A Fun Time at Retreat and Mug Rug Hop Giveaway Winners

Don't you just love quilting retreats? The people you meet, the projects that get completed (or not completed), the food you eat, the door prizes that are won (not by me this time) and the new and old techniques that are shared. It's always such a fun gathering! (Tiring too)!

This past Friday and Saturday my LQS, A Scarlet Thread, which is, by the way the largest quilt shop in Georgia, had their quarterly retreat. Yes...they host a retreat every quarter (except in July when they host their Quilter's Camp (day camp) that last for an entire week!

The retreat is a day time retreat from 9am to 9pm Friday and Saturday. You can pay for one day or both days.  And talk about reasonably priced...$35 for one day and $60 for both days and that comes with breakfast, lunch and snacks throughout the day. Supper is ordered and paid for separately and advance orders are generally through the local Chick-fil-a or BBQ place...anyway, you get it, lots to eat! The classroom holds about 30 participants and that makes for lots and lots of sewing, laughing, and all around good fun.

I generally bring my Featherweight to classes and retreats because it's so portable. This is how I started my day.

As the day progressed with all the machines humming and the participants chatting there were several demonstrations. This one was on Hexies...I didn't realize you could do so much with them!

My favorite new tool is this magnet pin "cushion" for the wrist. I thought I might stick myself but I didn't. It works really well and was so convenient to use! Ummm...I wonder if it has arthritis magnet therapy properties too..ummm.

Here is the package it came in if anyone is interested...The Gypsy Pin Pal. They have lots of cool gadgets on their site.

Yay! Someone is almost done with their Amish with a Twist. This is a BOM that is offered through the quilt store.  The colors are fabulous.  The border has a beautiful applique design.  (How do you like that thread catcher and pin cushion hanging on the table. Several retreaters had them. I guess I will need to make me one too)

I worked on my Kaleidoscope quilt at retreat and got them all sashed together. Today I'm going in search of border fabric. This quilt came together nicely. I'm glad I looked through my UFOs and found all the blocks. I plan to make pillow shams with the 6 kaleidoscope blocks that are left.

These are some of the blocks up close. I have 49 blocks in the king size quilt and none of them are the same. All the block designs came from about a yard of fabric....8 yards of course with the same repeat pattern. (8 pieces to the pie).

To see the original fabric design uncut... click here.

Once I finished putting the sashing on the Kaleidoscope quilt I started on another UFO from this strip set. These are not really my colors but I guess when I started these blocks I was coming out of the safety range of my box...which is good to do every now and then.

I made these blocks...it's the only piece that you use.....

...to make this block. 

I think I can live with it and the colors are growing on me. How many will I make? Who knows...I may just make place mats. It's kind of a "no thinking" block which is good when coming off a bigger project. Kind of a relaxing the brain sorta thing.

As a bonus, I do have these little HST now that I can do something with. This is definitely a no waste block.

The block pattern came from this really neat book.  Actually it's the clover quilt on the front. This is a very versatile book and should be a part of your collection of quilting books.  It offers a lot of border suggestions also which I find very helpful when I'm in rut. 

Thanks for sticking with me during this post. I hope you will soon treat yourself to a retreat and have as much fun as I did. We all deserve a little time away with our sewing machines and other folks who like doing the same thing together.

And...

My Mug Rug Blog Hop winners are:

MoeWest who won the first set of fat quarters 

and

Joyce Carter who won the second set.

Congratulations to both. They've been contacted and all is set for their prizes to arrive at their doors soon. Thanks to all who follow me!

Happy Living! Happy Quilting!