Retreat Update

What a fun relaxing weekend!  I love just hanging out and sewing with a group of ladies and one gentleman.  We had plenty of sewing space.  The food was good.  However not as good as what I prepare for our trip in November to my mom's house.  My quilting buds told me I am a much better cook!  Here a few pictures of the sewing space.


My sewing table and my table mates Laurie and Francesca.  Yes, I travel with my chair!

 View out from where I was sitting.

Table behind me with my other roommates-Mom, Robyn and Linda.

 Robyn made us each a hexi pin cushion.  Love mine in Noteworthy.  I didn't take a picture of each of them but she had done one in Lucy's Crabby Shack and fussy cut the bikini tops, a shamrock one, and then a bright orange and white one.  So very sweet!  My plan was to make journal covers for them but it didn't happen.  We get together again in November - maybe then?!

We go to a hotel complex about 40 minutes from where we live but it takes us about 6 hours.  We travel about an hour west of our final destination!  One must shop and eat!  So we went to two quilt shops, and I didn't have much restraint this time either.  We went to Mill House Quilts in Waunakee and I found some nice navy's which was on my list and then some grey, lime green and aqua. Next stop was Stitcher's Crossing in Madison and I picked up three towels and some grey. I also bought some pretty yarn to knit up a new cowl scarf.  I bought Laurie some reds since she couldn't shop with us and she could still participate!

Then on Saturday we went to Ben Franklin in Oconomowoc.  They had a great selection plus there was a shop hop and we scored a 25% coupon so I picked up this piece.  I had looked at this or something similar for awhile and figured it would make a great back with the solid stacks I have been saving(hording)!

Then I picked up a few pieces of novelty prints and some Sew Mama Sew reds.  The one military piece is for QOV quilt for a piece on the back.

Plus I bought a few things from the retreat store!  I ended up adding 8.5 yards to my stash!  Ouch!  I really need to finish the next couple of quilts!

Here is a picture of us just before packing up!  We were missing one this year which was sad but hopefully she will be back next year.

There was a great show and tell and lots of good work being done over the weekend.  You can see some of that here on Flickr  I will share where I am at later this week since I have to go through and take stock of what I did get done.  (A lot but not as much as I thought I would).

I am linking up to Let's Get Acquainted.

Retreat sewing

What a fun great weekend.  I love sewing for long periods of time and with friends how great is that? 

We headed out on Thursday morning first with coffee at Starbucks.  Then we headed to the first quilt store which was Primitive Gatherings.  They had beautiful quilts displayed. They have a lot of wool and civil war fabric.  I had that stage a few years ago and since I have not been using it no buying any more.  I still love the bubble gum pinks.  However, I did find the Swoon Pattern there.  I had been eyeing that up since last summer.  Then we headed to Piece by Piece.  This was a really nice shop and they had a lot of patterns with lots of bag samples as well.  Just a couple pieces of fabric here. In the same strip mall there was an Artist shop and a wine store. So we checked both of them out. Then lunch and our ride to "The Cabin".

We have to set up but doesn't take long with five of us so we were sewing well before dinner.  Nice sewing area with a large TV and fireplace.  Then a huge bar area with a pool table topped with a ping pong top.  That makes it super easy to cut or lay out and pin/spray baste a quilt.  Love no kneeling.

Thursday night I worked on sashing my Summerville patchwork, which I was able to finish that night.  I would have could have finished faster if I pay attention and did not have to rip!  Oh well, just pay a littler closer attention!

I then started on making blocks for my grandmothers quilt as well and had a good chunk of blocks done before bed and an all day Friday Sew I finished the top! I am happy how it turned out and I know she will love it! 

I then worked on the baby quilt.  I had planned on a solids baby quilt but in my bin from last year were rainbow batiks from the Warm/Cool quilt I made the year before.  So I sashed in white and finished it up. I just quilted in random lines.  I found the binding shopping on Saturday. 

We were able to go to a  couple more stores on Saturday.  The Cotton Thimble was first up.  I had found a stripe to finish up the baby quilt. Then we headed to Antoinette's Quilt Shop.  This shop just opened in the last year and I really enjoyed it.  Great staff and owner and some really cute lines with some good variety.  I did some damage here!   They also had a Bistro in the same strip mall and a great gift shop.  I know I will have to head back there sometime soon. 

We were gone all day so we didn't start sewing until late but we did get more done.  I then started on the solids charm pack and white for the Wiggly-Whimsy Quilt. I ran out of Kona white or I may have stayed up to finish those as well.  Well, at the least the blocks.

Sunday only gave us a few hours so I made 2 drawstring bags from In Color Order. Love those!  Then I had bought two fat quarters for one Swoon Block but of course I said no extra fabric so I have to cut right but I didn't so they are sending me a new one. Hate that when that happens but at least I can get a new fat quarter!

Oh my that is one long post!  I didn't get all things on my list done but I got a lot done and am really happy with them!  This weekend should be good as well since the hubby and son will be deer hunting.  I love these two weekends every year!