My February 2019 Retreat Projects

It always seems to take twice as long to work on a project than I estimate when packing my retreat stash. I started my retreat by joining blocks to make a twin quilt. I had enough blocks to make two twins but only got one done. I still need to come up with a border to finish this top.

I made great progress on the Bigfoot pattern from Elizabeth Hartman called, "Legend." 

The colors are a little off in this photo. There are 14 tree blocks in total and I did get all of them done. I need to track down more background fabric to work in the quote, "All who wander are not lost." 

And I finished up my retreat by getting this mini quilt top done. These are ornament redwork blocks from the Australian designer, Lynette Anderson. The series is titled, "Sweet Christmas." She did offer a free pattern to set the blocks as a quilt but I made up a different design. I'm trying to talk myself into hand quilting this one. I have done a bit of hand quilting but it has been several years. It is 28-inches square so not too daunting

I took two other projects that didn't get touched but at least I didn't run out of options.

There is just something extra special about sewing in a room full of other quilters for several days. I will miss the next retreat in May and will have to wait until October for the opportunity to attend again.

Retreat Photos

Lots of eye candy from the Material Girls quilt retreat. Some are show and tell and some are projects worked on at the retreat.  I will identify patterns if I know them.

No idea what the name of this pattern is but it looks like a good one for layer cakes.

Snowballs and Nine Patches on diagonal.

BQ 4 pattern.

Don't know this butterfly pattern name.

Jewel Box with a border of 2-inch squares. Another border or two is planned to make this queen-sized.

Norwegian Snowflakes. Here is the free pattern.

Memory Quilt for a bereaved son of teacher.

Backside of the quilt.

Memory quilt for the bereaved daughter of teacher.

Backside of the daughter's quilt.

A Memory Pillow made from the deceased teacher's shirt. The school colors where he worked were purple and white.

We had a wonky tree table runner class.

No pattern info on the rest of the projects

I'm doing a separate posting to my projects from retreat.

Prepping for Retreat

I had some fun making two sets of single-alphabet straight pins and a set of double-lettered alphabet straight pins...and I had my new pincushion to hold them all.

I needed those pins to mark lots of parts to make,"Legendary," from Elizabeth Hartman.

My son who is in Air Force pilot training loves Bigfoot folklore. I want to add the quote, "All who wander are not lost," to the quilt but will tackle making the blocks first. 

The second project I'm taking to quilt retreat is a mini quilt I designed on the computer program EQ8 incorporating my redwork blocks, "Sweet Christmas," from Australian quilt designer, Lynette Anderson. I made a sample of the star block to double check my measurements. Looking good. 

I also have two UFOs tucked in the stash to take. 

In the evenings, I am usually ready to stop working on my sewing machine so I am also taking several of my Bucilla stockings that only need some hand sewing to finish off linings.

Tomorrow I will spend most of the day prepping my food. I am attending three nights and although there is a full kitchen and a small kitchen available, with 14 other quilters in attendance there is never enough room to prepare meals. I have been on a whole food plant based diet for almost a year now so no prepackaged foods for me. It's good food but takes dedicated time to prepare for four days.

And then it will be time to pack my car!