Funny How Time Slips Away

I can't believe how fast the tie is going by,.

Almost a month since I last posted. 

Not because I had nothing to say,

I just didn't write it.

Here is another UFO marked off the list.

I sure love my new to me Sweet Sixteen! 

This is Friends and Companions Designers Sew Along by Marcus Fabrics. (2014)

Here is the link to Marcus Fabrics page about the quilt but I didn't go down the rabbit hole to see if the links to the designers leads to the blocks. 

I do remember it was a fun quilt to make. 

I was ready to quilt a smaller quilt so I jumped ahead on my Judy L Challenge.

I used flannel for the back. 

Daughter Crystal and I attended our retreat last weekend.

I decided to focus on this UFO designed by Judy L and the September project for her challenge. 

I did a quick search of her page and found it here.

I had the center complete and the framing pieced border was on and border 3 was pieced.

I cut fabric for all the other borders and made this my first project.

I took all the extra fabric thinking I could piece the back.

Wrong, so  I pulled out a new project that I can't share yet. 

When I came home at night, I went into the backing stash 

and found a 6 yard piece of flannel. 

That wasn't enough so I grabbed all my flannel that went with my flannel.

That was my project for because I wanted to pass it to my long arm quilter friend Jane.

I take a picture of this old snag at each retreat. 

I had a blast hanging out with my daughter and my friends. 

I love these gals!!

Today my dear sweat friend Pam (Hey Pam!) read me a text from a high school friend Ruth.

So here's a message for you Ruth.

Heeeyyyy.  I am so jealous of your planned trip. 

Thanks for reading my blog.
One of these days we have to get together! 

Design Wall Monday

I had my list of projects to work on at retreat.

First on the list was to put the binding on this quilt.

I'll hand stitch it down this week while watching tv at night.

Next up was to finish up the doll clothes.

I had the pants finished and made this shirt.

I'll make the remaining shirts at home and mail them to my friend this week.

My machine doesn't like to sew skinny knit seams.

But she does great paper piecing which was my next project

 and what I worked on the rest of the weekend.

I ended the weekend with 20 completed Virginia Bound quarters and

18 more with the centers sewn.

Mindless string sewing is a great retreat project.

When I got home from retreat, 

my energy level was low but my mind wouldn't shut off.

I decided to create a temporary design wall to work on this baby quilt.

It wasn't as easy as it was in my mind but I got it done.

Now I'll make progress on the baby quilt.

 Monday morning edit:
Blocks fell off into a pile on the floor.

I'll continue to use my bed as a design wall until I purchase some foam insulation.

BooHoo.

As I do with each retreat, 

I stopped to take a picture of the tree snag.

The fall colors were stunning.

The weather was clear and cold and beautiful!

My project list is long but my energy level is high!

We had a great time with friends old and new.

I especially love when I can retreat with one of my daughters.

Check out other Design Walls at Small Quilt and Doll Quilts. 

Design Wall Monday

It was retreat weekend.

We had so much fun.

I had my projects and of the 5 I had planned,

4 were completed.

Project 1 was to make an apron for Granddaughter Stellie.

I've put this off way too long! 

#2 on the list was to make these heart blocks for a special project.

So cute!!

#3 was to frame these pinwheel blocks for a special baby quilt.

I have saved these pinwheels and was thrilled when I came across them and 

a baby quilt design popped in my head. 

Project 4 was was to work on this cute wall hanging.

I'm making it for Clella.

I'm going to put some of my Gramma's buttons on it for the centers of the flowers.

How fun to have something made by your Gramma that contains something from her Gramma!

We retreat at Royal Ridges.

I've been retreating here for 20 years. 

There were 6 horses up on the hill above the sewing room.

Every retreat I take a picture of this snag. 

It's fun to use it as a landmark. 

I'll be going back there in a few weeks,

I'm hoping the fall leaves are still there. 

See all the fabulous design walls this weeks at

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts Design Wall Monday.

Enjoy your week!

I like Thursdays #6

This week's I Like Thursday will be about my favorite retreat place.

It's close to my home. 

I've been coming here for retreats for 20 years.

I take a picture of this snag (dead tree) every visit.

One day it will be on the ground.

I will be sad.

There is always a welcome sign.

I love these Turkens!

I need to add these to my flock. 

I discovered this almond butter.

I will be buying lots of this.

My dear friend and table mate, Marian. 

I sat staring at the snack table but did not indulge except the almond butter and veggies.

That was the toughest part of the whole retreat!!!

Friendship at meals.

I absolutely love these ladies and our time together!

The chaos that is the sewing room.

With 24 quilters, there is a lot of stuff!

But oh my, the inspiration is fabulous.

The walk up from the kitchen and cabins to the sewing room.

I love all the rail fences.

I love quilts on rail fences.

I love On Ringo Lake by the old steel wagon wheels.

See the cabin in the background.

I just love Royal Ridges Retreat!

I love that I have such a history at this place.

When I was a child, the owners of this property would take us to church 

and about once a month, we would come to their home for Sunday dinner.

The adults would adult and the kids would explore this great farm.

When the owners were elderly, they donated a huge section for a church retreat for children.

It became a huge success.

It's fun to see the buses full of retreaters in the summertime.

I know where they are headed and that they are going to have a blast.

See other I Like Thursday posts linked to 

Not Afraid of Color.

Design Wall Monday

Wahoo, wahoo, wahoo!!!

Midnight Flight is finished and headed to my bed today.

I started this quilt in May at a retreat with Bonnie Hunter.

I am thrilled to have it finished.

My friend Jane quilted it.

I told her I wanted gold thread and swirls and to just do her Jane thing.

I love what she did!

I have been working hard on trimming up the scraps.

I am pleased to report that the backing extras are cut to usable sizes and put away.

Each retreat I stop to take a picture of this snag.

It's on the road into Royal Ridges.

I was a bit disappointed that the leaves weren't all orange yet.

Maybe they will still be there when I go back in November.

Like this photo from November 2015.

I worked on the secret birthday project until all the blocks were complete.

They are now stacked and pinned in rows thanks to help from friends.

Next up was Garden Party #2.

I just took posy block kits and I think I completed 30 more blocks.

These are so fun to make.

All the while, leader and ender Oklahoma Backroad blocks were being made.

I think 21 more blocks were completed.

I'm almost ready to lay this one out for real.

Retreats are fun.

Retreats are energizing.

Retreats are exhausting.

Retreats are special.

I get to spend hours sewing with one of my daughters and a bunch of my friends.

Today is catch up at home day.

Lots to do!

Hubs was lucky and harvested a deer on opening day so today is processing day.

And when that's over, you'll find me in my sewing room.

See what others are working on at Design Wall Monday at Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Retreating With Bonnie

I'm home from 4 days of quilt retreat and classes with Bonnie Hunter.

I have a long internet friendship with Bonnie, 

from the beginning of her sharing and inspiring from her Quiltville website.

When I found her in the early years, I knew I found my quilting person.

When retreat plans were first discussed among friends for our area, 

I thought it would never happen.

When it did, I thought the day would never get here.

But it did and it was worth the 3+ year wait!

Thanks Robin and Sonya for making it happen.

And for making it happen at our favorite retreat spot, Royal Ridges.

For more pictures and happenings,

go to Bonnie's Blog.

I take a picture of this tree snag on the first day of each retreat I attend.

Day 1 was spent setting up and sewing on our own projects.

Bonnie and Mary hanging Midnight Flight 

which was our first class on day 2.

I have 1 block made and parts for many more.

Table demo.

I sat with Brandy and Trina.

They are awesome friends!

My face and stomach still hurt from laughing.

Day 3 was Garden Party class.

I am making a second quilt using green for my framed 9 patches.

Day 4 lecture.

OhMyGosh, if you have a chance to listen to this fabulous woman talk,

get yourself there any way you can.

After a wonderful lecture and show and share,

I have many squirrels to chase.

The new list is long.

Waiting for lunch to be ready on day 4.

What a wonderful gathering of women.

So many new friendships were made.

The love of quilting is our bond.

As I was leaving last night, 

the sun was setting.

The sky was a vivid orange.

I felt rejuvenated by my time here.

Design Wall Monday...

...and Retreat Report

This past weekend was our annual quilt retreat.

Most of the quilters have been coming to this retreat for several years.

I always look forward to spending time with my friends and 

sewing with my daughter.

Numerous hours of sewing, talking, laughing, eating.

Definitely having fun!

  

I mostly worked on quilts in progress.

These Garlic Knot blocks will complete my quilt after the blocks swap next month.

I can't believe I have them ready ahead of time.

Unlike these log cabin blocks that I made to complete a top from a swap earlier this year

I now have enough to put my blocks together.

 I started these Dresden Plates at our May retreat.

I put them in the box at the retreat and promptly put them away

and didn't even look at them until this weekend.

Now they are ready to applique to the background.

I'm pretty excited to get this one done.

I must have leaders/enders!

I do that crazy reach for something when nothing is there.

I'm working on Bonnie's Garden Party.

Just the flower blocks are my l/e project and 17 were finished.

I started the connector blocks as my last project of the weekend.

Of course I had to put a few together,

just to see. :)

I have a nice bunch of parts for 9 patches now.

I think red  9 patches might be my favorite.

The weather for the weekend was super stormy.

For a little excitement Friday night,

 this tree crashed into the barn.

No one was hurt.

There was a horseback riding class happening at the time.

The kids kept their horses under control,

the instructor did a wonderful job of keeping everyone calm,

despite "wanting to have a nervous breakdown".

We sew in a huge classroom on the other side of this huge barn/covered arena.

That was more excitement than anyone wanted.

Here's a great video of Royal Ridges where I retreat to 3 times a year.

You can see the covered arena and on the far side is where the tree came down.

We sew on the opposite side.

Despite the storm and the tree,

we had a fabulous weekend.

Great to spend time with friends doing what we love to do.

See great design walls at Patchwork Times.

Edited to add...

I forgot to show you my Be My Neighbor blocks~~

The last one is a tribute to my cat loving friend Sue.

I call it the Crazy Cat Lady's house.