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. But 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 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!