Anyone Can Quilt

sick day, sewing day

Big Sis is a but under the weather today.  So lots of cartoons and cuddling, 7up and dry toast.  And of course mama waiting on her hand and foot.  But best of all today seems to be this.

Priceless puppy therapy.

 

While everybody is snuggly, comfy and content, I am stealing away to the sewing room throughout the day.  

 

I can't wait to get this quilt top finished.  These are the blocks I worked on at the retreat.  They are so pretty, and each one seemed to take forever to finish.  But I got all nine of them done.  Phew.

 

 

 

This quilt pattern is called Toulouse, by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. 

 

Ya, I think I'm so cool finishing all of my blocks and then I look at the pattern... lots more to do.  Like all of the sashing bits and then the flying geese border!!  But won't it be gorgeous hanging on the wall above my couch for the holidays?  I am clasping my hands and giggling in anticipation.  I know I've jumped ahead, as I tend to do lately.  I have plenty of quilts ready and waiting to be quilted.  And then there's the vintage sheet quilt ready for binding.... still.  But nope, I won't think of that large to-do pile.  I will work on whatever the heck I feel like working on, so there.  Really it's the creative process that's important isn't it?  Not what gets finished in what order.  So you can just hush up closet full of quilt tops, and wait your turn.  And that goes for you too dishes, I'll wash you sorry suckers when I'm good and ready!  And if I hear one more peep out of you laundry pile, you're gonna wish you were never born.  Ooooh I'm so mean.  hehe

 

Ok, the sashing is calling to me.  I hope you get to work on whatever makes you happy today, and feel free to shake a fist at your house chores, and then call them a bad name.  You know you want to.   :)

x's and o's

p.s. Big Sis is feeling much better.

The most fun ever.

I got to go on a quilting retreat!!  Four days of non stop sewing, eating, visiting, laughing, sewing and eating some more, more laughing... you get the picture.  And my mom even got to come with me.  We had an absolute blast.  Guess who my next table neighbor was...

Here's a clue:

 

Here's another hint:

 

It's my friend Monica of Happy Zombie!  She is so fun.  And her sewing table looked just like you would imagine it to.  Full of Happy... and booze.  Ok, not full of booze, but there were cocktails and fun snacks.  We knew we were destined for fun when we realized that we both had a My Little Pony toy from our Happy Meals to sit on our machines.  We put bows in their hair and they became our retreat mascots.

 

... and they got into the booze.  Monica's is passed out and mine is still dancing.

It rained the whole time we were there.  Which was wonderful.  I loved listening to the rain as we all stitched away.  All of our meals were provided too, so we didn't have to do anything but sew!  What a dream it was. 

 

Show and tell was amazing.  There were so many gorgeous quilts.  These were my favorites. 

 

This one was from the 1800's.  Holy cow.

 

 

 

 

 

Robin there on the right makes these huge quilts out of 2" squares.  She makes millions of them!!  Ok, maybe not quite that many.  I love her quilts! 

 

This one above is my mama's quilt.  She lives in Montana and sleeps on a log bed. 

 

 

 

This is fellow blogger/new friend Evelyn's vintage sheet quilt.  Isn't it gorgeous?  I even recognize some of the sheets from my vsq in this.  I love the zig-zags!

Ok, here's where the major heart palpitations started.  I've been wanting to make a Union Jack quilt for a few months now but wasn't sure how the best way to go about it was.  Then there was this:

 

Not only did the beautiful Michelle make this quilt, but she is the designer!  She is the designer of Busy Bee Quilt Designs and is so talented and kind.  She even gifted me with some of her patterns including this one called Liberty Garden.  I am so exited and can't wait to get started on one of these!  Thank you so much Michelle.

 

 

Look at this teapot quilt! 

 

 

One night nearly everyone was off to bed, except for Monica, Karen (the fabulous host of this fabulous retreat), and I.  It was so quiet. 

 

As I strolled around looking at everyone's projects I spotted these.

 

These were my favorites:

 

 

Then somehow this happened:

 

Oh yes I did.  There may or may not have been rollerskating/office chair with wheels races... and synchronized office wheelie chair dancing.  And there may or may not be a video of such an event in existence.  p.s., I didn't fall, and I give Monica a 10.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Monica:

Can you tell we had fun?  The retreat setting was beautiful. 

 

 

 

 

 

The building on the left was where we ate and the building on the right was where we sewed. 

 

 

 

It was sad when it was time to pack up for the 5 hour drive home.

The ponies said their goodbyes:

 

My purple pony thinks she's so cool. 

 

But Monica's pony is a little bit of a tramp.  Look, she's showing off her tramp stamp.

 

We said our farewells and headed on home.  The drive is so pretty.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't wait for next year!  x