Interesting Start To Private Retreat

Ray once again has a meeting in Champaign, IL. It happens twice a year like clockwork! So I come along and keep him company on the trip. While he is at his meeting, I sew in our motel room. 

I brought the QOV quilt (in pieces) that I started a week ago at our retreat. Last night about 9:30, I set up my machine and got everything ready. Then I realized what I had sewn last week. 

The top piece is fine - when the blocks are made and put together, the blue/white HSTs will make a pinwheel. The bottom one, well, it is NOT fine! Seventy some piece were ripped apart last night and re-sewn this morning! 

I'm now making progress so I'll get back to sewing!

A joyful week

Good friends and family are like quilts. 

They age with you, 

yet never lose their warmth.

Today, we enjoyed lunch and a visit with some friends that we haven't seen in a while. What a joy!

On Wednesday we enjoyed lunch at our church - we have soup and sandwich lunches every Wednesday during Lent. It is a joy to visit with local friends.

On Tuesday we had dinner with two of my brothers and their wives. It is always a joy to spend time with family!

The week is not over - we still have plans... and yes, there will be more eating!

A Great Quilt Retreat

A quilt retreat with friends is a great way to spend a weekend. Thought I'd share a few pictures. 

We stayed at Memory Lane. Oh, what a place! 

We were out in the country, 

in a beautiful house with plenty of room to quilt. 

Yes the four of us had the entire house!

A photo of a photo!

I didn't get a photo of the house 

since I didn't want to go out in the snow.

A photo from their website.

Above The craft room is at the left end of the house. My workspace was right by the window on the far left.

Below This was my view all day Friday - gorgeous!

There was no sunshine on Saturday.

On Sunday we had ice and rain.

Looking out over deck and pond.

This was the view out of the front door on Saturday.

Looking towards the road.

The light in the workroom was fantastic - unless one was taking photos towards the windows!

We each had two 2' x 5' tables - plenty of space!

We used the kitchen island as a cutting table - nice!

I loved the house phone.

When I wasn't sewing, I spent time in this great glider.

 It was a fantastic weekend.

Quilt Retreat Projects

Barb brought a number of items to finish.
She machine quilted most of the time. 

Sorry about the glares. 

Barb free motion quilted this one.

Sandy was doing lots of piecing.

She spent lots of time on the floor laying out blocks.

I didn't get a picture of her lasagna quilt.

A back for a quilt top that Sandy had already made.

       

Krista also was doing lots of piecing.

She joined us Saturday 

because she is a coach and her basketball team played Friday night. 

They won so maybe(?) it was worth missing the day with us.

She really made up for lost time.

I took along some UFO's that needed a little work.

I put on the binding but still need to hand sew it.

I finished the last 2 seams - I thought there was more to do!

I finished putting together this small top that I began in a class on 2-5-13.

I put on the two borders.

I did start some piecing also.

February BOM Lucky 2B Quilting

Playing with new Quick Curve Ruler from Sew Kind of Wonderful

A new QOV quilt started

Ready, set, sew!

I've spent some time getting ready this week - I've found all of my supplies. I took a class at Lucky 2B Quilting. I attended my first Webinar. Sew I've learned some new things. I've bought a few groceries and I did a little laundry. 

Now I'm set - fabric and tools are packed. Food is prepared. A few clothes are packed.

Let's sew - it is time for a quilt retreat, one that is pretty close! Three friends and I have rented a house that is within an hour of all of us. There is room for nine, sew we can really spread out! 

Catch you later!

I'm getting closer ...

I am still cleaning, rearranging, sorting... 
Parts of the sewing rooms are looking better!

Found on Pinterest

I'm almost ready for my new tables but they aren't done yet. When they are, I'll move back in.

Until then, I will sew! if I can find what I need!

The blue and white quilt needs a little bit of hand-quilting and the binding has to be sewn. It is close to being done! But I cut my finger on a thread - I'm a major klutz. Anyway I can't use a thimble right now so not much hand sewing is happening. Hopefully soon!

My Edyta Sitar blocks are all fused. The first one is appliquéd. A quilt shop out east sold me a heavy tear-away stabilizer when I explained the project. I need to find a better way. I used it on the first block and still don't have it all removed!

Some parts on the design wall

All appliquéd with stabilizer still on.

Lots of stabilizer to still remove including all those tiny pieces.

And I am doing some knitting, too. I'm knitting some wool socks and am doing a swatch test for a sweater. I just made this scarf from Sashay.

Sashay 60" scarf.

I am trying to be patient but I can't wait to be settled back in my sewing space with everything neatly in its place.

Knitted Cowl

The pattern for this cowl is called Elis. The pattern is free on Ravelry. It is an Indian cross stitch cowl. Although it looks a little intricate, it is very easy and fast to knit. The yarn, Good for Ewe Claddagh, is 45% merino wool, 40% baby llama, 15% donegal. 

I wanted to show it on a neck so I used the nearest one - a rather cooperative hubby!

Here is a flat picture.

The cowl is about 8 1/2" X 24". I had to change the pattern slightly. I only had one skein of yarn and although I checked my gauge, my knitting seemed to be loose. In the pattern, the middle design is just like the edges, I changed those 6 rows (2 patterns with 2 knit rows in between) to 1 pattern. I also knit 11 rows instead of 12 between the edge patterns and the middle. I had about six feet of yarn left over! Whew! 

The cowl is very soft and I love it!