Retreat update--no finishes; but progress made!

What do you get when you combine 47 ladies and some fabric? Lots of fun and creativity, that's what!!

The one project I did not work on was the mystery quilt project through the guild. Maybe this week I will work on the second step.

I spent lots of time working on the hexagon blocks. I generally forget how long it takes to apply the sashings and borders! What is terrific about this progress is that with three blocks left to stitch in the mystery, the first nine are set! I like how the green and orange muted the dark and light backgrounds. I did have a cutting error in that I cut two extra 3 1/2" strips which won't leave me enough fabric to cut the outer borders. I haven't found any more of this batik so a new plan will emerge. I actually have an idea and have my fingers crossed that it will work!

While I was sashing, we had a mystery project. If you wanted to participate you brought three fat quarters (FQs)in a brown bag and then you had an exchange. Once you had the new three FQs, you made something out of them. 

I made two fold up totes with the FQs I received. Below are my samples:

                                                               
         

I received this table mat with the FQs I put in my brown bag. The back is what is unique about this project though. The gal backed the piece with a piece of her Swedish weaving! She even signed her work!
Isn't that extra special?

                                   

My next project was to work on the square in a square blocks to compliment the churn dash blocks I made months ago. With the two blocks, there is a lot going on; but, I think the two blocks work together and will live nicely together in a quilt. I also cut a few plain squares from some of the bigger print fabrics to throw into the mix. I want the viewer to wonder, what was she thinking? When they see that I've a few of these plain squares among the blocks. It is turning into an "I Spy" type quilt! 

I still have fabric left from the seven inch exchange squares. How many more square in a square blocks and churn dash blocks and plain squares I'll need remains a mystery for now.

The last project that I worked on was the string geese. I gave a demonstration on how to make them to the group. The demonstration was well received. I talked about Bonnie Hunter's scrap saving system and shared where they could find the directions to how she cuts her scraps as well as this geese tutorial.

In the past, I would have thrown away most of those scraps. For a time, I wasn't going to save that small stuff because I "couldn't" make anything out of it! Well, look at me now, cutting use able strips, squares and blocks out of the project's scraps. In the end only tossing pieces that are under an inch wide!

My goal was to sew the "wings" on all of the geese that were made. I didn't get that far. I did sew all the "wings" I had cut on the available geese. I did tear the paper from a number of geese; but, I still have more to go. Also, I still don't know how many geese I have! The plan was to count them so I knew how many more I needed to string piece. I'm saving that for another day! Isn't it good to be able to save tasks for another day??