Let's Quilt

We're here and we're quilting. Counting me there's 10 of us this retreat.  We've been waiting patiently for this day since last fall. We come from all directions and distances. In fact this time we have a new retreater all the way from .......  We have 2 Donna's and 1 set of sisters and 10 friends. Without these gals and others before them there wouldn't be a retreat. We work on our own projects, we share ideas, help, inspire, cook and crack each other up. I can't thank them enough. I started organizing my first retreat in 2013 and we have 2 a year since. I find games we can play and hand out prizes for the winner. Some times my retreaters even donate prizes. 

Here's Mildred trying out the layout of her quilt top. She is cracking out those blocks. Her sister is standing back observing and providing direction when needed. 

Sandy is the first to complete a quilt top. Again. This girl always finishes off a quilt the first day. Yes she came with it partial done but she finished here at retreat. There's always a great place to take pictures of our quilts. And Margie had a new prop. An old washing machine. Love this quilt.

Now one of the retreaters stood up and said "Who want's to play a game? Oh let's see maybe Carla should play this game by herself." So Donna Marie brings me a picture of each of quilt blocks and asks me to list who made each of the blocks at one of our 5 past retreats. The pressure was on! Oh Boy! Well I only missed 3 of them. Not bad I think. So then she goes "ding ding what does she win ladies?" and she brings back this rather large bundle wrapped in fabric and all the ladies start gathering around me. Okay I'm like what have they done and what's up? So when I open up the fabric I see this quilted wall hanging. OMG it's awesome!!!

Donna Marie had asked the girls who had the time and could to send her a scaled down replica of a block they made during one of our retreats. And she made this wall hanging for them to give me at this retreat. It was their way of thanking me for organizing the retreats. Even Margie provided a block. I feel very honored and humbled by these ladies. I currently have it hanging in my office cubical

 The label on the back Donna Marie took a picture of each block and labeled who made it.

 The Easter Bunny came early one night for dinner. Margie cooks dinner for each night and loves to set up the table to fit the evening/meal usual. And since it was Easter week she brought out the Easter decor. Too cute. 
Here's Donna Lynn trying to show Sandy how to use her automatic machine threader. It really got funny later that evening when Donna Marie the gal on the right found a video on how to use the automatic threader. OMG. The guy speaker sounded just like Forrest Gump I mean just like Forrest Gump. We started laughing so hard we couldn't stop. My sides hurt and I could hardly catch my breath.
Don't you just love the colors in this quilt top? Donna Lynn even started quilting it on her machine there at retreat. Wow and she did awesome. 

She even had a smile for me.

One of my quilters was stressing over a quilt top she was trying to make and decided to revert to her child side. She will remain nameless. hehehe

I might of had my usual glass of wine or two in the evening. I promise no fabric was harmed. In fact I had already completed my first top by the time I took this picture and it was squared up. Yahoo. Hopefully this one will be too. Well I should it is. I completed this top too. They must have taught me something right at this retreat. YAY

Here's Donna Lynn working hard on that crown royal quilt top for her nephew.  Margie helped her find a way to put the bags together without extra fabric per her nephews request. And it turned out great.

 
Here's Mary Jane's beautiful Stack N Whack quilt top. She's got the setting triangles in there and now she's deciding on borders with her sister Mildred's help.




One day we took a field trip to a quilt shop in Sweet Home Texas. The shop is called Sweet Home Stitching Post. It's just outside Halletsville. It's a cute shop with lots of fabric to look and touch. The shop owner and help were very helpful and sweet. The owners baby girl is really sweet too. 

 A sunset at the retreat. Just beautiful.

 Here's Cindy working hard on her Little Red Riding Hood block. Right before we left she was adding prairie points around the edge.
Similiar to her Aunt Joanne's hexagon log cabin here.

Here's Sandy's 3rd quilt top she's worked on at retreat. There's 4 more rows to go. She won't have to water these flowers. And she did finish before we left. This girl produces quilt tops when she comes to retreat.

Here's Mildred unsewing a boo boo that she and Mary Jane found on her disappearing 9 patch. They're sisters. I'm not sure how you find an error in this pattern but they did. It's a queen size quilt and it's really pretty in person.

Meet Margie the RR-Retreat owner.  She's the hostest with the mostest. She is a great cook, a woman of many talents, and the energizer bunny.  I'm not sure when she sleeps. 

This quilt is a 16 patch top that Donna Lynn finished before we left. She was quite productive this week.  This quilt, the crown royal and if I remember right she was working on another quilt. Now where is that picture......   

Here's the Retreat #6 Gang 

being ourselves.

I hope our two newbies had fun. We definitely enjoyed Joanne and Linda. Glad they got to join us.

Check out this early morning photo shot. That's the city of LaGrange in the clouds. Pretty cool huh? 

 

 Took this the morning we left. Some how and for some crazy reason I was up every morning between 7 and 8. Totally unusual for me. Hard to leave such a beautiful and peaceful place but home was calling.

Oh and if you're wondering... I can't post pictures of what I worked on until they are in the hands of the intended. Soon very soon though I will be posting those pictures.

Well we'll have to wait until this fall for our next retreat of laughs, more project completions, games, silly door prizes and quilting friendships.

Until next Blog post...A Lifetime's not too long to live as friends and a quilt is not too small to sew them in.