May 2026 Retreat

I think delaying the blog post about one retreat until just before the next must be some sort of self-imposed memory or cognitive test.  What was I thinking?  I will give it my best try in attributing projects to their makers.  My apologies for any mistakes.  We were missing Fran this time around but she was with us in spirit.

Luann

Laura

Susie

Susie and Mary Ann were also binding the wedding quilt for Emily.

Gwen

Mary Ann

Lynn

Caryn was working on binding this beauty.

Prudie was working on Tula Delectable Mountains.  

Dianne worked up this scrappy top.

Kathy was working on her Missouri Star jewel toned stars and contemplating some cows.

Syd worked on many things and somehow I only got two captured in photos.  It is a mystery.  

I worked on some donated sampler blocks, turned a big pile of solids and Ruby Star into blocks that would later get sashing and cornerstones, some Tula Butterfly quilt blocks and a small scale exercise from Tara Faughnan's Block Studies.

Jan put together a potato chip scrap top that was stunning.  She also used her trimmings from the January retreat flying geese top to make a very pretty and precise HST top plus some cute and bright flowers.

As always, Jan got some great candid shots.

Last, but not least, we presented Laura with a retirement quilt.  We do love a secret project.

Til next time .... 

January 2026 Retreat

Our January retreat was lots of fun, as usual.  There is always some variation from time to time and, this time, it was the threat of a big snowstorm.  There was also a wedding, with outdoor photos on the frozen tundra.  The heat in the sewing room waned at some point.  Hotel staff was great getting the heat fixed as we headed into the weekend.  Some of us made the last minute plan to stay overnight Sunday to avoid the worst of the Sunday storm.  Another night of sewing and hunkering down made it feel like a quilty snow day.  An unexpected bonus.

Here are a few photos of some of the projects we sewed.

Prudie put together this lovely block.  Laura also delivered a quilted top. 

Karen was piecing some pretty blocks.  She also received a couple of quilted quilts from Laura.

Lynn was finishing up her daisy top and piecing some Kaffe majestic mountains.

Mary Ann and Susie were working on a special quilt for an upcoming wedding.

Mary Ann was working on this ombre project and (I think) the compass project.

Susie had a couple of projects in the works.

Laura was working on an ocean themed Stack and Whack (her first) and some batik string blocks, plus a couple of other scrappy projects.

Luann was working on the Shop Hop project and a really cool aviation themed top.

Dianne was piecing some scrappy blocks that included several vintage gems.

Kathy did a jelly roll race top and worked on her pretty jewel toned Missouri Star project.

Syd worked on several projects including a Modern Quilt Studio Mystery, pieced tops for an upcoming Natalia Bonner FMQ workshop, McKenna Ryan prints and pieced plus border, and a jelly roll race top.

I was distracted by the large bow patterns and projects that seemed to be the hot item at the shops (short person for scale in this photo).

I also put together a Ruby Star Twinkle top, jelly roll race top, an inspirational wall hanging, and turned a big pile of scrap strips into string blocks for a guild project.

Jan put together her bee-themed Gudrun top, multiple Happy Scrappers projects, basted a tessellated project, and a jelly roll race top.  Jan was the race winner but there were no prizes awarded.  Jan also worked on I Spy blocks in between things.

And, that's a wrap!  Until next time, Divas!