January 2014 Winter Retreat

One of the best ways to bring in the new year is to be at a retreat.  This years retreat started on Thursday at noon and will end on Monday around 3PM.  There are 27 ladies and lots of fun.  Each year when attending a retreat I lay out my attack plan and set a goal.  Barb and I exceed our goal.  We have taken pictures of our progress to inspire and share with you.

As of the 4th day we have accomplished a few things and we were amazed as I think you will be also.
The first goal was to complete a quilt from a book that I have had since 2002.  You may have the same book.  It was lots of fun to make and the quilt turned out just beautiful.

Quilt without Corners

Strips and wedges then sew back together

Ready to sew!

It's a beautiful moth.  What do you think?

The next project took a bit of time to collect 24 fabrics.  Kaufmann striped batiks in an array of colors.  30 degree wedge ruler and 1st day beginning at 8 and we stopped sewing at 2 AM.  

A designing challenge

Results are wonderful! Great job sewing Barb.

 Can't wait to see how we can quilt this project.  It is going to be fun to design something in the Art & Stitch software very special for this quilt.

A skinny quilt to go above my bookcase and it will hang horizontal

This hand dyed flannel rag quilt is going to be very warm this winter. 

Barb is hiding like Wilson on Tool Time...

A Little Duffle Do It pattern was simple and fun to make these little bags. 

Saturday night we play a fun group event and the people that do not participate even enjoy a few laughs.  I think of it as a white elephant exchange but you bring a UFO (unfinished object/project for your non sewist and most of us sewers have a few).  Then you draw a number and in order draw a bag of fabulous gifts and prizes.  Some more fabulous than others.  Then you have the people who steal the gifts that are really nice or they really want it bad. 

Jane is opening a bag that was filled with biscuits that you sew.  They are little puffy pillows made in a quilt.   

Nancy is wondering if she is going to like her project she picked. The green bag seen in the above picture was the best prize...purple fabric and lots of curves. 

Carol was dancing because she loved her prize until someone named Barb stoled it.   

Love my new duffle that was quilted and hand made handles.
The duffle bag has a matching phone holder with key fob too.

Key fob with phone holder.  Just love it! The instructions for this project are from  Quilting Arts Magazine. 

Thank you to all of the Ladies that turned in or made your Lacasa Quilt Block.  They are just beautiful.  Almost all of the block have been turned in.  The top will be finished next month.  I will post the picture once it has been completed. 

Lacasa Fundraiser Quilt Block

Although the retreat is still going on my time at the retreat is over for me.  I enjoyed the time with friends and can't wait for the next retreat in April with Phyllis.  

The best part of the day was ending having dinner with my dad.  He and I do not get to see each other everyday but the time I do get with him is priceless.  My father lives in Oscoda on a lake where he can feed the birds, fish, walk the dogs and just enjoy life.  It is beautiful in northern Michigan where the retreat is still going on and my father lives right off Lake Huron. 

Off to California, time to enjoy a little sunshine, time with friends and working at the Road to California Show in Ontario.   If you are taking a class you may see me helping out in the classroom, taking classes and sew many other things.  

Happy Quilting, 

Denise