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!

August 2025 Retreat

I had good intentions to write this post just as soon as I got home from the retreat in August.  How can it possibly be the last day of November?  I'll do my best to correctly attribute photos to the maker.  Sorry If I got yours wrong!  :-)

Syd kicked things off by finishing her Jinny Beyer Moonglow.  This is a fantastic achievement and I got zero photos. If you don't remember what the pattern looks like, here's a link.  

Syd also worked on this one with solids. 

And also this project ... pattern shows the overall design.

Fran brought her beautiful Bargellographix so that she could piece a backing for it.

Kathy worked on a Missouri Star pattern, using rich jewel tones.

Mary Ann brought two sets of Stack and Whack blocks so that she could buy/audition setting fabrics.  We were mesmerized by the flamingo fabric (courtesy of Judy).

Lynn was working hard on two different Pen and Paper patterns.

Karen had a very cute and precise I spy hexie baby quilt top. I am inspired to make one of these someday.

Prudie worked on Stack and Whack blocks from a beautiful tropical bird print.

Susie was piecing soft, pretty stars.

Someone was binding this quilt but my memory fails me.

Somehow I didn't capture what Gwen was working on but, possibly, this was her binding project.  Love that backing.

Dianne was making a beautiful yellow, green and blue quilt.

Stacks of fabrics, ready to be cut.

This was another binding project. I believe Karen was finishing it for her niece.  Not a great shot.

Jan was working on I spys and, also, these two really cool Kaffe projects.

I brought only a couple of projects.  First, some die cut log cabins donated for a charity quilt.

I also worked on my Sherman in pajamas blocks.  Here's a photo from a retreat this month where I got all of the blocks finished and put together.

As a special treat, Dianne brought a gown that she wore to an inaugural gala.  It was an amazing piece.

Of course, we always have to review our shopping hauls.

Thanks to Jan, as always, for being our selfie expert who can manage to squeeze us all into the shot.

Thanks to everyone for a great time! Looking forward to January!