Part 2 of Quilt Retreat Activities and More

 Have you been anxiously waiting on part 2 of the retreat? LOL probably not so much but here it is.

Judy worked hard on completing her quilt top. It had many pieces to put together like a puzzle. It came out really pretty.

Debra did a lot of ripping and cutting fabric in her corner of the craft room. She got the smaller pieces put together.

We had a visitor show up at the door and before we knew it he came in with the girls who went on a walk. He's apparently the neighborhood stray that everyone around the retreat venue has been feeding him. What we couldn't figure out is, if he's a stray why did he have a collar and tags on. The next morning when Debra went for her run/walk a neighbor told her that he got Scrappy (we named him) vaccinated and put a collar on. And for now he's doing what he can for Scrappy until someone claims him.. But that was 6 months ago.

Scrappy appears to be part border collie and husky. Super friendly.   And adorable. 

If I didn't already have 2 - 78# lap dogs I would have asked David if I could bring him home but 2 big babies are enough.  

Jane was making more book bags. They're too cute.  Each one had a theme and a story book to go in the front pocket to match. Great job!

I think this was a quilt top Vicki was putting together. Love the colors.

Elly shared a picture of her finished quilt from retreat. Gotta love a blue quilt. 

Jane shared her finished quilt after picking it up from Donna Lynn.   The fabric was adorable and the Easter Egg quilting theme made all come together.

And Valerie shared a picture of her finished top of the Lady of Guadalupe.  Very nice!

 

Of course after this completion I had to take to Pamela's and put it in the box window seat.

 I found her pillows and tossed them on it and I just happened to bring a book down to her to read and tossed it on there. Fit great.

 Just me and Donna Lynn being silly and then Elly and her daughter Valerie. Loved having her join us. 

 One of the rooms at retreat is the Cow and one is the Truck. I may have borrow her decorating ideas for my Vintage room at home that has one of the same pictures Christi (owner) has. And I love the highland cow on the couch. 

 Such a fun retreat with these ladies!

Monday (8/4) It was bee time. Would you look at all the variations of poppies the ladies are making to send to Camp Mystic in Kerrville to make quilts for each of the campers beds when they re-open.

 

 Got a picture of Carolyn sewing her binding on. She makes some of the prettiest scrappy quilts. 

 Connie is adding sashing to her bargello top. She got it finished before we left.

Thursday 8/14 Our neighbor Garrett came down to help David tag the cows. Meet Butch. I had to give him a masculine name to grow into.  That tag makes me think of the hairs bows I see the Mom's putting their babies hair that are bigger than them. And this ear tag is definitely bigger than Butch. He's so darn cute.

The harsh reality of farm life and animals, things happen and they die. My friend Sandy warned me. This little momma to be didn't survive birthing. We kept watching her but nothing. We didn't see her all day and went looking for her and found her in the tall crepe myrtles in the pasture. She was our first Dexter cow to have birthing difficulties. We failed her. I sure hope that doesn't happen again anytime soon. We have at least one other cow pregnant.

Just wanted to say thanks to this annoymous commenter on "Sew Many things... Book club, Family Fun and Quilt retreat overload for following and the sweet comment

Great projects! There’s so much fun and fellowship at retreats!

On that note I'll stop for now.

Until next blog post...Life isn't fair, but it's still good

Did someone say birthday celebration and a Quilt Retreat?

I had to go to Houston Saturday for my friend Samara's 44th birthday party. This girl has made it all my birthday celebrations except maybe one no matter where it's at. I haven't been so good for her. But this one start at 5pm so I drove down and spent some time with her family and friends for a few hours and made it back to the farm by 10pm.  

Marina   Samara   Adelynn

Her daughters. They're no longer babies. Now Adelynn has made her a grandma.   Baby Blaze. 

He's adorable. And her Mom a Great Grandma.

I can't forget Blaze's dad Sydney and then there's me. And her love Eva. 

I had a great time talking with everyone and catching up! Love ya Samara. 

Fair warning there may be a photo overload in this post.

My quilt retreat was to start the next day and I had to finish any last minute packing. Got it done and in bed by 11pm.

That's good for me.

Sunday (7/27)

Got up and loaded my car so that when 2pm hit I could head out but before I left Kaleb, Pamela and the boys came for a visit. I was glad I was still home when they came up. We played Junior monopoly with the boys. I was the first one out. I went bankrupt. LOL  David won and Killian came in 2nd.  The boys went to lay down for a nap but I gave them a hug and kiss before I left and told them I'd be gone by the time they got up.

At 3:20pm I pulled into Los Patrones in Giddings where the group was meeting for Lupper before checking in at the retreat. It's a tradition we go out our first night of retreat for margarita's and Mexican food. Food and service was good but it was time to check in, unload and set up our stations and start sewing. 

After everyone is set up we took our group photo. 

And in our Quilting with my Peeps T-shirt. Only couple didn't have their t-shirt but that's okay. 

 I had a couple ladies that couldn't make it at the last minute and Ellen brought her daughter Valerie. She fit right in and you definitely had no doubt she was Ellen's daughter. When she woke the next morning and walked into the kitchen she struck a pose and said "Goood Moorning"  That is so Ellen.

This was her paper piecing project. 'Our Lady of Guadalupe.'

             

Just an FYI for inquiring minds...You would pray to her to Teach us to cherish and to care for family and friends until God calls them home. Help us never to see others as burdens. Guide our public officials to defend each and every human life through just laws.

Connie started with this small patch of fence rail blocks that were growing into this by the end of retreat. So bright and colorful.  Fun quilt.
Diana had several quilts she inherited from a friend or found and was adding borders and one she pieced together quickly while at retreat.

      

Diana started this quilt at a prior retreat but finished it up at this one. Love the colors on this one.

Sandy made the cutest pincushions to sell in her shop at the antique store in Navasota. She also had some cute quilts she put together quickly that I started to post but I think 

they may be a gift and I don't want to spoil the surprise. She did start piece this block which I love.

Ellen was working on her One block Wonder. It turned out so beautiful.

  

Then she went to work on a square in a square in blues. I think she had a different name for the quilt but don't you love the blue?

  

Donna Lynn shared 3 quilts and I finally snapped a picture of this one that she had finished prior to retreat but it was show and tell.  While at retreat she worked on  Christmas String blocks and she made the the cushion for my daughters dining room window box seat. I had no clue where to start.

She was so happy to be done with it. Thank you Thank you Donna.

We played our usually game of Left Right Center. It always gets a little exciting when every one starts off rolling a C for center and the dollars go in the basket or when you're down to the last 3 or 4. Just when you think you're out of the game the person next to you rolls the "R"ight or the 'L'eft and passes you a dollar.

These two (Sandy & Donna Marie) kept passing the same dollar back and forth.

Then it was down to Judy and Donna Marie but Judy lost her last dollar to the basket  and Donna Marie was the winner.

        

It's been a while since she'd won a game basket be it fabric or money. The rest of us weren't winners but we were smiling anyway.

This is a quilt top I finished and sent home with Donna Lynn to quilt.  My husband David drag races his Harley motorcycle and the race he's attending in October has an auction of items and quilts to support Breast Cancer Awareness so David asked if I make a quilt for him to donate and here the top is. He even found the pattern he liked already. 

Okay I'm going to stop for this post and continue with Part 2 about our retreat on the next post or you'll be reading all night.

When we get together at these retreats there's lots of laughs, talking sometimes a glass of wine or two but there is lots of creativity going on.

Until next Blog post....Blessed are the piece makers, for they shall quilt forever!