone had accurate results doing it this way.

 This quilt is now ready for the backing to be pieced.  It took me a long time to get the blocks arranged how I wanted them.

 This youngster is making a doll quilt with some fabric she received as a gift.  I think she did a great job.

Nancy used her jelly flop from last month and made a sample for a class she was teaching.  I think it turned out really nice.  These were the bright blenders.

Ellen spent the weekend piecing this great quilt.  I don't know why she thought she could get it done in one day.  It looks lovely hanging on the design wall

I have plan for more design walls for the March retreat.  I think we have mastered the best arrangement for the tables.  

Thanks for another great retreat.

January Retreat

I had so much fun sewing with my sister, niece, and friends at the library.  It was also a productive weekend for me.  I sewed the binding on 2 spicy spiral runners (from the January Goals list) and another quilt that isn't from the parade.  I also finished the log cabin blocks for this quilt (parade part 2).  I can't remember where I found the pattern, but I really like it.

 Sue worked really hard on a Kindle case most of the weekend.  Several people were finishing up the Bonnie Hunter Easy Street mystery.  The group project for this weekend was an X-block runner.  Several people finished it, but I didn't remember to take pictures.  Surprisingly there were no shopping adventures.  We talked about a road trip, but we all remained focused and sewed.

Eleanor worked all weekend on Easy Street.  She took the time to press all those seams open.











Check with Judy to see what others are working on.

Shipshe Retreat

I neglect to post about the Shipse retreat that was one month ago.  How can that be?  I accomplished so much and enjoyed being with everyone.  I did bring my camera, but I never took any pictures.  These pictures are all courtesy of Eleanor.

I was hard at work.  I was using the Halloween pieces as leaders and enders while sewing the remaining blocks for an old project.

This quilt was so stunning from across the room.  It was bought as a kit.  

When I took a closer look- look at those amazing batiks!  I had never seen anything like them before.  I do admit - I have never found a stripe that I didn't like.

Eleanor really liked this braid quilt.  It might be a fun weekend project.

 Diane Had several finishes at the retreat.  Among them - the mystery quilt (that I still haven't finished), and a jelly roll race quilt

Eleanor brought a couple finished project to display.

What a great idea to stitch baseballs with the snowball block.

 This tree was made by Jennifer.  It was a lovely use of batiks.  It was all paper pieced!!

Nancy had her pile of completions.  Her title of the speed queen still stands.

 Ruth finished this lovely string quilt.  She did a great job of gradiation.

Stacy was working on this beauty.  I just love the colors she chose.

Last but not least.  Eleanor and I.  This is our tag team Jelly Roll Race quilt.  I finished quilting it and sent it to her for binding.  It is a donation quilt to the Cameron hospital.

1. I pieced it
2. She appliqued it
3. I quilted it
4. She bound it
5. Donation complete.

Job well done!

I am looking forward to going again next year.  I already have my calendar marked.

Sewcial Day

A sewcial day always helps the mood of the week.  Sunday was a beautiful day at the library with friends.  

Sharon, Judy, and Sandy were busy concentrating on cutting out a Spicy Spiral table topper.

 Ruth was working on binding, while Barb knitted and Judy cut out a new project.

 Char spent the whole day trimming stray threads from her quilts so she could get ready to quilt them

Nancy, well she worked on multiple things.  She sews FAST!  She arranged the pieces for a twister tree.  It is the cutest pattern designed by Rose Pohlar of Pohlar Fabrics.  She managed to get her squares sewn together and several other things too.

Tina worked on cutting out her project for the Shipse retreat, and Angie work on cutting out a couple of projects also.

For me, I cut out the twister blocks of my large twister quilt.  This is part of the quilt hanging on the design wall.  When the quilt was in squares, I thought it looked sort of like a team spirit quilt.  Now that I have the blocks cut again, I like it better.

I also put the borders on these 4 table runners so they are ready to be cut with the twister tool.

I think I will be ready for the Shipshe retreat later this month.

Planning

In just about one month I will be retreating in Shipshewana.  It is crazy, but I like to do a lot of sewing leading up to a retreat.   I have been doing a lot of sorting and organizing in preparation also.  It is such a tough decision deciding what I want to take.  If I didn't have 50 or so projects already started, I could start something new and be guilt free.

Tina wants to sew a twister quilt at the retreat.  While cleaning, I found a pile of leftover 10 1/2" squares that I used for a backing.  This made me think that I should do a twister quilt also.  So, I trimmed up my leftovers to 10" and started adding more fabrics from the scrap pile.  I was very surprised how much fabric this took.

I am pleased with the color selections.  Some of these fabrics were gifted to me.  Do you see any fabrics you recognize?  The white with the red flowers that is on the bottom second from right was gifted to me many years ago from group member named Cookie.

This will be one of the "bonus" project I take.  I have several other set aside, but I haven't decided which ones yet.

Tomorrow I am off to Grand Rapids to take in Art Prize.  I am anxious to see the exhibits and especially Ellen's quilt.  Here is the link to Ellen's Quilt.  If you visit Grand Rapids, make sure you vote for her.

Library Retreat

I didn't get a chance to post last week for design wall Monday because my Internet is down.  At my house, that is sort of like breaking a leg.  I haven't done any sewing since then, so I thought I would just post last week's progress.

I feel so fortunate that we are able to use our library as a retreat center.    We have our very own closet where we keep all our supplies for the group.  It is very spacious plenty of lights and outlets, and we each have our own table.  The only thing we have to bring is fabric and a machine and we are ready to retreat.  I was very focused at the retreat (which is so unlike me).  I was able to get all the blocks made and sewn together.  I didn't bring enough of the white (but thankfully I still have some), so I couldn't finish the outside sashing.  Perhaps this week I will get those pieces added.

Eleanor worked on trimming all her blocks to the same size from a Bonnie Hunter workshop that we did a while back.

 Tina worked on sewing her curtains.

Tammy worked on making a bag for her daughter-in-law.

Ellen worked on making some pillows and an art quilt.

Unfortunately I didn't get my camera out until the end, so I  missed photos of the rest of the projects (sorry!).  I am so bad about remembering to take pictures once I get sewing.  I hope to get working on some more Farmer's Wife blocks this week.  Angie completed hers at the retreat and she did an amazing job on the blocks.



I am still looking for information on my new toy.  Check it out and let me know if you have any information about it.

Stop back over to Judy's to see what other are working on this week.