Quilt Camp and more...

I'm here, I just haven't been blogging cause we've been keeping very busy and enjoying each day!

We had a great time (except for the weather) at Shell Lake, in northern Wisconsin, with my brothers and their wives/girlfriend. OK, each of my three brothers has either a wife or a girlfriend - none have both!

Then it was on to ‘Quilt Camp’ - which was really a retreat this year. It was fun for the seven of us from Minnesota, Texas, and Illinois to be back together for a few days of sewing, visiting, and eating. We always enjoy some great evening meals out. We had a wonderful time reconnecting.

This year we sewed in the classroom instead of the barn. It was great - we had A/C and lots of room. Here are a few shots:

Susan (at the far end), Tina, and Polly. You can see one of Polly's blocks in the foreground.

Linda, Kathy, Sue, and my spot at the far end.

This was my spot.

Some of the completed or almost completed tops:

Sue's baby quilt

Linda's cute little quilt

Tina's neat lap size quilt

Linda's flag

Tina's great wall hanging

There were many WIPs (works in progress). I don't think Susan, Polly or I finished anything but we worked hard all week on large projects. I thought I had everyone's work but I missed Polly's blocks you can see one of her blocks in a picture above and my blocks you will see them later when I get the quilt together.

Kathy finished this top but I didn't get a picture. It was stunning.

One of Susan's many blocks

One of Kathy's disappearing pinwheel blocks 

Ray got in a couple of nice bicycle rides while I was sewing. He is doing great and enjoyed having a couple of nice days to ride.

Since Country Threads is closing, our little group hopes to meet somewhere else next summer. Wonder if we can find a place with great bike trails...

A Baby Quilt for Donation

I started this quilt at Quilt Camp last fall. 

This was a kit and the backing was included so I decided not to change the size. It is 37" X 28", a little small.

The backing is cute vehicles.

I finally got back to this in February. The windmills are quilted in spirals and the border is quilted with echo shells.

The binding was finished in March. 

Whew! One would think it was a big, difficult project! It wasn't!

A 30's type finish

At camp, one of the charm square challenge quilts was this one. I'm not a 30's fan but the more I worked on this, the more it became OK!

It's about 25" X 29". It's been quite a while since I did any free motion quilting. I quilted this in Paisley one of my favorite designs and was happy that all went well!

The back is an older looking fabric - I thought that fit.

And this is its new home - a sewing machine cover. When my machines are not in use, I like to cover them with small quilts.

This looks really good in my sewing room! Yup, I'm pleasantly surprised!

A Fall Pillow

I finally got to go to one of the camps at Lucky 2B Quilting. It's impossible to attend when we are traveling! Anyway Monday was Pillow Camp. We keep a bed size pillow on the couch in our family room and I always keep a cover on the pillow, not a pillowcase. I like the cover is seasonal. Not having a good cover for fall, I decided to make one at Monday's camp.

There were lots of ideas. I've often thought of making a pillow with fabric strips and when that idea was presented, I knew I wanted to try it. I used a batik jelly roll, picking out the fall colors. Then I added four orange and gold fabrics.

Each strip was trimmed to the right size and ironed in half lengthwise. I drew lines every 3/4" on a piece of muslin and lined up each fabric strip with a line and sewed a 1/4" seam. The strips are all loose on one side, like ruffles. 

The back is this pretty batik. I made the back to lap over about 3-4" on each side. 

I like the way the pillow turned out with the 'ruffles' going sideways and I love the fall colors!

My Camp Projects and a little more

I've unpacked all of my quilting 'stuff' so now I can show my camp projects. They are wrinkled - I haven't ironed them again.

First is one of the challenge charm square quilts. There was a choice of two quilts. I'm not crazy about mine.

Charm square challenge.

I think my charm squares were too busy for little blocks of 5 or more pieces.

Close up of charm square challenge.

Next is the Mystery Block. We were told to use a dark and a light. This block was on the cover of Country Threads' first book. I like the block and might make it again.

Camp Mystery Block

I pieced this baby quilt from a kit I got at camp. I love the bright colors. Country Threads has just added brights to their fabric selection. Did I mention that I love brights?!

Baby quilt from a kit.

I spent a lot of time, and I do mean a lot of time, on this next quilt which I can't show you. Here is one tiny peek!

Secret project!

That's my projects - the secret project consumed many hours! And it still isn't done!

This is one of the patterns we were given at camp. It came from Pinterest. The pattern is supposed to be 36" wide although the one is this photo is wider.

Today I pieced a baby quilt using the pattern. I made mine  40" wide.

Baby quilt

 Here's a closer view of some of the fabrics.

Baby quilt.

This is going to a family that just did their nursery in turquoise and gray. I hope the quilt fits right in.

Quilt Camp - part 2 of 2

I have to share some photos of Country Threads.

The barn - we quilted upstairs.

The playhouse.

The fabric shop.

The other fabric building.

The house with the remodel complete except for landscaping.
That is a screened porch on the right.

Left side of the house and outside sitting area.

Piano room in the house.

Living room inside the house.

On the 'porch' inside the house.

It was a great week. With a small group, we got a chance to get to know everyone AND get a lot of quilting done. Then on the last day, we were delighted to have a tour of Mary's home which had been remodeled. We even had yummy treats!

Quilt Camp - part 1 of 2

Quilt Camp was fun! 

It might have been the best camp yet! 

We had two gals from Texas,

two from Illinois,

and three from Minnesota.

It was such a great group that we'll have a redo next fall!

I want to share some of the projects with you.

Linda did this Camp Challenge quilt.

Polly made a gorgeous Trip Around the World.

I loved the colors in Kathy's quilt.

Sue did some small block work.

Tina used her stash to make a gorgeous quilt.

Sue made the same Camp Challenge quilt as Linda but it looks totally different.

The whole group with Country Thread owners, Connie and Mary.

Everyone did a number of projects. Me too! I didn't take any photos of mine and I'm not home right now so I'll have to share later.

Quilt Camp will be a little different...

Quilt Camp will be a little different this year. 

• Only two from our area are here instead of four or five.
• We are at the second camp instead of the first because I was out west during the first camp.
• Instead of 16 or 25 attendees, there are supposed to be just seven.
• We are staying at the new motel in town which means we are only 4 miles from camp.

Today was 'travel to camp day' and traditionally that means an Iowa quilt shop hop day. 

• We stopped at Vintage Threads in Dyersville. I think we'll stop on our way home after I've had time to think about what exactly I want to make. I found some neat fabric. 
• Our second stop was Debbie's Quilt Shop in Osage, IA. I walked away with a neat kit but I can't show you! That nice lady also pointed us toward Kountry Kupboard, a Mennonite store and coffee shop. Our meal was wonderful! 
• Then we stopped in Forest City at the The Quilted Forest. When I made my purchase, I was given a $10 gift certificate! Instead of punch cards, they keep track of your purchases in their computer. I had purchased enough over the last year(s) to qualify. Rather than trying to keep track of the gift certificate, I did a little more shopping and spent it!

Our motel is new; it opened since we were here last year. It is very nice. They have warm chocolate chip cookies each night.  Yum! Our room is called a small suite. It is a corner room and quite comfortable.

Shooting from the door

Ray has his bike with him and we have plenty of room for it. Ray also has his camera and photography equipment along - maybe he'll find some cows to photograph!

Shooting from the recliner by the bed.

We don't have an actual closet - just a hanging space. That might be because we have a handicapped room.

Shooting from the wall side of the bed.

We have a handicapped room because the lady who made our reservation said that would assure us of a 1st floor room which is much easier with the bike.

Tonight is for relaxing, a little Internet surfing, and maybe a little knitting. Camp begins tomorrow!