Virtual Quilting Retreats

Lovely bunny project

This month, I attended two virtual quilt retreats. Since COVID, I've stitched via Zoom with a couple small quilting groups. I liked the experience. I have missed our in person quilting days in addition to all the other in person activities I did before COVID. Zoom, for me, is almost like meeting in person.

The first quilting retreat was through the Mt. Hood Quilters guild. We drove to the church parking lot, where we met pre-COVID, on a specific day and time to pick up our retreat packets. There were at least five small wrapped and numbered gifts in the bag which we opened at various times throughout the retreat. I didn't photograph the gifts which I should have! All were wonderful! The retreat was scheduled over four days--Thursday through Sunday. The hours were 9am-7pm Thursday though Saturday and 9am-3pm on Sunday. 

I quilted on Unity during the retreat. I finished the last skinny border and started quilting the last full border. Every day, the retreat chair would ask a question and over the course of the day each person would answer as she called each of us by name. This was a great way to get to know people. 

One of the retreaters led us through chair yoga exercises which was a great way to break up the day as well as help the body continue to quilt. There was a lot of interaction

Retreat blocks

between the 32 attendees. I liked how people posted their show and tell projects on the Facebook page associated with the retreat. We had a story night which was wonderful.

We sewed two Lovely Bunnies for charity. A Lovely Bunny is a small comfort item for new parents who are waiting for their baby to arrive and whose baby may spend time in the NICU. We learned that sometimes, the parents hand stitch the kit while they wait for their baby to arrive because it gives new Dads a task for their fingers rather than worry about outcomes. 

In the photo you see the back and the front of the two that I made from the kit that was in my bag. I didn't have the fabric paint to complete the face which goes on the white square in the yellow  bunny. I will make more of these as I have some flannel which will be perfect for this project.

Me with my retreat bag

The first morning after the retreat, I missed hearing the "Good morning" greeting. I loved having company while I quilted away. I missed the camaraderie! I had a lovely experience.

The second online retreat was through the Clark County Quilters. It also was a Thursday through Sunday event. It has been five years since I've attended a retreat. Previously, the dates didn't work in my calendar. I was a late addition and the last to the group which had 43 participants. I got in because someone was unable to attend. This retreat had a retreat block which was Salt and Pepper by Kim Schaefer with Andover fabrics. Those that wanted to participate made four blocks. I loved the blocks and hoped that I would win some back to make this quilt!

You could also participate in a fabric square exchange. This year we exchanged 40 black and white ten inch squares. If I adapt the pattern a bit, I may still be able to make this quilt using the ten inch squares. If you wanted to participate in the block drawing and exchange, you had a deadline to submit your items. The committee collated the fabric squares back to the participants. The chair drew the winners for the blocks and included the blocks in the appropriate

Results of a scavenger hunt

retreat bag.

The committee person in charge of my group delivered the retreat bags to each of us. Another committee member and friends stitched all the bags. Sadly, I wasn't a block winner. Those that were the winners though could have their project quilted if they put their blocks together before retreat. What a sweet incentive! Three of the four winners took advantage of that option. The retreat chair is a longarmer.

We played games. One game was a scavenger hunt which was a hoot! I liked that the winner was chosen based on participation rather than who had the most right answers or who texted the photo first. I liked that approach. The games were a great stretch break too!

I spent most of my days quilting Unity. The background swirl takes a lot of time to stitch. I had a goal to piece three "Frolic" blocks and to put a few pieces of fabric on the butterfly collage. Most days I completed the first two goals.

If this had been an in person retreat, I wouldn't have been able to work on the butterfly or the quilting because of space issues. I loved sleeping in my own bed and not packing all my supplies. Yesterday, I mailed my registration for the  Spring retreat which happens at the end of February.

For people who can't get away to an in person retreat, a virtual retreat is great. In person retreats are great too and I expect that both will exist in the future. Connecting with fellow quilters so often this month sure has improved my spirits. It was great to laugh and it was great to hear laughter!

Year End Accounting

At the beginning of each year, I make a plan on what projects I want to finish. This year, I also made a goal of using 50 yards of fabric from my stash.

I wanted to quilt these:
Butterfly:
It's pieced. I just need to figure out the quilting!

















BOM: I wanted to embroider words as one of the borders. . .well, I still want to; but, need to be more proficient at the embroidery!










Chickens--this was a BOM from about 2007! I have most of the applique done. Need to put the blocks together and finish the applique that crosses over the blocks.

There are also some smaller projects; but, enough of what didn't get done as this is supposed to be a blog about FINISHING! :)
By the way, I plan to leave ALL of these projects on the list for next year!













I did quilt these:

Pinwheel Twist
made from some old blocks. . .hmmm the story could be a future blog!

Blueberry Lime. I blogged about it here and here.

Dad's Stars. I blogged about it here and here. 

Ouch:A book club quilt for the book, "Jane."


Ripples: A book club quilt for the book, "The Husband's Secret." I blogged about it here.

Pathways: A book club quilt for the book, "Wild." I blogged about it here.

Joy One. I had LOADS to blog about the words here and here!

Joy Two: You can read about it here and here.

Circus quilt. This is a raffle quilt for a small group that I'm part of. I completed all of the machine applique. 

Positively: A book club quilt for the book, "Where Lilacs Still Bloom." You can read about the process here, here and here.

The grands wanted pajamas and dresses/outfits. Of course, I obliged! You can read about the cape here. Last week, I blogged about the jean skirt and pajamas I stitched from fabrics that the grands had picked. You can see those photos here.

Four of the pillow cases that we stitched.

The granddaughters and I stitched 26 pillowcases. My goal was 24; but, the grands got excited with the fabric selection so we made extra. We donated 21 to a transition house. The oldest granddaughter can't understand that some kids might not have a pillowcase of their own. She likes picking the fabrics!

The liner and cover

I also made 14 hot/cold rice packs. These are gifts for family and friends. 

Rice Pack ready to use!

I embroidered 45 tea cup luggage tags as gifts for the Spring retreaters. Then I embroidered about a dozen more just for gifts!!

The theme for the Spring Retreat was "Tea for 42" so I made the tea cup luggage tags; but the other luggage tags were just too cute to not stitch!

There was also that special stocking.

I used about 65 yards of fabric from my stash. I replaced at least 15 yards; but I do have a little more space in my fabric tubs. The emphasis here is "little." My stash needs more thinning! 

A highlight of the year was working with a small group and working through The Artist's Way exercises. I found the group input helpful and inspiring. It has been about six months since we met; but, I'm still following my plan. . .well, at least, I'm planning and working towards goals! It has been a great year! Now to refine my plans and make 2016 an even more productive year!

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??  

Packed for Retreat and a "Positively" update!

I'm excited about our fall retreat. I've been organizing, cutting and packing projects. These are the projects so far!! 
I cut the fabrics for the guild's mystery quilt. Two of the fabrics came from my stash!!! I purchased the top two fabrics. That print batik has been marinating in my stash for more than nine years!

I said to myself, "Enough petting!!! Use it!"
















I determined how I was going to make the complimentary block to my churn dash. Click the link to read what promoted me to stitch these! I even stitched a sample so I know my idea will work. 

I packed my string geese project to add "wings" to the "geese." I was asked to provide a demo so decided this would be a great project to share. This is a Bonnie Hunter technique. The string pieced geese in this photo represent the contents of a two gallon plastic bag stuffed full of strings less than 1 1/2 inches wide. I'll know after retreat how many more I need to stitch! I'll also know how many blocks I've sewn!! (By the way, since emptying the two gallon bag, I've been filling a quart bag of strings!) Before Bonnie Hunter, I threw these away. Soon, I'm going to have enough blocks for a top! Who knew???







I packed "Positively too. 
This is what the top looked liked after I had the coins stitched to the sides and started to place the piano key border.

















Here is the top with the piano keys. I like it!!!

Then, I pieced the remaining pieces.

I didn't have many left! 

















I used 38 seven inch squares from the previous fall retreat exchange and I added two more squares of red and another neutral square that is featured in the second scrappy block. This was the fabric that I exchanged!

Then it was time to audition bigger fabric pieces for the back. I can't close the green drawer on my stash, so the back had to have some green! :) I sure like the interest a pieced back gives to a quilt.

The dark fabric was a fat quarter that we received at retreat. I have a few "strings" left of the dark green; but, the lime green is gone!

Then I packed the project so I can pin baste it for quilting. It measures about 32"w x 49"h. 

I also cut the strips and triangles for the sashing for my hexagon BOM. I didn't realize when I decided to use both backgrounds how hard it would make finding sashing/border fabric!!! I've packed more; but, will save that for a later post. Let's see how much progress I can make!!!!

Mini Churn Dash Blocks

As I posted last week, I made churn dash blocks from the 7"squares. 



By the end of the retreat though, I had 32 blocks finished. I'll share one block here. Not sure what the next step is going to be. I didn't use a lot of the 7" block so I have quite a bit left over. I plan to incorporate the leftovers as sashing or perhaps, I'll just piece the churn dashes into long strips and use the leftovers to fill the space. . .hmmm. . .just not sure; but, it is fun to think about another project when the current project one is working on is b o r i n g!!!







I finished quilting in the green star points. What is boring on this project is that it is so repetitious. I decided that the quilting should be in the background so that the star piecing and the colors would be the stars of the quilt.

Then started quilting feathers in the green diamond blocks. 



I was close to finishing these feathers when I discovered I had caught the backing while quilting a green star point. Ripping is involved and I decided, I would tackle that step another day!

I'm closing in on the end of the quilting on this project. The next step will be to quilt feathers in the purple diamonds. Then it will be on to the blocking step which is going to be interesting because the quilting I've done so far has made the quilt wonky!!

I am looking forward to finishing "several" small projects and then starting a new project.