Quilting Retreat

Can I just say that a quilting retreat is a blast?   We had four spectacular days of sewing, shopping, cooking, eating, watching sunsets on the beach, laughing and visiting.  It's amazing how much can be accomplished when you have no interruptions.

These are the three gals who joined me - Elizabeth, Lisa and Leisa (with Elizabeth's and Leisa's finished quilt tops).

Elizabeth was our "official" photographer for the retreat so you can check out her BLOG to see our fun documented.  She did an incredible post on it and I won't even try to compete with it.  She also posted on IG at #beachsidequiltingretreat while we were there.

There were wonderful gifts exchanged.  Look at all of the great new items I was showered with on my first retreat.

So....what did I accomplish?

My tree skirt is finished.  Thank you, Connie, for the help in finding her old post where she made the beautiful tree skirt that I duplicated.

I managed to piece my Allietare quilt from Bonnie Hunter's QAL last winter.  I love, love, love the colors in this.  I'll get my borders on and get it quilted, hopefully, before the next QAL this winter.

I thought this Grinch paper pieced design was so cute and had so much fun stitching this one up.  It is a free Kristi Lehame design from Peachblossom Patterns.

We made red X blocks for the #70273 Project Brigade.  You can read all about it HERE.  Be sure to check it out as I am sure you will want to join in on this project.  If you as as touched as I was,you will want to make many more red x blocks because of their significance.

Are any of you familiar with Peppa Pig?  The grandkids here love the show and I found some great flannel for a nightgown for an upcoming birthday gift.

There were several other finishes, but those are secret for the moment.  I will show them later.

We contributed a bit to the economy on our outings (as you will see on Elizabeth's posts) but in one antique shop there WERE two of these gorgeous Le Crueset pumpkin pans. We scored big time on these.  They worked really well on making bread for dinner when we got home.  They also look beautiful sitting on the stove for fall!

  

   

Returning home I had a lovely package in the mail from Wendy of Ivory Spring.  I had won these beautiful Rosewater FQ by Windham.  Thanks, Wendy.  I will enjoy these beautiful prints.

Now to finish unpacking and getting the sewing room back together!

Christmas is Coming

July seemed to be all about Christmas - so many great ideas.  For me, every year I tell myself that I am going to make a new tree skirt.  Every year as Christmas approaches the time runs out and I move the idea to next year's list.

Several years ago Connie (Freemotion by the River fame) did a beautiful tree skirt in reds.  She was kind enough to send me her link for it and I got busy on the piecing of it this week.  All it needs now is the quilting, cutting and binding.  I think this is the year my new tree skirt will happen.  It was a great use for the red scraps.

Not only that, but look at all of the fun HSTs I have from it.  Hmmmm.

The baby birds are growing.  They are taking on their "vulture" phase this week.  All but the youngest has eyes opened and the ablility to see the world now.  There was real chaos in the cage this week as the oldest baby managed to escape the nesting box.  There was relief in all when I slipped it back in place.  I don't think it will try that again soon.  The size of their feet crack me up.

Today is tree trimming day before the Santa Ana winds start here.  I never cease to be fascinated seeing these men at the top of the huge eucalyptus trees.  The yard always looks so different when the trees are opened up.

There is a fun looking QAL coming up in a few short days.  I am planning on playing along.....how about you?  Check it out here.

I'm off to mending for today - a necessity of life!!

Linking up this week to Fort Worth Fabric Studio, Finished or not Fridays at Busy Hands Quilts, and Midweek Makers at Quilt Fabrication .