Quilt Retreat!

Laura made this adorable cake!

The end of summer is marked with our visit to Cozy Home Stitches for quilt retreat. I love the time that I spend there. It's always so relaxing.... I get to sleep in if I want to, someone else is cooking, I get to work on projects without interruption and there is always lots of laughter. Love going on retreat.... I usually come back with tons done. But this is the first time I feel like I didn't get much done. No finished projects... not one.... Mom had the same dilemma, her quilt wasn't going together well and there was frustration in her corner of the world. This is unusual for mom, she usually goes home with several quilt tops done! Laura was very productive! I have her awesome projects to share... 

Laura made this lovely wedding quilt... (I drew up
the wedding couple for her) This is going to be such a
beautiful gift... She also got it machine quilted at retreat!

Colleen shared with us this beautiful quilt.
The picture just doesn't do it justice. It is phenomenal!
It won reserve champion at the county fair, which is insane...
It should have won Grand Champion!

Colleen's stitches are perfect and beautiful!

Mom is sewing away.....

This is what I accomplished at retreat.... seven Dear Jane blocks....

Laura made this cute bag, I like how she 'shadow' quilted a hexie design.

 Our next retreat is over MEA weekend at mom's house. I hope to be more productive! But I guess it's not all about what you get done. It's also about relaxing and enjoying being in the company of friends and family.

Happy quilting!

Quilt Retreat...

I had such a wonderful time on quilt retreat. I really needed the break to get away from my everyday school job and work on some projects. Just getting away and having an extra day off from work was fantastic. I'm really hoping that my quilt designing will soon become my 'job'. I love my summers because then my quilt designing is my full time job.  My focus needed to be getting ready for International Quilt Market at retreat this year... (I'm very excited to be going, but, have a list as long as I am tall.) I packed all of my ideas, started projects and a sketch of what I want my booth to look like. I brought my laptop with my pattern drafts and I went to retreat with big plans. Why does the weekend go by so very fast? I know we lost an hour on Sunday..... but it felt like I lost a day. My sister was a sweetie and helped me cut out pieces for Sample Spree and appliqued for me.  But I woefully didn't get as much done as I envisioned... mom kept telling me to make a list. I should have made out a list before I went. At retreat I would stare at my bins of fabric and sewing machine and my mind would start to race and panic would set in as I fretted over everything I wanted to get done... then mom would say, "Cindy, make a list.... you will feel better if you could cross things off your list." She was right.... I needed a list. Since being back from retreat, I have made out my list and I'm happy to say I have crossed a couple of things off the list, even if it's while I'm sitting  at my desk at work. 

So let me share a few pictures from retreat....

All packed and ready to go... I left right after work...

On the first day I got up so early the moon was still shining.....

We had tons of space to work in....

I finally got all of my little do dad's sewn onto my Minnesota Winter Wonderland quilt.

Tessa was not impressed with my winter quilt, she sat and slept in her comfy chair
while I sewed on my little buttons and other do-dads onto my quilt....

Here's a sneak peek of a table runner pattern I'm
getting ready for market....

Mom got this beautiful five yard quilt done.
It features a lovely bird print.

Gracie enjoyed the warmth of the fireplace while
we sewed. I have to say it was pretty comfy cozy by the fire.
I also spent a fair amount of time sitting by the fire.

Laura got this lovely quilt top done.
She's planning on adding a silhouette of a couple
and a wedding date to the quilt. It's going to be fabulous
when it is finish.

Awesome shirt, if it's ever missing, it's at my house!

After her bird quilt, mom worked on this teddy bear quilt.
She used leftover scraps from past projects. 

I love the added borders! So cute!

It was so much fun to go on retreat and see Colleen and Ann, our gracious hosts. I can't believe it's our 10th year going to Cozy Home Quilt Retreat! We were their first guests. It's hard to believe that that much time has passed. We are looking forward to our visit in August. Well, I've got to go get back to my list, and try to accomplish something that I can cross off 'the list'.

Happy Quilting,

October's Prize

It has been another busy month for me, I don't know where the time is going! This weekend I am enjoying a mini quilt retreat at mom's. We've been having a blast sewing, haven't gotten tons done but I have a couple fun new things to share with you soon. I did post a couple of new patterns in my Etsy and Craftsy stores. I've been slow posting this month also because I have been battling a virus that my computer has come down with! Let me just say, hackers in general are horrible individuals and there will be a special place in hell for this group of people. Enough said....

Let's get back to some quilty fun.... loving the lights... also love, love, love seeing the finish rows sewn together! Keep on posting in the  flickr group! I have a fun giveaway this month.  I picked up a cookbook from my favorite quilt retreat, Cozy home. This book is full of down to earth recipes. Many of them I have enjoyed on retreat. The cookbook also features pictures of Colleen's beautiful home and sewing areas. You will also get to meet her dogs, Gracie, George, Lilly and also Tessa.

 I am also still looking for/ waiting to hear from my two winners for the PDF copy of  Geese Around the Sun. from Soma. Please email me!

 Remember to enter the giveaway for this awesome prize, post your pictures of your finished Quilt Doodle BOM 2014 blocks or sections to the Flickr Group, Blogging about the Quilt Doodle BOM 2014 and send me a link for a chance to win this awesome cookbook from Cozy Home Stitches. Links to all of the past patterns can be found HERE. It's been fun to see the completed blocks and sections.  Here are some of the pictures that have been posted so far....

Happy Quilting

August Quilt Retreat

Arriving to Cozy Home.... love the drive in!

Just got back from quilt retreat and it's the first quilt retreat that I felt like I really didn't get anything accomplished. Don't get me wrong... I sewed and sewed and made progress on a couple of projects, but I really don't have anything to show for it.  Poor mom was stuck in pinwheel hell all weekend. Her project was beautiful... it was made with a ka-zillion pinwheels in bright spring colors, very cheerful. She tucked her quilt top away before I could take a picture! (Insert big frown here)  Laura had the most to show for her time and she had a baby with! She got two lovely quilts done, a pink 'Trip Around the World' (with side trips) and a cute Noah's Ark quilt for David. Again.... I wasn't very good at taking pictures... (I will have to be better at taking pictures next time!) Kim left retreat early since her husband lured her away with a plane ticket to Wyoming to join him on a business trip. It's their wedding anniversary this week, he must have something fun to surprise her with. 

I did get ten blocks done on my Civil War Quilt and will be sharing them over the next few weeks for Civil War Saturday. I also worked on the Quilt Doodle BOM project. I have all of the blocks completed. 

 Colleen and Ann spoiled us like normal... my goodness, the meals were fabulous! The snacks were decadent..... I'm sure I gained ten pounds, with that said I have decided to stay away from the scale and eat salads this week, or at least try to eat salads.... 

I spent some time holding my little nephew, David. He was such a little
sweetie at quilt retreat. He was so good! 

I took some breaks and admired the gardens....

The weather was beautiful... one of the gals even set up her sewing
machine outside and quilted one afternoon in the cool breeze.

I did a lot of paper piecing....

Mom and I were usually the first one's up every morning!

Tessa has gotten soooo big!

I worked on a cute small project for quilt camp to go with the 'picnic' theme.

It's the only project I completed, from start to finish!

I love the embroidered antennae! 

Going home... can't wait until retreat in March 2014! My calendar is marked!

Happy Quilting,

Quilt Retreat Part II

Happy National Quilt Day!

I was at retreat a week ago and I still haven't unpacked my machine yet! Well that's going to change today.... it's another cold day here in Minnesota and a good day for sewing.... or sitting by the fireplace watching re-runs of Downton Abbey. I must try to resist sitting in the comfy chair by the fireplace!

Let me share with you the rest of my pictures from last weekend...

Mom got quilt #2 done on the second day.... she averages a quilt a day on retreat!
She didn't like this one, but I think the colors are lovely.

Remember the quilt I'm working on with Marcus Brothers fabrics.... it still
remains un-named.  Here are all the blocks ready to be pieced together....

Laura worked on this lovely log cabin quilt for a friend.
The fabrics are beautiful...

Then Laura put a border on this wonderful pre~print panel.

Ann worked on this adorable baby quilt... she was working on the borders
when we were packing up on the last day...

I took a break from my un~named quilt... and worked on a Laundry Day  Quilt (my  pattern)
I had so much fun making the first one, I had to make another! It goes together super quick.

Here are my 2 1/2" strips sewn together.... we were watching  the first episode
of 'The Bible' when I whipped this together.

Here is my 'Laundry Day'... I didn't pack enough white for the border, this will be the new sample for my trunk show.(I'll get the border put on today!)

Tootie got this wonderful quilt done, it took all of retreat.
Isn't it beautiful!

Marie worked on this mini quilt.
the trees are made with 1" squares! 

Marie also made this fabulous mini quilt......

....and this awesome bag! Love the contrast in the colors!

Here is my un~named, soon to be new pattern...
I'm really happy with how this quilt turned out, although my
photo doesn't show the fabric well.... I'm looking forward to
quilting this one, it has some great spaces to work with.

This shows the fabric a little better....

Tootie whipped this baby quilt up using left over
flannel from other baby quilts.... so cute!

Mom also got this quilt done too!  Love how it turned out!

We also found a new shop not too far from retreat, a 10 minute drive! I wish I would have taken a photo or two.  But they were in the process of moving things around. They also have an online shop on ETSY. Next time you are in Southern Minnesota, stop by Red Brick Quilting. They are located on 110th West Main Street in Dodge Center, Minnesota. They have a wonderful selection of fabric.

 I hope that you enjoy the photos from retreat! I'm already looking forward to when I go to retreat in August!   I am also looking forward to being the guest designer during Quilt Camp at Cozy Home Stitches. I've got a few ideas for the ladies.  It'll be so much fun!

I hope that you find time to celebrate National Quilting Day! Here is a website with some free patterns to help you celebrate! 

Let me start the celebration by announcing my two winners for the Nancy Drew Blog Hop... these lucky winners get to choose a PDF pattern from my Etsy shop.

Amy

I love your bag. The little bow in the front is adorable!

Stephanie

Oh! i LOVE THE kitty mug rug, and the dog tea towel. Pick me, pick me (I feel like a little kid waving my hand as hard as I can, lol). Of course, then I have to decide. :)

Congratulations to the winners!

Happy National Quilt Day!