Last Days of Retreat

I am so sad. 

Today is the last day of retreat.

We are all just moping around, finishing up projects,

remembering the good times we shared this week and looking forward

to the next retreat in October (way to far away though).

Here is what has been happening these last two days.

Last night we celebrated Marie's birthday with chocolate cake, ice cream.

We surprised her with a wonderful card from all of us and

a new kit to expand her interests.

(She had just done her first machine applique and then stated that

she did not do wool).  

We gave her a kit with wool applique (how funny).  LOL

To day we are all filing one at a time upstairs/downstairs to pack up

our rooms.  Some are starting to pack up some of their sewing gear.

Edna has already left us this morning.  She has a play

at SIUE this afternoon.  See you soon Edna.

Marie is working on a new baby quilt.

Pat is sewing on her 2006 Central IL Shop Hop quilt.

Well maybe sometimes!

Chris is making a Loop and Shift quilt.  We need to get a pic of this one

when it is done.  Something like a trip around the world.

Carol has finished her Log Cabin blocks.

Hurrah!  Now on the the last two and time to put 

her Amish With a Twist quilt together.

Margaret wouldn't let me take a pic.

I bet you guys think she is really not even here at all!

She is working on Infinite Variety.

Me-well, I finished another 12 blocks of Hearth and Home

to send to California for Quilts of Valor.

and then started some hand applique.

My Di Ford mystery quilt and some blocks for Antique Wedding Sampler 

and a new Antique Wedding Sampler vase block I just started.

Starting to pack my machine and STUFF up so that I can

finished up some hand applique this afternoon.

Very finished with my pile of completed projects this retreat.

Even going home with some empty totes.  Yeah! Always a BONUS!

Need those empties to put some new-waiting to be started-projects in them.

I promised myself months ago that I would not buy any more totes.  I had to finish

some to start more.  So far it is working.  But I have about at least

10-12 projects just waiting in the wings for a tote home.

Better go cool down the iron----

Keep quilting!

Jan

Retreat Day 5

DEPRESSED!!!!

We have passed the half way mark in our 7 day retreat. 

We are in awe of how fast the time has gone by.

Could we be thinking that 7 days in just not enough time at retreat?  

Could we maybe be thinking about pushing the envelope to 10 days?

Or

Maybe 14 days would be just the amount of time we need to get ALL of the projects

one brings to retreats completed.

(OR maybe we just shouldn't bring so many)

But I really don't think 12 projects for 7 days is too many.  Do you???

Give me your thoughts on this one---

Here is the show and tell from what was accomplished yesterday.

Chris was working on a new BOM "American Heritage" by Bits n Pieces she picked up

while on vacation. (The flag)

She also did Chocolate Covered Cherries and a couple of Civil War Love Letters blocks.

Edna continued to work on Infinite Variety blocks.  Again, I just love this colorway.

Marie also worked on Infinite Variety blocks.

By the way, if I wait till tomorrow it will be too late.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIE!

Pat put her quilt together from yesterday called "Wistful".

After putting it together, she decided it needed a pieced border 

(in other words, she wanted to "Carol-ize it".

That is our new word for those that want to make a quilt larger.

Carol (who inspired our "Carol-ize it" saying) is

still trudging along with her log cabin blocks.

STORY

If you have heard this before, just click on down to the next picture. If not, read on.

Carol is known for making large quilts.  I mean LARGE, really LARGE quilts.

These suckers are a minimum of 135" x 140". 

Thus the term "Carol-ize it".

Ok, back to the pics.

Margaret arrived after work and immediately started on cutting out project to sew.

Like Edna and Marie, I worked on Infinite Variety.

I finished the remainder of my second colorway for July (all but the feathered star) and

then August (feathered star and some flying geese units and a square in square unit I forgot to get out of the box for the pic.  I also prepped all of the red/white units for the demo in August.

Connie, our quilting buddy has been having a virtual retreat at home.  Hope some of you are also 

quilting along with us.

Please post in the comments your progress.

Happy quilting

Jan

Day 4

Normally today would be the day we would be packing up about 2:00 pm

and heading home.  At 2:00 yesterday, we all bowed our heads

and thanked the Lord that we were here another 3 days.

No one was ready to leave.

A load of towels in the washer this am.  Thought I had a bunch at home, but you get

seven women in the same house and all take showers daily.  LOTS and LOTS of towels.

PS-this is the second load in 4 days.  

OK-so the first load was because I had to wash my PJ's and just threw some towels in with them.

NO-I didn't have an accident, well kind of.  

I opened the can and when I turned around to get my glass, I knocked it over and it spilled

all down the from of my PJ's.  

Just sorry that that one had to go to waste.

Oh well-good thing I had a 12 pack!!!

This is what we all go accomplished yesterday:

Carol is continuing her work on the Log Cabin blocks.

Notice she is absent from her chair AGAIN!

Marie worked on a nice patriotic quilt for Quilts of Valor.

Thanks for your support!

Edna started on her Infinite Variety blocks.

Just love her pink fabric.

Pat is working on another project "Wistful".

Like this pattern.

Chris made a strippy quilt and pillowcase for her orange quilt.

And me--

I finished up the last 6 months of "By Thy Hands".  All are quilted and bound and just waitin

for the hand work (embellishments and binding) at home in the evenings.

and

Margaret-well, we found her

or should I say, she found us!

OK-so she is absent again, but this is the last day and at least her stuff is here.

Stay tuned tomorrow for another update!

Jan

Retreat-Day 2

We have survived day 2 of retreat

well---all except Margaret

We are still wondering where she is, but it looks as if

she didn't weather the storm too well!!!

She looks a little ragged!

Carol is awol this morning also.  Hummmmm-wonder if they are lost together.

Anyway-this is what she is worked on yesterday.  Still sewing away on the 

"Amish with a Twist" quilt.

Marie has completed marking the inside of her "Women of Courage" quilt yesterday and has moved on to the outside borders today.  It will go into the frame for hand quilting upon our

return to reality on Sunday.

Edna is continuing to work on her borders for the Irish Chain quilt. She has completed the side borders yesterday and continues on to the top/bottom ones today.

Pat finished top #2 yesterday (in the lead so far).  This one is a prayer quilts called "Forget Me Knot".

Beautiful colors!

Chris finished her "Three's a Quilt" from Day 1 yesterday.  It will be a very special quilt

for a very special young lady who's favorite color is orange.

And me-well, I have been working on getting the last 7 sets of blocks finished for Civil War Love Letters.  

(one 8", one 6" and one 3" in each set).

 Working on the last two sets this morning and hope to show you pics of at least one of the completed tops tomorrow.  So stay tuned---

Hope we find Margaret then (and Carol)

Happy Quilting~

Jan

RETREAT-RETREAT-RETREAT

Seven (7) - yes seven glorious days of retreat at Toddhall in Columbia, IL with six of my favorite friends.  Who could ask for anything more!!!

Here are a few pics of what we accomplished yesterday on Day 1!

Chris got a strippy baby quilt stripped and now working on "Three's a Quilt"

 

Carol is working on "Amish with a Twist" blocks

 

 Marie finished a quilt for grandson Landen  (this started as a twin, but now he is in a full).

Glad she had extra fabric!!!  See-always buy more, you never know when you may need it.

 

Edna is working on some half square triangle for a guild project.  Now she is

adjusting a border on an Eleanor Burns Irish Chain quilt.

Pat finished a new guild project she will be teaching (minus the border)

 called "Clues along the Uneven Path".

Me- well I finished the repro version of "The Village".  Our 2nd Saturday series

that ended Saturday.  Don't think I will put an outer border on it-it just says FINISHED to me. 

Have all of the 4 patches stripped, cut and ready to make into the sashing for the

batik version.  These will be my leader-enders for my next project-Civil War Love Letters.

Also have squared up my half-squares for Hearth and Home blocks for QOV!

 

 and last member of our group

Margaret

Margaret-Margaret---Where in the world is Margaret?

We miss you-hurry down!

Stay tuned tomorrow for the next version of Where in the world is Margaret?

Till tomorrow

Jan

The Wrap Up

I can't believe this is the last day of retreat.  These past 7 days have really flew by.  The last wrap up to get projects completed before departure at 3:00 has begun.

 

 Also sorry for no posting last night, but we didn't have an internet connection till this morning with they reset the modem.

 

Marie is busy on her next project.  She is making the Bali Wedding Star wall quilt like Loraine's a few days ago.  Great colors Marie!

 

 

Edna finished a Table Topper for daughter.

 

 

and busy working on some Sunbonnet Sue blocks she rescued

 

 

Also forgot to show Edna's First Ladies blocks

 

She did all four sizes this week (in two colorways).

She calls one set her "practice set"~yeah right.

I will take her practice set anytime, how about you?

 

 

Loraine FINISHED her Farmer's Wife quilt this morning!

With all of the extra blocks she made during the year, she doesn't need the last class.

 

Should we say Over Achiever Award here!



 

And lets not forget Marie's great strip quilt she finished last night.  Lovely colors!

 

Margaret is busy with her Tree of Life blocks this morning.

 

 

She did all she could on her Farmer's Wife quilt (needs a few more blocks to complete it).

 

I think I forgot to post the picture of Carol's Venetial Tiles quilt she finished before she left yesterday morning.

 

and me~again

 

Finished the first month of the new Amish With a Twist: Series 2

 

 

This will be a Block of the Month starting in April (6 months)

 using Centennial Solids by Marcus Brothers

 

Also made my Quilt of Valor

it does need a border on top and bottom, but I ran short of fabric and will put those on tonight after I get home.

 

and for those loyal followers

 

 

a peek at The Breakfast Club mystery.

All Breakfast Club mysteries this year will revolve around "strips".

Be sure to come in on Mystery Sunday, February 17th, 1-3 pm

and receive your FREE pattern for this quilt.

 

We will have kits in this and a blue colorway available that day.

Limited number so be sure and come early.

Join our Breakfast Club and receive a discount on your kits.

See Thursday Threads newsletter for more details.

 

Mention you saw it on the BLOG and receive an additional $2.00 off.

 

Hope you enjoyed the pictures of our February retreat.  Join us on the next one

in July.  Watch for details here and in the newsletter.

 

I think we finished a record number of projects on this retreat.