More Retreat Friends Pics

Here is our second group of quilters. You may notice some duplicates! Six of our quilters came to both back-to-back retreats.

 A tradition, quilters pose in front of the retreat quilt for a picture with their besties.

This group has been coming from northern Iowa for many years.

Becky brought Claire this year, her first retreat with us.

From the Marshalltown area, these gals have come for at least the last 5 or 6 years.

Jody (from Panora) and her mother Janice (from Omaha) have several years as well. I see at least 6 crystals on Janice's badge, one for every year. We all missed their friend, Darlene, but hear she will be back with them next Fall.

Marge and friends. I see at least 8 crystals on Marge's badge!

Nancy (on the right) has been to all 14 of our fall retreats. This year, she invited Becky to join us. This was Becky's first retreat ever and I do believe she enjoyed it!

More friends with new friends.

Several of our guests have made new friendships with other quilters that see only once a year at retreat. I now get lots of request to seat one group near another so they can have a proper reunion.

Here's a group of local quilters, having fun together.

Another reunion of quilters.

Nancy came to both retreats. To the first retreat, two of her sister-in-laws joined her. It was fun hearing them laugh together as they sewed away.

Betty and Liz come every year from Missouri. I believe I see 10 crystals on Betty's name badge. This year, they invited friend Pat to join them.

Another set of good friends that join us every year, Mindy and Karla.

Sister's Mary and Patty - Also long time regulars. They were minus sister Joan who is the older sister that keeps them in line  so it was a bit of a challenge :) but Joan will be back with us next year.

This was a just for fun picture. We all showed up in stripes one day.

Four of these gals come for the whole week. They are modeling their retreat fleece vests in this pic.

Retreat Group 2 pics

Colleen S.is making a quilt for each of her great nieces and nephews. Here is one more done!

Sarah R. finished up this welcoming wall hanging above and she designed a row below for a group exchange back home in Illinois.

Lonnie put this together at retreat. These are half square triangles from our Quilt Circle exchange. Gorgeous!

Gloria R. finished up this quilt, featured in our Fall 2015 retreat. Gloria changed up the colors a bit and added the orange sashing, making this her own. Very happy quilt.

Here is our quilt retreat project, Rainbow Connection, but with a very big twist. Abbie A. used black for the background instead of white and she made a queen size. Now, that's a lot of sewing in just a few days. Very nice.

Janet D. made this very special quilt, what cancer cannot do, featuring panels from Block Party Designs.

Denise S. put this quilt together. The unique thing about this quilt is that all of the blocks were made on her embroidery machine, white fabric with black thread.

---and then she colored in between the embroidery with fabric pens.

Another by Gloria S. She was with a group that came for both retreats, stitching all day,  days in a row.

Charity Quilts

We always do a charity project at retreat. This year, we played a game, exchanging pieces of pink fabric. At the end of the game, we made 9 patches from the collected fabrics. These are just some of the blocks collected including 1 star block. By the end of the 2nd retreat, we had made enough blocks to piece 6 comfort quilts.

I'll post pictures of some of the completed quilt tops soon.

Retreat Pics

Been having some computer problems so have been slow to get the retreat pics posted. Here is a very cute quilt done by Denise S.

This is quite literally 99 Bottles of Beer on the wall and it hangs behind Denise's long arm quilting machine. Denise doesn't drink beer but she managed to find someone to drink every one of these. Then she scanned the label and printed it on fabric, 99 different flavors/brands. Even the border is fabric she made by scanning beer caps.

Here is a close up.

Moda Block Shuffle

Here are the next 3 blocks. Be sure to check back the 15th of each month for 3 more blocks.

Another Show and Share

Jenny just sent me this picture of her quilt finished. Even cuter!

Jenny O. sent me this picture. It will be quilted onto a fun flannel aquatic print and then gifted to a friend for her new baby. Notice the center of the sea urchins are large yo-yos. Jenny secured them in place with a blanket stitch. So very cute. Hope we get a picture of the finished quilt.

A Show and Share Quilt

Deb S. shared this fun quilt she is making for a granddaughter. The request was to feature as much of this fabric as possible. I'd say she did it! Pretty.

The Ladies of the Lake are retreating!

We started with a little show and tell.

Liz and Betty each made this quilt. Fun to see in the different color pallets.

Betty also shared this fun quilt with us.

Bette and Bonnie shared their quilts, Flower Box Medley. Hard to see this is the same quilt pattern. Both so lovely.

Rosie shared these two quilts, above and below. The quilt above was one she started at our 2015 retreat. It combines and back of 5" charms and a pack of 2 1/2" charms. The little four patches are raw edge appliqued on. Very cute baby quilt.
 

Patty shared this beauty - Baskets of Blohms.

All around the room, quilts are coming together.

This quilt has shown up at more than a couple retreats. We are hoping this will be the week it gets finished.

Here is the first sneak peek of our quilt project with a black background rather than a white background. Stunning.

Let's talk wool!

Local artisan, Diane Thiese, just delivered these very nice groupings of hand died wool, just in time for Fall applique.

Here are a couple projects Diane has been working, wool applique on a cotton background above. The pattern is by Sue Spargo. The embroidery stitches really set it off.

The runner below is from the book Beautiful Botanicals by Debra Kemball, this one on a wool background.