Retreat Report

The retreat is over and I hope everyone had a wonderful time. I finished Lisa's quilt top with cornerstones, adding another 12 appliques to sew around, to the 108 I had already sewn. I also finished two other baby quilt tops. Now I just have to find time to quilt them. I like to do smaller projects at the retreat so I can feel as though I accomplished something, especially when some of my time is taken up with actually running the retreat.


Strip poker was a great success at the retreat! Not what you're thinking -- we used width of fabric strips as the currency. Some people were stripped of their strips while others had enough to make a quilt when they left the table. It was strictly voluntary and a few quilters just kept their ten strips for a later day! The theme was "Cowgirls Know How to Kick Up Their Heels! " so we tried to go western in every way including bandanas for everyone, sheriff 's star name tags, and a shoot'em up stage coach robbery to hand out some of the favors. We had large cowboy and cowgirl figures on the wall and the cowgirl, all dressed in pink, came home with me for 5-year-old Quinn who helped me put it up on the hallway wall- it' a bit startling when you first notice it but Quinn loved it and also has worn her pink bandanas -- she looks a bit more like a mini-snowboarder than a cowgirl.

The weather has not cooperated and the snow is piled in small mountains everywhere. Now that I can get into the shop, I've lost a bit of my retreat inspired get-up-and-go after being trapped at home for 4 days. I am currently still stippling on a 108x108 double wedding ring which I hope to finish next week. The owner has been very patient since the Level 2 snow has kept me from getting into the shop off and on for 2 weeks and I've been out of town at the retreat as well.

Next I'll quilt the three baby quilts as they each have a destination and a deadline. They're my favorite type of quilting as I can do one in a day and be creative since they are mine. I have heard rumors that there is more snow coming. It's more than a quiltin' cowgirl can take!